Latest Heiser Pickup

[boykinlp]

Here is my latest Heiser pickup. It is kinda different for me in a couple of ways. First, the greatest majority of my vintage leather holster collection was made for revolvers, but this one is for an automatic. Second, this is my first Heiser holster with this later Maker’s Mark. I used to use this Internet address for my quick Maker’s Mark information: vintagegunleather.com

It was awesome and had a ton of information, including pictures and dates, on the many different vintage Maker’s Marks. Unfortunately, the last few times I tried it over the last couple of years (IIRC), it has said “Down for Maintenance”. I know one of you folks can give me the approximate dates that this mark was used.

Heiser Model 7 Holster, Laced Loop Belt Holster For Automatics - An exclusive design of Heiser, made of Oak Tanned California skirting leather, leather lined, waxed thread stitched, made from one piece, loop laced together in front with thong. Open end and brown enamel Heiser Denver snap button on the safety strap. This holster is made to for a 1911A1. Probably from the early 1940’s. Since it is lined, it is a fairly heavy holster. For 70-75 years old, it looks really good. It would be nice if I could clean up the laced thong some, but I want to mess it up, since it’s kinda delicate.
Larry

 

[turnerriver]

Nice addition to the collection. I don’t have many examples with that mark and have wondered when and why they used it. I believe it is a later mark, I’ll see what holsters I have with it and if I can figure out any additional information. That holster model was in the line right up into the 1950’s and early ‘60’s.
Thanks for posting it.
Regards,

 

[rednichols]

It was turnerriver who educated me about just how wrong that particular entry in VintageGunleather is/was.

The marks themselves can't be dated with any precision because they all coexisted in 1927, the year that Heiser went back to being a saddlery after being a car dealer for some years.

Best way to roughly date a Heiser is by the snap fastener if there is one. If it's the engraved snap it's pre WW2, if it's the snap with Heiser lettering it is from then until 1968, when Heiser was gone. The male and female parts are very different between the two and don't interchange, something we can't always see in images. So trust the cap itself as the identifier.

Yours has been altered, notice the leather with stitching at its margin that has been cut away on the backside image, and the belt loop reattached with split rivets. It should look like this one:

 

[SSGRock]

Heiser Holsters

Would like to see some of your revolver Heiser Holsters, K & N frame. Thanks

 

[mm93]

Always nice to find any Heiser holsters!
I only have one, and it doesn't have Heiser name on it. Heiser built holsters for Browning Brothers shop in Ogden, Utah and I bought an old H&R .22 Special model in like new condition that came from the Browning Brothers store in the late 1920's.

 

[boykinlp]

Yours has been altered, notice the leather with stitching at its margin that has been cut away on the backside image, and the belt loop reattached with split rivets.

Red, I knew the split rivets were there, but was thinking it was done to raise the holster on a belt, and didn’t notice that the original belt loop had been cut and reattached. Now, I am extremely curious as to why it was done. If they had wanted to change the position on the belt, they could have done it through sewing. The strange thing is how well it was done, and how much time and effort it would have taken. Not only was the leather cut very neatly, but the edges were dyed and burnished to match the original edges. Kinda CRAZY.

I should have recognized it earlier because I knew that this holster was made from one piece, loop laced together in front with thong, and obviously with the loop cut, it’s more than one piece of leather.

Here is a picture of the mouth of the holster and how another owner altered it. I think it was pretty well finished.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Would like to see some of your revolver Heiser Holsters, K & N frame. Thanks

Here are some of my Heiser Holsters for revolvers:
Larry

 

[rednichols]

Red, the dates might not have been perfect on the vintagegunleather.com site, but they did have pictures of most of the actual Maker’s Marks, and I haven’t seen that anywhere else in one location.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I didn’t even notice the holster alterations. When I saw a Heiser holster with a 1911 in it, I jumped. I knew the split rivets were there, but was thinking it was done to raise the holster on a belt, and didn’t notice that the original belt loop had been cut and reattached. Now, I am extremely curious as to why it was done. If they had wanted to change the position on the belt, they could have done it through sewing. The strange thing is how well it was done, and how much time and effort it would have taken. Not only was the leather cut very neatly, but the edges were dyed and burnished to match the original edges. Kinda CRAZY.

