Vintage steel & leather (pics)

Modified · #**451** 01-08-2016, 02:23 PM

New holster came in the mail.

les.b · #**452** 01-08-2016, 04:11 PM

Is that a converted 1917? What a fantastic combination! Tell us about that front sight. Was this a gun that you got with the ivorys and the conversion, or a project.?

Nice vintage Heiser. Perfect combination. I was just watching the first Indiana Jones movie the other day, and when he is packing for his trip at s house, and throws his Smith and Wesson revolver into his suitcase, I would swear that it looks like something similar has been done to the barrel/front sight on the gun.

Modified · #**453** 01-08-2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by les.b

Is that a converted 1917? What a fantastic combination! Tell us about that front sight. Was this a gun that you got with the ivorys and the conversion, or a project.?

Nice vintage Heiser. Perfect combination. I was just watching the first Indiana Jones movie the other day, and when he is packing for his trip at s house, and throws his Smith and Wesson revolver into his suitcase, I would swear that it looks like something similar has been done to the barrel/front sight on the gun.

It's a bit of an odd one. I believe all the modifications are period, they all seem to have been done at the same time some time between 1935 and the war. I was very pleased that the Heiser fits it so perfectly.

It's a King modified 1917 as you note. The hammer is radially grooved but not an early 1917 hammer, it's actually from a registered magnum. It's one of two 1917s I own with that hammer. I think they did it because when you mate it to the 1917 trigger you end up with this odd sort of...fast? double action pull. It's pretty great.

The front sight is the King super police sight on what I think was one of their rifle shrouds so that it would be at the right height and have the mirror reflector sight. The rear sight is also modified to be larger and is essentially a U shape with a white outline.

The stocks are walrus and were clearly made for this particular conversion as the rear of the butt is a little bit rounded off, as is the frame.

I made a thread about it when I bought it: The best 1917 (I'll ever own), maybe ever?

It is undoubtedly in my top 5 favorite guns. It's among a small handful that I can't imagine ever parting with for any reason.

les.b · #**454** 01-09-2016, 01:10 AM

Thanks for the dope! That is a spectacular piece, and I don't blame you for not wanting to part with it. It sure fits, with the holster, the OP: Linda's criteria of vintage steel and leather!!! Thanks for sharing with us.

rednichols · #**455** 01-14-2016, 03:31 AM

This pic shows the third holster I've seen that has the unusual construction near the trigger guard that is the same as on Tom Threeperson's personal SAA 5-1/2" holster. I had high hopes that when the auction catalogue arrived including the pic, that there would be some maker information on the holster. On the other hand, all three holsters I know of, including Tom's, are unmarked. Yet virtually every holster offered in this catalogue is marked with a maker's name, suggesting that marking was the norm. The fully-rounded muzzle is another feature of the genuine Threeperson's holster and is not a Myres styling. I'd have loved to see the back of this one; Tom's holster also has an unusual stitching pattern to hold the belt loop closed.

threepersons maybe (1).jpg

Holster and revolver belonged to the family of Billy Connell, Texas cowboy and steer roping legend, and though the revolver is earlier the holster was believed to be circa 1910-1920. Note the final auction price for the pair that is hand-written on the image; the auction conducted in 2008 brought some eye-watering prices for holsters alone, including but not limited to -- wait for it -- U$24,000 for what appears to be a Meanea set (that is, text and pics don't match, but the pics are of the Meanea). No pistol. Just a belt and holster.

bamabiker · #**456** 06-10-2016, 10:12 PM

I hope no one minds, I went looking for this thread and wanted to bump it to the top. It's one of my favorites.
Anyone got some new pictures to show here?

LOBO · #**457** 06-10-2016, 10:29 PM

You won't hear any complaints from my neck of the woods

les.b · #**458** 06-10-2016, 10:43 PM

You guys must be psychic!! I was just thinking about Linda's wonderful thread. Well, this is not nearly as distinguished a post as so many on here have been, but here is a 1922 Colt Police Positive Special with an older holster that firs it perfectly. I had posted this recently on my "Slick Shooters of the Roaring Twenties" thread. Anyway, for what it's worth:

Best Regards, Les

bruce5781 · #**459** 06-10-2016, 10:57 PM

Eubanks Flap with 1952 Combat Masterpiece

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les.b · #**460** 06-10-2016, 11:24 PM

Bruce5781:

That is just stunning. What a beautiful job on that holster, and the shootin iron ain't bad either!!! Magnificent!!!

