True old west hideout holsters

[WestKentucky]

We have all seen the movies and heard the stories of the guns hidden all over folks in the old west at the saloons, card tables, and houses of ill repute. What is hard to find are good examples of documented true holsters or hideout rigs that are historically correct. I’m looking specifically for methods common in the late 1800s, preferably American West.

 

[Jim Watson]

Article in a late 19th Sacramento Bee newspaper about the mining town of Bodie, Cal. "The usual weapon is a Bulldog revolver carried in a canvas or leather lined coat pocket." The article was titled "Bad Shot Gulch" because of the frequency of shootouts with few casualties.

 

[WestKentucky]

Still nothing really to go on. “Leather or canvas lined pocket” isn’t very useful, and I can’t find the article referenced above.

 

[Jim Watson]

I read the article where excerpted in Rifle or Handloader Magazine some years ago.
Sorry it did not provide sufficient detail for your purposes. Perishable goods like holsters are going to be hard to track down after 140 years.

The only thing I can think of is to look at the catalogs of the better western holster makers and when you see a concealment rig, ask just how well they researched it.

 

[WestKentucky]

I read the article where excerpted in Rifle or Handloader Magazine some years ago.
Sorry it did not provide sufficient detail for your purposes. Perishable goods like holsters are going to be hard to track down after 140 years.

The only thing I can think of is to look at the catalogs of the better western holster makers and when you see a concealment rig, ask just how well they researched it.

Now that’s a route I hadn’t considered, and it’s one that’s well worth the effort.

 

[Sistema1927]

I am guessing that there were more pistols carried sans holster than with one.

Small guns in pockets, stuffed in waistbands, tucked into women's muffs, etc. Even the cow pokes, if they actually had a pistol, might have it wrapped up in a sugar sack inside of their saddle bags.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Somewhere in the mess of two moves I lost my print of a photo taken in a Texas saloon in 1909. Bellied up to the bar were a good 20 or so cowboys. Not one wore a Stetson, and no pistols in sight. I wish I could find that photo... I'd scan it and post here. Oh well.

 

[the Black Spot]

Have you checked out the book called "packin iron"?