Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

[boykinlp]

Heiser Model 2710 - I own 2 of these holsters. I bought the first one (pictured below in first 2 pictures) about 10 years ago after reading the book "Packing Iron" and seeing a similar holster in it. It has a lot of features going for it that I like. It has beautiful floral carving, 79 nickel silver spots, it is made for one of the most popular revolvers ever, a Colt SAA with a 4 3/4" barrel, has the linear "Heiser HHH Denver maker's mark", and again one of my favorite features, the triple H rivets. So it is another early Heiser holster. I picked up my second Model 2710 holster (pictured in the last 3 pictures) because I got it at a good price, and it fit a different gun. It has decent floral carving (not as nice as my other 2710), 72 nickel silver spots, fits a wide range of target medium frame D/A revolvers with 4" barrel such as a S&W K Frame, has the oval lH. H. Heiser Maker Denver, Colo." maker's mark, a safety strap with a brown enamel snap, sewn-in sight rest for revolvers with adjustable sights, and standard smooth rivets.
Larry

 

[rednichols]

I had a good old M.L. Leddy saddle several years ago. I sold it to a fellow and it ended up on his cattle ranch in Africa.

Can't resist: "Cowboy in Africa" capgun holster that is either Marx or Mattel, late 1960s:

 

[Kansasgunner]

Cowboy in Africa, I used to watch that show when I was a kid, and before that The Rifleman. Chuck Connors was great in a western! Thanks for the memories Red.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Cowboy in Africa, I used to watch that show when I was a kid, and before that The Rifleman. Chuck Connors was great in a western! Thanks for the memories Red.

And let's not forget Branded!

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Heiser #2410 #2510 #2710 "double loops open end ornamented with nickel ornament"s

the bad sentence written in the title is the repetition of the bad sentence written in the catalog.
Many pictures found for the plain smooth #2410 and for the Mexican hand carved #2710.
For the 2710 I posted a photo but it doesn't compare to the beautiful and almost new Larry's example
As usual no photos available for the #2510 Hand Basket stamp.
The terrible thing is knowing that I will never find this holsterI (the 2510) to buy, and I will not even find the photos to at least look at it.

 

[rednichols]

Marcello, that picture of the square is beautiful! That would be a terrific place to relax and have great conversations with friends. Do you have any folks that enjoy guns and gun leather there? Like on the forum, politics can be difficult to discuss in the states, and around my area, college football is King! Beautiful women are an added pleasure.

I just had a thought that made me chuckle to myself. You probably won't get it, but members here in the states will. I just thought about a "Twin Peaks" or "Hooters" coming to your square. Now that I think about it, it doesn't make me chuckle, it makes me cringe!
Larry

Beautiful women, now that's something I know nearly as much about as gunleather.

Marcello my father in law who lived to be more than 96 y/o was from Reggio Emilia, and proud of it. Someday it w/b a pleasure to visit his family still there, who have come to Australia many times to visit him here; but I've done so much travelling around the world since birth, that I doubt I'll bother.

I did amuse myself by looking up the private firearms ownership per capita in Italy (Wiki has a list) and discover that your country, and mine (Australia), are No. 51 and 52 respectively. Which is to say, very few per capita vs USA. My gunleather biz from here could never succeed because there is NO local customer base and the main market, USA, feared the distance. But I had the delay and the mailing cost down to nearly USA equivalents until the pandemic when both skyrocketed and I was wise to fully retire on my 70th b/day in 2020.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Beautiful women, now that's something I know nearly as much about as gunleather.

Marcello my father in law who lived to be more than 96 y/o was from Reggio Emilia, and proud of it. Someday it w/b a pleasure to visit his family still there, who have come to Australia many times to visit him here; but I've done so much travelling around the world since birth, that I doubt I'll bother.

I did amuse myself by looking up the private firearms ownership per capita in Italy (Wiki has a list) and discover that your country, and mine (Australia), are No. 51 and 52 respectively. Which is to say, very few per capita vs USA. My gunleather biz from here could never succeed because there is NO local customer base and the main market, USA, feared the distance. But I had the delay and the mailing cost down to nearly USA equivalents until the pandemic when both skyrocketed and I was wise to fully retire on my 70th b/day in 2020.

