Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

[boykinlp]

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved

Marcello, those 4 pictures of the basketweave stamped Heiser holsters are FANTASTIC! I have always thought that Floral Carved was the only way to go if you wanted beauty, but I am definitely wrong! I am now realizing, mostly from communicating with you, that there seems to be many more floral carved Heiser holsters than basketweave ones.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

I was thinking about something when I was posting pictures and information on my Heiser holsters in this definitive Heiser leatherwork thread. I realize that we can't really determine age of a holster through the use of the different Heiser Maker's Marks. In my compiled information for my holsters, I try to list what maker's mark is used on each holster. I actually only have holsters with 3 of them. I don't know how to describe each mark verbally. I thought I would show pictures of the different Heiser Maker's Marks and see what the experts actually call each of them. Here are the 5 that I have pictures of, if there are others, please share them. I have numbered them 1 thru 5 to make it easierwhen you list what you call each of them.
Larry

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, those 4 pictures of the basketweave stamped Heiser holsters are FANTASTIC! I have always thought that Floral Carved was the only way to go if you wanted beauty, but I am definitely wrong! I am now realizing, mostly from communicating with you, that there seems to be many more floral carved Heiser holsters than basketweave ones.
Larry

Hi Larry, the Floral finish is certainly beautiful. The three finishes from Heiser, as from all the makers dear to us, are beautiful indiscriminately, some holsters are perfect in Plain Smooth, others in Basketweave or Floral. There is always an aesthetic balance in objects. In some cases you find the perfection of these balances and then you have an aesthetic masterpiece. If the design of the holster is elegant and stylistically refined, probably the Plain smooth finish together with the right color of the leather will enhance the design.
Floral is redundant, but combined with the right shape leads to perfection.
The Plain Smooth finish is definitely the one that respects the line of the holster without altering it.
Naturally, the more complex the shape of the holster, the more difficult it is to create the balance.
This opinion of mine is absolutely "mine" i.e. subjective, the aesthetics of the objects takes into account some objective parameters but then acceptance is always subjective.
Some examples of aesthetic perfection of some Heiser holsters, this is the subject of the thread, and we stick to this. I repeat that it is always my opinion, let's not forget it.
Photo 1 perfect design of the holster
Photo 2 excellent balance with a redundant decoration and a classic and elegant line of the holster.
Photo 3 Absolute perfection.
Photo 4 Better plain than floral for aesthetics, but floral is better as a rich and flashy ensemble
Photo 5 Perfect respect of the design.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

I was thinking about something when I was posting pictures and information on my Heiser holsters in this definitive Heiser leatherwork thread. I realize that we can't really determine age of a holster through the use of the different Heiser Maker's Marks. In my compiled information for my holsters, I try to list what maker's mark is used on each holster. I actually only have holsters with 3 of them. I don't know how to describe each mark verbally. I thought I would show pictures of the different Heiser Maker's Marks and see what the experts actually call each of them. Here are the 5 that I have pictures of, if there are others, please share them. I have numbered them 1 thru 5 to make it easierwhen you list what you call each of them.
Larry

On page 96 of Holstorian, Red N. and John W. report a nice series of Heiser punches.
In post 134, Red has inserted other punches, very very nice.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/142111065-post134.html

 

[boykinlp]

In my compiled information for my holsters, I try to list what maker's mark is used on each holster. I actually only have holsters with 3 of them. I don't know how to describe each mark verbally.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Marcello, when I am listing my Heiser leatherwork in my notes, I have tried to describe which maker's mark each holster has. I think what I use is probably flawed and some here might have better names for the maker's marks. I use the following:
1. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
2. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
3. I call this one "bar oval" maker's mark in my notes.
4. I call this one "oval" maker's mark in my notes, see what I mean, too redundant.
5. I call this one "more modern" maker's mark in my notes.

I feel sure you folks do better.
Larry

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, when I am listing my Heiser leatherwork in my notes, I have tried to describe which maker's mark each holster has. I think what I use is probably flawed and some here might have better names for the maker's marks. I use the following:
1. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
2. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
3. I call this one "bar oval" maker's mark in my notes.
4. I call this one "oval" maker's mark in my notes, see what I mean, too redundant.
5. I call this one "more modern" maker's mark in my notes.

I feel sure you folks do better.
Larry

Probably Red and John have more resources to help us in this work to find a conventional name for these Heiser punches, let's wait for their intervention and see what comes out. We can try to throw down some ideas...

 

[rednichols]

Great suggestion but I can't see your chart of available and missing catalogs, do you have a less shrunk version? Sorry i have found it in "your" Holstorian book, i think it's the same...
But Red I would like to be able to slowly insert the scanned catalogs into the pages of this thread, that would be really cool!

Yes I do. Go to my blog which you'll have to look up online, I can't link to it on this forum per the rules. If you cant' work out that the search is 'red nichols blog' then you aren't allowed to collect Heisers any more!

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #417, #517, #717

Heiser Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
all rawhide laced
#417---Fine plain smooth finish
#517---Full hand basket stamped
#717---Full Mexican hand carved
beautiful the contrast between the black 417 LH holster and the light yellow of the rawhide
I would like to ask turnerriver if I can kindly use the photo of his nice 717 holster from this old post:
https://smith-wessonforum.com/140511941-post7.html
The same request I make to KalamazooKid for his equally beautiful 417 of the post:
https://smith-wessonforum.com/140208940-post14.html
Flexible Belt Loop Extension
#85 All plain smooth finish
#86 Full hand basket stamped
#87 Full Mexican hand carved

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #417, #517, #717

Heiser Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#417---Fine plain smooth finish
#517---Full hand basket stamped
#717---Full Mexican hand carved
with S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty first type

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, when I am listing my Heiser leatherwork in my notes, I have tried to describe which maker's mark each holster has. I think what I use is probably flawed and some here might have better names for the maker's marks. I use the following:
1. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
2. Don't have one so never had to describe/name it.
3. I call this one "bar oval" maker's mark in my notes.
4. I call this one "oval" maker's mark in my notes, see what I mean, too redundant.
5. I call this one "more modern" maker's mark in my notes.

