I recently viewed the DVD, "Open Range." The two protagonists wear single actions in holsters I seldom see in Westerns. I was informed they are Mexican Loop [pattern] holsters.

What are these holsters?

Since except for one incident of fanning a zillion shots without reloading, accouterments appear to be close to period correct, what purpose do such holsters have compared with more modern leather single action revolver holsters?

Is there some sort of historical significance for these holsters?

The only thing historial is that the design goes back many centuries of how to make a container, or holster, for an item out of one piece of leather, that or may not, require a very minimum of stitching to be functional. Ed.

An expert could boil it all down to a paragraph or so for you. But how much fun would that be? The full story is in Rattenbury's Packing Iron coffee table book. Indeed the style predates the sewing machine which was introduced mid 1880s. Instead the welt area was laced (another reason that there were no actual welts inside the seam, too hard to lace through so many layers. Lacing continued but availability has always been limited by craftsmen, and the associated cost being so much dearer than sewing. On the other hand, lacing finishes off the leather edges.

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The Holstorian

In the early days the huge Colts were carried in pouches slung over
the saddle pommel with one or more revolvers on either side. There
were flap covers to keep the Colts secure and the powder dry.

Small revolvers, pepper boxes, and Derringers were carried in leather
or canvas lined pockets.

One of the earliest belt holster was the "California" made in San Francisco
by Main & Winchester during the gold rush days. A simple pouch with
one sewn seam. It was soon given the nickname "Slim Jim". An example
is shown below left.

During the Civil War Union forces carried their 1860 Army revolvers
and 1851 Navy revolvers in flap holsters similar to the one shown here
2nd from left.

After the Civil War, some veterans would fold the flap back up and over
to form a belt loop leaving the mouth open for quicker access. The
revolvers fit way too loose, so they soon discovered that if leather
is soaked in water and left in the sun to dry it will shrink.

That brought about the design know as the Missouri Skin Tight.
Made of leather with one laced seam following the outline of the
revolver. Then soaked and dried in the sun with the gun in the
holster for a good tight fit. My attempt at making one shown 3rd
from left.

From the end of the Civil War up to the end of the 19th century
the most often seen holster in the real west was the "Mexican Loop"
that you refer to. Those movie makers who care for accuracy,
like the movie you mentioned, do try and sometimes get it right.
Some call the style a double loop. 4th from left is an example.

The rig known as the "buscadero" with the gun and holster hanging
very low from a slot in the belt is what is seen most frequently
in the movies. The style was popularized by the movies and
the "fast draw craze" of the 1950s and 1960 brought on by
all the western television programs. Example 5th from left.

Around the turn of the century improvements started to show up
in holster making. Some of the most noteworthy were by Myres,
Brill, and Heiser.

If this subject interests you, you should go to Red Nichols Holster
(website) and click on Red's Book. He has posted chapter 3 of his
book, which goes in to great detail about holster development at
around the beginning of the new century.

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In Omnia Paratus

It doesn't have to be a single action. I had this holster made for a 6 in. M27 just because I think they look good. Larry

As Mr. Nichols wrote, "How much fun would that [short, cogent answer] be?" I now have two sources.

Thanks, guys.

Generally excellent Phil but this bit is 'kinda true': the buscadero belt is credited to Capt. John Hughes, the same chap who is credited with the specs that the Brill design filled circa 1907 -- and dates from the 1920s or earlier (he retired I recall circa 1915 or so). Myres changed it markedly from Hughes' original which was a strap across the belt, like a billet, that the holster hung from; into what Myres himself called a buscadero ('one who searches').

Texas Rangers were called 'buscaderos' by the locals then because they were 'the searchers' (fugitive hunters). Make a great name for a film; suppose the Duke would have been interested?.

The holsters used on these belts, also made then by Heiser and of course Bohlin, were the same holsters as used on standard belts, until Ojala's Fifties' style.

Indeed it was Hollywood that popularised it but more Hoppy's era than Clint's (Andy Anderson's). The latter is when it absolutely took off, thanks to TV and to Ojala, who counted all the film and TV stars amongst his students.

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The Holstorian

When we generate short answers, what's typical is an unstudied repeat of the legend rather than the reality :-). Rattenbury put in the hard yards, Phil and I put them in on Threepersons -- and put to bed a lot of 'kinda true' legends in the process!

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The Holstorian

Here's my Mexican loop holster.
family heirloom

I agree that it was Ranger Captain Hughes who brought the
buscadero idea to Texas, but he may have got the idea from
the Mexicans down along the Rio Grande where he frequently
patrolled.

A number of lawmen liked the buscadero, but it was the B
western movies that initially made it so popular. When TV
came along there were many, many, westerns so that brought
another boom in the buscadero market. The television programs
created fast draw fever. When we would see a guy
limping down the sidewalk we would say there goes another
fast draw artist.