Best Regards, Les

bruce5781 · #**461** 06-10-2016, 11:37 PM

Thanks, Les. I'm amazed at the depth of the stamping. And then too, I'm a sucker for rawhide lacing.

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Warren Sear · #**462** 06-10-2016, 11:43 PM

I am the grandson of German immigrants. I inherited this German Reichsrevolver Model 1883 and holster after my father's death.

bamabiker · #**463** 06-11-2016, 12:03 AM

Since I brought the thread back I'll share a couple of pics of my one and only Heiser with a couple of new vintage style holsters and a 45 Model of 1955 and a model 25-2.

bruce5781 · #**464** 06-11-2016, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabiker

Since I brought the thread back I'll share a couple of pics of my one and only Heiser with a couple of new vintage style holsters and a 45 Model of 1955 and a model 25-2.

Nice. If you only have one Heiser, that's the one to have.

Bruce

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bruce5781 · #**465** 06-11-2016, 07:15 AM

22/32 HFT and ratty old H. H. Heiser.

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les.b · #**466** 06-11-2016, 01:10 PM

Wow. And that looks like there might be some Bil Jordan stuff right next door!!! There are two legends in the handgun world. Thanks for sharing.

Oh yeah, nice Colt and leather photo too!!!

Best Regards, Les

bruce5781 · #**467** 06-11-2016, 07:12 PM

4" 1905 Second Change Target with Eubanks 820.

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Papaw · #**468** 06-14-2016, 05:34 PM

Colt Police Positive Special with a Hunter Holster I recently found in a gun store junk box. It makes a very compact, handy package.

LOBO · #**469** 06-19-2016, 05:42 AM

Here is an old pocket holster,

Lee's Landing Billy · #**470** 06-22-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet

New holster came in the mail.

I hope you never take owning this wonderful firearm for granted. It is what I would have done down to a "T". There is nothing I would change about it.

LOBO · #**471** 06-28-2016, 11:20 AM

Doc Barranti · #**472** 06-28-2016, 03:39 PM

Here are a few recent acquisitions....

younggun22 · #**473** 06-28-2016, 03:55 PM

This pales in comparison to most of the leather posted here

'54 vintage K38 with a Brauer Brothers holster. The gun, holster and marbles cleaning kit have been together for a long time.

The "package" also has a set of handmade stocks and the original box for the K38.

boykinlp · #**474** 06-29-2016, 06:10 AM

Doc B.,
Love the Myres Jockstrap Holster!!!

Toyman · #**475** 06-29-2016, 05:20 PM

This is a Colt New Service 45 Colt caliber shipped to Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 1940 with matching holster

Leatherhead23 · #**476** 06-29-2016, 05:27 PM

Got this gorgeous holster 'thrown in' on a deal recently....no markings.

-db- · #**477** 06-29-2016, 10:22 PM

Leatherhead23, that one looks like an Alamo brand holster. These were typically pigskin-lined and usually ink-stamped on the backside of the belt loop and these markings are easily worn off over time. Here's one I have with both the ink-stamp and maker's mark leather stamp at bottom (many lack this one):

Leatherhead23 · #**478** 06-30-2016, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -db-

Leatherhead23, that one looks like an Alamo brand holster. These were typically pigskin-lined and usually ink-stamped on the backside of the belt loop and these markings are easily worn off over time. Here's one I have with both the ink-stamp and maker's mark leather stamp at bottom (many lack this one):

Great info! Thanks so much!

It does have some hand written info on the back...just says S+W Combat 4"

bruce5781 · #**479** 07-02-2016, 10:58 PM

Lawrence 26 flap & pre-5 screw, 4 screw 1905 target, 5" barrel. Holster is actually for a 6", but someone who had it before me jammed about an inch of something in the toe of the holster so tightly that I can't get it out anyway.

Regards,
Bruce

bmcgilvray · #**480** 07-18-2016, 12:05 PM

The holster I'm placing here is the one that nurtured a budding interest in old leather. It has to be the first one because it holds the most sentimental value to me. It's a Heiser holster, with tooled floral motifs and white latigo-laced trim made for the Colt Woodsman. My old gun club friend, Cres Lawson sold me his Woodsman, purchased new in 1928. This pistol was one of two shipped to Ad Toepperwein's hardware store and gun shop in downtown San Antonio, subsequently resold directly to William Crites of Crites gun shop just around the corner and down the block from Toepperwein's. Cres worked for Mr. Crites summers and when he was home from college from about 1926 to 1932. He said it was only gun Mr. Crites sold him for full retail, not giving him a normally generous discount and he'd always wondered why. It was some 70 years later when Cres learned the rest of the story, about his Woodsman was shipped to Toepperweins, from whence Mr. Crites fetched it to fill Cres' order. Crites and Toepperwein were good friends as well as business competitors so Cres was much amused at this discovery found within the Colt factory letter I had requested. When the letter arrived from Colt, I went by the Lawson's home in order to share opening it with Cres.

