Pre-10 snub in a AW Brill

[Jstonefish]

Just joined the Forum and have enjoyed browsing and seeing the outstanding leather workmanship on holsters crafted and owned by members.

For as long as I can remember (+40 years), my Pre-10 snub has been in this Brill holster. Unfortunately, my father is no longer around to field my ??s, so I'm looking for some educated opinions.
It's in pretty good shape, it hasn't been carried much, if at all. Dad went to UT in the 60's, so I'm guessing he may have picked it up in Austin.

I imagine it is an authentic Brill, any way to ballpark the manufacture date?
I haven't been able to find pictures of other snub holsters like this, is the strap under the trigger guard likely original or added on later? The ones I've seen on the web are across the hammer.
Is a Brill snub holster uncommon to come across?

Sorry for the slew of questions right out of the gate, but curious about the history and appreciate your insights.
Thanks.

 

[turnerriver]

Welcome to the forum, you've started with a bang. That is a very nice holster you have there. I don't know the exact time frame but believe Brill holsters were made in the 1930's up through maybe the 1950's or possibly early 1960's.
The strap behind the trigger guard is less common than the over the hammer style but I see holsters made that way now and then. I'll be interested to see what the leather workers say about the safety strap as I'm ambivalent- the hardware looks like the same period to me but putting the male half on the front loop seems odd to me. I think the forum members who make holsters will be able to tell us whether the strap was an add-on or not.
All Brill holsters are uncommon-yours is a very fine one.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Doc Barranti]

Slick old shuck!

While I've seen a couple other Brill holsters with straps, I've not seen the snap mounted on the band, which makes me think it may have been added. That said, it appears to have about the same amount of wear as the holster, so I wonder if the maker added it for the customer?

 

[lawandorder]

The strap sure looks original to the holster. May have been a customer request for sure, to locate the strap behind the tg.

Guessing late 40s early 50s.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

What a great holster. Interesting that the belt loop folded over is lined partially into the holster, but not the entire body of the holster itself. That strap sure looks aged right as already mentioned, but I can't recall seeing one with a strap to know if that snap is correct. Straps usually are riveted in back and pop out of a slot cut in the fold of the belt loop, then snapped. If Brill safety straps are uncommon, maybe this WAS their way of making one on request. I've alway loved the curve of the Brill loop around the holster. This one for such a short holster is really wild the way it's all curvy to maintain a tighter fit on a belt.

 

[Jstonefish]

Obviously, I welcome all the feedback.
Not that it makes a huge difference to me (since I like the strap), I'll go with the possibility that the safety strap is original.
I certainly don't mind to be course correct in the future!
Appreciate all the positive comments!
Thanks, and again there is an amazing amount of skill out there.

 

[Jstonefish]

Forgot to ask what is a recommended product to preserve this holster?
I don't want to make a rookie mistake and ruin the remaining, leather finish by inadvertently stripping it off. It's still stiff and in reasonable good shape.
Funny how paranoid I am after the many years this holster has survived.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

A clue that the safety strap is original is how it's riveted on. That could be done after the holster was made, but easier if done before the belt loop folded over and stitched. If you cannot feel the back of the strap rivet inside the belt loop, it's definitely original. Because the strap was riveted on before it was lined.
But so much talk about that strap is trivial. It's a very unique holster made better with a strap to keep a shorter barreled gun more secure in it. That could be a clue right there that it's original, which I think it is.

 

[turnerriver]

Blackrock Leather N' Rich is my preference. Applied lightly with your fingers, wiped off with a soft cloth and brushed with a good shoe brush- the best method for old holsters that I've found.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Kansasgunner]

I also believe the strap to be original. Setting the male half on the loop keeps the metal out of the holster and away from the guns finish. Agree with Wyatt Burp that the safety strap makes a short barrel gun much more secure. Both Brill holsters I have use the same partial lining.

 

[Kansasgunner]

And more importantly great gun and holster combo Jstonefish!

 

[crazyphil]

There were two Brill holster makers. The Father, August, worked in the business from 1890 until 1952 The Son, Arnold, managed the business from the 1930s up into the 1960s. The early Austin style holsters, made by August, did not have the maker mark in the loop, nor did they have the "wave" in the loop. Later Austin style holsters, by Arnold, have the maker mark in the loop and at some point He started putting the "wave" on the loop. As you can see, your holster has the maker mark in the loop and the loop has the "wave". My guess is it was made by Arnold, probably in the late 50s or 60s.