I have a 1st Generation .38-40 w/ a 4 3/4" bbl and am looking for a holster. I'm not seeking a "cowboy rig" just a medium rise OWB holster of good quality. A Tom Threepersons style might do. Who makes a decent one now? What do y'all carry?? Pics please!

Vintage is even better & floral would be OK too........

I just bought this off of eBay. It's a "placeholder" until I find exactly what I want. It was $30 including shipping. Best guess is it was made on someone's kitchen table..... (No, those are NOT my initials!! )


Best,
Charles

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I purchased my Cowboy Rig maybe 25 years ago (both a right and left holster and a cartridge belt) for my Colt's from Rick Bachman / Old West Reproductions. His work is authentically styled, great workmanship and he was a pleasure to deal with. I have no clue as to what I paid back then, but I'll give you his link below. Since ALL his holsters are custom made, he'll make you anything you want within reason, so you don't necessarily have to get a "Cowboy Rig".

You could also look at El Paso Saddlery. I think I've got a holster from them too. Their stuff is not bad either.

Snubbyfan here on the S&W Forum also makes custom holsters and he can probably help you out as well. Send him a PM.

These three are at least a starting place for ya .


Old West Reproductions(R), Inc. - 406.273.2615

El Paso saddlery or Doc Barranti would be good choices. A classic revolver deserves a good quality holster and, if possible, add a few Bells and whistles like floral carving.

The best "non" cowboy shuck I own for a Colt SAA is my Hank Sloan from Doc Barranti.

Dan

Red Nichols re-created Tom Threeperson's personal holster that was made
by A. B. Egland. Here, below, is a photo of the first proto-type that Red
gave me. It is the first one, on the left. Red is a member here on the forum.

Doc Barranti and/or David Keith, both forum members, would also
be good choices. Barranti Ranger with "dog ear" 2nd from left,
and Keith's inspired by Brill 3rd from left.

PS You might find a Lawrence Keith, 4th from left,
or a Bianchi #1 Lawman, 5th, on one of the auction sites.

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In Omnia Paratus

The holy grail, of course, is a Brill. Last two auction prices I saw were both $200. One thread on this forum is about one that sold for ten times that, but that's a bit unusual. No company makes an authentic reproduction, especially not EPS.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Just a couple more:
An old Hunter on the left.
Or get a copy of Chic Gaylord's Handgunner's Guide,
and make yourself a Missouri Skin Tight. My effort
is 2nd from left.

Another thought, a fellow by name of Henry Cassady
makes a beautiful re-creation of Lawrence's famous
"Keith holster". I don't know if he is still around, but
his business was called HC Leather. Here, 3rd from
left is a photo.

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In Omnia Paratus

You can't go wrong with El Paso Saddlery!

My son made this for my 71/2"Uberti 44-40. Rides good close to body. I am gonna have him make one for my Colt 4 3/4" 44-40 to. It packs iron very well. About $85 and shipping. And hand tooled and stitched. PM me I will give his info. He can put a strap or thong on if needed,but mine is smooth in draw and great retention. My beater carry G19 in his basket weave pancake.

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Charles,

I've sport'd this'n for about twenty something years.



2nd Gen. Colt SSA 44 Special. 4 3/4"




If a retention strap is required.........

A King Saddlery model.




.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Hard to go wrong with El Paso Saddlery for a modern day Threepersons holster. Reasonably priced, or expensive, whichever way you want to go. And their Threepersons come standard with a lining to protect your gun's finish.

Here's an OM Ruger .45 Colt in EPS's Threepersons holster with hammer loop instead of a retention strap. I personally dislike retention straps on holsters for single actions. This one has their border stamping.

I got lucky on ebay on this rig. One of the best designed holsters I can imagine for a single action - and a matching belt. Sadly, no maker's mark to be found....



Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

These two are from Henry Cassady of HC Leather. As well made as any current maker's Threepersons style holster (and better than some of the big name brands), for a lot less $ than most. The lower one is for a Blackhawk, but it's lined and holds the SAA sized New Vaquero snug enough that it doesn't slide around in the holster.



Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Lotsa good holsters in this thread but here's one I like for SAA style and definitely not a typical cowboy rig...
Mernickle Custom Holsters - Performance Series

I like this one a lot. If I had it, I wouldn't care who made it.

I don't really care who made it either, but would like to know just in case anyone else knows of the maker. It is extremely well designed and the workmanship is second to none.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Do you think it's a modern day holster, or might it be well preserved with some age on it? Just curious.

Also check out the new Lobo Gun Leather.
I think they are using Ray Cory's patterns (the original Lobo Gun Leather).
Ray made me a great looking Threepersons style holster for my Model 10.

Mark, at the new Lobo, made me an enhanced pancake that Ray designed.
The quality is every bit as good as Ray's work.

