A whole bunch of things came together as a result of a couple of forum members doing some nice things for me.

As many of you will remember, I wrote up a thread about Dave Keith's fine leather work and holsters a few months back.

A blast from the past

About the same time, I bought a 3 1/2" model 27 with some help from Thom Braxton, another member here.

Right about the same time DAVwingman out in CA had a generous fit and sent me a beautiful set of feather crotch walnut stocks that fit that 27 to a "T"

Well all of these guys and their generosity made it necessary for me to finally get off my duff and order a rig fittin' to go with the fancy gun I had obtained.
So after 60 years of gun ownership, I finally decided I needed a BBQ rig.

Bottom line, I ordered a rig from Dave. One of the bits of info Dave wanted was what kind of a buckle did I want on my rig.

As it happened, my Dad (age 92) died last year and one of the things I found in his treasured items was a plumb wore out leather belt.

Now I remember my Mom giving him that belt with a fancy buckle to him for his birthday back in the late 40's. He wore it until the leather just plain give up and disintegrated. I couldn't think of a better place for that buckle than on something that was gonna be special to me.

Well sir, that belt and holster arrived a few days back. I can tell you Dave went all out on this outfit, even the back of the holster is tooled. This is as fancy a rig as I have seen in a long time.

Now I ain't the arteest that some folks here are with a camera, but I decided to try and come up with something appropriate.

As I got to lookin' around, I found my Dad's Crockett spurs hanging on my saddle. He bought them from a hand on the ranch back in the early 50's.
They din't wear out like the belt, but they sure bring back a lot of cattle drives and huntin' trips he and I shared over the years.

I also run across the Resistol hat my folks got me for my 21st birthday which I still wear on occasion. You may recognize it in my picture up in the corner.

So what all this is leadin' up to is I took a picture of a bunch of stuff from some very special folks that have contributed to something I will enjoy and cherish for years to come and pass on to my Son someday.

Just so's you know, I'd a never got that fancy 27 if it hadn't been for the influence of all of the members of this forum so you are included in those memories.

Thanks to all of you for what you have given me.



Some extra little touches Dave added to this rig:
Even the back of the holster is fancied up, and it's fixed so if you don't want to wear it on a gun belt and want to wear it with a dress belt, you can arrange it so the pants loop on your britches can go inside the belt and it won't sag from the weight.



Then he attached one of the billets with hidden Chicago screws. That way if I continue to expand at the equator, or if I git smart and go on a diet, or my trim and fit Marine son wants to wear it, we can move the billet out or back as needed by just punchin' some more holes. The billet only looks like it's sewed down.



Clever rascal ain't he?

Thats a good looking outfit Iggy. Ya live right!

That is truly a "way cool" rig as the youngsters would say. Thanks for sharing, All my very best, Joe.

wow, great story and photos. Im sure you will get lots of memories from wearing that rig!

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with wings as eagles

WOW. Thats nice. very nice.

Wingmaster

Great pics iggy. By the way this Forum has the best folks on it as anywhere on the planet.

Very nice. The story, rig, and gun.

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SWCA #1917

Very nice, Iggy. Congrats to you and to the guys that helped you put that rig together!

Those spurs are beauties, too! (They are so pretty that they make me want to get a set even tho I don't even know how to ride a horse! )

Is this a great forum, or what? Great story, pics, and heirlooms, Iggy. Sweet job, Dave.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Priceless. Well done, everyone.

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed

An excellent combination of treasures that make it priceless. Enjoy and wear it proudly. Thanks for sharing the story and the pic.

B2

Purdyur than a spotted pony! Thanks for sharing.

Keep shootin'

Great story Iggy. NICE pictures! The word envious come to mind...

rags

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RIP Shipmate

Absolutely beautiful!

I hope so cus you sure got a topper there. Nice rig.

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Always Stay Strong!

Brother, that's just plumb lovely! Great story.

Thanks for sharing. Mr. Keith does some beautiful work.

Thanks for the comments folks.

I have been wearing that rig for a few days now and it rides as good as it looks.

Great story behind that most excellent rig! That buckle looks like it was made for it. Thanks for sharing the story and the pics!


WG840

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Freedom above all else.

Outstanding!

I agree. An excellent example of recycling. Not only do you look good, but you're helping save the planet, too.

Great lookin' rig. I'm just a mite jealous.

