|
|
 |
03-17-2016, 05:05 AM
|
|
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 8,002
Likes: 35,764
Liked 29,699 Times in 6,016 Posts
|
|
EUBANKS PIONEER LEATHER
Royal Eubanks conceived and started Eubanks Leather in Boise
between 1937 & 1939. He sold to Pioneer Tent & Awning in 1949
with a 5 year agreement to not compete. Eubanks Pioneer Leather
became the new maker mark on the holsters, like the one shown
below with my Colt's Agent.
In 1954, upon expiration of the non-compete agreement, Royal
Eubanks started Idaho Leather, but He died shortly thereafter.
Eubanks widow sold the business to a family friend Bud Wetzel.
Idaho Leather is still in the location Eubanks started in with much
of the same equipment. It is operated by Bud's Son Ben Wetzel.
If you happen to be in Boise you should visit Idaho Leather. But
before you enter, set your watch back about 60 years.
Last edited by crazyphil; 03-19-2016 at 12:26 PM.
|
|
The Following 14 Users Like Post:
|
-db-, 6518John, bmcgilvray, bruce5781, Cocked & Locked, GerSan69, Igiveup, Jeffrey A. Cooper, lawandorder, LedFowl, Lee Barner, linde, P.44, Russell Cottle |
03-17-2016, 08:14 AM
|
 |
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 10,452
Liked 6,123 Times in 1,251 Posts
|
|
|
|
The Following 10 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-17-2016, 08:29 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Silver Hill, NC
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 4,552
Liked 4,329 Times in 825 Posts
|
|
This one is "Idaho Leather" stamped on the back...you guessed it, "MP 6"
__________________
C & L
Last edited by Cocked & Locked; 03-17-2016 at 08:30 AM.
|
|
The Following 12 Users Like Post:
|
6518John, bmcgilvray, bruce5781, crazyphil, GerSan69, Guero, Igiveup, Jeffrey A. Cooper, linde, mjr, P.44, Watchdog |
03-17-2016, 11:52 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mansfield, Texas
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 11,499
Liked 2,891 Times in 948 Posts
|
|
w o w ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocked & Locked
This one is "Idaho Leather" stamped on the back...you guessed it, "MP 6"
|
Man I really like those aged stag grips
|
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-17-2016, 12:41 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ozarks of Missouri
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 3,011
Liked 2,929 Times in 993 Posts
|
|
Eubanks holster . . . one of my favorites. This one a MP5
Russ
|
|
The Following 12 Users Like Post:
|
27 Man, 6518John, bmcgilvray, bruce5781, Cocked & Locked, crazyphil, GerSan69, Igiveup, Jeffrey A. Cooper, P.44, Russell Cottle, Watchdog |
03-17-2016, 01:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Silver Hill, NC
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 4,552
Liked 4,329 Times in 825 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DevilDog72
Man I really like those aged stag grips
|
Thanks! There's two sides to every story 
__________________
C & L
|
|
The Following 11 Users Like Post:
|
6518John, bmcgilvray, bruce5781, crazyphil, Dave Workman, DevilDog72, Guero, Jeffrey A. Cooper, P.44, Russell Cottle, Watchdog |
03-17-2016, 07:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mansfield, Texas
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 11,499
Liked 2,891 Times in 948 Posts
|
|
That hog leg sure wears those spiffy grips well. Really nice combo.
|
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-17-2016, 10:19 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 1,476
Liked 20,504 Times in 8,122 Posts
|
|
I have one of their holsters. Not as fancy as what some of you guys are sportin' but it's a fine piece o' gunleather anyway...
|
|
The Following 8 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-17-2016, 10:47 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 6,472
Liked 1,859 Times in 1,010 Posts
|
|
I ordered two of the holsters for my Ruger Mark II .22 and my son's. Same style as Linde's. I have five others I have ordered thru the years, all the same style, just different revolvers. Quality as good as it gets. Also have a couple of the older Pioneer holsters. I " think" Ben is in his eighties and just a great guy to talk to while ordering.
__________________
Kevin in Oregon
|
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-17-2016, 11:40 PM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Texas Gulf Coast...
