WHO DID THE BEST CARVING?

[crazyphil]

Who did the best carving? Of course that is a matter of opinion.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However I believe many
would agree that some of the best carving came from Myres,
Lawrence and Heiser. I have posted examples below left to right:

Myres 614 with Model 67 Combat Masterpiece.
Lawrence 27 with Model 19 Combat Magnum.
Heiser 728 with Colt's 1911 Gold Cup.

In my opinion, rawhide lacing adds to the beauty of a holster,
like the Lawrence and the Heiser models shown.

To fill out the hand, I will mention a couple of my personal
favorite "wild cards".
4th from left is Eubanks 820 with Colt's Cavalry replica.
5th from left is a Hunter 3100 with Model 29.

I am sure there are many beautiful carved holsters out there
in S&W Forum land. Let me see some of your favorites.

 

[storyman]

I think for these times and production it would be hard to beat El Paso Saddlery. Just my personal preference.

 

[KalamazooKid]

This little Heiser 457 is one of my favorites!

 

[Walter Rego]

I have shown this one before from Eubanks. I have never seen another with oak leaf carving from them.

 

[turnerriver]

I like them all of course but have a few favorites in the collection.
A carved Brill.

I like this little Hoyt because it’s not the usual pattern.

Colorado Saddlery also stamped the safety strap and front loop.

Regards,
turnerriver

 

[bamabiker]

I don't know how I could ever pin it down to just one.
Beautiful examples.

 

[bruce5781]

Maybe not the "best", but here is a Berns Martin that I am awfully fond of.

Sent from my SM-S506DL using Tapatalk

 

[squawberryman]

Karla VanHorn

 

[Kansasgunner]

Out of the older makers I think George Lawrence hands down for the best flower carving.

 

[mrchick]

I really like this rig. On the back it is stamped “Hand Crafted by Leon Petersen”.

 

[turnerriver]

Another favorite, a Myres Barton’s Special holster for a K-38.

Regards,

 

[boykinlp]

This Uncataloged SD Myres holster is probably my nicest one carved by them.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

This might be my best carved Heiser holster. Of course, it having such a large area to show off the carving might have something to do with it?
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Here is my nicest carved Colorado Saddlery holster. It may be my nicest, period!
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Lastly, this is my best carved Lawrence holster.
Larry

 

[Wyatt Burp]

This little Heiser 457 is one of my favorites!

Every time I see a Heiser of this type for sale I stop and appreciate the lines and looks of them. And I'm just talkin' about plain ones. Not like this masterpiece. The carving on this Colorado Saddlery two gun belt I have is fantastic. But wasn't C.S. a company made up of former Heiser employees, or something like that. This belt might be in the classifieds here soon. No holsters, though.

 

[crazyphil]

Some employees even went on from Colorado Saddlery over to Hunter.
I'm thinking of one engraver (as they were called then) now known as
carvers.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Actor and musician Frank Stallone put his Alfonso rig on Ebay a few years back. Carved by Alfonso himself, it had Stallone's name stamped on the back. He's a better actor than his brother, IMO. I bought it and later sold it. Unfortunately for Stallone he didn't make it past Kilmer's first scene in Tombstone.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Daisy

 

[s&wchad]

I don’t know who was/is the “best”, but Karla Van Horne aka Purdue Purdy Gear is doing some awfully nice work these days. I wish I had some of her leather goods to show off.

Do a google image search and you’ll see some great stuff.