Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

rednichols · Mar 5, 2025

ENNE-FRAME said:
An incredible Heiser holster find now on the web, I' haven't any news about it, can anyone help me?

Your holster is covered with clues that it is from the Heiser-Keyston era: the snap button; that it is a hybrid of the 459 that was introduced in 1950 by that new company; and that it is suspended from a standard Heiser belt/holster adaptor. It does not appear in any of that era's Heiser catalogues but the sheer experimental nature of it suggests to me it is from the very late 1950s when many oddballs began to appear in catalogues and in their goods.

A pic of the back would've helped a LOT but I expect you don't have that; which will show its model number. Whoops, the Heiser-marked snap buttons indicate it is not a Colorado Saddlery, while recognising that A.H. Hardy holsters were often made by Heiser and with Heiser buttons!

boykinlp · Mar 6, 2025

rednichols said:
Your holster is covered with clues that it is from the Heiser-Keyston era: the snap button; that it is a hybrid of the 459 that was introduced in 1950 by that new company; and that it is suspended from a standard Heiser belt/holster adaptor. It does not appear in any of that era's Heiser catalogues but the sheer experimental nature of it suggests to me it is from the very late 1950s when many oddballs began to appear in catalogues and in their goods.

A pic of the back would've helped a LOT but I expect you don't have that; which will show its model number. Whoops, the Heiser-marked snap buttons indicate it is not a Colorado Saddlery, while recognising that A.H. Hardy holsters were often made by Heiser and with Heiser buttons!

I've never picked up any holsters, or even catalogs, from that late in Heiser's history. Still looks very nice and interesting to me though.
Larry

s&wchad · Mar 8, 2025

ENNE-FRAME Asked to post some photos of my 433, so here they are. It fits an 8-3/8" K-frame.

ENNE-FRAME · Mar 8, 2025

Thanks to Dave "s&wchad" for the interesting photos of his special order #433
Please see post N° 7 regarding this style of holster.

https://smith-wessonforum.com/141930528-post7.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/142186655-post243.html

Attached is another photo of Dave's holster

I also publish a series of photos of the standard 433 inserted into a money cartridge belt, one 733 special order with chamois lining and a 733 standard.

boykinlp · Mar 8, 2025

s&wchad said:
ENNE-FRAME Asked to post some photos of my 433, so here they are. It fits an 8-3/8" K-frame.

I assume the toe plug was something special ordered? Very Cool, thanks for sharing.
Larry

ENNE-FRAME · Mar 8, 2025

Probably all the variations to the standard proposed in the catalog were special orders, in the catalogs there was the paragraph of the customizations that could be ordered with the price list.
In the photo attached the page with the few special orders available at the time of the catalog N°19

turnerriver · Mar 9, 2025

Here's a special order feature I've never seen before. I found this I frame Heiser at the Tulsa show years ago.

Regards,

ENNE-FRAME · Apr 7, 2025

Hermann H Heiser Handibox The Aztec

Uncommon Heiser floral carved Handibox style THE AZTEC, with snap button instead of clasp closure.
Advertised as Toilet articles and Shaving Outfits case.
Three sizes available
inserted starting from catalogue number 23

ENNE-FRAME · Apr 7, 2025

Hermann H Heiser Stiff Leather Gun Case #540

Hermann H Heiser Stiff Leather Gun Case #540
Awesome Take Down Gun Case
Advertised in catalog #19, the oldest I own. As soon as I can get the ones before this one I will update the photo and source

ENNE-FRAME · Apr 7, 2025

Hermann H Heiser Stiff Leather Gun Case #540

More photos of this wonderful case and the reproduction of the page of the catalogue number 19
Last photo is for a Waffle stamping style #640

boykinlp · Apr 9, 2025

The Heiser Handibox and the gun cases are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Larry

turnerriver · Apr 9, 2025

Here's an odd item that fits right in with those shotgun cases. This is a model 160 shotgun shell bag. It holds 150 shotgun shells stacked in a single layer. I've avoided collecting rifle and shotgun cases, I can store 20 holsters in the space I'd need for a single long gun case. The little shotgun box belt holster fits a 20 gauge box and has a space for your name.

