Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

[boykinlp]

What a great story and perhaps my favorite on this forum so far, beyond those that document holstorical dating.

Geez, John, you and I are going to end up on that "late" list someday. We're old and I'm not looking forward to it. When it happens, someone please mention that we had personal lives outside of gunleather, including families!

FYI that marking for the K22 is not literally 'scratched' into the leather but marked onto it. I make the distinction because we leather workers use scratch awls, which are sharp-ponted and leave rough, permanent marks; whereas yours were made with a ball-ended tool called a stylus, that left a removable mark while the leather was wet. Myres did this too, sometimes using a ballpoint pen when they first appeared.

In the image a young woman is using the stylus to transfer an engraving pattern from a transparent film, onto wet leather. Can't be scratched on this way, m/b a stylus instead and even a ballpoint pen or a pencil works.

Red, unfortunately, we ALL will ultimately end up on the "late list". I should have said in my story that I also had learned here on the forum how the "scratching" was done by the factory….probably from you. I described it as scratching because I distinctly remember the Red Wing Boots store guy describing it that way.

I also find the dating of Heiser Holsters interesting and confusing just for the reasons you listed above. Why in the world they did things like using different maker's marks at the same time, crazy numbering systems, and different hardware sure makes things difficult for us collectors and those interested in history. I mean they should have been thinking about us future folks, profit be damned!

To add to this discussion, I have a "new to me" Heiser holster heading my way that is a little different from my norm, but should add to this confusion.
Larry

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, just because of the story above, it is one of the last ones that I would ever get rid of. I won't say it is priceless. In actuality, in its current condition, I would value it at $125-150, which may be a bit ambitious.
Larry

Larry, the question was only in reference to your beautiful story: everything has a price and then it is always up to us, regardless of everything, whether to take it to the grave or not.
As soon as the holster you mentioned arrives, let us know...

 

[turnerriver]

"Late list" indeed, Red. We may know more about each other's personal lives than most here do but I'm both amazed and sad that Holstory resulted with us never having met in person. It ain't over yet as the Rodney Crowell song says.
Larry, you clearly know how slippery this slope is. That is a great story, starting your collection with a $25 carved Heiser was both a smart and expensive move, like any addiction the first one was (almost) free.
I ordered the S.D. Myres rig shown below when I was 16. I thought then that I would always have at least one 4" K frame revolver so that's what I ordered. I had seen many magazine ads showing a carved Myres Threepersons holster so that's what I ordered, with a matching belt. I ordered the Berns- Martin Triple Draw Lightnin' holster about the same time, again thinking I'd always have at least one 2" J frame. I did learn about the Berns- Martin holster from reading Ian Fleming's James Bond novels but already knew they were made for revolvers only.
S.D. Myres has always been my favorite maker, I knew from reading gun magazines and books that Heiser had a reputation as a high quality and prolific maker. I've been accumulating holsters my whole life but became a serious collector after finding online auctions in the 1990's.
My interest started with wanting good looking quality leather holsters for my guns, once I found I could buy and sell literally world wide my collection grew exponentially.
Look what you started with this thread, Marcello !
I'm very glad you all are active on this forum, thank you for participating and for being a very easy group to moderate.
Best,
John Witty

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Look what you started with this thread, Marcello !
I'm very glad you all are active on this forum, thank you for participating and for being a very easy group to moderate.
Best,
John Witty

Well guys, here in Italy in the villages there is always a little square where friends meet to have a chat about politics or soccer and always of food/wine and women (provided they are beautiful and better if scantily dressed)
Well the forum is this little square and at every table or bench there is a little group that talks about whatever passion they have in common.
On my bench there are you and I have to admit that we don't get bored on the contrary... I would like them to multiply and that some friend would do the same thing for Myres, Brill or Lawrence or dedicated to the craftsman who deserves it... it would become a great well place to spent time

 

[boykinlp]

Larry, the question was only in reference to your beautiful story: everything has a price and then it is always up to us, regardless of everything, whether to take it to the grave or not.
As soon as the holster you mentioned arrives, let us know...