Arvo Ojala (pronounced 0-halla) was on every Gunsmoke
program. He was the guy that had the shootout with Matt
Dillon at the beginning of every program. In 1959 you could
buy Arvo's economy model buscadero rig (cartridge belt and
holster) for $19.95.

Arvo had two proteges: Andy Anderson and Alfonso Pineda.
Alfonso made the Paladin Rig and sold a jillion of them.
Paladin ran from 1957 to 1963, and I see it's still in re-runs.

Ed Bohlin advertised that he was designer of the original
"gunslinger" holsters which was another buscadero with a
buckle around the holster pouch. You could buy his rig
(cartridge belt and holster) in 1959 for $18.75.

Lawrence also made a lot of the "gunslinger" style buscaderos.
Bohlin wanted us to know it was he, not Lawrence, that
designed the "gunslinger".

Some of the movie makers have been paying attention to the
authenticity of the guns and leather that they present in their
movies. Makes the movies a lot more interesting, at least
for me.

The older movies can be humerous, like they might
have a story that supposedly takes place right after the Civil
War, but then they carry Colt Peacemakers in buscadero
holsters. And like mentioned previously those Peacemakers
never ran out of ammo.

Sorry to ramble on, but I love this stuff.

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In Omnia Paratus

Red, was the original buscadero style holster intended to ride lower on a standard belt then? I get the later 50's version with the drop portion of the belt and slot for the holster, just wondering if I understand the intent of the original version correctly. For some reason this brings something to mind that I saw in one of my books recently where the grip of a Colt SAA was more in line with the belt as the holster rode lower, but there wasn't any reference to the style of holster with the photo. When worn the mouth of the holster probably sat closer to the bottom of the belt, but I didn't see any thing it would have attached to other than the belt itself. I will have to go look for it now!

I thought Kevin Costner's hat in that movie was out of place. It looked more like something Buck Jones would wear in his B westerns. His rig was pretty authenic looking, and his gun looks to have a barrel cut right behind the front sight which is gone. So it looks more like 7" instead of 7 1/2". Pretty good movie with one of the best shootouts ever.

This scarred and broken Heiser double Buscadero rig hung in the showroom of Evaluators Ltd. as an example of Heiser's fancy work.

Hers a photo of Capt. Hughes that was used in the S.D. Myres catalogs. Unusual rig to say the least.

Good original question and good responses. And a great forum as well.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Minor correction-our fearless leader and Big Gorilla Lee met Arvo and talked with him and his beautiful daughters and the name is pronounced with the J- O-ja-la. You can find a YouTube video where he's introduced that way.
Regards,
turnerriver
I spent many years pronouncing it the other way.

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turnerriver

I like Captain Hughes' rig. If you think about it, it's sort of a loose interpretation of a Sam Browne belt, except the shoulder strap doesn't go over his head and opposite-to-the-gun shoulder. Or at least that's how I'm looking at it.

Speaking of Hughes, I imagine there aren't too many gun afficianados who don't know about him and his exploits as a Texas Ranger.

Here's a photo of Hughes and some of his Ranger friends. That's Hughes seated on the right.

I knew that John. But when I was typing away I was going
by memory, which is not always too reliable any more.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Our red haired friend reminded me of that too John. He also reminded
me that Arvo was Scandanavian, not Hispanic. I knew that too. I read
in a Rick Hacker article that Arvo was Finnish. It's sad when I guy gets
to where he knows everything, but can't remember it.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I'm going to use your quote, 'cause I'm getting there, too.

My professional name, Red, is from my initials and not my hair colour: Richard Edward Dale (Nichols). And yet a local Maori family decided it was for Retired, Extremely Dangerous (!) but the only part that would suit is the 'retired' part.

Whatever happened to Rick? I knew him only from the 70s while we attended pistol tourneys, with him as a writer and me as a promoter.

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The Holstorian

I see Rick's articles in gun magazines every now and then,
but I cant remember the last time. It's been a while.

Sorry for my comment about red hair. That's what happens
when I assume.

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In Omnia Paratus

I tried to find Rick Hacker. Last information I found He was writing for
Guns & Ammo's Handguns Magazine and the NRA's American Rifleman
a year ago. I assume he is still there. (There I go again assuming)

Whle searching I read one of his articles. Very interesting.
HOLLYWOOD HOLSTERS by Rick Hacker

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Had a look, he's done a very nice job with that article, and avoiding repeating old legends and instead adding his own research. Excellent :-)

__________________
The Holstorian

I've always wondered who made Ted De Corsia's Buscadero outfit in The Gunfight at the OK Corral.

Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

I'll betcha Rick Hacker could tell you if anyone could. I did a
quick search looking for a way to contact Rick and ask him,
but no luck. Maybe you know how?