Regards,

ENNE-FRAME · Apr 10, 2025

Handibox, Shot Gun Shell Box, Shogun Shell Bag and Kodak Camera case

turnerriver said:
Here's an odd item that fits right in with those shotgun cases. This is a model 160 shotgun shell bag. It holds 150 shotgun shells stacked in a single layer. I've avoided collecting rifle and shotgun cases, I can store 20 holsters in the space I'd need for a single long gun case. The little shotgun box belt holster fits a 20 gauge box and has a space for your name.
Regards,

I agree with John, you can't collect everything, unfortunately you have to make choices.
As for the Take Down Gun Case, I saw it after the auction ended, otherwise I would have tried to win it, even if I would not have added more to my collection.

In my previous post #248, I wrote that the Handibox first appears in catalog #23, but its first image is in catalog #20.
As for the shotgun shell box, it is in catalog #19, the oldest I have. I don't know if the box was also in the previous catalogs.
The shotgun shell bag was first advertised in catalog #32.

4th and 5th photos courtesy John "turnerriver" Witty

Iggy · Apr 10, 2025

They made mighty fine saddles too.

ENNE-FRAME · Apr 10, 2025

Hermann H Heiser Handibox The Magnifico

Iggy said:
They made mighty fine saddles too.

Dear Iggy, I really think that at the Hermann H. Heiser were masters in leatherwork, but saddles are a subject unknown to me, if you are competent it would be interesting if you opened a thread on the subject and illustrated to those who are ignorant like me the qualities and the use of the various saddles that H.H. Heiser produced.

Follow the previous post #248
the Handibox The Magnifico

boykinlp · Apr 10, 2025

Iggy said:
They made mighty fine saddles too.

They do for a fact. I had one for a few years until I moved it along. It was a Heiser Model 39 Saddle, "Oklahoma Special Roper Fork Saddle", Full Hand Flower Stamped, Serial Number - 27490. It was around 90 years old IIRC. I still like sharing pictures of it.
Larry

ENNE-FRAME · May 7, 2025

Thread update: in post #1 I am doing the index of the holsters present in the thread and the complete reproduction of the HH Heiser catalogs, for now you can find catalogs #19, #20, #23, #30...
The work must be completed and it is long, but we are working hard.

Thread 'Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive'

Feb 14, 2024

Dear friends and Gunleather enthusiasts

Here we begin The Hermann H. Heiser Archive, my wish is that it becomes an absolute reference for enthusiasts that is as vast and deep as possible and that collects as much information as possible regarding the production of holsters and gunleather between the end of the 19th century and two thirds of the 20th century of the historic and iconic brand The Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery Co. of Denver, Colorado.

You are all invited to collaborate, in fact, I strongly ask you to do so, among you there are the greatest experts in the sector.

Photograph...

Work in progress

ENNE-FRAME · May 17, 2025

Very interesting posts by John "turnerriver" found in the forum archive

Al Capone,the FBI,Jack Ruby,Puerto Rican Nationalist shooters & a Heiser holster for a S&W .357 Magnum

Here another nice post by John

Matched pair Heisers for 5 1/2" Reg. Mag. & .44 Spl.

ENNE-FRAME · May 18, 2025

Here the link to the John "turnerriver" post about the 469 semi shoulder holster

Hermann H Heiser #469

ENNE-FRAME · May 20, 2025

Heiser Fans - Check This Gem Out!

Nice post by Larry "boykinlp" with a rare Heiser showcase
[h4][/h4]

Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

rednichols

Member

boykinlp

s&wchad

Attachments

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

boykinlp

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

turnerriver

Moderator

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

boykinlp

turnerriver

Moderator

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

Iggy

Absent Comrade

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

boykinlp

Attachments

ENNE-FRAME

Thread 'Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive'

ENNE-FRAME

ENNE-FRAME

Attachments

ENNE-FRAME

Similar threads

Latest posts