Being in reference to my story, I will say it is PRICELESS! I will definitely post the new holster when it arrives.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

"Late list" indeed, Red. We may know more about each other's personal lives than most here do but I'm both amazed and sad that Holstory resulted with us never having met in person. It ain't over yet as the Rodney Crowell song says.
Larry, you clearly know how slippery this slope is. That is a great story, starting your collection with a $25 carved Heiser was both a smart and expensive move, like any addiction the first one was (almost) free.
I ordered the S.D. Myres rig shown below when I was 16. I thought then that I would always have at least one 4" K frame revolver so that's what I ordered. I had seen many magazine ads showing a carved Myres Threepersons holster so that's what I ordered, with a matching belt. I ordered the Berns- Martin Triple Draw Lightnin' holster about the same time, again thinking I'd always have at least one 2" J frame. I did learn about the Berns- Martin holster from reading Ian Fleming's James Bond novels but already knew they were made for revolvers only.
S.D. Myres has always been my favorite maker, I knew from reading gun magazines and books that Heiser had a reputation as a high quality and prolific maker. I've been accumulating holsters my whole life but became a serious collector after finding online auctions in the 1990's.
My interest started with wanting good looking quality leather holsters for my guns, once I found I could buy and sell literally world wide my collection grew exponentially.
Look what you started with this thread, Marcello !
I'm very glad you all are active on this forum, thank you for participating and for being a very easy group to moderate.
Best,
John Witty

John, it is hard to believe that you and Red have never met in person! Of course, in this day and age, it isn't necessary. Can you imagine doing what y'all did 30-35 years ago? It would have been nearly impossible!

I don't know if you remember, but when I got that first holster I couldn't do pictures, and was actually trying to describe what I had. I remember saying that it had a "cigar shaped" thing hanging from the bottom of the holster. You actually responded with a picture of what my holster should look like, and said you weren't sure what I meant about the cigar shaped thing! What a newb I was! Of course, I very soon afterwards bought a digital camera and posted a picture and you correctly identified it as a tie down strap. So the cost of the camera was an additional expense like you said above. I've fought the light box expense…..so far.

That Myres rig you bought at 16 is a GEM, and the Berns-Martin rig is cool too. That's one maker that I haven't gotten into. I try to stick to the Big 3, but stray every once in a while. BTW, if you tell us that your first Myres rig still fits you, I believe I'll cry! You know they shrink with age. Do you remember what you paid for it back then?

Like the internet making the collaboration between Red and yourself much easier, it DEFINITELY made collecting nice specimens possible. If I had to do mine without the benefit of the internet, my collection would be next to nothing. Can you imagine building a collection using only things like Shotgun News and local gun shows? In fact before the internet, I owned a nice green suede lined Safariland holster for my 66-2, a nice green suede lined shoulder Safariland holster for my Colt .45 1911, a leather Bianchi Model #X-2100 Phantom shoulder holster for my Ruger Redhawk, and a camo nylon Uncle Mike's Sidekick shoulder holster that I could use hunting, again for my 66-2. That's it! Never even heard of the Big 3.

I also have done something that I know many others here have done. I have bought MANY holsters for guns that I didn't own when I bought the holster, but bought the gun for them later!
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Well guys, here in Italy in the villages there is always a little square where friends meet to have a chat about politics or soccer and always of food/wine and women (provided they are beautiful and better if scantily dressed)
Well the forum is this little square and at every table or bench there is a little group that talks about whatever passion they have in common.

Marcello, that picture of the square is beautiful! That would be a terrific place to relax and have great conversations with friends. Do you have any folks that enjoy guns and gun leather there? Like on the forum, politics can be difficult to discuss in the states, and around my area, college football is King! Beautiful women are an added pleasure.

