No Subtitute For A Good Gun Rug

[DocB]

This gun rug is probably rarer than any gun you will ever own. It was made by Heiser in the 1950's right after the company was acquired, ceasing to exist shortly thereafter. The perfect label is probably rarer than the rug since many had the label torn out. A year ago I bought a 1910 S&W Target revolver. Before I left the shop, the owner said he almost forget the rug in the back that came with the gun. Since the gun was one of a matched pair (lettered by me) I imagine that the original owner died in the 1950's and the family split up the guns. The new owner of the target revolver invested a little money in a nice rug. Now I keep this loaded 1977 Smith in the rug as one of my house guns. . .keeping a holster on top of the rug. The 1910 revolver is stored in my collection. You could probably throw this outfit off the roof of a building and not hurt the gun. I wonder how many of you have acquired "vintage" rugs over the years. If you have, some pictures would be good. It would help if any of us ever come across a rug with the label ripped out, and don't know what it is.

 

[Comrad]

I would like to share a valuable lesson in the use of gun rugs.

My first and very beautiful 6906 was carefully placed in a nice gun rug.

The first time I unzipped it the gun fell out of the rug and bounced on the concrete floor. The most amazing part is no visible damage done.

The moral of the story is open the zipper over a bench. The contents can be a little slippery.

 

[turnerriver]

Here's a rug by S.D. Myres.



A Colorado Saddlery rug.

I have two Heiser rugs that have the oval stamp with no interior label, I'll take some photos when I return home and post them. Thanks for posting your rug and for showing the label.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[DocB]

Wow. Never seen a Myres one.

 

[Watchdog]

With their quality and level of craftsmanship, it's hard for me to refer to the Heiser and Myres products as "rugs". I guess that's the proper terminology, but I've always called them soft cases.

Maybe it's just me?

Anyway, all of them are beautiful.

 

[rburg]

A Colorado Saddlery rug.

[/QUOTE]

That old K22 looks kind of LERKy. I kind of like it.

 

[bruce5781]

Been trying to find one for years. Closest I have been able to come are some shearling lined flap holsters.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[ameridaddy]

We've had threads on "barbecue gun" rigs with fancy leather. ^Those beauties are barbecue gun rugs! They're meant to be shown off, not hidden on a shelf.
I think if I owned one of those rugs, it would have its own case.

 

[one eye joe]

I HAVE USED GUN RUGS TO STORE MY HANDGUNS FOR 60 YEARS. NONE OF MINE HAVE EVER COME CLOSE TO THE CARVED LEATHER WORKS OF ART, PICTURED IN THIS THREAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.....

 

[crazyphil]

I thought a rug was what some guys wear on top of their head.
"Holy Smoke the preacher shouted,
in his haste he lost his hair.
Now his head resembles Heaven,
cause there is no parting there."
I have some soft gun cases with zippers, but they are nowhere
near beautiful enough to put on here. But I liked looking at all
of yours.

 

[lawandorder]

Here are three examples of vintage.............

.........gun rugs, not in the class of John's beauties but old style.

Front is a laced edge, floral tooled, DIY example, unfortunately has 3 initials on the spine but no makers mark.

Middle is a Koplin with embossed tooling.

& Back is one I picked up yesterday in a flea mkt. up in Missouri.

Safariland suede.

 

[crsides]

Got this from Fat Tom and I don't think he knew who made it at the time. Any guesses? no label. There is a mark on the back.





Charlie

 

[rburg]

Ya know,I just stumble along at gun shows and antique shows looking. In all that time I've lucked into one Heiser rug, one Heiser ammo case, and a single leg of mutton shotgun case. They're all hidden away where no one can see them.

I kind of violated my rules on that when I took the case, dropped the equally ratty old 44 3rd target in it, and then took it to the Louisville show. But the goodies are now back safe, behind layers of concrete and steel. The reason we almost never see the stuff is because selfish old coots like me hoard it away where you can't get your grubby hands on it. Pure selfishness with no other explanation. My widow knows what I paid and won't be a sucker to sell cheap. Well, my future widow. Not really dead yet, so I'll be there at the venues, shoulder to shoulder with everyone else, still looking. I'm pretty quick on the draw (with my billfold) and I'd feel real good about buying another.

 

[DoubleAdobe]

I am a leather man, and you guys have now inspired me to make a tooled pistol rug. Stand by, it will happen, ha. BTW, I have made a ton of tooled other things, saddles, holsters, rifle scabbards wallets, purses, notebooks, etc., etc. but never a gun rug. Now it is going to happen. I shall return!

 

[DoubleAdobe]

Mr. Witty, if you don't mind, could you show an interior shot of the rug? I am curious to know if it is clipped shearling, or maybe something else.
Thanks, and would still like to have that Tio Sam biography if you get a chance, please, sir.

 

[turnerriver]

Here are the two Heiser rugs. The black rug is a model 86, cataloged as being made of Chap leather. The brown rug us stamped with model number 85 which is described as being made of California Oak tanned skirting leather but is also cataloged as being floral carved, model # 84 is plain. So this one is mismarked apparently. Both have clipped wool linings.



This is the interior of the Myres rug.

Regards,
turnerriver

 

[DoubleAdobe]

Excellent, thank you, sir.

 

[target tech]

.........gun rugs, not in the class of John's beauties but old style.

Front is a laced edge, floral tooled, DIY example, unfortunately has 3 initials on the spine but no makers mark.

Middle is a Koplin with embossed tooling.

& Back is one I picked up yesterday in a flea mkt. up in Missouri.

Safariland suede.

Your DIY rug is/was a Tandy Leather kit.
Mine came from my Uncle Steve after he passed away. It had his 18-3 in it. It was tooled and assembled by my mother back in the mid 70s when she took some leather working classes one winter. It was given to him as a Christmas gift.

 

[bruce5781]

Picked this one up recently. I believe it too is a Tandy kit. Tooled both sides, nicely done.

Lined with glove leather, has a handy pocket for all the necessary paperwork.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[GF]

^^^^^^^

Very nice!

GF