Cres originally purchased a Brill holster to fit the Woodsman, purchased from A.W. Brill's shop in Austin, Texas. Both Cres and his father had traded there on occasion. Also, Cres was in Austin from 1927 to 1932 attending the University of Texas. The Brill, a holster which Cres waxed enthusiastic about, was later left in Mexico on one of the Lawson family visits to their ranch west of Cuidad Victoria. There the holster got away from him. So, he ordered this Heiser sometime later on.

Cres always spoke of the Heiser holster line as being the premium line of gun leather back in the day. He did reserve a special regard for the comparatively scarce Brill holsters. Perhaps this was because he traded in their shop and he and his dad knew the Brills personally.

Cres never scrimped on what he termed "cheap-jon guns" or on accessories. The Colt Woodsman came to me in a vintage Boyt fleece-lined leather zippered pistol case. I don't know its age but am guessing it to be from the 1930 to 1950 time period. The Woodsman always lived in this case when Cres had it, the pistol carefully preserved in a coat of RIG so that's the way the Woodsman lives in my safe.

Old pamphlet advertising the Toepperwein's (spelled Topperwein in the text) Winchester shooting exhibition.

bruce5781 · #**481** 07-18-2016, 12:28 PM

What a great story. Thank you so much for sharing this very interesting (to me at least) history.
I had a chance to buy a Toepperwein "Uncle Sam" years ago and still regret not doing it.

Regards,
Bruce

les.b · #**482** 07-18-2016, 12:30 PM

Bryan:

That is an absolutely fantastic gun, holster, rug and ephemera story!!! What a beautiful firearm, and what a great holster and rug to go with it. The personal connection and the provenance are just icing on the cake.

Thank you for sharing this treasure with us, and incidentally keeping Linda's fine thread going. I have seen so many great guns on here that it surely warrants staying in business!!!

By the way, I loved the flyer for the Toepperwein's performance, especially this paragraph:

Can you imagine the school boards of today dismissing school so that kids could attend a free shooting exhibition?? What a wonderful era in America that combination of artifacts evokes!!!

Best Regards, Les

boykinlp · #**483** 07-18-2016, 02:48 PM

The gun, Heiser Holster, and Boyt gun rug are awesome! But, having it's full story and being able to share the letter with it's original owner are fantastic!!

Malysh · #**484** 07-18-2016, 04:09 PM

Thanks so much, Bryan. Tremendous Colt, letter, and history.
Mike

bmcgilvray · #**485** 07-18-2016, 04:48 PM

Another tidbit of information about the original owner of the Colt Woodsman, Cres Lawson is that he knew the Toepperweins personally. Cres said that it was his father, Troy who was friends with them, recalling hanging out in either Toepperwein's hardware store or William Crites gun shop with his father, Crites, and Toepperwein. Cres saw the Toepperweins' perform on occasion.

The Lawsons moved to Cleburne, Texas from San Antonio in the 1930s. A few years later, Cres went to see the Toepperweins perform at Meridian, Texas. Ad spied Cres in the crowd, greeted him, and called on him to come assist with a routine or two.

Here's a photo taken 25 years ago of Cres and me on occasion when we had gotten an armadillo back from the taxidermist. I had shot the armadillo for Cres who wanted to have it mounted as a humorous Christmas gift for a family member.

Even though Cres was exactly 50 years older than I am, we were real shootin' buds. I have never met a better conversationalist. He was well-educated and with a keen interest in shooting, hunting, and handloading. If he'd pursued his shooting sports writing on more than a local/regional level, he'd have been equal to the other gun writers of his generation. He esteemed the best of the pre-64 Winchester models, along with Smith & Wesson and Colt and would have been enthused with the Smith & Wesson Forum.

bruce5781 · #**486** 07-23-2016, 03:10 PM

Heiser 431 lined flap with 1905 4th 32-20 Target ( before clean & polish ).