I just had a thought that made me chuckle to myself. You probably won't get it, but members here in the states will. I just thought about a "Twin Peaks" or "Hooters" coming to your square. Now that I think about it, it doesn't make me chuckle, it makes me cringe!
Larry

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, that picture of the square is beautiful! That would be a terrific place to relax and have great conversations with friends. Do you have any folks that enjoy guns and gun leather there? Like on the forum, politics can be difficult to discuss in the states, and around my area, college football is King! Beautiful women are an added pleasure.

I just had a thought that made me chuckle to myself. You probably won't get it, but members here in the states will. I just thought about a "Twin Peaks" or "Hooters" coming to your square. Now that I think about it, it doesn't make me chuckle, it makes me cringe!
Larry

Larry
I am becoming more and more convinced that I must come and visit you in America, both for the symposium and to meet you, one by one.
Well, here until a few years ago, let's say until 20 years ago, among friends we had epic arguments talking about power and soccer,
now we only argue about soccer.
Excuse me friends, this was a small aside. Let's get back to us.
I have many friends who are passionate about weapons, few are competent and many are gullible.
Here we have a plethora of collectors of Lugers, Mausers and all those weapons, certainly beautiful but so complicated that they should never have been produced, or rather they would have been fine if shown together with the watch collection and not passed off as deadly military weapons.
J.M. Browning still laughs when he saw who the competitors were at the time.
Regarding gunleather here they have never seen anything, among all the arts where we have had our say, in the processing of leather we really know nothing.
In the nineties I had a gunshop in Rome and given my passion it seemed right to subscribe to American Handgunner to have quality printing in the shop.
Between the beautiful photos of the magazine and the little you saw in some books, gunleather was starting to appear here too.
To the point that when I came to Dallas in 1996 to the Shot Show I combined the business trip with some pleasure trips regarding western culture and gunleather.
In Fort Worth to M.L. Leddy's I spent a fortune on boots, which were then stolen from my house in the countryside.
In Austin downtown from the old historic Capitol Saddlery (Lavaca), now replaced by a bar restaurant, I bought a used saddle in very good condition from Colorado Saddlery and in a CowBoy Butique (cowboy culture, not CowBoy football)out of Dallas various belts from various craftsmen, with breathtaking floral decorations accompanied by various holsters, I distinctly remember some Myres and perhaps some Lawrence whose floral decoration for me is the best seen on a standard production holster.
Back in Rome, proud of the purchases I displayed everything in the shop making a truly beautiful show, with SAA everywhere, beautiful Government a little old and the most beautiful pieces of my S&W collection.
Those beasts of my customers, who as ignorant gullible commented on everything saying that it was all machine printed and that it could not be done by hand. If I could I would have exterminated them.
Now I vent my passion here in the forum which is at the same time a source of knowledge and inspiration, thanks to your participation. I personally enjoy writing and sometimes disturb you to push you to show the world but especially me the wonderful things you have accumulated over the years.
I didn't understand anything about your final story, just like you said.
In any case, what came out seems very cool to me.

 

[boykinlp]

Here are some more of my Heiser Holsters:
1. Model 484 (first 3 pictures) - What makes this plain holster special to me? The triple H rivets, of course. It has 5 of them. It fits a K frame revolver with a 6" barrel. Supposedly, those make it a fairly early holster.
2. Model 436 (last 2 pictures) - Another plain holster that I like simply because it is a SMALL OWB holster for a Colt Vest Pocket. I found it funny when thinking about wearing a tiny FLAP holster like this on my belt.
Larry

 

[Papa Lee]

I had a good old M.L. Leddy saddle several years ago. I sold it to a fellow and it ended up on his cattle ranch in Africa.