Red, those are beautiful places, I'm in love with Emilia Romagna, the food is divine.
Just think, today I'm preparing Lasagna alla Bolognese with beef and pork ragù that has been simmering all night.
The cuisine here is a religion and Emilia Romagna is its altar.
Here every Italian feels like the great priest who stands at that altar. Cholesterol galore, it's our best friend, it never leaves us and it accompanies us wherever we go.
I'll be going next week near Reggio Emilia to pick up a 38 Military&Police 4th change 5" RB as good as new and a Winchester 1897 Pum Action 12 GA Short barrell, to a nice gun shop of a friend.
Concerning your business I say you that here with gunleather you can starve to death.
I don't want to think about when, I hope a long time, I'll have to sell the collection of classic holsters, maybe I'll have them put with me in the coffin like the pharaohs did.

 

[rednichols]

Red, those are beautiful places, I'm in love with Emilia Romagna, the food is divine.
Just think, today I'm preparing Lasagna alla Bolognese with beef and pork ragù that has been simmering all night.
The cuisine here is a religion and Emilia Romagna is its altar.
Here every Italian feels like the great priest who stands at that altar. Cholesterol galore, it's our best friend, it never leaves us and it accompanies us wherever we go.
I'll be going next week near Reggio Emilia to pick up a 38 Military&Police 4th change 5" RB as good as new and a Winchester 1897 Pum Action 12 GA Short barrell, to a nice gun shop of a friend.
Concerning your business I say you that here with gunleather you can starve to death.
I don't want to think about when, I hope a long time, I'll have to sell the collection of classic holsters, maybe I'll have them put with me in the coffin like the pharaohs did.

Italian cuisine is why I married Italian women, two times! At one point, with the first, I had a half dozen of her rellies competing to cook for me. Yet my father in law with the second, said 'never marry Italian woman' and he didn't; my mother in law was Scottish.

I felt as you did about my own gunleather collection, so gave it away to friends so that it wouldn't be buried with me. I've a primo capgun collection that I had to fight with AusPost for permission to export them back to America! From my childhood:

 

[boykinlp]

Here are a couple of more Heiser Holsters. The first one is a lined Heiser Model 738 and it was made to fit a Colt Officers Model with 6 inch barrel. This holster is one of my favorites simply because of its size. Since it has a swivel attachment , it's HUGE! I put the dollar bills in the picture for a size reference. I believe the floral carving was done especially well too. I can't imagine riding a horse with a long holster like that. The second holster is one I picked up from crazyphil back when he was paring down his collection. It is a beautiful Heiser Model 713 Holster for a Colt Official Police with a 4" barrel. This one is a nice dark brown color that contrasts well with the cream colored thong sewed edge, and a safety strap with brown enamel snap.
Larry

 

[brucev]

Took me right at 30 minutes to simply read through this post and replies. The pictures are beautiful, a real pleasure to view. Will have to view the other two pages at a later time. My applause to all. This post and replies should be marked/saved b/c the information contained is priceless. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Took me right at 30 minutes to simply read through this post and replies. The pictures are beautiful, a real pleasure to view. Will have to view the other two pages at a later time. My applause to all. This post and replies should be marked/saved b/c the information contained is priceless. Sincerely. bruce.

Thanks Bruce, when you can please help us publishing your nice Heiser holsters detailing the number and style where possible .

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Heiser #438, #538, #738 Army Style Flexible Belt Holsters

Army Style Flexible Belt Holster
#438--- Fine plain smooth finish-
#538--- Full hand basket stamped
#738--- Ful Mexican hand carved
As usual there aren't photos available for the #538 Hand Basket stamp.
The list of holsters I will never own and will never see grows longer.
Here the link to the precedent posts about the same style holster.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141935826-post27.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141937255-post36.html

 

[boykinlp]

