I have become interested in holsters both vintage and those made by current makers. Someone suggested reading “Packing Iron: Gun Leather of the Frontier West” by Richard C. Rattenbury. I ordered a used copy of the book and received it yesterday. It is really fascinating.
My interests do not include Military holsters at this time, so I skipped over the chapters on those and started reading the Civilian Gunleather chapters. I was a little familiar with vintage holster makers like H.H. Heiser, S.D. Myres, and G. Lawrence, but that is where my little knowledge ended.
I have read the first 4 civilian chapters and have already learned a lot. I had never known about or seen a Pommel Holster or Bag-Holster. The information and pictures are fantastic. I had heard of and seen replicas of “California” pattern holsters from the El Paso Saddlery website, but the chapter and pictures on these holsters is great too. The chapter on “Mexican Loop” pattern holsters starts to show holster patterns that I am more familiar with for guns that I am also more familiar with.
Just for curiosity, I looked up one of the early makers stuff online. I thought that vintage Heiser, Myres, and Lawrence holsters were pricey. Main and Winchester Saddlery located in San Francisco (1850-1905) crafted some amazing holsters and pommel-bag holsters. These things can bring some scary money too.
I will continue to read and learn from my new book and would recommend it to everyone interested in leather goods. I was hoping that some of you folks that have any of these vintage “California” pattern holsters or Pommel-bag holsters would post some pictures of what you have! Thanks.
My interests do not include Military holsters at this time, so I skipped over the chapters on those and started reading the Civilian Gunleather chapters. I was a little familiar with vintage holster makers like H.H. Heiser, S.D. Myres, and G. Lawrence, but that is where my little knowledge ended.
I have read the first 4 civilian chapters and have already learned a lot. I had never known about or seen a Pommel Holster or Bag-Holster. The information and pictures are fantastic. I had heard of and seen replicas of “California” pattern holsters from the El Paso Saddlery website, but the chapter and pictures on these holsters is great too. The chapter on “Mexican Loop” pattern holsters starts to show holster patterns that I am more familiar with for guns that I am also more familiar with.
Just for curiosity, I looked up one of the early makers stuff online. I thought that vintage Heiser, Myres, and Lawrence holsters were pricey. Main and Winchester Saddlery located in San Francisco (1850-1905) crafted some amazing holsters and pommel-bag holsters. These things can bring some scary money too.
I will continue to read and learn from my new book and would recommend it to everyone interested in leather goods. I was hoping that some of you folks that have any of these vintage “California” pattern holsters or Pommel-bag holsters would post some pictures of what you have! Thanks.