I should have recognized it earlier because I knew that this holster was made from one piece, loop laced together in front with thong, and obviously with the loop cut, it’s more than one piece of leather.

As far as dating Heiser holsters, I seem to remember that the first 2 stamps (oblong and the circle) coexisted, but I didn’t realize this one did too. I thought it was much later. When you say “Best way to roughly date a Heiser is by the snap fastener if there is one.” Saying “engraved snap it's pre WW2, if it's the snap with Heiser lettering it is from then until 1968”, that is really, really rough! I like to include the “triple H” rivets in dating them too. They were used on their earliest holsters.

Maybe turnerriver can come back in and clear up this muddy situation a bit more for us.
Larry

They are all together in all editions of Holstory, pp 96. No dates there as that hasn't ever been done with worthwhile accuracy. When I said 'the best way' I meant, "unless you have a copy of all of Heiser's catalogues like turnerriver does! In which case you'll know when a holster model was introduced and when it was deleted. All the marks have been spotted on both early holster models and on models introduced far later, as turnerriver pointed out to me when I first fell for the Vintage Gunleather entry. Did you know that at least one floor of one of Heiser's shops burned? And the entire place burned down at the turn of this century? Leaving only the building across the street that was once Colorado Saddlery and still named for it; apartments and retail in it now.

 

[Baxter6551]

I too have a Heiser for a 1911. Or at least it fits my vintage 1947 Colt Commercial. From a bargain bin at LGS some years ago. Maybe someone can decipher the model number on back to see if it is the correct fit - and possibly date it for me ?

 

[boykinlp]

They are all together in all editions of Holstory, pp 96. No dates there as that hasn't ever been done with worthwhile accuracy. When I said 'the best way' I meant, "unless you have a copy of all of Heiser's catalogues like turnerriver does! In which case you'll know when a holster model was introduced and when it was deleted. All the marks have been spotted on both early holster models and on models introduced far later, as turnerriver pointed out to me when I first fell for the Vintage Gunleather entry. Did you know that at least one floor of one of Heiser's shops burned? And the entire place burned down at the turn of this century? Leaving only the building across the street that was once Colorado Saddlery and still named for it; apartments and retail in it now.

I know you have them in Holstory, but I was using the “vintage gunleather” site before your book was available, and it was simple to pull up that site online while out and about.

I hadn’t heard about the fires at Heiser. It’s a shame when places with a lot of history are turned to ash!
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

I too have a Heiser for a 1911. Or at least it fits my vintage 1947 Colt Commercial. From a bargain bin at LGS some years ago. Maybe someone can decipher the model number on back to see if it is the correct fit - and possibly date it for me ?

That’s a really nice holster, Baxter6551, and it’s in super condition too. Finding something like that in a bargain bin is CRAZY! Do you remember how much you paid for it? In my post above showing 5 holsters, the fourth holster was actually the first Heiser, a Model 719, I ever bought. I picked it up at a local gun auction for the princely sum of $25! It was etched on the back by the factory, “S W K 22”, so I knew what they had made it for, even though it fits any 6” K Frame S&W. Does yours have anything etched on the back? I have been lucky enough to get some for great prices, and probably paid too much for others. I guess it evens out in the end. Here is a picture of the etching I mentioned above on my holster.
Larry

Looks like you have some fantastic Sambar Stag grips on your 1911 too!

 

[Baxter6551]

Thanks for the compliments on the holster! There are no markings on back other than factory stamping as shown in photo. If I recall correctly I paid $5.00. The grips are Eagle Sambar Stag (marked Eagle on back). I paid $100 for them at gunsmith shop in MA during my travels for work.

 

[rednichols]

I too have a Heiser for a 1911. Or at least it fits my vintage 1947 Colt Commercial. From a bargain bin at LGS some years ago. Maybe someone can decipher the model number on back to see if it is the correct fit - and possibly date it for me ?

If you've been reading the other recent threads, the snap on your holster was introduced about the time Heiser was sold to the DDG in 1945 at War's end. The model is one of Heiser's oldest though, dating from one of their earliest catalogues that was 1911. Does the four digit number also date it? Yes but once you know 1911 and 1945, what more do you need beyond 'was it made during the Keyston Bros years 1950 onwards?' which it very well could have been.

