At an auction today I picked up 2 vintage Heiser holsters. Does anyone have access to the codes used by Heiser. One is a tooled double loop with the code of 713. the other is for a small auto with a flap and the code is 435.

Any help or info would be appreciated.

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Gary Grace
S&WCA #1837

Gary,
I don't have any 'list' that explains all the various Heiser code numbers, but from looking at my own Heiser's I've come to a few conclusions that seem to be consistent with the descriptions from some of the old Heiser catalogs I've seen.

The first digit is a code for the type of finish. For example, the 7 at the beginning of any model # is for 'Mexican' carved. That was Heiser's name for what we usually refer to as 'floral' carved. The number 5 was used at the beginning of all models with basket-weave stamping. The #4 denotes a plain/smooth (un-tooled) finish. The number 9 was also a plain finish and those were made from medium weight leather - which was somewhat lighter than their 'standard' weight leather.

The second digit usually tells us what type of gun the holster was intended for. 1 is for revolver, 2 for auto pistol and the number 3 seems to be used for flap style holsters, but I haven't owned enough of those to be sure whether the 3 might be for both revolvers and autos.

The third digit tells whether it's an 'open' or a 'closed' toe. There are several combinations of open and closed toe models. Some are stitched with thread and some are laced.

Here's a page from a Heiser catalog that shows a few examples that helped me 'crack' the Heiser codes.

Hope this helps a little....


Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Thanks a lot Mark for the helpful info. I guess that the code on the back of the holster only describes the features and not the gun the holster was made for.

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Gary Grace
S&WCA #1837

I have a plain brown Heiser IWB (open bottom) for a 2" revolver (rough side out), it is stamped:

- 8 0 4 -
2

It seems to fir a Colt detective Special 2".

gold40

The model numbers don't give many clues as to what they fit, but many Heiser's have hand embossed markings that suggest they may have been intended for specific models and barrel lengths. In this pic, you can see OM5 embossed above the Heiser maker's mark. This particular holster is a perfect fit for my pre-war 5" Heavy Duty, so to me it seems that not all the hand embossed 'codes' are necessarily easy to decipher....


* My first thoughts on the OM5 marking would be that the holster would fit a 5" Colt's Officer's Model.... Were there even any five inch Colt's OM's?

I'll also add that there are other model codes on some later vintage Heiser's that are a bit of a mystery to me. Some have a number 1 followed by some of the more familiar three digit model numbers. Possibly the 8 on 'gold40's' example denotes the 'rough out' style.

Mr. 'Turnerriver' has a lot of Heiser info. Maybe he can fill in some of the gaps....

Mark

* added 11/20/09 - 1:08 AM - EST

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S&W Forum Member #721

As Wheelgun610 showed, Heiser was a cataloguge store and sold many mail order holsters, saddles, etc. BTW, nice copy, Wheelgun610!

Heiser's slogan was "It pays to hitch to the house of Heiser". Pretty catchy for a 19th/20th turn of the century maker. Meanea was his only previous competiton at the beginning.... for mail orders... they were pioneers of mail order.

Your rigs are likely custom ordered from a catalog for particular guns. A rig for a 5 inch Heavy Duty, will likely fit most 5 inch N-frames without attachments.

Nice finds these old holsters.


Gerry
Seattle, WA

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GA

If anyone is interested in Heiser holsters, go to EBay, and type in Heiser holsters in the search line. There are several for sale.

I managed to snag a "lot" of holsters on fleabay for the sum of $15. I decided to bid the minimum because I thought one of the 14 holsters looked like a Heiser floral carved. When I received them I found it was a Heiser 717, stamped above the makers mark with a 13 below. Thanks to this thread I now know it is full Mexican carved, for a revolver with an open toe. Next I need to do a little cleaning with saddle soap and try to figure out how to repair a little rat damage (chew marks and about two inches of the lacing gnawed away).

The leather is stiff, so hopefully cleaning and conditioning will bring it back a little.

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Non illegitimae carborundum

just saw your name and it is very familiar name to me. if you are from southern ohio, and your dad was marshall of that town we might, just might know each other since my dad was mayor.I went by the name of Blackie