Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

[boykinlp]

H. H. Heiser #454-#554-#754
Hermann H. Heiser 454-554-754 New Style Belt Holsters for Revolvers or Automatics

to complement posts

https://smith-wessonforum.com/141932588-post14.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141932591-post15.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141932600-post16.html
https://smith-wessonforum.com/141932937-post17.html



New style
No.454--Plain smooth finish with button snaps
No.554---Full hand basket stamped no photo available
No.754---Full Mexican Hand Carved with button snaps

The first appearance of the new style holsters is in catalog number 23, initially produced with the double loop blocked by triple H snap button, one example in the middle of the first photo. Changed from catalog number 32 with buckled loops.
1st on the left a model 454, 2nd and 4th two 554 LH & RH with safety straps and 5t on the right a special order with wool liner, with double snap buttons closure for quick mounting on a looped cartridge belt
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Marcello, as you know I have a "floral carved" holster guy, and the Model 754 produced with the double loop blocked by triple H snap button in the picture above is spectacular! I also prefer the triple H snap buttons over the buckles. Both I'm sure others prefer the buckles. I've never seen one before in real life, and don't remember seeing one on the forum before. I know you prefer the Full hand basket stamped holsters so the matching pair above probably have you drooling! Thanks for sharing these.
Larry

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Marcello, as you know I have a "floral carved" holster guy, and the Model 754 produced with the double loop blocked by triple H snap button in the picture above is spectacular! I also prefer the triple H snap buttons over the buckles. Both I'm sure others prefer the buckles. I've never seen one before in real life, and don't remember seeing one on the forum before. I know you prefer the Full hand basket stamped holsters so the matching pair above probably have you drooling! Thanks for sharing these.
Larry

Larry, my friend,
I've already abandoned my basketweave obsession and I went up to the next level... and now I love all the Heiser holsters!
I'm trying to figure out where to stop...
Smooth, basketweave, or floral finishes, I don't have a preference anymore...
I'd love to have all three variations of each style.

And yes, the first 3H double snaps 754 model is really nice, but the 554 pair RH and LH is truly fantastic.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

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

Heiser loop Style Belt holster for Revolvers

Hand Thong Wrap Stitched Edge. Open End
No 417--- All plain smooth finish
No 517--- Full hand basket stamped
No 717--- Full Mexican hand carved
The 517 model features the Flexible Belt Loop Extension style 86.
Photos 5 and 6 a nice 717 special order sheepskin lined
First appeared in catalog no. 23

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H. H. Heiser #419-#519-#719
Hermann H. Heiser 419-519-719

Heiser loop Style Belt holster for Revolvers

Hand Thong Wrap Stitched Edge. Closed End
No 419--- All plain smooth finish
No 519--- Full hand basket stamped
No 719--- Full Mexican hand carved

The first on the left is a rare exampel with conventional sewed, not latigo laced.
In the middle the 519 is marked by Kennedy Hardware Anchorage Alaska
In the photos no.3 an 4 a nice couple of 419 marked VL&A Chicago.
Courtesy John Witty collection.
First appeared in catalog no. 19

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H. H. Heiser #1418-#1518-#1718
Hermann H. Heiser 1418-1518-1718

Loop Style Belt holster for Revolvers

Waxed Thread Stitched Edge. Open End
No 1418--- All plain smooth finish
No 1518--- Full hand basket stamped
No 1718--- Full Mexican hand carved

Model 1418, first on the left is for a S&W M&P 2" barrel,
In the middle the 1518 is marked by Kennedy Hardware Anchorage Alaska
Find in the catalog no. 30 page 10, probably this style appears in in a previous No.36 or 38 catalogs

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Already covered by Larry and included by me in post 260 but now I found the large photos and republished it

An incredible and beautiful curved glass shop showcase. A truly desirable item for any collector of H.H. Heiser Gunleathers.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Guys... friends
You surely have some beautiful Heiser gun leathers, holsters, belts, knife sheats, rifle scabbards etc. etc.! Photograph them and post pictures of your treasures.


