BUCHEIMER-CLARK'S THREEPERSON

crazyphil · #1 01-16-2020, 06:26 PM

Yes, Bucheimer-Clark did have a Threeperson's holster. They
called it a Rebel. Back in October of 2018 Red Nichols posted
photos of his Bucheimer-Clark Rebel, post #147 in the HOLSTER
BEAUTY CONTEST thread. He said "I bought mine, because at
first glance, it is the most like Tom Threeperson's original than
any other makers..."

I was reading that post again, a week or so ago, and decided
that I needed a Rebel too. I hope Red remembers that imitation
is the most sincere form of flattery. THE TRUE DEFINITION OF
A THREEPERSON'S HOLSTER is the title of another thread , by
Red Nichols, here on this forum with a checklist at his post #12,
listing the criteria for an authentic Tom Threeperson's holster.

When Red made replicas of Tom Threeperson's original, he had
given me (luckyphil), the number one prototype. That is
probably the main reason I wanted the Rebel. Photo below left.

Red provided me with a scan from B-C's 1962 catalog and I chose
the model 98 because, if I remembered right (and I did), the
Great Western was an exact replica of Colt's SAA. 2nd photo
from left.

It didn't take long to fine a "well used" Rebel model #98. The
seller said that the holster fits the Ruger Single Six and Colt's
Scout. I had the scan Red sent me, so I knew model 98 fits
the standard SAA. The Rebel is shown in the photo 3rd from left
as it looked right out of the package today.

You may notice that the holster is for the 5.5" barrel, as is
Red's replica of the original T3P. So Tom's hoster was 5.5"
even though his SAA was 4.75". I figured if it was good enough
for Tom, it is sure good enough for me.

4th photo from left shows my Nichol's replica prototype and
the Rebel side-by-side.

5th photo from left is my Rebel, with my Colt SAA replica, on
a Haugen gun belt, Sharp's Bowie knife, and my Stetson Open
Road.

On the following post I am adding 5 more photos of the Rebel
so Red can show Tom's original holster along side the Rebel
and "point out just how exact the two are".

If you prefer a higher ride and a retention strap, the Bucheimer
(Not Bucheimer-Clark) Federal Man is also an authentic Tom
Threepersons. But thats a story for another day.

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

crazyphil · #2 01-16-2020, 06:34 PM

Here are 5 photos I took for Red to point out how exact the features
are. Left to Right:

Front of Rebel

Back of Rebel

Rebel's welt

Rebel's belt loop

Rebel's maker stamp and tie down.

rednichols · #3 01-16-2020, 07:37 PM

Comparison of Tom's original with Phil's Bucheimer-Clark (notice that Phil knows it's not a Bucheimer; they were associated companies but not the same nevertheless).

The similarities are so strong, vs any other Threepersons design I have ever seen including Sam Myres; that I must consider the possibility that Earl Clark who came over from Clark Holsters after his father Ed died late 1940s, to form B-C with Richard Bucheimer in '59 as the West Coast branch of J.M. Bucheimer, actually was handling Tom's original when he designed the Scout.

SAM_1572.jpg restored (12).jpg

SAM_1573.jpg restored (13).jpg

Not far fetched at all: Tom was still living -- until 1969 -- and in Safford AZ. Earl was based in Anaheim as I recall, so they were not far apart; and the catalog is 1961. And little reticence by someone as young as Earl to jump on a plane; in that time one could just walk in and buy a ticket with no penalty for not planning ahead. We could even use the same ticket on another airline if we needed to!! More like taking a taxi than a youngie of today would realize. Zero security checks, no lines, one could walk out onto the tarmac and step up into the plane :-).

SG-688 · #4 01-16-2020, 10:25 PM

Add something here also please.

Bucheimer and Bucheimer-Clark holster fit charts - 1953-1975 & later