Regards,
Bruce

OLDSTER · #**487** 07-23-2016, 04:35 PM

VIS35 9mm pistol, 1943. German take over of Radom, Poland arms factory; this gun has Nazi Waffenamts with issued holster.

saujaeger · #**488** 07-25-2016, 11:13 AM

I hope they are Vintage enough !?
A Viking No 62

bruce5781 · #**489** 07-25-2016, 06:54 PM

Looks vintage from here..thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Bruce

bruce5781 · #**490** 07-30-2016, 09:15 PM

Had Ol' Rough & Ready out with his Eubanks 820 today.
'51 Colt Lightweight Commander in Super 38.

Regards,
Bruce

Wyatt Burp · #**491** 07-31-2016, 10:31 AM

Early trooper's brown rig, with handcuffs, for what i think is a 5" Colt Official Police.

Old Alfonso fast draw holster custom made with longer shank for fast draw legend Jim Martin long ago. Used extensively in live ammo and wax competition. For 1959 Colt .44 Special on right. He says he's put over 10,000 through that gun since 1959.

Only "Micro Sight Co." leather product I ever seen.

Uncatalogued Berns-Martin IWB holster. Well used and sweat stained. That little stitched on belt loop held out very well for as much as this seems to have been used.

RV4driver · #**492** 07-31-2016, 10:59 AM

There is one of those Indian heads in the Cheyenne Trap and Skeet Clubhouse. Nice to see more of the story!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

The holster I'm placing here is the one that nurtured a budding interest in old leather. It has to be the first one because it holds the most sentimental value to me. It's a Heiser holster, with tooled floral motifs and white latigo-laced trim made for the Colt Woodsman. My old gun club friend, Cres Lawson sold me his Woodsman, purchased new in 1928. This pistol was one of two shipped to Ad Toepperwein's hardware store and gun shop in downtown San Antonio, subsequently resold directly to William Crites of Crites gun shop just around the corner and down the block from Toepperwein's. Cres worked for Mr. Crites summers and when he was home from college from about 1926 to 1932. He said it was only gun Mr. Crites sold him for full retail, not giving him a normally generous discount and he'd always wondered why. It was some 70 years later when Cres learned the rest of the story, about his Woodsman was shipped to Toepperweins, from whence Mr. Crites fetched it to fill Cres' order. Crites and Toepperwein were good friends as well as business competitors so Cres was much amused at this discovery found within the Colt factory letter I had requested. When the letter arrived from Colt, I went by the Lawson's home in order to share opening it with Cres.

Cres originally purchased a Brill holster to fit the Woodsman, purchased from A.W. Brill's shop in Austin, Texas. Both Cres and his father had traded there on occasion. Also, Cres was in Austin from 1927 to 1932 attending the University of Texas. The Brill, a holster which Cres waxed enthusiastic about, was later left in Mexico on one of the Lawson family visits to their ranch west of Cuidad Victoria. There the holster got away from him. So, he ordered this Heiser sometime later on.

Cres always spoke of the Heiser holster line as being the premium line of gun leather back in the day. He did reserve a special regard for the comparatively scarce Brill holsters. Perhaps this was because he traded in their shop and he and his dad knew the Brills personally.

Cres never scrimped on what he termed "cheap-jon guns" or on accessories. The Colt Woodsman came to me in a vintage Boyt fleece-lined leather zippered pistol case. I don't know its age but am guessing it to be from the 1930 to 1950 time period. The Woodsman always lived in this case when Cres had it, the pistol carefully preserved in a coat of RIG so that's the way the Woodsman lives in my safe.

Old pamphlet advertising the Toepperwein's (spelled Topperwein in the text) Winchester shooting exhibition.

turnerriver · #**493** 07-31-2016, 03:07 PM

Here's a pair- one is marked "Wolf Brand Albuquerque" and one is stamped "The Blazer" and Geo. F. Cake Co. Both holsters made by Wally Wolfram who had the unique honor of making holsters for Colt and Smith & Wesson. Both holsters are stamped with size number 3 which indicates the 2" M&P.
Regards,
turnerriver

les.b · #**494** 08-12-2016, 07:28 PM

After all the spectacular combinations of fantastic firearms, and handsome holsters I've seen so far on this thread, I'm almost embarrassed to post my latest aquision. Just got a call from a LGS that knows the sort of stuff I'm interested in, and this came home with me today:

It has not even been wiped down, let alone cleaned. It is a 28-2 all matching, including stocks. The gun belt is made by the "Idaho Leather Co.", of Boise, Idaho, item stamped 162, and a size 38. I believe that it may have shrunk over the years, though, as I definitely wear a size 36, and it is a really snug fit on me. The holster is marked with the S&W ampersand trademark, and the numbers 21 and 34.