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Insert short witty words here

What a great way to combine such great items that hold so many wonderful memories. An excellent set-up.

And Dave's trick with the billet is extremely clever.

Enjoy for a long long time!

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KSCowboy

Iggy,, what constitutes a "passel" ? I'm an old country boy and wanted to know if it is close to a "bunch" or "mess"(mess of turnips) a dabble, smidgen,a touch( like touch of salt) or just what do I need to have in mind to get my head around it. ?
LOL

Bob

Iggy..
The good " Gits" and the bad "Gits" forgotten..

It's nice to know you as one of those that "Gits"..... You have a "passel " of good.....

Both in friends and memories.. that rig will always remind you of both..

Sal

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Geez, you done boggled my mind with all them technical terms, I don't guess a feller can put ends on "passel" but it's a "bunch" more than a "mess"!

Dtrina,

Yup, I'm plumb rich in friends and memories. I consider myself mighty fortunate to have both.

Outstanding rig and tale.
I'd say that was more than a BBQ rig. That's definitely a Sunday go to meeting rig if I ever saw one.

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Pete.

veryyyyy nice iggy...congrats!i would love to have that holster for a 3"657 that i carry

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

That buckle is absolutely fantastic, not to mention the fact of where it came from. I know what it is like to use things that belonged to my Dad because about half of the important, high quality and useful things that I have were my Dad's.
I think of him every time I strap on his Dad's old MSA hunting knife during deer season, and I bet you'll think of yours when you strap that rig on. Yer a lucky man!
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

I think one of the values, we in the gun world, treasure are the stories, especially when they are as heartfelt as this story is.

Great looking sidearm, great looking rig, wonderful memories.

It don't get much better than this does it?

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

WOW!!! Doesn't get any better than that.

I'm proud to just know a fella with a rig like that.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Wells Iggy,

That steer hide didn't turn out bad atall, right ther'.

Hope she ain't sorin' ya up to much...


I am truly honored to have had small part in this here soiree.

As ol' JD would say, "Ella haría para viajar en el río con la que mi buen amigo."


And them stocks on that .357 makes that gal,"Seguro nuff Atractivo" Right Ther'

All My Best
Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Wow Iggy, everything about that rig is fantastic. The gun and grips are great, Dave's leather work is outstanding and to have a very special buckle to go on it is the icing on the cake. Beautiful, just beautiful.

It's guys like you and Dave that make this forum special. I know I enjoy reading ya'lls post and stories.
May you enjoy that rig for many years before passing it on to your son.

Thank you sir! Very cool pics. And I enjoy your stories I'm an old fan of the 44 special myself. I know the thread is about a 357 but my perdictions caused me to reference the old caliber itself.

That's a really nice rig you have there! Thanks for posting.
TACC1

How come y'all call it a BBQ rig?

Wells ol Hugh,

Sumtimes when sum of us folks get together for a social or a cookin out of sorts...BBQin'

In Texas and other parts of the country, men folk would visit about the cattle markets, local news, politics, sourmash vs blended whiskey.
Ya know important things in life.

Whil't the wimen folks gossip and tend'd to the youngins and the BBQ fixin's.

We'd always end up wearin our fancies sidearms for the little shootin' matches out behind the corrals or wher' ever,
with a few greenbacks changin' hands sumtimes.

Wells, ya got to have a fancy rig to sport that sidearm in, so the evolution of the BBQ rig...

Here's one I might wear to a Friday or Saturday evening affair...Or a Fandango.






Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

If all you have carried for over 40 years is this,

and all of a sudden with the insidious influence of this forum, the encouragement and generosity of friends, you wind up with sumthin' like this.

Purty soon you begin to think you need a rig suitable for social events like Marryin's and buryin's and such.

Next thing you know, you've done ordered a BBQ rig, and this thread started out as the result of that.

Now Wyoming, bein' a young state, we ain't as advanced in social skills as they are down south, but we're workin' on it.

I have gotten so much knowledge and info off this forum but this may be my all time best read. Great stuff. Cheers to you all, Ted

Stunning, absolutely stunning Iggy.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

I know a guy--Yankee, of course--who thinks a passel is one of those thing strippers put on their...never mind.

Handsome, handsome rig, Iggy. Lovely work by Dave, as usual. But it's the buckle that makes it.

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Oh well, what the hell.