 

[boykinlp]

Heiser Model 2710 - I own 2 of these holsters. I bought the first one (pictured below in first 2 pictures) about 10 years ago after reading the book "Packing Iron" and seeing a similar holster in it. It has a lot of features going for it that I like. It has beautiful floral carving, 79 nickel silver spots, it is made for one of the most popular revolvers ever, a Colt SAA with a 4 3/4" barrel, has the linear "Heiser HHH Denver maker's mark", and again one of my favorite features, the triple H rivets. So it is another early Heiser holster. I picked up my second Model 2710 holster (pictured in the last 3 pictures) because I got it at a good price, and it fit a different gun. It has decent floral carving (not as nice as my other 2710), 72 nickel silver spots, fits a wide range of target medium frame D/A revolvers with 4" barrel such as a S&W K Frame, has the oval lH. H. Heiser Maker Denver, Colo." maker's mark, a safety strap with a brown enamel snap, sewn-in sight rest for revolvers with adjustable sights, and standard smooth rivets.
Larry

 

[rednichols]

I had a good old M.L. Leddy saddle several years ago. I sold it to a fellow and it ended up on his cattle ranch in Africa.

Can't resist: "Cowboy in Africa" capgun holster that is either Marx or Mattel, late 1960s:

 

[Kansasgunner]

Cowboy in Africa, I used to watch that show when I was a kid, and before that The Rifleman. Chuck Connors was great in a western! Thanks for the memories Red.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Cowboy in Africa, I used to watch that show when I was a kid, and before that The Rifleman. Chuck Connors was great in a western! Thanks for the memories Red.

And let's not forget Branded!

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Heiser #2410 #2510 #2710 "double loops open end ornamented with nickel ornament"s

the bad sentence written in the title is the repetition of the bad sentence written in the catalog.
Many pictures found for the plain smooth #2410 and for the Mexican hand carved #2710.
For the 2710 I posted a photo but it doesn't compare to the beautiful and almost new Larry's example
As usual no photos available for the #2510 Hand Basket stamp.
The terrible thing is knowing that I will never find this holsterI (the 2510) to buy, and I will not even find the photos to at least look at it.

 

[rednichols]

Marcello, that picture of the square is beautiful! That would be a terrific place to relax and have great conversations with friends. Do you have any folks that enjoy guns and gun leather there? Like on the forum, politics can be difficult to discuss in the states, and around my area, college football is King! Beautiful women are an added pleasure.

I just had a thought that made me chuckle to myself. You probably won't get it, but members here in the states will. I just thought about a "Twin Peaks" or "Hooters" coming to your square. Now that I think about it, it doesn't make me chuckle, it makes me cringe!
Larry

Beautiful women, now that's something I know nearly as much about as gunleather.

Marcello my father in law who lived to be more than 96 y/o was from Reggio Emilia, and proud of it. Someday it w/b a pleasure to visit his family still there, who have come to Australia many times to visit him here; but I've done so much travelling around the world since birth, that I doubt I'll bother.

I did amuse myself by looking up the private firearms ownership per capita in Italy (Wiki has a list) and discover that your country, and mine (Australia), are No. 51 and 52 respectively. Which is to say, very few per capita vs USA. My gunleather biz from here could never succeed because there is NO local customer base and the main market, USA, feared the distance. But I had the delay and the mailing cost down to nearly USA equivalents until the pandemic when both skyrocketed and I was wise to fully retire on my 70th b/day in 2020.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Beautiful women, now that's something I know nearly as much about as gunleather.

Marcello my father in law who lived to be more than 96 y/o was from Reggio Emilia, and proud of it. Someday it w/b a pleasure to visit his family still there, who have come to Australia many times to visit him here; but I've done so much travelling around the world since birth, that I doubt I'll bother.

I did amuse myself by looking up the private firearms ownership per capita in Italy (Wiki has a list) and discover that your country, and mine (Australia), are No. 51 and 52 respectively. Which is to say, very few per capita vs USA. My gunleather biz from here could never succeed because there is NO local customer base and the main market, USA, feared the distance. But I had the delay and the mailing cost down to nearly USA equivalents until the pandemic when both skyrocketed and I was wise to fully retire on my 70th b/day in 2020.

