SD Myres holster

[Summersteel]

I recently found this holster as NOS. I believe it is unused and quite beautiful.
There are no number markings on the backside of the holster, just the branding, SD Myres, Sweetwater, Tex.
Any ideas on what this would be made for and age?
A K frame with no sights seems to fit OK, but perhaps it’s really for something else? Also, is the rawhide loop a kind of strap to go over the hammer?
I also got a nice unused belt with it with the same stamping.

[wheelgun610]

I don't know anything about the Myres product line from Sweetwater, but their stuff from El Paso definitely had model numbers - but they were never stamped on the holsters that I know of. None of mine are marked anyway. The numbers were listed in their catalogs.

At any rate, that's a fine looking holster. Does the belt match the carving of the holster?

Mark

[45Wheelgun]

That is a beautiful Holster. Someone with more knowledge than I, will be along to answer you question. Please post a picture of the belt and holster together.

Great find.

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by Summersteel

I recently found this holster as NOS. I believe it is used and quite beautiful.
There are no number markings on the backside of the holster, just the branding, SD Myres, Sweetwater, Tex.
Any ideas on what this would be made for and age?
A K frame with no sights seems to fit OK, but perhaps it’s really for something else? Also, is the rawhide loop a kind of strap to go over the hammer?
I also got a nice unused belt with it with the same stamping.

Summersteel, first off, that is a really beautiful holster! Second, it is a little confusing to me. It does look like NOS, but, I thought that Myres was in Sweetwater a really long time ago, like late 1800's or early 1900's. I can't imagine that holster being that old and in the condition it is in. They later moved to El Paso and used 2 different stamps, the earlier one with "Tex.", and the later one without. It is generally thought that change in stamps was done around 1952-53 when Samuel Dale died, but some holster have been seen with BOTH stamps.

If your holster IS from the original Sweetwater, Texas timeframe, it is superb, but it is a gem no matter what. turnerriver will be along shortly to set us straight.
Larry

[rednichols]

Yours indeed is a superb example. These with the attempt at replicating the early Sweetwater mark instead are from the David Duclos era that began 1980; he hasn't been active with the brand for many, many years. Typically we see only his The Duke holsters in this quality. Duclos also used the original "with and without" Myres marks so it all adds up to confusing, I'd say. There is a way to tell every Myres from every other by its marks; I've posted on this before but not being stickied, they fall by the wayside.

[Kansasgunner]

Very nice holster! To answer your question yes the leather strap, not rawhide, is known as a hammer thong. It goes over the hammer and serves the same purpose as a snap safety strap.
And yes please show us some photos of the belt also.

[Summersteel]

The belt is a bit lighter in color, but the holster and belt were sold together. The belt is in new, unused condition.

[Summersteel]

Originally Posted by rednichols

Yours indeed is a superb example. These with the attempt at replicating the early Sweetwater mark instead are from the David Duclos era that began 1980; he hasn't been active with the brand for many, many years. Typically we see only his The Duke holsters in this quality. Duclos also used the original "with and without" Myres marks so it all adds up to confusing, I'd say. There is a way to tell every Myres from every other by its marks; I've posted on this before but not being stickied, they fall by the wayside.

If I am understanding you correctly, are you saying it's possible this holster and belt are counterfeit SD Myres built by someone else?? I had no idea this would be possible in the holster world.....But, I guess it shouldn't surprise me...

[crazyphil]

Summersteel - I believe David Duclos was one of the later S. D. Myres
owners, long after S. D. had passed away.

[Onomea]

Beautiful holster, Summersteel. Thanks for posting.

It looks to be very high quality to my untrained eye. I certainly would not call it counterfeit, especially as it was made by Myres, albeit in the 1980s.

I'm not sure if or how the concept of "counterfeit" fits into the holster making world. From my recent dabbling here, I've learned that styles are reproduced by various makers, often with their own tweaks. While original makers/designers are not always acknowledged, the holsters are well made. And craftsman shift around among makers...

(FWIW, in classical Chinese painting, copying originals is not seen as improper. At times, the copies are acknowledged as superior to the originals.)

[ppeeks]

It is almost certainly designed to hold a Colt SAA (or clone) revolver, barrel length matching the holster length. Without anything else in the photos to gauge its size, it looks like it is for a 7.5" barrel just by the proportions.

[Blackwater Red]

Skeeter Skelton referred to SD Myres as "Tio Sam" and was much taken with his holsters. If ya'll are interested, here is a link to the historical significance of SD Myres. If that is NOS out of Sweetwater, it looks to be Museum quality.
S.D. Myres Saddle Company History and Maker Marks - www.vintagegunleather.com California

[turnerriver]

Your holster was almost certainly made by Dave DuClos, probably in the 1980’s as Red noted. He held the Myres stamps and I believe he had the Sweetwater stamp made. He worked briefly at the Myres Saddlery. I understand that he suffered from health problems and, although talented, had difficulty delivering orders.
Tio Sam Myres left Sweetwater, Texas in 1919-20, he made few holsters while there and was busy with saddles.
Your holster is not a counterfeit, it was made by a man who had the right to stamp it with the Myres stamp at the time. When Smith & Wesson passed to Bangor Punta they were still Smith & Wessons. Your holster appears to have been made to accommodate rear target sights.
Here’s the only original Sweetwater marked Myres holster I’ve been able to find, it’s in pretty good shape for its age.


Regards,

[Summersteel]

Thank you for all the replies.
I was thinking of using this holster, but for now, I think it will remain a safe queen. Sounds like it might be worth something.
What about the belt? Made in the same era as the holster?

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by Onomea

Beautiful holster, Summersteel. Thanks for posting.

It looks to be very high quality to my untrained eye. I certainly would not call it counterfeit, especially as it was made by Myres, albeit in the 1980s.

I'm not sure if or how the concept of "counterfeit" fits into the holster making world. From my recent dabbling here, I've learned that styles are reproduced by various makers, often with their own tweaks. While original makers/designers are not always acknowledged, the holsters are well made. And craftsman shift around among makers...

(FWIW, in classical Chinese painting, copying originals is not seen as improper. At times, the copies are acknowledged as superior to the originals.)

A notion worth exploring. I agree that someone producing an exact copy of the Askins Avenger, for example, that John and I created is not counterfeiting when it doesn't also bear the Bianchi Holsters maker's mark. IMHO it IS counterfeiting to claim that an El Paso Saddlery-marked holster made in the 1980s onwards with a copy of the maker's mark, is made by the original company that failed in 1902.

I fell victim to the subterfuge myself -- once. Then did the research. Can you tell which this one is, the genuine or the counterfeit?

1980s replicas (5).jpg

My friend turnerriver has given half the answer regarding Myres and Sweetwater; by showing what is believed to be the final Sweetwater mark (his shop burning down in 1919, Sam received a huge insurance payout in 1919 dollars that enabled him to rebuild). The first Sweetwater mark is very much exactly like the O.P.s mark -- the difference being that Duclos bought the trademark itself from Lacroix and so his products literally are not counterfeits. Sam's original was itself derived from his predecessor's mark, J.K. Polk of Sweetwater.

sweetwater originals (1).jpg


sweetwater polk (2).jpg

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by Summersteel

Thank you for all the replies.
I was thinking of using this holster, but for now, I think it will remain a safe queen. Sounds like it might be worth something.
What about the belt? Made in the same era as the holster?

It is a very nice, beautiful holster, but unfortunately, not worth near what an original SD Myres, Sweetwater holster would bring.
Larry

[Onomea]

I'll add that I think you ought to go ahead and use it. It looks to be an excellent holster, and I doubt usage will affect it's value much, if at all.