H.H. Heiser style 415
this style appears for the first time in the catalog no 19

The penultimate photo shows a holster from later production, characterised by the solid nickel spots in the centre of the circle and the diamond of the same size and smaller than those used in the first production.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H.H. Heiser Knapp Pattern Belt Holster
No. 408--- Plain smooth finish
No. 508--- Hand Basket Stamped
No. 708--- Mexican hand carved
-style 408 and Money Cartridge Belt style 66
Beautiful 408 style holster, first appeared in catalog no. 19
Money Cartridge belt in exceptional condition style 66 first on catalog no.14
-3rd and 4th photos courtesy John Witty collection style 508 Hand Basket Stamped
-5th and 6th photos style 708 Mexican hand carved fully latigo laced and Cartridge Belt with
Extended Loops for Holsters style 49, first on catalog no. 23
Photos 7, 8 and 9 a nice style 708 with an awesome Blued Triple Lock

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H.H. Heiser fancy spotted belt holster style 2408, 2508, 2708
#2408---Plain Smooth Finish, Fancy Spotted
#2508---Hand basket stamped, Fancy Spotted
#2708---Mexucan hand carved, Fancy Spotted
with solid nickel ornaments fully rawhide laced, double loop and open end

First on catalog no.20

Analyzing this holster carefully, we can safely place it in the Knapp Pattern belt holster family. In fact, even regarding the numbering, the Heiser factory simply added the number 2 to distinguish it from the series that generated it, the 408-508-708. The number 2 will be present on all holsters embellished with these solid nickel spots, excluding the models 415, 416, 417 in catalogue no. 19.

In fact, from catalog 23 the holster appears on the same page as the 408 and 409, demonstrating what was stated above that they are variants of the same family.

courtesy John Witty collection
Check the last two photos
I have doubts about this holster, is it a 708 special order or a 2708 with a different design, there is no rawhide lacing and the solid nickel spots are placed with another pattern?

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H.H. Heiser belt holster style 410, 510, 710 Loop Style Belt Holster foe Revolver
#410---Plain Smooth Finish
#510---Hand basket stamped
#710---Mexucan hand carved
Introduced in catalog no. 19 as a quick-draw holster for left-handed shooters only, it was finally made available for both right- and left-handed shooters in catalog no. 23.
Like the previous model called the Knapp Pattern, which included the 408, 2408, and 409 holsters, this model also belongs to a larger family of holsters, namely: 410, 1410, and 2410.
See pages 19 and 23 of the catalogs, respectively.
In the 3rd photo you can see the same style but sewed plug end option.
Last two photos the model 910 and a nice money cartridge belt.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H.H. Heiser belt holster style 2410, 2510, 2710 Loop Style Belt Holster for Revolver
#2410---Plain Smooth Finish, Fancy Spotted
#2510---Hand basket stamped, Fancy Spotted
#2710---Mexican hand carved, Fancy Spotted
Photo no.6 a special order with monogram carved also on the belt, Flexible Belt Loop Extension style 87.
In the last three photos you can see a special order model 2710 with a sewed end plug, rawhide lacing, basically it would be a model 1710 with the addition of solid nickel spots decorations.
First in the catalog no.20

 

[boykinlp]

H.H. Heiser belt holster style 2410, 2510, 2710 Loop Style Belt Holster foe Revolver
#2410---Plain Smooth Finish, Fancy Spotted
#2510---Hand basket stamped, Fancy Spotted
#2710---Mexucan hand carved, Fancy Spotted
In the last three photos you can see a special order model 2710 with a sewn end plug, rawhide lacing, basically it would be a model 1710 with the addition of solid nickel spots decorations.
First in the catalog no.20
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Marcello, I have a couple of these. The first one is the nicest. It is made For A Colt SAA With A 4 3/4" Barrel and has "triple H" rivets. It is one of my favorite holsters in my collection. The second one is newer and fits a wide range of target medium frame D/A revolvers with 4" barrel such as a S&W K Frame.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Already covered by Larry and included by me in post 260 but now I found the large photos and republished it

An incredible and beautiful curved glass shop showcase. A truly desirable item for any collector of H.H. Heiser Gunleathers.
View attachment 782226
View attachment 782227
View attachment 782228

It's been a while since I spotted that display for auction. I wanted it badly, but it ended up selling for about 3 times (maybe more, I can't remember) the auction estimate and shipping was super expensive too. I figured displaying my collection in it would be spectacular, but it wasn't to be.
Larry

 

[turnerriver]

Here are a couple of mine.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Here are a couple of mine.

John awesome examples, the 2710 on the right side is as a 1710 but with solid nickel spots, sewed plug end, latigo laced and safety strap e great special order of this superb style of holster. Super super congratulations
As usual i didn't find any pics of the 2510 basket weave pattern in all remote sides af the web.

 

[S&WGunnut]

I understand this thread is for "display" but it seems like the right place to ask: I have a Heiser holster marked WESTWARD 20, I assume it is a Heiser because the "snap" button is Heiser. It is a basket weave and stitched like a Heiser, my Colt 1909 fits like a glove. Any comments are appreciated. Thanx

 

[turnerriver]

Westward and Buffalo Brand were 2 Heiser made budget lines of holsters. I have several examples of Buffalo Brand but I think just 1 Westward brand holster, it's the 3rd one from the left in the middle row.

