New old, Old new.

[Horsewright]

Busy day in the shop Monday. I made two rifle scabbards and three holsters, so I guess it was gun day. One of the holsters was requested by the customer to have a special finish. First time I'd ever tried this so I thought I'd share with you and see your thoughts. The customer, a close friend too, asked that the holster look like it came out of the 1860's. Not just the style of holster but that the finished holster literally looked 150 years old. I asked him if he wanted me to drag it behind the truck for a while....

This style of holster is called a California Slim Jim. It originated with some of the early saddelries here in CA and has been around ever since. Originally made for Cap and Ball revolvers it worked so well that it made the transition to cartridge guns. Its pretty versatile and can be worn crossdraw or on the strongside. The dark brown one is the one I made to look old.

Here is a close up. My friend was really pleased with how it came out. Whadya think? This is taking antiquing to a whole different level.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Well you know I'm gonna like it.

How'd ya do it?

One thing I've been playing with is to lightly wet the leather, wrap it in plastic wrap, then lightly press it against blacktop or something rougher depending on how much effect I want. I press down in a couple of random places. After antique it looks pretty cool/distressed. Thought about making a stamp for this, but it's pretty easy to do on any rough surface.

 

[vilePossum]

I like the "dragging behind the truck" idea
Looks very nice!
Frankly I love the style of the six shooters and lever action rifles, too bad I can't shoot/own them over here.
How is the attachment done? Normal fold over belt loop?

 

[claude scott]

Very nice holsters. The only other way I can see to 'antique' them is to tie them onto a horses tail for a day or so. Is there any chance you might be doing the braiding on the hackamore? That is really nice looking as well. Keep up the good work!
Claude Scott
Flying 'S' Leather

 

[IVANKERLEY]

beautiful, really like the antique one, very subtle , beautiful color
are these 1851's They're Opentops for sure, the bottom one has the Uberti red stain look to the grips, nice to see the percussion guns
I shoot a Uberti 1860 Army myself!
Gene

 

[druid189]

those are handsome holsters and I'd be proud to rock them.

 

[darkmatter35]

They look nice, the dark one looks like it has just the right amount of coloration (brown to black). I like the nice curves at the mouth of the holster. I made a sheath a while back that had the same colors and look to it, just not as nice as that holster looks.
John

 

[camaroless]

Wow my son asked me to try and make a holster for a gun his pap gave him. Beautiful work I really like antique looking leather. Is it your own pattern ? Mine wont look so good but I gotta try it for him.

 

[kaizo]

Its beautiful... Now you need to make a matching pair of belt and boots!!

 

[Horsewright]

Dang it had a whole reply typed out here and lost it, wouldn't post. So we'll try again. First thanks guys!

Strig pretty simple, Scratched with my finger nails before dyeing. Then tried not to get the dye job too even on purpose. Then some flexing after dyeing to get some surface cracks going. Coat of finish and then hit it with a sponge sanding block. Then oil some of the scuffs and finish over the top of others. High Liter in the stamping but not even and wipe away immediately. Another coat of finish and while its still damp a little more sanding and the gouge down at the bottom with a rat tail file. The temtation was to do too much abrasion and scratching. I googled lots of pics of originals and kinda looked at wear and tear on them to see where it was.

Vile yep just a regular fold over loop. Pretty striaght up and down just a small amount of angle.

Claude that hackamore is by Chuck Irwin. He's the last living (to my knoweldge) of the old time Californio bit and spur makers. It was given to me by a good friend so has double meaning.

Ivan yep both 51's. Bottom one is mine in .36. I've had it 30ish years now. 1,000s of rounds through it and many, many mile of horseback carry. I've got to replace the hand spring, its on its third one and is broke right now. The one in the the antiqued holster is my buddy's. Its a .44 brass framed southern copy. Both are by Pietta I believe.

Druid, John thanks guys.

Camaroless Yep it was my own design. I just looked at a lot of pics with google images and then made a pattern out of paper. Took 3 times to get the paper pattern right before I cut leather.

Kaiso thannks. Could do the belt, the boots would be past my pay grade. Better show you the scabbards cause its kinda like your left handed sheath.

So I cut out this scabbard and then look at the order form. Rough out, no biggie, turn it over and !@#$%^&. Thats the one spot where Wicket and Craig decide to mark some code in silver paint on this side. !@#$%^&. So I cut out another one and build up both.

So here's the roughout one to fill the order. They are identical except one is roughout and the other is smoothout. Shipped the roughout to the customer. Guess its always good to have extra stock. Well it was Monday have to screw something up.

 

[Macan]

Dave your work had always beautiful rich colour, and I cannot tired watchin' it not to mention other stuff:thumbup:

 

[harronek]

Dave,

Love those Holsters and Scabbards , I'd love to see one of those Holsters in Rough Out .

The style of Holster you've made , was that a very common one back in the old days ?
Did any of the old style Holsters have retention straps or other ways of securing the Pistol ?
I would have thought back then a Pistol was possibly your second most valuable possession after your Mule or Horse .
Protecting it from the elements and against accidental loss must have been high on the priority list for the average man .

Ken

 

[kaizo]

Classic story Horsewright! I think they are both beautiful so I'll say its a win win situation!!

 

[Salolan]

Maybe since you have an extra scabbard you can convince Nichole that it is a sign you need a gun to fill it. I would hate to see it lonely.

Gorgeous stuff as always.

Chris

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks Macan. I too just like that color. Oiled leather to me just looks like..... leather and exhibits all the qualities that we like leather for. Thats all I did to the rifle scabbards or the non antiiqued holster. Just a coat 100% neatsfot oil warmed up. then a coat of finish on the smooth ones. Nothing on the roughout scabbard didn't even rub the edges much.

Ken, yes it was, that style was very popular. Mid 1870's you started seeing other styles as well, like the Mexican Loop holster etc but still lots of the Slim Jims. Still see a lot in some of those cowboy action shooting deals. For a weak side crossdraw or a twist draw, just aobut perfect. Lots of retention through friction on these, in fact when drawing you have to give a quick little jerk to break it free from the leather. Otherwise the holster wants to come with the gun. I would not have any hesitation of riding our rough country carrying that pistol of mine in one of these holsters. They are secure. And our ranch is very, very rough. My horse by lunch time and only half the work done on Saturday. He was pretty finished. Swapped to a different horse for the rest of the day. And this horse of mine is TOUGH, in fact that is one of hs greatest attributes.

Sonme western holsters had a thong that would slip over the hammer of the revolver for retention. This works very well but I don't think I've ever seen it on a Slim Jim.. For best protection of the handgun a flapped holster rocks. Secure and protective. This is my Rangeflap holster I was wearing Saturday.

I've made some of these roughout.

Chris I have been having the new gun blues. Was on gunbroker.com till late last night looking at the Henry .357s. But I'll probably sell the scabbard and the holster. I've got both of those already and it is what I do.