MOST COLLECTIBLE HOLSTER?

[crazyphil]

Opinions vary concerning what holsters are most collectible,
and we all have our opinions. I'll show you mine if you will show
me yours? Here are 7 that they will have to pry from my cold
dead hands:

Left to Right:

The big 3: Lawrence model 34B with model 19,
Heiser model 728 with 1911 Colt Gold Cup, and
Myres model 614 with model 29.


2nd from Left:

My Brill, with thanks to turnerriver, with my model 10.

3rd from Left:

My Berns-Martin, with my model 19.

4th from Left:

My Chic Gaylord, with my model 29.

5th from Left:

My Seventrees, again with thanks to turnerriver, with model 19.

 

[bruce5781]

I would have to say my Brills top the list. However, N frame Myres and Heiser are also right up there.

 

[crazyphil]

I would have to say my Brills top the list. However, N frame Myres and Heiser are also right up there.

Beautiful specimens. I especially like your Myres
with the "dog ear".

 

[bruce5781]

Beautiful specimens. I especially like your Myres

with the "dog ear".

Thanks Phil. When I found that one, someone had removed the upper portion of the welt. Doc Barranti did a wonderful job of restoring it for me. You can see a photo of the dissected welt in Holstory.

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk

 

[DevilDog72]

great holsters one and all

 

[KalamazooKid]

I’ve really drifted toward my flap holsters and happen to be shooting the revolvers in these two today. Maybe not “collectible” from a value standpoint, but I can’t get enough of em.

And a Heiser made for the “Buffalo Brand”. Again, one of my “collectibles”. [emoji41]

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Some makers and individual products are certainly collectible, as has been clearly shown in this thread.

As far as "most collectible" I would suggest that holsters with provenance linking them to historical figures would top the list. JW Hardin's shoulder rig would be a great exhibit in either a private collection or a museum. George Patton's holsters would be prominent in any military collection. G. Gordon Liddy's holster from his FBI days would be very desirable. An original attributed to Tom Threepersons would be very nice to have.

Of course, some of the old timers were not above capitalizing on their fame. Bat Masterson reportedly purchased used revolvers from pawn shops, then sold them with a bill of sale authenticating them as his personal side arms. The family of Jesse & Frank James reportedly sold numerous handguns credited to those famous gunmen. Hundreds of old Colts and Winchesters have been attributed to Pancho Villa by unscrupulous dealers.

The collector would have to be very knowledgeable and carefully evaluate every claim and every document!

 

[KalamazooKid]

I consider high condition, tooled Heiser holsters to be the finest and most collectible of all holsters.

It is just an opinion, but let the flaming begin!

To me, “collectable” is in the eye of the beholder (or buyer [emoji41]). No wrong answers.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I don’t have a Myres.
So if you happen to have an extra LH one for a K or L Frame,
There is a very deserving individual in NM yearning for one!

 

[rednichols]

You've pegged the collectible brands, Phil . If the question is MOST collectible brand, I reckon turnerriver's massive (I'm prohibited from saying just how massive) holster collection is the canary in the coalmine. And do I believe his is Heiser-heavy.

Having a maker's mark is almost an essential; it is a provenance of who and where and even when. Then condition, of which turnerriver's are marvels. As stated, an owner can be determinative (my unmarked Threepersons was actually owned by Threepersons himself, for example). Recently I ran across a closed auction for a second Butch Cassidy revolver and holster, the latter perhaps home-made from a saddle fender (!) with provenance; and what appears to be a genuine El Paso Saddlery Co. belt (unrelated to the modern company, by the way). The dates provided in the provenance are consistent with the lifetimes of both Butch, and the original EPS; and in the style of the turn of that century, too; so mighty plausible (the 'other' Cassidy holster, marked A.W. Brill, is impossible; it surely is his revolver but Brill did not come into existence until well after Butch was reported killed).

 

[crazyphil]

You've pegged the collectible brands, Phil . If the question is MOST collectible brand, I reckon turnerriver's massive (I'm prohibited from saying just how massive) holster collection is the canary in the coalmine. And do I believe his is Heiser-heavy.

Having a maker's mark is almost an essential; it is a provenance of who and where and even when. Then condition, of which turnerriver's are marvels. As stated, an owner can be determinative (my unmarked Threepersons was actually owned by Threepersons himself, for example). Recently I ran across a closed auction for a second Butch Cassidy revolver and holster, the latter perhaps home-made from a saddle fender (!) with provenance; and what appears to be a genuine El Paso Saddlery Co. belt (unrelated to the modern company, by the way). The dates provided in the provenance are consistent with the lifetimes of both Butch, and the original EPS; and in the style of the turn of that century, too; so mighty plausible (the 'other' Cassidy holster, marked A.W. Brill, is impossible; it surely is his revolver but Brill did not come into existence until well after Butch was reported killed).

A couple of mine do not have the maker mark. As we know,
some of them, Gaylord for example, stamped in the rough
side of the leather and it was easily worn away. But then I
have a friend in Australia who is an expert in such matters,
and he has authenticated mine by the stitch signature. A guy
by the name of Red Nichols, Perhaps you have heard of him.

