Need a Custom Leathersmith
- Thread starter StrawHat
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JTQ
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I'm not familiar with what this would be. Could you share a picture or give us a link to a picture or description?
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It is also called the Brill holster after a merchant who sold many of them long after they were originated by a Texas Ranger. They are arguably, one of the first true concealment holsters.
When the Texas Rangers started to be based in large towns, like Austin, Houston, etc, the local townsfolk objected to seeing the Rangers openly carrying there handguns. One of the Ranger Captains came up with an idea for a holster that would be small, light and able to ride on the, then new, trouser belts under the traditional vest or jacket. The construction of this holster was described to many different makers, and they all built scabbards very close to what the Ranger requested.
I have several copies and one original.
The copies,
The original,
They were made of much lighter leather, with a 1/2 lining that extended over the belt (to protect the clothing, not the handgun), with a contoured welt that fit tight to the frame of the handgun. This fit was a built in retention device. The cuff that wraps the holster was cut so to angle the holster to present the grip for a better draw and was later called the FBI cant. The toe of the holster is sewn to the skirt. There are chapters in the book “Holstory” on it.
It is a well designed holster, ahead of its time but not necessarily an easy one to build. It is not a simple Mexican loop, although since it came from the SouthWest, there was obviously some influence. One fellow who built one for me said he would never make another one. They are challenging to get correct. Just the belt tunnel alone is designed to work on a normal belt and it works beautifully. There is no need for a dedicated “gun belt” or whatever the tactical call it these days.
When Tom ThreePersons supposedly designed the holster to bear his name, he used the Sunday scabbard as the base “to pare away all the extra leather.” He kept the welt.
The welt is so important that a scabbard set up for a revolver with adjustable sights is too big for the same size revolver with fixed sights.
That was a brief description, I am sure I have left bits out. If you have questions, ask away.
Kevin
When the Texas Rangers started to be based in large towns, like Austin, Houston, etc, the local townsfolk objected to seeing the Rangers openly carrying there handguns. One of the Ranger Captains came up with an idea for a holster that would be small, light and able to ride on the, then new, trouser belts under the traditional vest or jacket. The construction of this holster was described to many different makers, and they all built scabbards very close to what the Ranger requested.
I have several copies and one original.
The copies,
The original,
They were made of much lighter leather, with a 1/2 lining that extended over the belt (to protect the clothing, not the handgun), with a contoured welt that fit tight to the frame of the handgun. This fit was a built in retention device. The cuff that wraps the holster was cut so to angle the holster to present the grip for a better draw and was later called the FBI cant. The toe of the holster is sewn to the skirt. There are chapters in the book “Holstory” on it.
It is a well designed holster, ahead of its time but not necessarily an easy one to build. It is not a simple Mexican loop, although since it came from the SouthWest, there was obviously some influence. One fellow who built one for me said he would never make another one. They are challenging to get correct. Just the belt tunnel alone is designed to work on a normal belt and it works beautifully. There is no need for a dedicated “gun belt” or whatever the tactical call it these days.
When Tom ThreePersons supposedly designed the holster to bear his name, he used the Sunday scabbard as the base “to pare away all the extra leather.” He kept the welt.
The welt is so important that a scabbard set up for a revolver with adjustable sights is too big for the same size revolver with fixed sights.
That was a brief description, I am sure I have left bits out. If you have questions, ask away.
Kevin
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Kevin has asked me several times about making one. I've been hesitant to tackle the design aspect of it. It's a lot more complicated than it looks.
zaitcev
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I'd try to give a call to Gunslinger in NM, 505-363-3017. Hopefully they're still in business. I've been their customer enough that I even have a misfire of theirs: a button on one of my holsters was placed a little off. I came to them with a Shield 45, which has a weirdly slanted rear of the slide, and adjusting the pattern for it prompted the error. But they did excellent work on all other items, and they come from a SASS background, so they'll probably know how to make a Brill holster. Here's an example:
https://www.facebook.com/Gunslinger...5LlRt0.bps.a.159955757398911/1305992902795185
https://www.facebook.com/Gunslinger...5LlRt0.bps.a.159955757398911/1305992902795185
zaitcev
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How about the phone call to the number in my post above?
zaitcev
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Any time, I hope it works. I've not ordered anything from them since before the Covid.
JTQ
Member
Barranti Leather https://barrantileather.com/shop/ols/products/ranger
Purdy Gear - no longer in production - https://www.purdygear.com/da-retro-western-gallery
Is the El Paso Saddlery "Austin" similar to what you want? https://epsaddlery.com/product/1930-austin-holster/
Purdy Gear - no longer in production - https://www.purdygear.com/da-retro-western-gallery
Is the El Paso Saddlery "Austin" similar to what you want? https://epsaddlery.com/product/1930-austin-holster/
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
Check this site out.
LoboGunLeather.com
A hometown (to me) family run shop. The Fedders.
Here is a picture of one. A shoulder hostler for my Python.
I have had two custom holsters made by this Christian Republican family shop.
Very happy with the results!
Or give them a call @ 712-541-5730
I believe they are open 10 to 6 , Monday through Friday.
Edit to add:
They are usually backed-up on orders 2-4 months...
LoboGunLeather.com
A hometown (to me) family run shop. The Fedders.
Here is a picture of one. A shoulder hostler for my Python.
I have had two custom holsters made by this Christian Republican family shop.
Very happy with the results!
Or give them a call @ 712-541-5730
I believe they are open 10 to 6 , Monday through Friday.
Edit to add:
They are usually backed-up on orders 2-4 months...
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zaitcev
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Since we started going around, if you manage to get in touch with Sam Andrews, I am sure he's going to be able to do it too. However, it's going to take a couple of months at least. I was very satisfied with the quality, although mine wasn't a Western rig.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The EPS Austin is very similar externally but it's basically just a Threepersons with a skirt.
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