Marcello, hopefully you won't mind me added this Heiser product to this thread. While it's not a holster, it is made by Heiser and I think it's really cool. It is a Heiser Model 85-11 floral carved gun rug and extremely rare, and I think this one is gorgeous! It is HUGE! It has the oval Heiser maker's mark. The inside measurements are approximately 15.5" x 6". It was definitely custom ordered with the name (BRITT) carved on the bend, but I don't believe it detracts from appearance or value, since I decided to change my last name to Britt. I love the floral carving on both sides! The lining looks like new, and the heavy brass zipper works great. This pistol rug is a great piece of early western Americana. The seller thought it was made in the 1920-30's, but I think it was later. It may be blasphemous, but I put my Ruger Redhawk, with a 7 1/2" barrel in it to show just how big the case is.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Marcello, hopefully you won't mind me added this Heiser product to this thread. While it's not a holster, it is made by Heiser and I think it's really cool. It is a Heiser Model 85-11 floral carved gun rug and extremely rare, and I think this one is gorgeous! It is HUGE! It has the oval Heiser maker's mark. The inside measurements are approximately 15.5" x 6". It was definitely custom ordered with the name (BRITT) carved on the bend, but I don't believe it detracts from appearance or value, since I decided to change my last name to Britt. I love the floral carving on both sides! The lining looks like new, and the heavy brass zipper works great. This pistol rug is a great piece of early western Americana. The seller thought it was made in the 1920-30's, but I think it was later. It may be blasphemous, but I put my Ruger Redhawk, with a 7 1/2" barrel in it to show just how big the case is.
Larry

Marcello and others, by chance, have you ever seen a catalog page with Heiser gun rug's shown?
Larry

 

[rednichols]

Marcello and others, by chance, have you ever seen a catalog page with Heiser gun rug's shown?
Larry

None of the pages in my Heiser files (see my blog for an overview) show pistol rugs. Turnerriver has the only complete Heiser catalogue collection in the world but he doesn't have them all digitised like I do of my more limited collection.

 

[turnerriver]

That's a beautiful rug, Larry. Heiser did list the rug in their catalog, I'll post a copy of it when I return home after Thanksgiving. I'm not sure my Heiser catalog collection is complete but I am sure that Red is much more organized and on top of things than I am.
Here are my two Heiser rugs and my Colorado Saddlery carved rug.

Regards,

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish -fifth photo- Abercrombie & Fitch marked
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved


<(Concerning the Pistol Rug, the right source for Heiser catalogs and probably other brands is John, we will refer to his post after Thanksgiving. I am trying to buy some Heiser catalogs but so far I have not been able to get them in the few auctions that offer them.)>

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved

 

[rednichols]

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish Abercrombie & Fitch marked
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved


Concerning the Pistol Rug, the right source for Heiser catalogs and probably other brands is John, we will refer to his post after Thanksgiving. I am trying to buy some Heiser catalogs but so far I have not been able to get them in the few auctions that offer them.

No Thanksgiving here, in Australia. And you should see the tiny things sold in poultry shops as turkey; let's hope they're not our Bush Turkeys which are not the same bird at all!

Regarding buying Heiser catalogues, my strategy was to GIVE all my print Heiser catalogues to Witty some years ago. No sense their being rubbished at my death (planned for many decades in the future but I'm not fully in charge of that.

Point being, Marcello, only buy the ones he doesn't have. Then we'll make John scan all of them and give us free copies! Surely he has nothing better to do (tongue firmly in cheek here). He and I let a few rare ones get away from us, can't be helped now. On my chart, if it has been noted as 'sighted' it is very likely Witty has one; if it is noted as 'not' then he could not have it or he'd have told me (right John?).

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved
Last photo courtesy John Witty collection

No Thanksgiving here, in Australia. And you should see the tiny things sold in poultry shops as turkey; let's hope they're not our Bush Turkeys which are not the same bird at all!

Regarding buying Heiser catalogues, my strategy was to GIVE all my print Heiser catalogues to Witty some years ago. No sense their being rubbished at my death (planned for many decades in the future but I'm not fully in charge of that.

Point being, Marcello, only buy the ones he doesn't have. Then we'll make John scan all of them and give us free copies! Surely he has nothing better to do (tongue firmly in cheek here). He and I let a few rare ones get away from us, can't be helped now. On my chart, if it has been noted as 'sighted' it is very likely Witty has one; if it is noted as 'not' then he could not have it or he'd have told me (right John?).

Great suggestion but I can't see your chart of available and missing catalogs, do you have a less shrunk version? Sorry i have found it in "your" Holstorian book, i think it's the same...
But Red I would like to be able to slowly insert the scanned catalogs into the pages of this thread, that would be really cool!