 

[turnerriver]

All great posts with great examples.
This holster by F. A. Meanea stands out to me-it’s in good condition and is a transition from old West gun leather to the new at the time automatics.

One of my favorite Heisers stamped White and Davis-Always Reliable. It has the three H rivets and is molded to the Savage .32 that was my father in law’s nightstand gun.

This Myres holster and belt set is in the book, it is hard to date gun leather and this one was probably dated when it was made. I haven’t seen the butterfly motif used on another holster or belt. I don’t think it has ever held a gun.

This Lawrence combination pocket belt holster is stamped A.F. Stoeger and was made for a 5” S&W .357 Magnum, either a Registered Magnum or an early post-war gun. The model 18 holster was in the 1938 catalog and was dropped from the line by 1970.

I hope you all continue posting.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[crazyphil]

All great posts with great examples.
This holster by F. A. Meanea stands out to me-it’s in good condition and is a transition from old West gun leather to the new at the time automatics.

One of my favorite Heisers stamped White and Davis-Always Reliable. It has the three H rivets and is molded to the Savage .32 that was my father in law’s nightstand gun.

This Myres holster and belt set is in the book, it is hard to date gun leather and this one was probably dated when it was made. I haven’t seen the butterfly motif used on another holster or belt. I don’t think it has ever held a gun.

This Lawrence combination pocket belt holster is stamped A.F. Stoeger and was made for a 5” S&W .357 Magnum, either a Registered Magnum or an early post-war gun. The model 18 holster was in the 1938 catalog and was dropped from the line by 1970.

I hope you all continue posting.
Regards,
turnerriver

All beautiful examples of collectibles John.
Thank you for showing them.

 

[rednichols]

All great posts with great examples.
This holster by F. A. Meanea stands out to me-it’s in good condition and is a transition from old West gun leather to the new at the time automatics.

One of my favorite Heisers stamped White and Davis-Always Reliable. It has the three H rivets and is molded to the Savage .32 that was my father in law’s nightstand gun.

This Myres holster and belt set is in the book, it is hard to date gun leather and this one was probably dated when it was made. I haven’t seen the butterfly motif used on another holster or belt. I don’t think it has ever held a gun.

This Lawrence combination pocket belt holster is stamped A.F. Stoeger and was made for a 5” S&W .357 Magnum, either a Registered Magnum or an early post-war gun. The model 18 holster was in the 1938 catalog and was dropped from the line by 1970.

I hope you all continue posting.
Regards,
turnerriver

I reckon the Meanea is not for a 1911 at all, but for a 5 inch N frame. Try It? As has been discussed, this is not only a common interchangability but is a common mix up because of the expectation for a covered trigger. Yes triggers were covered on both autos and revolvers in the early 20th century but an exposed trigger on the big autos was the norm until the middle of the century.

 

[turnerriver]

It’s definitely for an auto, a revolver won’t even begin to fit as the holster is very narrow and very stiff. There is a strong imprint on the bottom plug of the barrel bushing and the recoil spring plug. It really does fit the Government Model perfectly. I had an ad in the Gun List and Shotgun News for years seeking holsters, this one was a result. It’s stamped in two locations, on the side as shown and on the toe of the skirt as well.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[LEO918]

Here's my favorite - an S.D. Myres with hammer shield...

 

[rednichols]

It’s definitely for an auto, a revolver won’t even begin to fit as the holster is very narrow and very stiff. There is a strong imprint on the bottom plug of the barrel bushing and the recoil spring plug. It really does fit the Government Model perfectly. I had an ad in the Gun List and Shotgun News for years seeking holsters, this one was a result. It’s stamped in two locations, on the side as shown and on the toe of the skirt as well.
Regards,
turnerriver

In closeup we can really appreciate how well the basketweave was executed by a chap called a set stamper (a carver was called an engraver). The individual 'H' pattern has to be aligned quite exactly for all four of the tips of the H to meet, then throughout the pattern, too. I'm pretty good at this using a large stamp and the angled layout that Heiser and others used; but am quite terrible at doing the parallel layout (to the main fold) used here and on Brills (and its copies).

And the leather was wetted ideally to get that puffy look, and also the discoloration inside the stamp lines that create contrast. V nice. One can't get either with leather that is simply wet.

Unusual to cover the trigger, and unlikely to have a provision for the mag button (Shelton-Payne Arms was the first to do this, and a provision is found on some Sessums, some Rogers, some Myres, some Berns-Martins, etc.). Shelton himself worked the need for this very early on, about 1916 as I recall. Likely then yours, having the distinct muzzle markings, also has a distinct mag button marking, too, inside the holster.

 

[Blueinterceptor]

I don’t know how to post pictures but how about the spring loaded clam shell swivel holster from Adam-12 as a collectible

 

[ditrina]

This S.D. Myers that perfectly goes with my K-22 1947 Birthday gun...

 

[bracebeemer]

I would have to say the Heiser #753. These were the top of the line in the Heiser catalogues. They were lined, laced ( both the holster and apron) and beautifully carved. They were buscadero style ( snap on the drop loop extension ) and a number of fancy matching belts were available differing in widths and lined or unlined with different degrees of carving. These were the Hollywood cowboy holsters of the pre war era and IMHO will alway be desirable and collectible. Bill