I feel sure you folks do better.
Larry

1)cartouche
2)linear
3)bone
4)football
5)double digit

 

[rednichols]

Edited/changed (I'm logging in too often for a new one):

Here's a Heiser, from its Sportsman series that was the Keyston era, that I've not seen before. It's what we think of as the Hunter style but with the encircling strap deleted and the belt loop sewn down. Looks to me like hand sewing with two threads. The leather engraving is consistent with that range, which is stamped not cut with a swivel knife so cheaper to make, the enamel button imprinted 'heiser' is also consistent, as is the simple marking on its backside.

 

[boykinlp]

Heiser Model 536 Holster

This is a Heiser Model 536 holster. It is my first and only Heiser holster with basketweave stamping. This early simple holster is made out of lightweight leather. The factory stylus marked the holster ".45 Colt", so it was made for a Colt 1911. It has an oval maker's mark, and also has 5 of the "triple H" rivets that I like so much, that were used on their early model number holsters. This is also my only Heiser holster with that combination of maker's mark and that early style rivets. I can't make sense of the Model number because I have a Model 436 Heiser holster (last picture below) that is a small plain smooth Flap style holster for a Colt Vest Pocket. So, according to Heiser's numbering system, a Model 536 should be a Basketweave Flap holster. I saw a Model 524 that looked more similar to this holster. Hopefully, some of you folks can help me make some sense out of this.
Larry

 

[turnerriver]

Edited/changed (I'm logging in too often for a new one):

Here's a Heiser, from its Sportsman series that was the Keyston era, that I've not seen before. It's what we think of as the Hunter style but with the encircling strap deleted and the belt loop sewn down. Looks to me like hand sewing with two threads. The leather engraving is consistent with that range, which is stamped not cut with a swivel knife so cheaper to make, the enamel button imprinted 'heiser' is also consistent, as is the simple marking on its backside.

The K series Sportsman holster was offered with the snap- off belt loop. I think you're right, this example was hand sewn by someone who cut the loop off and sewed it back down. The snap-off loop was typically riveted so there would be no holes from the original application. I'm not sure that Heiser was doing much special order items this late in their history but anything is possible.
I remember being very happy when I found my first Heiser box.

Regards,

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #436-#536-#536 1/2-#736

Flap Belt Holster for Automatics

#436- Plain smooth finish
#536 1/2- Hand basket stamped flap only - photos not available, but you can see in this post an example of half tooled holster, only the flap is with basket weave pattern the rest of the holster is a smooth and simple finish https://smith-wessonforum.com/141931204-post11.html
#536- Full hand basket stamped
#736- Mexican hand carved - photos not available
note the particular version with only the flap refinished in basket pattern

Larry your holster looks like a 536 with the flap cut off, but then there would be the hole of the snap button in the body of the holster, and there isn't trace of it. Probably a special order. Please check the catalog page below.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/142119332-post192.html

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #436-#536-#536 1/2-#736

Flap Belt Holster for Automatics

#436- Plain smooth finish
#536 1/2- Hand basket stamped flap only - photos not available
#536- Full hand basket stamped
#736- Mexican hand carved - photos not available

 

[boykinlp]

I remember being very happy when I found my first Heiser box.

Regards,

John, that is really COOL! I've NEVER seen a Heiser box. What time period is it from? We think it's awesome when we are able to get a gun with it's original box, that's nothing compared to getting a holster's original box. Reading "Mail Your Orders To", do you think that means that a dealer could order "just" the boxes to display/sell their current inventory in, or just new holsters ordered by dealers would come in boxes? Since it looks like each holster's model number had to be put on each box, I suppose they had a few different sized boxes kinda like the gun companies did. Thanks for sharing.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Flap Belt Holster for Automatics

#436- Plain smooth finish
#536 1/2- Hand basket stamped flap only - photos not available
#536- Full hand basket stamped
#736- Mexican hand carved - photos not available
note the particular version with only the flap refinished in basket pattern

Larry your holster looks like a 536 with the flap cut off, but then there would be the hole of the snap button in the body of the holster, and there isn't trace of it. Probably a special order.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/142119332-post192.html

Who knows? I would think that there would've been a holster, offered by Heiser at that time, that would do what they wanted without special ordering something. To me, the 536 holster's "special feature" is the flap. I was wondering if it had been stamped with the wrong model number? We'll see what the others think.
Larry

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Who knows? I would think that there would've been a holster, offered by Heiser at that time, that would do what they wanted without special ordering something. To me, the 536 holster's "special feature" is the flap. I was wondering if it had been stamped with the wrong model number? We'll see what the others think.
Larry

Larry you are probably right, we have seen several holsters with stamping errors, my guess was just in reference to what I saw and read in the catalog

I remember being very happy when I found my first Heiser box.

John, my compliments, I am courting this holster with box, I hope he accepts my flattery and comes to live in my house with me.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #85-#86-#87

Flexible Belt Loop Extension
#85 All plain smooth finish
#86 Full hand basket stamped
#87 Full Mexican hand carved
https://smith-wessonforum.com/142117390-post189.html

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #85-#86-#87

Flexible Belt Loop Extension
#85 All plain smooth finish
#86 Full hand basket stamped
#87 Full Mexican hand carved