Most people know of the Threepersons holster design and that Tom was a lawman in the Southwest. One thing I didn't know was that he had won the only trophy saddle given out at the Calgary Stampede rodeo. That was the first rodeo they held in 1912. I found this out because my supervisor at work has a stepson name of Wade Sundell who won the saddle bronc event at the 2012 rodeo and was presented a trophy saddle by the relatives of Tom. The reason Threepersons was in Canada in 1912 was because his family had moved there to start ranching. Just thought it was an interesting part of the story I had no idea about.

From what I've read about Tom he led a very eventful life.Deputy sheriff, etc. Gun fights, a 44 Special guy, Elmer Keith copied his S.A design & had Geo. Lawrence in Portland make the Lawrence #120 holster. I still have mine from the 1950's for my old Colt SA.

Tom Threepersons was born in Vinita, Oklahoma about 1887 (if memory serves). Family moved to the area of Calgary, Alberta when Tom was a teenager and started raising cattle. A group of cattle rustlers murdered Tom's father, Tom tracked them down to a saloon and killed them. He was tried and acquitted.

Later served with the Northwest Mounted Police, was involved in several nasty incidents including a shootout with a gang of train robbers, a gunfight ending a bank robbery in progress, and once tracked a gang of bank robbers hundreds of miles across Canada into the Yukon. He and his partner engaged the gang, and the partner was killed. Threepersons continued the hunt, having to abandon his horses, located the gang holed up in a cabin and killed them.

Returned to the US, worked as a muleskinner for General Pershing's expeditionary force during the Mexican punitive expedition. At one time was kicked in the head by a mule, nearly died, and suffered debilitating headaches the rest of his life. Reportedly wore a high crowned heavy Stetson hat to protect his head.

Worked as a police officer in San Antonio, then in El Paso where he was a detective, also serving as a mounted US Customs officer at the border. Several gunfighting incidents over the years gained him a reputation as a tough character. In one incident he was run over by a truck carrying smuggled liquor.

Moved to Mexico to manage a cattle ranch where he confronted several cattle rustlers and shot them down. He was arrested, but escaped jail and got back across the border to the US.

Upon retirement Tom took a world cruise lasting about a year. When asked about this experience he simply said that he didn't care for the food.

Ended up in New Mexico. Hollywood movie folks tried to get him to work on a film about his life, but he declined and said he didn't like those people very much. Passed away at Silver Springs, New Mexico and buried in the Masonic Cemetery there.

About 1920 Threepersons had a holster made to his specifications by S.D. Myres (Tio Sam) Saddlery Company in El Paso, Texas. Relatively high ride, butt-forward cant, open top for his Colt Single Action Army .45 revolver (attached photo shows the original holster, now in a private collection). This design became the pattern for American law enforcement and sportsmen for most of the 20th Century, and was made with variations (hammer thong, snap-strap, thumb-break) by just about every holster maker in the US.

S.D. Myres Saddlery Company remained in operation until about 1980 or so, then was acquired by (or replaced by?) El Paso Saddlery, which continues in business today. The El Paso Saddlery Model 1920 follows the original pattern quite closely.

I've been making the Threepersons' style holsters for decades. In about 2008 I located the attached photo showing Tom's original holster, then commissioned a leather carving artist to replicate the original carving pattern. We now offer a very close replica, complete with hand-carving to the original pattern. The significant differences in our version are (1) closely formed belt loop to stabilize the carry position (the originals featured very large belt loops), and (2) the use of modern bonded nylon thread for durability (in lieu of the earlier linen threads).

Details on Tom Threepersons' life are given from memory, so please forgive any inaccuracies. Threeperons was an exceptional lawman, widely known and respected. His holster design is a classic that I am happy to continue.

Attached Images

Threepersons original.jpg (43.1 KB, 162 views)

It's my understanding that there were 2 Tom Threepersons;one was a Canadian rodeo champion & rancher & the other was a Southwest lawman. The Canadian Threepersons was born in Alberta Canada in 1888 & the other in Oklahoma in 1889. The Canadian Threepersons died in Cardston Canada in 1949,age 63. He was a successful breeder & rancher & in 2007 he was inducted into the National Cowboys of Color Museum & Hall of Fame in Dallas,Texas.
The lawman was born in Oklahoma & spent his life in the Southwest.He served as a Federal Prohibition agent, an El Paso Policeman & Sheriff's deputy & a US Customs inspector. After retiring from law enforcement he was the foreman for a number of Southwest area ranches.
The above information is from the National Cowboys of Color website & the
archives of the ATF.
I've never been able to verify any business connection or succession between the S.D. Myres Co. & El Paso Saddlery. Sandra Myres doesn't mention it in her thesis on Myres & Dale Myres doesn't refer to it in his autobiography.The late 1970's & '80's version of the Myres Co. had little if anything in common with the original saddlery-no family members or other direct connection.The El Paso Saddlery coexisted with the Myres Co. & I'm confident they were honorable competitors but I've never read or seen anything in source materials from either company that documents a business connection or succession.I'd love to see evidence of a connection but haven't yet found it.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

In the same vain I have a question that some of the holster makers on this site just might know the answer??? The late Paris Theadora designed a holster for his inovative cut down SW 39. He named the pistol ASP. I bought one for a Judge in the early 70's and after a year and a call to the NY state AG finally received the ASP. At that time Paris either had built or did build a shoulder holster for that pistol. I was very inovative in the fact that it had very few stitches in the construction. We could never get one and of course the stories about Theadora were many and he was very conterversial. Does any body remember the name of that holster, and what happened to the design? I remember a year our so ago somebody seemed to have the answer but my 73 year old mind just plain forgot....

Don't make 'em like this anymore ...

Attached Images

110109-historical-tom-threepersons-1.jpg (14.3 KB, 71 views)

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I'm with the banned ...

If you google Tom Threepesons there is an article by Skeeter Skelton that I used as my basis for info. Tom was apparently not one to share his side of the story, making the truth more elusive. If I can get contact info for the Canadians I will try to find out what I can. Great story, and if the facts don't quite jive with the myth were does that leave us?

This is a pretty close copy - note the stitchless construction
http://klnullholsters.com/NewHolsters/smz.htm

And the original Paris Theodore version:

Rare Smith & Wesson/Armament Systems & Procedures Model 39-2 ASP Pistol with Extra Magazines and Acc

You are correct that there were two men in the Calgary area sharing nearly the same name. The other was Tom Three Persons, a local Indian who won the rodeo championship, and when interviewed made it plain that he was not that other Tom Threepersons who had killed so many men.

I'm sure that you are also correct regarding connections, or lack thereof, between S.D. Myres and El Paso Saddlery Companies.

The older I get the less sure I am about anything.I've heard about the possible connection between Myres & EPS & have been intrigued enough to look for information or documentation about it but have been unable to find anything in catalogs, books or other source material.
I know a few things about old,long gone holster makers & their wares but I know nothing about making holsters, selling them & maintaining an excellent reputation while doing it. That's more in your line,Lobo.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

It was Silver City, New Mexico. About 1975, I had a partner who knew him after WWII.

My partner came back from the Marines after WWII and Korea and was going to the college in Silver City and worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Grant County. He said he and Threepersons would meet at the city dump on Sunday morning and shoot. He said Threepersons showed him a lot about gunfighting with a pistol that the Marines never told him.

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6/23/2022

Thanks for the info...Very interesting holster.