Red, those are beautiful places, I'm in love with Emilia Romagna, the food is divine.
Just think, today I'm preparing Lasagna alla Bolognese with beef and pork ragù that has been simmering all night.
The cuisine here is a religion and Emilia Romagna is its altar.
Here every Italian feels like the great priest who stands at that altar. Cholesterol galore, it's our best friend, it never leaves us and it accompanies us wherever we go.
I'll be going next week near Reggio Emilia to pick up a 38 Military&Police 4th change 5" RB as good as new and a Winchester 1897 Pum Action 12 GA Short barrell, to a nice gun shop of a friend.
Concerning your business I say you that here with gunleather you can starve to death.
I don't want to think about when, I hope a long time, I'll have to sell the collection of classic holsters, maybe I'll have them put with me in the coffin like the pharaohs did.

 

[rednichols]

Red, those are beautiful places, I'm in love with Emilia Romagna, the food is divine.
Just think, today I'm preparing Lasagna alla Bolognese with beef and pork ragù that has been simmering all night.
The cuisine here is a religion and Emilia Romagna is its altar.
Here every Italian feels like the great priest who stands at that altar. Cholesterol galore, it's our best friend, it never leaves us and it accompanies us wherever we go.
I'll be going next week near Reggio Emilia to pick up a 38 Military&Police 4th change 5" RB as good as new and a Winchester 1897 Pum Action 12 GA Short barrell, to a nice gun shop of a friend.
Concerning your business I say you that here with gunleather you can starve to death.
I don't want to think about when, I hope a long time, I'll have to sell the collection of classic holsters, maybe I'll have them put with me in the coffin like the pharaohs did.

Italian cuisine is why I married Italian women, two times! At one point, with the first, I had a half dozen of her rellies competing to cook for me. Yet my father in law with the second, said 'never marry Italian woman' and he didn't; my mother in law was Scottish.

I felt as you did about my own gunleather collection, so gave it away to friends so that it wouldn't be buried with me. I've a primo capgun collection that I had to fight with AusPost for permission to export them back to America! From my childhood:

 

[boykinlp]

Here are a couple of more Heiser Holsters. The first one is a lined Heiser Model 738 and it was made to fit a Colt Officers Model with 6 inch barrel. This holster is one of my favorites simply because of its size. Since it has a swivel attachment , it's HUGE! I put the dollar bills in the picture for a size reference. I believe the floral carving was done especially well too. I can't imagine riding a horse with a long holster like that. The second holster is one I picked up from crazyphil back when he was paring down his collection. It is a beautiful Heiser Model 713 Holster for a Colt Official Police with a 4" barrel. This one is a nice dark brown color that contrasts well with the cream colored thong sewed edge, and a safety strap with brown enamel snap.
Larry

 

[brucev]

Took me right at 30 minutes to simply read through this post and replies. The pictures are beautiful, a real pleasure to view. Will have to view the other two pages at a later time. My applause to all. This post and replies should be marked/saved b/c the information contained is priceless. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Took me right at 30 minutes to simply read through this post and replies. The pictures are beautiful, a real pleasure to view. Will have to view the other two pages at a later time. My applause to all. This post and replies should be marked/saved b/c the information contained is priceless. Sincerely. bruce.

Thanks Bruce, when you can please help us publishing your nice Heiser holsters detailing the number and style where possible .

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Heiser #438, #538, #738 Army Style Flexible Belt Holsters

Army Style Flexible Belt Holster
#438--- Fine plain smooth finish-
#538--- Full hand basket stamped
#738--- Ful Mexican hand carved
As usual there aren't photos available for the #538 Hand Basket stamp.
The list of holsters I will never own and will never see grows longer.
Here the link to the precedent posts about the same style holster.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141935826-post27.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141937255-post36.html

 

[boykinlp]

