Jess Harper's holster in Laramie

[Broke Hoss]

My wife has been watching reruns of Laramie & I noticed a buckle above the holster on the rig that Jess Harper (Robert Fuller) wears. The rig was supposedly made by someone named Andy Anderson, but that doesn't help me. I've not been able to figure out what it is for. I've found some images on the net that show a small strip of leather/buckle but I still don't understand what it is for.

I told her the experts here would be able to tell us. So here we go...

I tried to attach some images, but I'm not able to get that done.

 

[turnerriver]

Here’s a photo, I don’t know what it’s for but I bet we both find out soon.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[crazyphil]

Andy Anderson was an employee of Arvo Ojala. Went on his own and
became designer and maker of premier fast draw rigs. Probably best
known holster was his "Walk and Draw" model. Used by Clint Eastwood
in the movies and most of the fast draw artists at the time.

I don't watch Laramie, and without photos I can't comment on the
"buckle above the holster" that you mentioned.

Edit: I see turnerriver has provided a photo. I think, but I'm not sure,
that the buckle and strap shown "above the holster normally goes around
the holster to hold a steel lined hip plate in place. The purpose of the
plate was deflect shots made in the quick draw with live ammo so as
to not take the shot in the leg.

Perhaps the strap and buckle was just placed around the belt "above
the holster" because the hip plate was not needed, because blanks
would be used, in the TV show.

Just my theory. I could be wrong. I often am.

 

[lawandorder]

It may be a form of a" keeper " to retain the Buscadero rig at a perfered height.
Jawag.

 

[Broke Hoss]

I appreciate the responses. & Thanks to Turnerriver for adding the visual aid I failed at.

lawandorder-That's what I leaned toward at first. But seeing it slung as low as it was worn, or over a pair of chaps, I don't think there was anything to hook to.

crazyphil-maybe so. I was able to learn that Anderson made several "famous" movie & TV rigs.

 

[BE Mike]

Robert Fuller starred in 121 episodes of the TV western “LARAMIE” as Jess Harper and in 60 episodes of the western television series “WAGON TRAIN” as Cooper Smith. His gunfighter black holster and gun belt was made by legendary Leather craftsman Andy Anderson. We had a chance to meet and interview Bob Fuller at the Memphis Cowboy Film festival. We asked him what the buckle strap above the holster was for. He said that it was originally across the holster but he did not like it there and buckled it around the belt and it became his trademark.

 

[SG-688]

Enjoy the pictures while they're working ...

Arvo Ojala and Andy Anderson Catalogs ca 1969


Andy Anderson Gunfighter Holsters (The page numbers are my addition.)




1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

 

[Broke Hoss]

SG688-I'll take 2 or 3 at those prices

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Here’s a photo, I don’t know what it’s for but I bet we both find out soon.
Regards,
turnerriver

This was an Ojala rig he wore in Laramie. It's obvious from the squared off billets. Also, it's an earlier Ojala since the holster doesn't curve down in front of the hammer like later Ojala's and ALL Andy Anderson rigs. Here's a couple older Ojala holsters of that type I bought and then made a matching brown belt for that one using another Ojala belt I have as a pattern . The black belt here was one I already made and put this holster on it. I found that the strap around the holster is not needed with these metal lined holsters. The metal lining keeps the holster from wobbling around. I prefer the looks without the straps and some time back started keeping the brown strap like Fuller did. I figured he just wanted to be a little different and at the same time keep the strap with the holster. Peter Brown did the same thing with his Ojala rig on Lawman before going to an Anderson Walk n' Draw rig.

 

[Bakebfr480]

I think you could carry a pack of cigarettes there!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Here's Clint Eastwood beating the Laramie guys to the draw at a Las Vegas fast draw tournament where TV stars would hang out to promote their shows. As it says, these are Anderson rigs though both on Laramie wore Ojala's on the show. Clint's is his famous rig he wore after an Anderson buscadero version in the earlier Rawhides. You can see the Anderson billets are different than Ojala rigs.

 

[SG-688]

So then, do I have to delete the Anderson pictures?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

So then, do I have to delete the Anderson pictures?

.Not at all. And these are great images of Ojala rigs that do curve down in front of the hammer as opposed to the ones I posted and Robert Fuller is wearing in Laramie. And that top one, the “1-25(25 degree angle)” is angled for fast draw like Anderson rigs. Scott Glenn wore a lefty version of that on in Silverado, except for an oval buckle.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I'll try to put this into perspective in today's economy.

At the time all of these ads and TV shows were being produced you could order a Colt Single Action Army revolver from the factory, and have it shipped to your door, for about $125 (a pretty good week's paycheck for most working folks). Today the same revolver will cost you about $1700, shipped to your local FFL dealer where you will have to go through the Brady Bunch background nonsense, and assuming you live in a relatively free state, you might be able to carry it home on the same day.

The prices shown for the holsters and belts would not pay for the leather to make them today, much less the time and experience of the holster maker.

Interesting post, but I couldn't stop myself from commenting.

Enjoy your day.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I just checked and it looks like a $40 rig in 1960 is equivalent to $330 in 2017. In 1985 I ordered a new Ojala rig and it cost $195 & $5 shipping.

 

[BigDogBoogie]

I just checked and it looks like a $40 rig in 1960 is equivalent to $330 in 2017. In 1985 I ordered a new Ojala rig and it cost $195 & $5 shipping.

Just curious, Do you still have it?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Just curious, Do you still have it?

Yeah. It's the 7 1/2" black one here. Also pictured is the mini Ojala I made for my son over 30 years ago. I'm on the last hole on that black rig, but my son's a lefty so he'll get it. Also, that black fancy tooled Alfonso rig there was made for Rambo's brother Frank Stallone. He sold this on Ebay. I then resold it it later. And the bottom one is my friend's Anderson rig with a 1958 Colt .45. A mate to my nickel 1958 .45 in the Ojala holster.

 

[rednichols]

Some of those images look like catalogue pics vs magazine ads? I would love to have a copy of an Ojala catalogue if you had one .

 

[SG-688]

Red, I'll send what I have.

 

[BretV23]

This was an Ojala rig he wore in Laramie. It's obvious from the squared off billets. Also, it's an earlier Ojala since the holster doesn't curve down in front of the hammer like later Ojala's and ALL Andy Anderson rigs. Here's a couple older Ojala holsters of that type I bought and then made a matching brown belt for that one using another Ojala belt I have as a pattern . The black belt here was one I already made and put this holster on it. I found that the strap around the holster is not needed with these metal lined holsters. The metal lining keeps the holster from wobbling around. I prefer the looks without the straps and some time back started keeping the brown strap like Fuller did. I figured he just wanted to be a little different and at the same time keep the strap with the holster. Peter Brown did the same thing with his Ojala rig on Lawman before going to an Anderson Walk n' Draw rig.

Per The Official Robert Fuller website, his rig for Laramie was made by Alfonso's in North Hollywood....here is a link to the photos of his rig, as well as other items from the show.

Jess Harper Outfit