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In Omnia Paratus

I asked John Bianchi if he knows. Will let you know if I get
an answer. Phil

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In Omnia Paratus

I enjoy digging up some of these older threads. Much more interested in
the old gun leather from 19th & 20th centuries than the Tupperware stuff
now a days.

This article addressed the origination of the buscadero.
Digging around in one of my old scrap books I found a clipping written
by Sheriff Jim Wilson. Unfortunately I didn't note the magazine or date.

He thought the buscadero might have been originated because of Capt.
Hughes shoulder injury that had not healed. The buscadero allowed him
to use his sixgun in spite of the injury.

But then he found an older photo of sheriff Commodore Perry Owens
carrying his 7.5" Peacemaker in a holster that looks like a buscadero.

So, he concluded that the buscadero probably originated in the latter
years of the 19th century. Then Hollywood got ahold of the buscadero
and the rest is history.

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In Omnia Paratus

That famous Commadore Perry picture looks like a slim Jim with top part stitched onto the belt under all those cartridge loops. The earliest holster hanging through a slot cut in the belt I remember is in a well known Texas Ranger group shot. But it looks like a standard belt with a home made slot cut in it. And I think that one’s post 1900.

Fascinating thread. Thanks for sharing all of the knowledge.

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Eccentric old coot

Again, I'm thinking we can't 'blame' Hollywood; which arguably came into existence in 1919 when Pickford et al formed United Artists to counterbalance the studio system that put actors under contract. I've a copy of 1938's Fast and Fancy; and McGivern is pictured working his magic with a double buscadero by Myres as his favored set using DA revolvers. Ed made his living setting shooting records and had strong feelings about the role that holsters played in that; he didn't choose his holsters because Hollywood 'said so'.

I worked out recently that it was Arvo who nicknamed the Gunsmoke-style as 'Hollywood holsters'; that is, this actually was the name of his original company: Hollywood Holsters; that's where they were made -- in N. Hollywood. Arvo's belts are incorrectly called buscaderos; because Myres' were originally straight; Heiser's were arced; Berns-Martin's were boomerang shaped; and Arvo's are actually bent severely. Bill Myres took great exception to Arvo claiming the style for himself but Arvo's were nothing like Myres'.

The original Myres, so saith Sandra Myres, were belts much like Berns-Martin's with a strap on the face for the holster; and Sam simplified this by adding the slotted extension to the lower edge.

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The Holstorian

Was watching an old 1963/64 episode of "The Virginian" over the weekend..... both he and Travis carry a different style holster w/ the muzzle slightly forward.......holster just looped over the belt w/ no tie down.....

Seem to recall this style as 'fast draw" rigs from the 50s?
IIRC/guessing those holsters are aluminum lined.

The dude on the right is gunned extra heavy.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Inside was a layer of steel, baby :-). Likely the Virginian sets were by Andy Anderson; here's his take with the set made entirely of steel (courtesy Bob Arganbright):

anderson arganbright (1).jpg

Rather than 'the fast draw of the 50s', it would almost be correct to call it 'the fast draw of 1960'! Arvo started it all by the late '50s, the first fast draw championship was held in '59, and Arvo found himself outside the inner circle by '62 or so. It really didn't last long, to be overtaken by Cooper's 'leatherslaps' that were eventually dominated by the 1911.

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The Holstorian

LOL since posting this morning..... been reminiscing a bit....... seem to recall a winner of a/the fast draw championship appearing on TV show(maybe "To Tell the Truth") then giving a demonstration of his fast draw.

vague memories of ......... Wax bullets? Breaking balloons?

Cut me some slack I was maybe 5 or 6

Yes indeed to the wax bullets and breaking balloons, in fast draw; too many serious injuries with live ammo for that bunch. But leatherslaps stayed with full-power (none of the squib loads that even PPC was using in the '60s) live ammo from the holster, still using balloons and advancing considerably to what we know as IPSC and USPSA today.

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The Holstorian

I'm not picking on you again, Phil! Honest. Recently I took another look at a well-known image of Capt Hughes and realized from a caption in a Rangers article that the set shown here IS the original Buscadero for him:

ranger hughes 1935 states parsons.jpg

The (quite terrible) image is from a Myres catalog of circa 1936. I think, but don't know, that a series of images of Hughes with his beard in his old age, were taken on the occasion of the Rangers becoming a part of the Texas Dept. of Public Safety in 1935; because he had been retired since 1915 when forced out by the new governor of Texas (who soon after was himself impeached) yet is in Rangers regalia as are others pictured with him; right down to wearing a badge (which all indications are Rangers never wore their badges exposed).

Rangers of his era all came out of the Army of the Confederacy.