Marcello, hopefully you won't mind me added this Heiser product to this thread. While it's not a holster, it is made by Heiser and I think it's really cool. It is a Heiser Model 85-11 floral carved gun rug and extremely rare, and I think this one is gorgeous! It is HUGE! It has the oval Heiser maker's mark. The inside measurements are approximately 15.5" x 6". It was definitely custom ordered with the name (BRITT) carved on the bend, but I don't believe it detracts from appearance or value, since I decided to change my last name to Britt. I love the floral carving on both sides! The lining looks like new, and the heavy brass zipper works great. This pistol rug is a great piece of early western Americana. The seller thought it was made in the 1920-30's, but I think it was later. It may be blasphemous, but I put my Ruger Redhawk, with a 7 1/2" barrel in it to show just how big the case is.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Marcello, hopefully you won't mind me added this Heiser product to this thread. While it's not a holster, it is made by Heiser and I think it's really cool. It is a Heiser Model 85-11 floral carved gun rug and extremely rare, and I think this one is gorgeous! It is HUGE! It has the oval Heiser maker's mark. The inside measurements are approximately 15.5" x 6". It was definitely custom ordered with the name (BRITT) carved on the bend, but I don't believe it detracts from appearance or value, since I decided to change my last name to Britt. I love the floral carving on both sides! The lining looks like new, and the heavy brass zipper works great. This pistol rug is a great piece of early western Americana. The seller thought it was made in the 1920-30's, but I think it was later. It may be blasphemous, but I put my Ruger Redhawk, with a 7 1/2" barrel in it to show just how big the case is.
Larry

Marcello and others, by chance, have you ever seen a catalog page with Heiser gun rug's shown?
Larry

 

[rednichols]

Marcello and others, by chance, have you ever seen a catalog page with Heiser gun rug's shown?
Larry

None of the pages in my Heiser files (see my blog for an overview) show pistol rugs. Turnerriver has the only complete Heiser catalogue collection in the world but he doesn't have them all digitised like I do of my more limited collection.

 

[turnerriver]

That's a beautiful rug, Larry. Heiser did list the rug in their catalog, I'll post a copy of it when I return home after Thanksgiving. I'm not sure my Heiser catalog collection is complete but I am sure that Red is much more organized and on top of things than I am.
Here are my two Heiser rugs and my Colorado Saddlery carved rug.

Regards,

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish -fifth photo- Abercrombie & Fitch marked
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved


<(Concerning the Pistol Rug, the right source for Heiser catalogs and probably other brands is John, we will refer to his post after Thanksgiving. I am trying to buy some Heiser catalogs but so far I have not been able to get them in the few auctions that offer them.)>

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

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

 

[rednichols]

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


Concerning the Pistol Rug, the right source for Heiser catalogs and probably other brands is John, we will refer to his post after Thanksgiving. I am trying to buy some Heiser catalogs but so far I have not been able to get them in the few auctions that offer them.

No Thanksgiving here, in Australia. And you should see the tiny things sold in poultry shops as turkey; let's hope they're not our Bush Turkeys which are not the same bird at all!

Regarding buying Heiser catalogues, my strategy was to GIVE all my print Heiser catalogues to Witty some years ago. No sense their being rubbished at my death (planned for many decades in the future but I'm not fully in charge of that.

Point being, Marcello, only buy the ones he doesn't have. Then we'll make John scan all of them and give us free copies! Surely he has nothing better to do (tongue firmly in cheek here). He and I let a few rare ones get away from us, can't be helped now. On my chart, if it has been noted as 'sighted' it is very likely Witty has one; if it is noted as 'not' then he could not have it or he'd have told me (right John?).

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser #1410, #1510, #1710

Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolvers
#1410---Fine plain smooth finish
#1510---Full hand basket stamped
#1710---Full Mexican hand carved
Last photo courtesy John Witty collection

No Thanksgiving here, in Australia. And you should see the tiny things sold in poultry shops as turkey; let's hope they're not our Bush Turkeys which are not the same bird at all!

Regarding buying Heiser catalogues, my strategy was to GIVE all my print Heiser catalogues to Witty some years ago. No sense their being rubbished at my death (planned for many decades in the future but I'm not fully in charge of that.

Point being, Marcello, only buy the ones he doesn't have. Then we'll make John scan all of them and give us free copies! Surely he has nothing better to do (tongue firmly in cheek here). He and I let a few rare ones get away from us, can't be helped now. On my chart, if it has been noted as 'sighted' it is very likely Witty has one; if it is noted as 'not' then he could not have it or he'd have told me (right John?).

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!