How about a thread on "vintage steel & leather"..?

Let's see some pics!

I'll start with this .38 Safety Hammerless (1917) and a holster I picked up this past weekend.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Ok , I'll play. 6" 1905 fourth model in an early Clam Shell holster.



Pre War 38/44 Outdoorsman with cut barrel in a Lawrence model 120 Holster.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

Larry,thanks or your comments. That's a very fine Heiser holster & the belt buckle is intriguing & unusual. Your pair of Colts are outstanding & the Boyt rugs are great as well. I run into a surprisingly large number of vintage holsters made for Colt Officers Models & Official Police revolvers.
Giz, your Calhoun City stamp & a similar Elberton, Ga. stamp are the standard Berns-Martin stamps; the Calhoun City stamp is the earlier one-roughly 1940's & '50's. The Evaluators stamp is a retailer's stamp-I find both Berns-Martin & Hieser made holsters with ther stamp, as well as some lesser quality holsters with the Evaluators "Quick Draw" or "FBI Quick Draw" stamps. Evaluators marked holsters have been of interest to me for some time-I pick them up when I find them, which isn't very often. Obviously, this is my kind of thread-keep 'em coming.

Regards,
John Witty
turnerriver
SWCA,CCA, NRA Life member

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turnerriver

Here's a few old Audley's.



Two of Chic Gaylord's personal speed rigs. He wore several of these in photographs in the much celebrated book HANDGUNNERS GUIDE (c.1960)to demonstate drawing techniques and used them for timed speed shooting. Horsehide construction with angled steel reinforced drop shanks. I also have one for a High Standard Sentinel .22, two inch barrel, which he was very fond of.

Very nice pictures, to say nothing about the revolvers, leather and great looking early Woodcraft.

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Rush

digi shots, cool pic of the army rig. Is that rig made of water buffalo?

Model 29 with a Lawrence Holster...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Wow, what a great looking combo!

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Here's an old C___ that was handed down to me.
1947 Woodsman, with an ALLISON Saddle Co holster, out of Montrose, CO.
TACC1

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THANK YOU for this wonderful thread!!!!!

Here's my little bit of vintage steel and leather. A USNavy Victory and a USProperty marked Victory.

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Linda;

I have the same holster for my BSR, as you probably picked out in one of the previous photos I posted in this thread. Mine is darker, almost saddle brown, no markings...but the same. Others on the Forum have suggested in previous discussions that these particular flap holsters were made by Brauer Bothers for the Victory's. The Canadian belt is very, very nice indeed. I especially like the brass findings used for the waist size adjustment. Is that a serpent or some sort of mythical sea horse type creature? Wondering if that might allude to it being Naval in origin? Also wondering if the metal hanger lines up correctly with the grommets of the belt? Very cool period accessory!

GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!



In honor of the epic battle waged annually, coming up this Saturday, U.S. Naval Academy versus U.S. Military Academy at West Point, here's a Navy Veteran, a U.S. Navy marked Victory Model, shipped August 4, 1942 to U.S. Navy, Norfolk Va.

The holster is marked "IME MRT Nov 1953", so would be a Korean War vintage piece.

As a Navy Retiree, I have a fond place in my heart for Navy marked revolvers...

Very early pre-Model 27 .357 Magnum w/3.5" barrel in an early Berns-Martin (Calhoun City, MS) breakfront rig.

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John

Linda, I love that Ithaca!

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Always bet on stupidity.

The other side, two pre wars................

Linda, Jim and others-the pocket holster you showed, Jim, was a popular design in the late 1800's. William LePage, a Canadian inventor, patented his "pocket pistol case" in April,1878.It was made of vulcanized rubber over canvas fabric. Smith & Wesson apparently did market such a holster-the 3rd edition of the SCSW says on page 374 "Reported possible specimens include...a small black rubberized canvas holster with nickel spring clip stamped in red print 'Smith & Wesson' with logo, sized for a .38 DA. Believed to have been made in the 1880's by Goodyear Products". I saw a specimen like the one described at the last SWCA show. Below are photos of 2 examples-the 2nd photo shows the "LePage's Pocket Pistol Case" stamp.LePage invented a number of glue products-I remember glass bottles of LePage's glue with a red rubber tip with a horizontal slit I used in elementary school.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA,CCA,NRA Life member







unmarked pocket holster

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turnerriver

A very desirable 1911 there.

tipoc

Here's close-up shot of the "belt keeper"...

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Here's a S&W WWII British Service Revolver with a tan leather holster & belt.

The holster came with the belt, but is unmarked.

The belt is marked "Hugh Carson Ltd. Ottawa 1929" and is stamped with the Canadian "C broad arrow mark". Charlie Flick, "Ordnanceguy", noted that Hugh Carson was a major producer of leather goods for the Canadian Military during WWI.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Linda, your photos are outstanding. Have you considered putting together a calendar?

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Kirk

John,

Great info on "Berns-Martin"... I'm glad you're here to keep us straigtened out!

Here's a pic of one I picked up at a local show for $5.00! The stamping on the backside is a little weak but you can make out the city, Elberton and Berns-Martin.

This little .38 S&W Terrier is really getting a work out with my pics. I really need to get some more snub noses..

The camera, off to the side, is a 1946-47 stainless steel "Micro 16" spy camera.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

An Early H. H. Heiser model 125 shoulder holster with a 1905 3rd Change 6" 38 special.


A shoulder holster made by A.H. Hardy with 4" model 67 S&W



Another later H H Heiser model 125 with S&W 1913 35 S&W auto pistol.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

Pre war Heavy Duty Pinto, Ivory Grips with Bianchi Cross Draw Holster.