Regards,

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

I understand this thread is for "display" but it seems like the right place to ask: I have a Heiser holster marked WESTWARD 20, I assume it is a Heiser because the "snap" button is Heiser. It is a basket weave and stitched like a Heiser, my Colt 1909 fits like a glove. Any comments are appreciated. Thanx

Please post some photo of your holster front and back view.
Thanks
Marcello

 

[S&WGunnut]

Please post some photo of your holster front and back view.
Thanks
Marcello

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

View attachment 785377

Here is the Heiser 519, marked Kennedy Hardware Anchorage Alaska, counterpart of yours holster, more expensive version of the your WESTWARS cheaper sub-series.
Congrats, you own a nice example of this scarce holster.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

H.H. Heiser belt holster style 4, 5, 7 Original Laced Loop Belt Holster
#4---Plain Smooth Finish
#5---Hand basket stamped
#7---Mexican hand carved

Note the difference between the open end design.
Courtesy John Witty collection
First on catalog no.30

 

[S&WGunnut]

Th

Here is the Heiser 519, marked Kennedy Hardware Anchorage Alaska, counterpart of yours holster, more expensive version of the your WESTWARS cheaper sub-series.
Congrats, you own a nice example of this scarce holster.
View attachment 785393
View attachment 785418

Thank you. This is a very impressive "Thread"

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Hermann H. Heiser 435, 535, 735
Flap Holsters for Automatics
#435---Fine plain smooth finish
#535---Full hand basketball stamped
#735---Full Mexican hand carved
Here's an unusual holster configuration, the style #735---Full Mexican Hand Carved, latigo laced and sewed plug end. Scratched "n m t 4 1/2. For the meaning, read what John "turnerriver" Witty writes in the third post below
Built exclusively for automatics and first featured in catalog no. 19

 

[huntsman22]

Isn't that considered rawhide lacing?

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Yes, it's rawhide laced along the edge

 

[turnerriver]

I think NMT signifies New Match Target as in 2nd and 3rd series Colt Woodsman Match Target.
Here's an example, the thumb rest on the plastic grip usually makes a groove inside the holster as shown.
Regards,

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Thanks John.
I bought this holster past nignt on eBay, and it will arrive me in October.
You know the difficulties and delays of my shipments
So, I've been searching around to find out what N. M. T. 4 1/2 might mean, and what's said on the Colt Forum seemed to be relevant.
Thanks for the correction, and I'll revise the comment immediately.
I'm happy about the correction, because I want and hope that this thread becomes a reliable source of information about Heiser Gunleathers.

I also hope if my language will have mistakes that someone takes the rigth time to say me what's wrong.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Experts opinions

-REVISED POST-
(about my reflections on the coincidences I found on these models. Before I realized, guided by John, that these models had actually been catalogued.)

Dear friends, while studying the available Heiser material, I noticed the same stamping mistake on the same type of holster...
So I'm wondering, and I'm involving all the experts in the field, who are numerous on this forum. Is this a stamping error, or, since the two holsters in question are "Special Order," is it possible they received a different number to distinguish the order and speed up production? In the first set of images, we see a first-series 754 (the first series had snap-button loops) plain smooth leather lined. It's marked with a 5 instead of a 4, 755 instead of 754.
The second holster is a second-series 454 (therefore with buckled loops), "Special Order," also this fully plain smooth leather lined. Courtesy of the Bill "bracebeemer" collection. On this holster, too, the 4 has been replaced with a 5. So, 455 instead of 454. Therefore, both are special orders and both have a 5 instead of a 4. What's your opinion?
Red, Lee, John, Bill, etc., mentioned in no particular order, are just a few of the great experts on vintage gun leather on the forum...
So, is it just a coincidence, given the countless stamping errors, or is there something more?

As a result of the chat with John and Lee I have defined and catalogued the NEW STYLE DOUBLED STITHCHED LEATHER HOLSTERS

Hermann H. Heiser 455, 555, 755 new style belt holster for revolvers or automatics
With leather doubled and stitched.
#455---Plain smooth finish
#555---Full hand basket stamped
#755---Full Mexican Hand carved
In the last 3 photos we can see a 455 for automatics pistol, Luger P08 cal 9x19. With only one buckled strap (loop)

 

[turnerriver]

Here is the relevant catalog cut, probably a 1930's edition as the holster shows the older snap buttons.
As always you have a great eye for detail, Marcello. It is the lining, as you suspected.

Regards,

 

[Papa Lee]

Marcello,
I agree with John.
Lee