Oh what a tangled web they weaved,
for Red to unscramble. God Job!
for Red to unscramble. God Job!
The true definition of a Threepersons Style holster
- Thread starter rednichols
- Start date
The model 120 Keith holster first appears in the 1940 catalog, it wasn't listed
in the 1937 catalog. The 1947 catalog notes " For Frontier Model Only ". The 1949 catalog states " For revolvers only, 5 in. barrel and over." The same catalog introduces the model 34, here's a scan of the first page.
As usual, a thought provoking post, Red.
Regards,
Turnerriver
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Great information and a tribute to Red Nichols' exceptional research.
My holster making career was from 1972 to 2015, during which time I made hundreds of "Threepersons-style" holsters. I can see now that my choice of that description was at least as accurate as the historical record allows.
I will bow to the superior knowledge of the "holstorian" on this topic. Very well done, sir!
My holster making career was from 1972 to 2015, during which time I made hundreds of "Threepersons-style" holsters. I can see now that my choice of that description was at least as accurate as the historical record allows.
I will bow to the superior knowledge of the "holstorian" on this topic. Very well done, sir!
Amen to that Ray.
By the way, you were no slouch when it came to Tom Threepersons. Here is one you made for me, slightly
modified with a "dog ear".
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I remember making that holster. Probably about 2011 or so, if my old rememberer still functions (my fergitter is working a lot better these days).
The "dog ear" is actually a hammer shield, intended to protect the user's arm and clothing from contact with sharp edges of the hammer and rear sight. Based on the designs popularized by Hank Sloan, and frequently referred to as a "Hank Sloan-style" holster. Popular with plain-clothes cops back in the 1960's and 1970's. I first saw this style holster while attending a brief training program at the FBI Academy at Quantico, VA in about 1971 or 1972. I found it to be quite useful for keeping the linings of my suit jackets from being torn to shreds by the hammer and rear sight, and I made quite a few of that style until the latter 1980's when semi-auto pistols started displacing revolvers in cops' holsters.
Your Herrett's "Jordan Trooper" grips are another blast from the past! Very nice!
My avatar photo shows a very similar holster made for my old 6" Model 19 with a very nice hand carved floral pattern. One of my personal favorites.
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We had quite a little discussion on this forum 4 or 5 years ago
about the origination of the little leather tab that I call a "dog
ear" and you call a hammer shield. Tex Shoemaker probably
described it best. He called it a clothing protector.
John Bianchi told me that Wally Wolfram designed the hammer
protector for small revolvers....and doubted that there were any
commercially succesful models before Wally's.
Actually the so called "dog ear" came along in the 1940s. The
first may have been by Myres. Wally was in the Air Corp during
WWII, so his probably didn't come along until later.
Here, on the left, is an old model 624 by Myres. I don't know
how old it is.
2nd from left is an old one by Wally Wolfram when he used
the Wolf brand name in Albuquerque. Probably late 1940s.
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Excellent post! Thank you.
Red has often referred to me as luckyphil, and I guess I am, because I
have my own specimens to illustrate the lineage of the famous Tom
Threeperson's holster. Shown from left to right:
It started with the A. W. Brill holster that I got from John Witty. It is
a "late" model made by Newt Rabensburg for an S&W M&P with 4"
barrel.
Tom Threeperson's personal holster as replicated, and given to me, by
Red Nichols. Made for Colt's Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel, but
Tom used it for his 4.75" barreled SAAs.
S. D. Myres model 614 Tom Threepersons holster, made for an S&W
N Frame with 4" barrel.
Heiser model 457, made for an S&W M&P with 4" barrel.
Lawrence's model 34, made for S&W K frame with adjustable rear
sight and 4" barrel.
have my own specimens to illustrate the lineage of the famous Tom
Threeperson's holster. Shown from left to right:
It started with the A. W. Brill holster that I got from John Witty. It is
a "late" model made by Newt Rabensburg for an S&W M&P with 4"
barrel.
Tom Threeperson's personal holster as replicated, and given to me, by
Red Nichols. Made for Colt's Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel, but
Tom used it for his 4.75" barreled SAAs.
S. D. Myres model 614 Tom Threepersons holster, made for an S&W
N Frame with 4" barrel.
Heiser model 457, made for an S&W M&P with 4" barrel.
Lawrence's model 34, made for S&W K frame with adjustable rear
sight and 4" barrel.
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OP
rednichols
Member
Yes, it's conventional wisdom that the hammer guard was created to protect coat linings. In fact its primary benefit is keeping the elbow from cocking the sharply checkered hammers, especially the long and broad 'target' hammers of Pythons and M27s. It's a rude awakening to draw and expect the long double-action trigger takeup and get the hair trigger of a cocked Python. More than a theory, this is a real-life problem solved by so many folks switching to autos since the mid 80s! In the '70s a crim wearing a Bianchi holster decided to show off his Python to his crim buddy and thinking he could point it then touch the trigger -- bang, dead buddy. I was at the trial.
Here are a few more examples of Tom Threeperson's holsters,
Left to Right:
Black basket weave with dog ear by Tex Shoemaker.
Little Mexican carved with dog ear by S.D. Myres.
Black basket weave with snap strap by El Paso Saddlery.
FBI style by Crump.
Many, but not all, of my "dog ear" holsters are made in the Threeperson manner.