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38-44heavyduty.com

I'm troubled by this post :-). My design of the 111 Cyclone holster for John Bianchi in the 70s is VINTAGE!!?? I feel older than I did a moment ago :-(

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I know what you mean! I guess I got some vintage underwear around here too, if the 70's is vintage!!

I think 1Aspenhill was more referring to the gun, ivory, and ammo as vintage.

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

Now that you mention it, I think Lefty posted sometime back with a holster that was "vulcanized" with a S&W logo on front. It looked similiar. Not sure what was on the back of it. I'll have to go back and see if I can find the thread.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

The photographic talent on this forum is astounding!! There must be a correlation between a S&W collector and a talent in the fine arts.

BRush, those photos are particularly gorgeous .... possibly because I really like those old S&W Model 3 varieties.

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Kirk

Kevin I think Jim nailed it. Great photo with great gowiths.

Canoeguy....

I'll see your "NAVY" and raise you an "ARMY"....

Vietnam vintage model 10-5 with in-country made drop-leg western rig:

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

I had one like this for 1911. It had mag pouch on holster and strip under loops to keep 45s from going on through. Mine was suppose to be water buf. I found it no good for going through hatches. Sent it to a forum member in Ca who collects RVn artifacts. Seems like it shrunk over last 52yrs, couldn’t get it around my waste anymore. If I remember right I traded a carton of cigarettes to dinks for it.

Beautiful photo, digi-shots! Here's one I took of my S&W NM#3 (shipped in 1880). The holster is a handmade reproduction of an original from the late 1800's. The fellow who made it for me also used late 1800's methods to make it.

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Kirk

Regarding Evaluator's Ltd., in the early 1950's Mrs. Florence Van Orden, Gen. Van Orden's wife, suggested the name "Highway Patrolman" to S&W's Carl Hellstrom for the gun that evolved into the Model 28. She also worked at their store in Quantico, Va. As I recall, she was related to Carl Hellstrom or someone else in S&W management.

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John

+1 on a calendar

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

CALHOUN CITY

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STAY ARMED, VIGILANT, SAFE!

WOW, that thing is backstitched just like I would sew fabric by hand!

Thank you. It has great personal meaning to me.

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

Not revolver, apologies, but still vintage (1942):

1942 Sears US Holster

1942 Kongsberg M1914 (Norwegian licensed version of Colt 1911) made while Norway was under German occupation



rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

Here's one of mine. The picture's not great but the holster is a SD Myres jockstrap and the 3 1/2" reg mag fits perfect.

Tipoc,

Very nice looking pocket holster. I've got a couple but have never seen one with bullet loops!

Nice find!

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

In Richard Rattenbury's useful book, "Packing Iron", he gives a good deal of information on the early hip pocket holsters, patent's etc. There were a good many variations in the designs. Some featured spring clips, some buttons, hooks, etc. There are some that look as modern as any made by Bianchi or Safariland.

They became popular as more and more states and localities banned open carry or carry at all (in the early 1880s even Texas passed a statewide ban). This didn't stop folks of course. Small pocket guns became popular along with the pocket holster and the shoulder holster.

One if the earliest patentees was a G.W. Browne of New York.

Below is another variation stuffed with an M&P but originally likely made for a 6 shot S&W .38 top break.





I like the design of this type. One side of firm leather that does not print, the other fairly soft. Inside a coat pocket it could work quite well. Note that, on this particular rig, the loops for the belt would place the rig partially in and some out of a hip pocket. Pockets tended to be larger then today and a bit looser. Still this one would print unless a coat covered it some.

tipoc

This post just keeps getting better.

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Always bet on stupidity.

A10ACN, I second that. Very, very interesting. Would love it if you could share more.

This is my vintage group. I specially like that M1912 left holster I got quite cheap from Turnerriver months ago.

Terrific stuff here. Thanks, all.


T-Star

I had this one posted with a group of Luger pics in a thread in the Lounge.
>
Walther PPK about 1937 as best I can recall.
32acp, NAZI police marked, two original magazines. The holster is Berlin maker marked.
>


</p>

Ed,
Neat gun. What, if any, dash number is it?
Is that a Post Office holster for the 1917?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Lefty... now that's a herd!

I spy some of my favorites... a couple of Audley's with trigger tab, an Air Force, a Brauer Bros., a couple of vintage pocket holsters and maybe a tan Post Office?

Nice chair... custom Berns Martin? very nice!

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

OK, Digi, how about a NYPD M&P, with a Jay-Pee "Suicide" holster:



The revolver is a 1959 vintage .38 Special M&P, one of the bunch of revolvers R.M. Vivas was selling a year or so ago. He bought a whole box (100 or more?)of Colts and S&W M&P's from Yonkers Raceway when they were upgrading thier weapons. Apparently, Yonkers Raceway got them from NYPD, as R.M. Vivas supplied a copy of the NYPD property ledger with this revolver, showing it had been issued to Officer Alexander Sterling on February 25, 1959.

R.M. Vivas also threw in the Jay-Pee holster, once popular with the NYPD. Research shows this wasn't one of the best police holsters issued, the retention device makes it hard to draw the revolver, and the stitching may come apart if you are in a life and death struggle with someone who is determined to get your gun.

I love the history evident in the wear on this revolver, serving a NYPD Police Officer and a "Rough Around the Edges" horse track. It still shoots great....

Here's a pre model 32 Terrier with mother of pearl grips in a vintage tooled floral holster. The belt clip on the back of the holster is made by "Franz-Loc", patented in December of 1938.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245