Two more California patterns

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So, it's the pattern of the holster, not the decoration, right?
Correct.


Beautiful work sir! Are the small floral medallions dyed a lighter color? Very nice detail.
No but when you stamp/tool leather it compresses the fibers and those places tend to absorb less dye than the unaltered areas. It's one of the reasons I go back over it with a black antiquing paste after the dye has dried, to slightly darken the tooling.
 
If I remember right from my SASS days; the California holster pattern was very form hugging to the gun like the OPs awesome examples :thumbup:. They were made without the over holster straps, thongs or leather piece between the holster and the leg. These aren’t California style holsters:

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Wasn’t another term for an unadorned California style holster a “Slim Jim” or am I mistaken?

Beautiful work! :)

Stay safe.
 
Howdy Again

I think a Slim Jim holster is slightly different in profile than a California holder. A number of years ago I had El Paso Saddlery make up a Slim Jim holster for my S&W New Model Number Three. The slightly wider profile leaves plenty of clearance for the large hinge portion of the frame. This is what El Paso's Slim Jim looks like:

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I had them make a second one for my Russian model.

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A Schofield fits in the same holster.

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So does my open top Merwin Hulbert. By this time, these holsters have gotten stained a bit by the Black Powder cartridges I shoot in these revolvers.

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Beautiful work. I mostly make knife sheaths, but have done a couple holsters. Best thing about them is they let me carry safely and securely. You have inspired me to do better.
 
I have always heard that style of holster called a slim jim and found this on Old West Trading Comanies website:

"The 1849 Main & Winchester Designed California Slim Jim style pistol gun holster is a closely contoured sleek & stylish looking holster made popular in Northern California by the Sutter's Mill 49er miners of the gold rush era. Made for most single action & percussion pistols of that era these holsters were the holster of choice because it made it easy to carry one of the most important tools for ones personal protection. This was the favorite style holster used by both Wild Bill Hickok & Jesse James just to name a few."

Craig, I have never been a fan of only stamped or basket weave leather work but I really like those two holsters and you have changed my mind about stamping. They are excellent.
 
Thanks all, for the kind words. I thought these two turned out particularly good. More on the way.....


I must say, you do very nice work.

Perhaps if I ever need a new rig I should look you up?
Thanks, you're certainly welcome to.


Awful pretty.

How do they belt?

Todd.
With belt loops! :p

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I think a Slim Jim holster is slightly different in profile than a California holder. A number of years ago I had El Paso Saddlery make up a Slim Jim holster for my S&W New Model Number Three. The slightly wider profile leaves plenty of clearance for the large hinge portion of the frame. This is what El Paso's Slim Jim looks like:
The "California" and the Slim Jim are one and the same. In fact, Packing Iron doesn't mention the term "Slim Jim" at all. What El Paso markets separately as the 1849 Californian and the 1870 Slim Jim are just two variations of the same thing. I have a bit of a mental speed bump with the term "Slim Jim" because of this guy.

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Craig you do amazing work. Wish you were still doing it commercially.
I have several listed on my Etsy page, including these two. ;)


Craig, I have never been a fan of only stamped or basket weave leather work but I really like those two holsters and you have changed my mind about stamping. They are excellent.
Dang! I just switched to using the swivel knife for my line work instead of stitch groovers and I've had a much more harmonious outcome. So I've been getting more carried away with the border stamping. ;)
 
Howdy Again

I think a Slim Jim holster is slightly different in profile than a California holder. A number of years ago I had El Paso Saddlery make up a Slim Jim holster for my S&W New Model Number Three. The slightly wider profile leaves plenty of clearance for the large hinge portion of the frame. This is what El Paso's Slim Jim looks like:

View attachment 986039


View attachment 986040




I had them make a second one for my Russian model.

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View attachment 986042




A Schofield fits in the same holster.

View attachment 986043

View attachment 986044




So does my open top Merwin Hulbert. By this time, these holsters have gotten stained a bit by the Black Powder cartridges I shoot in these revolvers.

View attachment 986045

View attachment 986046

"El Paso Saddlery". That gets me giddy every time, I love seeing a local business i live down the road from having clout states away.
 
"El Paso Saddlery". That gets me giddy every time, I love seeing a local business i live down the road from having clout states away.
They make good stuff! Every time I drive through Texas I make it a point to route my trip to the Cimarron shop in Fredericksburg. Due in no small part to the fact that El Paso does all their leatherwork and it can sometimes be caught on sale.

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Phil Spangenberger (sp?) wrote a cool article on the origins of the California pattern holster. He wrote that the prospectors of the gold rush era were attacked by claim jumpers often enough that designs for holsters with no protective flaps and easy access to hammer and trigger started coming out.

I bet the form fitting holster design gave some retention properties while moving about, yet the prospector could get his gun into his hand quicker than if he had to fumble with flaps, hammer thongs, etc. Smart folks indeed :thumbup:.

https://truewestmagazine.com/the-first-western-holster/

Stay safe.
 
Yeah, you can see how it evolved from the military flap holsters. People don't really look at them that way because of Hollywood fast draw/buscadero nonsense but they're really fast into action. Much quicker than the flaps. You can take a full firing grip and get your finger into the triggerguard quickly, before it clears leather. I use them all the time.
 
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