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

It's definitely got some age to it. I'd have to guess it's from at least the 50's, but could be even older. The seller was from Texas and 'said' it came from Carrizo Springs, TX, but didn't know anything more about it....

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S&W Forum Member #721

+1 for HC Leather. He sells on ebay and his holsters which are very Tom Threepersons-like are well made and reasonably priced.

Either one one those would be perfect!!!!

Is the top one a S.D. Myres "Jockstrap" model??

Best,
Charles

I have an A.W. Brill from the mid 1930's for a Colt Official Police that was carried by U.S. Customs. The holster & the gun had been together since they were new & came to me as a package deal.

Best,
Charles

The King Saddlery holster shown here is very contemporary. But it reminds:

Who'd have thunk it -- King Ranch's original saddlery was bought out early in the 20th century and was re-named by its buyer as Kingsville Lumber Co., complete with maker's mark stating same. An image of one appears in Packing Iron without that author realising that it's both a Threepersons and a Brill-based design. Here's another pic of one from an auction site; you'll have to study it carefully to realise all that Rattenbury did not:

2 kingsville lumber co kingsville.jpg

Note both the lip extending from the muzzle that is stitched to the fender behind; and that the cuff a was attached uniformly from the holster fold to form a defined loop for the belt.

Although even Heiser called those wide belts 'money belts', there was a specification for them and they were called 'scout belts'. Intended to hold valuable papers more than money, such as the receipts for horse, gun, saddle, etc.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Red,
Yur a little out of your depth on that King's Saddlery holster...

That was made by King's in Sheridan Wyoming,
Not connected to the King's Ranch in Kingsville, Texas.

* The short jock strap holster is of my own pattern, and
I carved the Shorthorn bull on the SAA's one piece stocks
from an old picture of one of my father's prize bulls.

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Charles, I see a lot of suggestions here but no real help being offered. Having met you, I realize that between your work at the SO and your addiction to cruising gun shops and web sites for firearms you simply do not have the time to go get a holster.

With that in mind, let me be the first one here to post a true offer. As you know, I am recently retired and have some free time. Let me have that Colt SAA and I will take it to a few famous north GA holster makers and get you some quotes and photos of the various offerings. I can even hold onto the Colt a few weeks while you make up your mind.

I can even meet you in Loganville and pick the Colt up to save you the long drive up to Hall county.

You have my number, just give me a call.

P.S. I don't offer to do this for everybody.

I sincerely ( ) appreciate your selfless gesture. It reaffirms my jaded faith in the goodness of humanity.

However, I found the perfect holster courtesy of another forum member.

I truly thank you though!!!

Best ,
Charles

We need photos...
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Agreed. But how else was I going to work in the story about Kingsville Lumber :-).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thanks, Sergeant Major. I spent a couple of years researching the Threepersons-style, based upon a photo of Tom Threepersons' original holster, and retained a couple of leather-carving artists to recreate the original "Texas Rose" carving pattern. The major differences between my Threepersons-style holster and the originals (and later iterations) were (1) the use of bonded nylon thread instead of linen thread, resulting in greater strength and longer life, and (2) belt slots fitted to the intended belt width, providing greater stability on the belt and eliminating unintentional shifting of the holstered handgun.

Mark Fedders and family purchased Lobo Gun Leather upon my retirement in 2015. I was present for the first several production runs, and I continue to serve as consulting technical advisor as the Fedders continue production of my designs. I must say that quality is better than ever, and having several family members involved in the business the customer service is much better than I was ever able to maintain as a one-man operation.

Shortly after my retirement I added to my collection an original 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army "Frontier Six Shooter" in .44-40 caliber, manufactured in 1914, in well-used original condition. I engaged Mr. Bobby Tyler (Tyler Gun Works, Friona, Texas) to restore the old Colt with original style bluing and color case hardening. Then I asked Mark Fedders and his son Matthew (award winning leather carver in the Sheridan style) to make for me a Threepersons-style holster, floral carved, black ink background, with traditional hammer thong retention. The result is nearly museum quality, certainly a show stopper at every time out.

I cannot recommend anyone more highly than Lobo Gun Leather under the current ownership and management of the Fedders family.

Best regards.

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I started a new thread on the A.W.Brill with pics per your request....

Best,
Charles

Thanks to a forum member, I now have the PERFECT carry holster for my .38-40!!! Does it look familiar????

Dave,
I hope you don't mind a small bore ridin' it......

Best,
Charles

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Charles,

That shuck once toted a 32-20 for a short spell....

Dave

.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

What? No matching cuff case? I guess when that gun was new cuffing perps was a seldom encountered option.

Karla Van Horn of Purdy Leather in GA custom made this rig for me. It is fully lined besides all the very fine workmanship. I'm thrilled with the set, the finest leather work I've ever seen.
Now I just need to finish my 1st Generation .44Special SSA restoration.

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That is some beautiful tooling. She does great work.