MAKER MARKS AND HISTORY

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crazyphil

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Photo below left, clockwise starting at the top, are maker marks:
Eubanks Leather, Pioneer Company, Eubanks Pioneer, and Idaho Leather.

2nd from left: Royal Eubanks started his company in 1939.
The holster was made sometime between 1939 and 1949.
Cartridge belt by Lawrence, S&W Model 10 4", Marbles Damascus knife.

3rd from left: Pioneer Company had been in business much
longer. Legal name was Pioneer Tent and Awning. They made
all kinds of canvas and leather products and marketed them
throughout the Northwest. Although I believe they made
holsters, including the one shown here, I don't believe they
had the quality or volume that Eubanks did, so they bought
Eubanks. Mexican gunbelt, S&W Model 10 4", Schrade knife.

4th from left: Eubanks sold to Pioneer in 1949 and gave them
a 5 year agreement to not compete. Pioneer started using
the mark EUBANKS PIONEER LEATHER. My apology to the
maker for my amateur re-lacing job. The gun is a Colt's Agent
with Craig Spegel stocks, Lawrence gunbelt, Bear knife.

5th from left: Upon expiration of the covenant to not compete,
Royal Eubanks went back into business as IDAHO LEATHER.
But Royal died shortly thereafter and his widow sold to a friend,
Bud Wetzel. Bud's son, Ben Wetzel ran the company up until
December 2016 when he passed away. I don't know yet if
there is a future for Idaho Leather. Gunbelt is from Cowtown,
gun is Colt's .45 ACP, knife is from Case.
 

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Last edited:
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crazyphil said:
Maybe it should have been about whiskey. It would have generated
a little more interest?
Click to expand...
I found it interesting. I can add a few marks if you'd like.
crazyphil said:
Photo below left, clockwise starting at the top, are maker marks:
Eubanks Leather, Pioneer Company, Eubanks Pioneer, and Idaho Leather.

2nd from left: Royal Eubanks started his company in 1939.
The holster was made sometime between 1939 and 1949.
Cartridge belt by Lawrence, S&W Model 10 4", Marbles Damascus knife.

3rd from left: Pioneer Company had been in business much
longer. Legal name was Pioneer Tent and Awning. They made
all kinds of canvas and leather products and marketed them
throughout the Northwest. Although I believe they made
holsters, including the one shown here, I don't believe they
had the quality or volume that Eubanks did, so they bought
Eubanks. Mexican gunbelt, S&W Model 10 4", Schrade knife.

4th from left: Eubanks sold to Pioneer in 1949 and gave them
a 5 year agreement to not compete. Pioneer started using
the mark EUBANKS PIONEER LEATHER. My apology to the
maker for my amateur re-lacing job. The gun is a Colt's Agent
with Craig Spegel stocks, Lawrence gunbelt, Bear knife.

5th from left: Upon expiration of the covenant to not compete,
Royal Eubanks went back into business as IDAHO LEATHER.
But Royal died shortly thereafter and his widow sold to a friend,
Bud Wetzel. Bud's son, Ben Wetzel ran the company up until
December 2016 when he passed away. I don't know yet if
there is a future for Idaho Leather. Gunbelt is from Cowtown,
gun is Colt's .45 ACP, knife is from Case.
Click to expand...


Regards,
Bruce
 
crazyphil said:
Thanks Bruce. Have you seen THE PIONEER COMPANY mark before?
Any other different ones for Eubanks, Eubanks Pioneer, or Idaho Leather?
Click to expand...
Phil,
I don't believe I have any Pioneer, and only one Idaho, which I recently acquired. I have have several Eubanks, I will have to sort through and look at the marks.

Regards,
Bruce
 
I really like vintage holsters. They can be a thing of beauty and function. I have collected a few, but do not have any from the companies crazyphil showed in this thread. Unfortunately, funds are limited and I put what I have towards the big 3 companies. But, that is not to say that if I find one I really like at a good price, I would not try to add it to my collection!
 
boykinlp said:
I really like vintage holsters. They can be a thing of beauty and function. I have collected a few, but do not have any from the companies crazyphil showed in this thread. Unfortunately, funds are limited and I put what I have towards the big 3 companies. But, that is not to say that if I find one I really like at a good price, I would not try to add it to my collection!
Click to expand...

Thats one thing good about Eubanks, et. al.
The quality is there but the prices have not gone through
the roof yet, like the big 3.
 
Phil:

As a result of this fine thread, I now have a wonderful Eubanks holster for my Colt 1903 .32!!! I have started a thread at http://smith-wessonforum.com/gun-le...t-have-any-famous-holsters.html#post139545487

I want to again thank both you and the anonymous donor who saw my post #8 above, and very thoughtfully gave me this holster:

NOhHnN9.jpg


Oh, yes, I wanted to show the Makers marks on the back of the holster:

Du0kgzp.jpg


Needless to say, I am elated!!!

Best Regards, Les
 
Last edited:
​

Would be interested in some pics I can see. bought a holster today in an auction lot. Maker's mark is Eubanks Pioneer Leather Boise, Idaho. Found where it is their mark from 1950-1972. Dark brown basket weave w/ white wide stitch.

Over the oval maker's mark - LLA. To left of the oval 89. Below the mark 32A.

little shocked that a S&W K frame fits holster very well, except for the strap. Can anyone confirm that this one is for the Colt 1903 32 Auto? Thanx!
 
LLA makes me think Llama, who made .32 pistols. Wouldn't be surprising if the smaller Colt autos fit, too.
 
Oscarflytyer.... We lost our photos here on the forum when Photobucket kidnapped them and are holding them for ransom. I am trying to find the ones that I had posted in #12 above, and will replace them. Keep checking back....

Edit....Pics of a Eubanks for the Colt 1903 .32 are up again in post #12....with the maker's mark ....you will see that mine is marked 89 and 32A as you say yours is. I would venture to say that it would fit your 1903 just as you see mine in post #12 citing in my older version.

Best Regards, Les
 
Last edited:
Oscarflytyer said:
​

Would be interested in some pics I can see. bought a holster today in an auction lot. Maker's mark is Eubanks Pioneer Leather Boise, Idaho. Found where it is their mark from 1950-1972. Dark brown basket weave w/ white wide stitch.

Over the oval maker's mark - LLA. To left of the oval 89. Below the mark 32A.

little shocked that a S&W K frame fits holster very well, except for the strap. Can anyone confirm that this one is for the Colt 1903 32 Auto? Thanx!
Click to expand...

crazyphil is our Eubanks expert here. Post up some pics for him; in the meantime everything he's told you will be dead-on correct because no one knows more about his hometown brand than he does :-).

It is not unusual for DA revolvers to fit auto holsters. There's a pic of an auto stuck in a Brill floating around on the web that confuses the heck out of newbies to the brand, because Brill auto holsters are designed distinctly differently from their revolver holsters (so it's obvious that the combo is 'wrong').
 
Well...the strap on mine was longer, but it is a "vintage" holster, and the longer strap has worn off just at the snap. I know it's a collector item, but I am going to have the strap replaced or repaired one day to make it more usable. I agree with you, JayFramer.

Best Regards, Les
 
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