Handgun Carry in the Old West

[One_Jackal]

Hollywood does cast a poor representation of the weapons carried in the old west. Most cowboys carried guns from the civil war. They would refit a gun meant to shoot percussion caps with a cylinder to shoot cartridges of the day. They were cheap and widely available.

 

[Greg528iT]

I have seen civil war era / repros of Calvary holsters for Black Powder Colts and Remingtons.
What was the official army / Calvary holster for the Colt SAA or Schofield ? Before the implementation of the 1911 flap holster? The same as the BPs?

edit: after google search.. I'd think a LOT of guys getting out of the army would take their holster with them.. either keep the flap or cut it off.

 

[Old Fuff]

...after google search.. I'd think a LOT of guys getting out of the army would take their holster with them.. either keep the flap or cut it off.

Many did exactly that. The problem was that some also took the revolver...

 

[DPris]

Fuff,
Can't you haul out some of your old photos?
Might be a little faded by now, but you were there in the OW & you've gotta have a scrapbook....
Denis

 

[Cremony]

you've gotta have a scrapbook...

DPris :> Can't you haul out some of your old photos ... you've gotta have a scrapbook?





Every picture has someone not wearing the buckle in front.


Pic's from Jason Ross Custom Leather​

 

[Greg528iT]

Which one is Old Fuff?

 

[Old Fuff]

Which one is Old Fuff?

Bottom picture at the very front.

 

[DPris]

Denis

 

[rcmodel]

If I was the dog, I'd move.

That guy with the cocked SAA and his finger on the trigger would make me mighty nervous!!

rc

 

[Cosmoline]

You have to be careful about those old photos. Sometimes they are genuine sidearms and rifles of the people, sometimes not. A lot of the studios had firearms on hand for gentlemen to pose with, to show their relations back east how wild and rough they were. Not to mention wealthy!

The *desire* to have a fine handgun exceeded the ability to afford one for most Americans until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

[MichaelB]

I sure wouldn't accuse any of the men in that first photo as being poseurs...you go first!

 

[Iggy]

You ever been to the carnival where photo concession and they have all of the props to make you into whatever you want to portray?

Well, that's been going on for a long long time.

 

[BBQLS1]

Bottom picture at the very front.

Did you know there was a firearm being pointed at you?

 

[Win73]

I dont think Calvary holsters were worn cross draw I'm pretty sure they carried strong side butt forward, this had to do with carrying the saber as well

The advantage of having the butt forward is that the gun can quickly be drawn and ready for use with either hand from either side.

 

[Old Fuff]

Did you know there was a firearm being pointed at you?

Well yes, but when you live in southeast Arizona nobody notices...

 

[sixgunner455]

Well yes, but when you live in southeast Arizona nobody notices...

Ain't that the truth!

 

[Doghandler]

Ca'mon guys, surely somebody out there has a tin type with your AR and your Glock?

<giggle>

 

[Leanwolf]

COSMOLINE - " A lot of the studios had firearms on hand for gentlemen to pose with, to show their relations back east how wild and rough they were. Not to mention wealthy!"

Correct.

L.W.

 

[2DREZQ]

What a great thread!
My dad let me carry a SA .22 Ruger in a "western style" rig as a kid working on the farm. He must have figured that I'd get tired of the thing being in the way all the time. He was mostly right. I never wore it on horseback, as it was as likely to lose my gun as not. In a tractor it came off and went in the accessory tray as soon as I got in. It was usable on a riding lawnmower for gophers and snakes. It was worse than useless working on any equipment, and stayed in the pickup most of the time. If I had known more about holsters and less about movies I might have gotten myself a better holster 20 years sooner.

 

[Cremony]

Old

​

In music what I think of as "OLD," is Beethoven from 1770

http://youtu.be/PkfUgfT8JjQ?t=4m13s

...it may not be "Handgun Carry in the Old West"

But my girlfriend thinks "OLD" is the Beatles.

http://youtu.be/RtMu6e4vvS8?t=4s

 

[BBQLS1]

Ca'mon guys, surely somebody out there has a tin type with your AR and your Glock?

<giggle>

That was funny.

 

[bikerdoc]

But my girlfriend thinks "OLD" is the Beatles.

My daughter told me "Paul McCartney was in another band before wings"

 

[CajunBass]

I dont think Calvary holsters were worn cross draw I'm pretty sure they carried strong side butt forward, this had to do with carrying the saber as well

Correct. The so called "calvary draw." The revolver was worn on the strong side with the butt facing forward. That way you could draw your saber with the right hand, and the revolver with the left. Or you could turn your strong hand backwards and draw the revolver.

 

[Cremony]

Calvary draw

The so called "calvary draw." The revolver was worn on the strong side with the butt facing forward.

The army issue Cavalry pistol flap holster is made to be worn on the right side (not hip) with the 'gun grip Forward'

... a Cavalry troopers main 'mounted' armament was the Saber. The saber was worn on the same belt as the pistol and goes on the left side. reins were held in the left hand and the saber was cross drawn with the right hand. Having the pistol on the left side would make the pistol and saber bang around as you either rode or walked. Butt forward right side is also very good when mounted on horseback. It doesn't interfere with the reins, is very comfortable, and the jostling around of a fast canter tends to make the gun move 'into' the holster not out of it. Very important on a march if you forget to button down the flap.

The rearward angle insures the barrel end doesn't rub against the leg when fully seated in the saddle. When you look at old pictures or accurate illustrations you will see the holsters were made to sit with the barrel angled backwards at a sharp angle. If a trooper did need to pull the pistol when mounted the right hand can grab the butt and pull the gun out easily without having to struggle to get that long barrel out. More than just hold the gun in the flap keeps the gun dry and keeps dirt and mud off the gun. In the field skirmishing that flap keeps the rain off of the pistol.

 

[mje]

Another footnote, of sorts: I just finished reading Elmer Keith's wonderful rambling autobiography, "Hell, I Was There!" While Elmer was born in 1899 and grew up a generation after what we think of as the cowboy era, his observations on guns and life on a farm and ranch back then provide some good perspective to this thread.