Posts: 5,839
Likes: 10,879
Liked 24,687 Times in 3,489 Posts
|
|
This is for a 4" N frame.
They built a stout rig.
|
|
The Following 13 Users Like Post:
|
27 Man, 6518John, bmcgilvray, bruce5781, Cocked & Locked, crazyphil, GerSan69, Igiveup, Jeffrey A. Cooper, linde, P.44, Russell Cottle, SAFireman |
03-18-2016, 12:18 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountains of Colorado
Posts: 2,998
Likes: 2,582
Liked 7,188 Times in 1,978 Posts
|
|
Somewhere in the archives is a picture of a Eubanks that even Tunnerriver had seldom seen. It is a leather laced flap holster for a 25 auto. I am a fan of flap holsters and when this one showed up on a gun show table for $10 I scarfed it up so fast you could feel a vacuum in the room.
|
|
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-29-2016, 04:55 AM
|
|
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 8,002
Likes: 35,764
Liked 29,699 Times in 6,016 Posts
|
|
LACING
I didn't like the looks of the re-lacing on my Eubanks. Black color
was wrong and the lace was too narrow. I changed it to a natural
buckskin 3/16 (as wide as I could get through the holes.) I am
far from an expert, but I think it looks better.
__________________
In Omnia Paratus
Last edited by crazyphil; 03-29-2016 at 04:59 AM.
|
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
03-29-2016, 07:58 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Silver Hill, NC
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 4,552
Liked 4,329 Times in 825 Posts
|
|
You're right, It looks much better!
__________________
C & L
|
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-30-2016, 05:22 AM
|
 |
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: southern hemisphere
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 1,984
Liked 8,480 Times in 2,328 Posts
|
|
Phil, according to an article I have on hand, during the interview for it, Milt Sparks states that he was a sewing machine operator at Royal Eubanks at what appears to be around 1970. Yet your timeline says that by that time, the company was called Eubanks Pioneer. And I expect that Idaho Leather is not out of the questions, then, either. Can you flesh out the dates of operation of these companies, over and above what you've included already? Cheers.
__________________
The Holstorian
|
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-30-2016, 07:16 AM
|
|
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 8,002
Likes: 35,764
Liked 29,699 Times in 6,016 Posts
|
|
Red I have read every source I could find and I have met Ben Wetzel and
been in his shop several times. If you are going to be in Boise I suggest
you stop in and meet him and see his shop.
There is an article titled: Leather Craftsman A Dying Breed posted on the
internet from the Missoulian newspaper. (You need to answer a 3 question
survey for access, but it is painless.) It is quite authoritative
because it is based on an interview with Ben Wetzel.
He says Eubanks was founded by Royal in 1939. Idaho Leather bought by
his Dad Bud in 1955.
Vintage Gunleather also says Eubanks started in 1939. One may have
got their information from the other. Vintage has a 1950 date Eubanks
sold to Pioneer. And Vintage says Pioneer was in business 1950-1972.
That is not accurate because we know that Idaho leather started in 1954.
On rootsweb message board Eubanks History is written by Royal Eubank's
grandson Russ. He says Royal sold in 1949 and started Idaho Leather in
1954. Russ has a collection of over 50 Eubanks items. His email is:
[email protected]
If Milt Sparks worked in the shop operating the sewing machine around
1970? Ben Wetzel would know. It was Idaho Leather way before that
time and it still is.
__________________
In Omnia Paratus
Last edited by crazyphil; 03-30-2016 at 07:19 AM.
|
03-30-2016, 07:33 AM
|
|
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 8,002
Likes: 35,764
Liked 29,699 Times in 6,016 Posts
|
|
Update: After thinking a little more I have to take back my statement
that Vintage Pioneer was in business 1950-1972 was not correct. Pioneer Tent and Awning did continue in business until 1972. Milt could have very well worked for Pioneer Tent and Awning. They would have still been making Eubanks Pioneer holsters with Idaho Leather as a competitor. More research is needed to find out when Pioneer Tent and Awning quit making Eubanks Pioneer holsters. We know that Idaho
Leather has continued to this day.
__________________
In Omnia Paratus
|
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