Left to Right:
Black basket weave with dog ear by Tex Shoemaker.
Little Mexican carved with dog ear by S.D. Myres.
Black basket weave with snap strap by El Paso Saddlery.
FBI style by Crump.
Many, but not all, of my "dog ear" holsters are made in the Threeperson manner.
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OP
rednichols
Member
A myth was spread first by Milt Sparks and then the current owners, that he and Elmer Keith devised the hammer guard. Here's Elmer with his Gaylord in 1960:
In fact what Milt did was combine a Sloan that Elmer had (he actually had several in his estate when it was auctioned in 2016) with that Gaylord to create a holster for Elmer. Because Chic didn't understand welts so didn't use them, his holsters didn't necessarily grip the revolvers in Threepersons styles very well; notably Elmer's! In "Hell I Was There" Elmer complained that his big N frame kept falling from it. So he got Milt, new to making holsters in 1972, to put Sloan's adjustable welt into a copy of Chic's holster. By then neither Sloan nor Chic were going to be able to help Elmer and he didn't know a patent from a hole in the ground anyway. Nor Milt.
So both the Sloan and the Gaylord had hammer guards; but somehow Milt and Company managed to claim its invention-after-the-fact, just as they were able to claim the invention-after-the-fact of the contoured gunbelt on behalf of Andy Anderson (who they copied) when it was Heiser that was first with it.
In fact what Milt did was combine a Sloan that Elmer had (he actually had several in his estate when it was auctioned in 2016) with that Gaylord to create a holster for Elmer. Because Chic didn't understand welts so didn't use them, his holsters didn't necessarily grip the revolvers in Threepersons styles very well; notably Elmer's! In "Hell I Was There" Elmer complained that his big N frame kept falling from it. So he got Milt, new to making holsters in 1972, to put Sloan's adjustable welt into a copy of Chic's holster. By then neither Sloan nor Chic were going to be able to help Elmer and he didn't know a patent from a hole in the ground anyway. Nor Milt.
So both the Sloan and the Gaylord had hammer guards; but somehow Milt and Company managed to claim its invention-after-the-fact, just as they were able to claim the invention-after-the-fact of the contoured gunbelt on behalf of Andy Anderson (who they copied) when it was Heiser that was first with it.
Wyatt Burp
Member
I like the look of heavy carved Berns-Martin wide contoured belts I’ve seen pictures of. They look very comfortable and practical, though maybe too wide for some people. When did they start making those after Heiser?
Jack Palance’s rig in Shane had two Heiser holsters on a belt that I think was said to be Heiser, too, in old posts here or elsewhere. the way that belt fit him always gave me the impression it was contoured, it looked that good.
Jack Palance’s rig in Shane had two Heiser holsters on a belt that I think was said to be Heiser, too, in old posts here or elsewhere. the way that belt fit him always gave me the impression it was contoured, it looked that good.
The first Heiser mention of a curved cartridge belt is in catalog number 30, circa 1937. The S. D. Myres 1931 catalog shows a slightly curved Buscadero belt. That’s as early as I can find, I suspect that contoured belts were being made before that.
Regards,
turnerriver
Regards,
turnerriver
Wow! You get our illustrious leather artists involved in a discussion and we all stand to learn a good history lesson. Thanks all for your craft and your knowledge!
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I always thought of the Threepersons as a holster for a single action. Not that it can't be used for other actions, but given the SA as a starting point the relevant criteria for me is the exposed trigger guard, exposed hammer, forward cant and a high-ride.
The Wolfram pictured would not qualify as the hammer has too much coverage. I picture a Threepersons as exposing a great deal of the revolver at the top.
My hands-down favorite would be the Lawrence 120. The Myers is right there with it.
The Wolfram pictured would not qualify as the hammer has too much coverage. I picture a Threepersons as exposing a great deal of the revolver at the top.
My hands-down favorite would be the Lawrence 120. The Myers is right there with it.
OP
rednichols
Member
Personally I would make a distinction between the boomerang shaped Buscadero by Berns-Martin (answer: about 1940) and the Myres Buscadero that was actually straight; and the gently arced gunbelts that were claimed for Andy Anderson.
Here's a Myres that they actually called a buscadero in print:
Here's the Berns-Martin that they, too, called a buscadero in print:
Ironically the holster is held to the belt with an overlying strap -- which was the original design of the Buscadero for Capt. Hughes. Myres did not use this method.Here's the Ojala that shouldn't be called a buscadero but is (Dale Myres and he having apparently argued the point):
Here's the Heiser that's simply a curved belt, as turnerriver says from the late '30s:
Here's the Anderson from 1969:
Notice, please, that all but the Berns-Martin have a lowermost, extended edge that is slotted to accept the holster fender being slipped through it. Technically then it is not a Buscadero without the slot (yet see my note above about the B-M and Hughes).
Gunleather makers' "memories" get real fuzzy when they make claims that help their current sales. And Milt's memory was fuzzier than most because he had not been immersed in gunleather 'holstory' when he got his start; he simply took advantage of Andy Anderson's very recent strokes (and the causative L.A. earthquake damage that closed his shop) and jumped in with direct copies. Then more recent owners at Sparks have pretended that 'paying homage' to Andy made that all OK (it doesn't).
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