 

[rednichols]

Always nice to find any Heiser holsters!
I only have one, and it doesn't have Heiser name on it. Heiser built holsters for Browning Brothers shop in Ogden, Utah and I bought an old H&R .22 Special model in like new condition that came from the Browning Brothers store in the late 1920's.

If that one was made for Browning Bros then it wasn't made by Heiser but by Wyeth, which used the rolled borders but Heiser didn't. Some Lawrences and Brauers are also Wyeths, which company specialised in making 'catalogue' holsters without their own name on them, often with the seller's name on them. A new auction appears on eBay every single day for an unmarked Wyeth, I try to help sellers at least know the age (usually determined by the type of sewing: chainstitching would not be after 1900 or so, harness stitching would not be before 1900 or so.)

We need stickies for Wyeth's history, for sewing ages, for maker's marks, for Heiser's history, etc. I solved that long ago with my blog (which I am not permitted to link to here) because what this forum does for its readership is not my affair (it has been pointed out).

 

[mm93]

If that one was made for Browning Bros then it wasn't made by Heiser but by Wyeth, which used the rolled borders but Heiser didn't. Some Lawrences and Brauers are also Wyeths, which company specialised in making 'catalogue' holsters without their own name on them, often with the seller's name on them. A new auction appears on eBay every single day for an unmarked Wyeth, I try to help sellers at least know the age (usually determined by the type of sewing: chainstitching would not be after 1900 or so, harness stitching would not be before 1900 or so.)

We need stickies for Wyeth's history, for sewing ages, for maker's marks, for Heiser's history, etc. I solved that long ago with my blog (which I am not permitted to link to here) because what this forum does for its readership is not my affair (it has been pointed out).

Thank you!
This holster and gun were booth purchased together at Browning Bros. shop in 1927. Back of the holster has a Browning Bros. Ogden, Utah stamp, and I guess I was told incorrectly that it was Heiser made. Thanks for the correction.

 

[rednichols]

Thank you!
This holster and gun were booth purchased together at Browning Bros. shop in 1927. Back of the holster has a Browning Bros. Ogden, Utah stamp, and I guess I was told incorrectly that it was Heiser made. Thanks for the correction.

Heiser did do OPH (other people's holsters) but generally their name was so strong that the catalogue house allowed them to be marked on the holsters with their own name. Bianchi was the same with Ruger, with Interarms, with Beeman, made John Wayne commemoratives, others in the late 20th century.

This practice by Heiser was far more prevalent under the post- Heiser family years, which was after 1945, and turnerriver has examples for all the old houses that were before that; for some reason I don't collect those images, dunno why. Hardy's Denver holsters were made for him by Heiser, so were Fred Mueller's Denver holsters, some of Evaluators' holsters, and Colorado Saddlery's holsters were so alike (founded by former Heiser employees) that by the time that company created Hunter for its gunleather one had to wonder which company was really making the CS product.

Once one learns the identifying construction techniques one begins to look for the connections, and usually we can find them (or recognize our error). Heiser even made Keyston Bros capgun sets of the 1950s, it seems, after KB bought them in '50 from the DDG when Ewald Heiser was killed in '49.

 

[Papa Lee]

H.H. Heiser #5

Larry, I have long admired those mighty fine Heiser 1911 holsters.

Pictured is my Heiser Model 5 Holster with the oval maker stamp, Laced Loop Belt Holster with my old 1918 1911. Very similar to yours.

 

[boykinlp]

Larry, I have long admired those mighty fine Heiser 1911 holsters.

Pictured is my Heiser Model 5 Holster with the oval maker stamp, Laced Loop Belt Holster with my old 1918 1911. Very similar to yours.

Wow Lee, that holster looks like you just removed it from the box! That is terrific for one that old! While floral carved holsters are my favorite, I rarely see basketweave ones. Thanks for sharing that GEM! I know Marcello was looking for a picture of one in post 57 of this thread.
Larry

Holsters Makers: Hermann H. Heiser Archive

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Larry, I have long admired those mighty fine Heiser 1911 holsters.

Pictured is my Heiser Model 5 Holster with the oval maker stamp, Laced Loop Belt Holster with my old 1918 1911. Very similar to yours.

Hi Lee
awesome holster.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Baxter6551]

I note that the OPs holster and Lee Ericsson’s holster both have cut away for trigger but mine does not. Can anyone comment as to if mine is really for 1911 ? Thank you.