Nothing fancy,but a good solid shooting gun. Looks like it was carried a lot, but everything locks up tight, and indexes correctly.

Best Regards, Les

Ohsheepdog · #**495** 08-12-2016, 07:55 PM

Sweet, Les! I love well carried and used guns the best as they almost always have the best stories behind them.

digi-shots · #**496** 08-14-2016, 09:01 AM

Les, that's a great looking rig!

Maybe not fancy, but definitely "tools of the trade" for sure!

I like 'em with a bit of wear and lots of character.

Cyrano · #**497** 09-05-2016, 05:08 PM

Colt 1903 Army revolver in 38 Long Colt. This is one of the ones that did NOT stop the Moros. Also came with this little cartridge pouch holding 12 rounds in a wood insert. The whole rig came out of Ron Peterson's wonderful shop in Albuquerque, NM.

Cyrano · #**498** 09-05-2016, 05:18 PM

Here's another old one, a German Reichsrevolver Modell 1879 made by Mauser with it's holster, which is probably more scarce than the revolver. The revolver stayed in service for a while: the letters BE on the grip indicate Bayerische Einwohnerwehr, a Post WW I Bavarian civil guard.

Cyrano · #**499** 09-06-2016, 08:17 PM

This is the US Model 1912 holster, the first model of holster for the new Colt M 1911 automatic pistol. It was designed for the cavalry since they were the only ones using the pisol as an offensive weapon; everyone else carried it for personal protection. It was a drop down design with a swivel, made for horse mounted soldiers. It had two leg straps, missing on this specimen (anyone know where I can get either originals or reproductions?).

It was widely unpopular among everyone except mounted troops. The next model, the M 1916, lasted until the Colt was replaced by the Beretta in the 1970s, and everyone who carried a 45, including myself, did so with that holster or the M3 or M5 shoulder holster.

The picture is of the officers of my fathers company during training at Camp Wadsworth, SC, in 1917. They are wearing the M 1912, since this was a National Guard Division (the 27th) and were equipped with whatever the Active Army didn't want any more. They presumably took them to France a little later.

crazyphil · #**500** 09-07-2016, 01:18 PM

I hope it's better to be late than not at all. Here are 5 of my holsters
that I'm quite sure are vintage. Not sure about the guns. How old do
they need to be to be vintage? They range from the 1950s to 1980s.
Anyway, left to right:

1. Eubanks Pioneer Leather with my Colt's Agent (with Spegel extended
boot grips). Royal Eubanks started Eubanks Leather in Boise around
1937-1939. Sold to Pioneer Tent & Awning in 1949 with a 5 year
agreement not to compete. Eubanks Pioneer Leather was the Maker
Mark (on my holster). In 1954, upon expiration of the covenant not to
compete, Royal Eubanks started Idaho Leather, but he died shortly
thereafter. Eubanks widow sold the business to a family friend Bud
Wetzel.
Idaho Leather is still in the location Eubanks started in with much of the
original equipment. It is operated by Bud's son Ben Wetzel. If you
happen to be in Boise you should visit Idaho Leather. Before you
enter, set your watch back 60 years.

2. Heiser (V,L&A) Model 713 holster with my S&W Model 19 wearing
Herrett's Bill Jordan Trooper stocks. I blundered across the holster
misplaced on ebay. It was dirty, beat up, strap missing, etc. and
consequently I got a good buy. Cleaned it up. Took it to a saddle shop
and they replaced the strap with a piece of distressed harness leather.
When I removed the pouch from the loops I found the usual Heiser
marking OP6, which means it was made for A Colt Official Police with
up to 6" barrel. So the holster must have been made sometime after
1927. My Model 19 (with adjustable rear sight) fits as good as a Colt
OP would.

3. Oliver Ball was a Lt. homicide detective on the Fort Worth PD. from
1940-1976. He passed away in 1983. He enjoyed making holsters for
academy graduates and for many Texas Law Enforcement Officers.
Shown here with my Model 67 (no dash) Combat Masterpiece.

4. Lewis Police Equipment Company's heyday was the 40s, 50s,
and 60s. This little crossdraw was one of their popular products.
They made it with belt loop, clip on, or snap on (like mine).
Joe Friday carried his Model 10 snub in a clip on. Malloy (Adam 12)
carried his Model 36 (off duty gun) in a clip on.

5. Berns-Martin's Universal Speed Scabbard, shown carrying my
S&W Model 27-5. Charles Askins said it is the fastest rig he had ever
tried. There is a photo of Askins making his fast draw in Bill Jordan's
book No Second Place Winner.