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The Holstorian

Speaking of fast draw, not sure but probably many here know that some of the best fast draw guys apparently were : Sammy Davis Jr. as well as Jerry Lewis...and when Shane shoots all the baddies at the end & spins his SAA into the holster in close up: the guy that did that was a famous stunt guy trick shooter fast draw artist an Indian named Rod Redfeather? The name escapes me.

When the experts get to going at it, all that is needed is a mesquite camp fire, a little libation and plenty of time.

Rodd Redwing. The Indian who spoke like Cary Grant, because he was half Brahman Indian and half Chickasaw Indian and educated in London. His made his living in motion pictures and before Arvo, taught actors their gun handling.

My old boss, John Bianchi, was big on making connections with movie stars including John Wayne; and that led me to have a lovely chat with Sammy Davis by phone when I was in my late 20s. Here he is, and yes indeed, so is Jerry Lewis:

ojala sammy.jpg

ojala lewis.jpg

One can add readily to the list, with men like Mel Torme, because fast draw was big, big, BIG in their time.

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The Holstorian

Sammy Davis Jr. was guest star on an old Gunsmoke rerun that I watched
recently. His sixgun handling skills were impressive.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

and my education continues.... I am really liking these threads.

And Elvis -- with Redwing instructing him. I notice that Elvis' set, and Jerry Lewis, have belts with holes for lacing so that the size can be adjusted to suit the actors. Rodd made his own sets and perhaps that feature -- the laced billets -- is a clue in other films. Likely this image is from/for Flaming Star? In which case it is 1960 and Elvis is 25 and Rodd is 56.

ojala elvis.jpg

Redwing's birth name was Rodric Ashmed Tokaji Hokar Kar Rajpurkali, Jr. and a search for that name turns him up as being one of two brothers, along with Jay Silverheels, in the film Key Largo :-). We also know him for Creature from the Black Lagoon.

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The Holstorian

Sammy Davis did a really impressive trick shooting scene in 'The Rifleman' specific episode escapes me but YouTube it. He did the knife in the bullet hole trick which is something I find pretty incredible.

Jay Silverheels? I think he was Tonto wasn't he?

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In Omnia Paratus

Some threads are DEFINITELY worth resurrecting! This one is very cool.

As a side note, Mel Torme described either Jerry Lewis or Sammy Davis, or, or maybe both of them, with respect to their speed at fast draw, as "kind of sudden". I always liked that.

At large cowboy action matches we occasionally had fast draw competitions. Maybe they still do; it's been awhile for me. You could use your own gun and holster or borrow a slicked out holster and a tricked out revolver. We fired wax bullets at a flat target in a tent - you had to actually hit the target to qualify. The last time I did it I impressed the heck out of myself I was so damned fast. Then the younger guys did it. Oops. I wasn't as fast as I thought!

On another note, I used El Paso Saddlery's Tom Threepersons' holsters most of the time. They worked great and looked great and nobody ever complained that they were NOT "Old West" period correct. Working with the S.D. Myres Saddle Co., of El Paso, he created the holster that bore his name and they began advertising the "Tom Threepersons-style holsters" in 1925.

Then, again, in 1925 there was still a lot of Old West out there!!!

Correct.

In his later years he drove sulkies in trotting races; I recall betting on him at Yonkers Raceway a zillion years ago.

All that is legend, and likely you got it from Skeeter Skelton who himself likely got it from Charlie Askins; because Skeeter was after Tom's time and Charlie wasn't.

The hint is 'advertising it in 1925' and try as we might, turnerriver and I never did unearth any such advertising. Myres was not a holster maker (tho he did have a few non-Threepersons holsters in his range) but a saddle maker all the way up until 1931. At that point his business, like all Texas saddlemakers, was suffering mightily; and he chose to pursue holsters instead, with a little help from Tom and, it appears, from Arno Brill. According to Myres, a Threepersons holster is correctly any one of these three styles:

myres (3).jpg The Myres based on Tom's own holster

myres witty (11).jpg The Myres specifically for the 38 Super Automatic (not the ideal image, the correct Myres has a closed muzzle like the revolver versions).

11 myres (1).jpg The Myres based on the Brill

As you can see, a Threepersons is not defined as 'rides high and exposed the trigger guard'. Neither is it 'all unnecessary leather cut away around the pistol'. And the Brill itself was before Tom's own; whose holster rode neither high, nor grip-forward.

Discussed at length in the full chapters devoted to Brill, and Threepersons, and Myres; who appeared historically in that order.

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The Holstorian

What a fascinating thread. Ya can't buy this stuff...

Sure you can , Red will sell you all you need !

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Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

I am old to old firearms but new to old leather. So, were are the buckles on the cartridge belt?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

As for Costner's 9 shot SAA in Open Range, I believe that he is on record of saying that he switched guns but editing made it look like he was shooting the same revolver.

However, that does not excuse people being flung back 10 feet upon being hit.

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Only a cold warrior

In the back I believe.