At the Palm Beach gun show today I picked up what I was sure was a Bucheimer holster. I was happy to see it was actually a Heiser -a model cataloged in the late 1950’s. I asked how much, he hemmed & hawed and asked what it was worth and then grudgingly accepted my offer.
Look at the photos and see if you can find the flaw that wasn’t apparent to me until two rows later. I bet you’ll see it right away.


The bottom front half was shaved or cut. It was the only Heiser at the show and I just wasn’t paying attention like I know I should.
Apologies for the quick and lousy photos.
Regards,

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turnerriver

IMHO John it was made that way, for someone who wanted an open muzzle for junk to fall through (maybe even fired bullets!). A gap there was a much-hyped feature of the original FBI '457' holster by Heiser.

And you missed more than that: Heiser did not make this double spring crossdraw holster, ever, for sale in its catalogs. That I can see anyway, your Heiser catalog pages are far more complete than mine :-). Certainly have no holster images of one.

You're associating it, too, w/ J.M. Bucheimer but it was Clark who made it originally, 30 years prior to J.M.B. as its famous 'Combat' model. Everybody eventually made it including Hume, which was a surprise to me when I spotted one (because in an interview he said he would never make those new-fangled spring holsters).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

The holster I bought yesterday.

A whole one from my collection.

The appropriate catalog page.

I associate this style with Bucheimer because as a collector I see many of these made by them and few by others. Especially Heiser.
Regards,

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turnerriver

I am humbled by your reply. Your research is better than mine, and I do have that brochure in my collection :-). At least I got the era right; I had filed your newest image with the Keyston years for Heiser.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

That is a old school cool holster for sure.

1976 Don Hume catalog page 19

Heiser & Hume v Bucheimer ??
Chicken versus chicken soup, as my haberdasher once said.
Bucheimer - Clark is another matter......

A regional police supply carried the Hume spring-posts, so I saw them back when. And to be fair, Bucheimer quality varied greatly by era.

Attached Images

Hume, Don cat xdraw spring 1976.jpg (51.5 KB, 17 views)

TR: Any suggestions for the significance of "G" style holster designation?

G-Man???

Attached Images

Heiser Keyston cat xdraw spring post 1958.jpg (147.5 KB, 12 views)

All models in the Sportsman series were identified by letters as shown here.

Regards,

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turnerriver