This time a Scabbard for a Winchester M1895 Carbine. This well-made scabbard was laced along the long edge and across both sides of the top. A circle of 15 German Silver Spots decorate the exposed side (when affixed to a horse). That circle of Spots surround the initials "F. B. R." (Floyd B. Rigdon of Carlsbad, NM).

He died there in Aug 1990.

Floyd B. Rigdon was raised on a horse ranch near Newkirk, Kay County, Oklahoma 1902-20, and later worked as a linotype operator at a local printing office. This led to being a reporter for a Newkirk newspaper. By 1935, at the age of 33, he moved to Carlsbad, NM where he was publisher of a newspaper.

He died there on Aug 8, 1990 with a most interesting tombstone "Cowboys called him a newspaper man, Newspaper men called him a Cowboy".

 

Top of pouch decorated with two 5/8" and four 3/8" brass spots. Loop has central 1/2" spot with two 3/8" spots on either side. Lower inside of skirt stamped "418 / 45 / 5 1/2 / C S A". This holster for a 5-1/2" Colt SAA came from a New Mexico source, along with matching belt also with spots.

 

For a 5-1/2" Colt SAA. Made of medium thick leather w/one 1-1/2 x 1-1/8" tapered loop attached to skirt w/2 splash rivets. Pouch & skirt are integral. Skirt is 1-1/4" shorter than pouch bottom. Top of pouch decorated with five 5/8" brass spots. Loop has two 5/8" brass spots on either side. No maker or catalog number stampings. Smooth dark brown pliable leather with lite surface crazing.

 

This ones for sale on ebay.

$1800!

 

This ones for sale on ebay. View attachment 650987 $1800!

Great holster, but man, I love that buckle!

 

Victorio. I spotted (sic) this one from a link on another thread this morning

 

T

View attachment 651039 Victorio. I spotted (sic) this one from a link on another thread this morning

Here is the reference post I was talking about that is at auction at RIA, verified by Kopec. 1880 "as new", all original with estimate at $180,000-$250,000.

 

That one's for a knife scabbard - they'd use spots in lieu of lacing - appealing to both ease of manufacture as well as attractiveness, and it began in the Fur Trapping Era, throughout the Indian Wars.

 

Must be for a BIG knife

 

I have an old Frazier holster and money belt with those brass spots.

 

The Native American Indians of various tribes used a variety of brass tacks, feathers, beads, fur, bone, leather strips and fringe, and other trinkets to decorate their knives, scabbards, hatchets, spears, bows, war clubs, shields, quivers, headdress, buckskins, and even their mounts...before being presented with the firearm through capture and trade.

The French Traders of the era learned this craftwork, incorporated it into their custom, and then likely spread this type of artwork into the forts, outposts, and settlements till it became part of Folk Americana...

.

 

Some great looking holsters in this thread! The sawed off Rolling Block caught my eye, I think that would make a good base concept to fix some of the "sporterized" Rolling Blocks I've seen.

 

Those brass spots are just one more thing to make leather grow green goo, IMO.

 

They do very little of that when they're being carried and used.

 

P.R. Roland's personal holster. Not from the old west era but old enough to be an antique.

 

That holster reminds me of a rig I bought then sold here.

This rig was sent to me to add bullet loops, spots, and get rid of water stains.

 

This one looks a little like the one in the 1st. pic, it has a 5 1/2 colt in it. looks kinda old to me ?
Their are two small holes near the hammer that I think at one time was used for a hammer strap/cord for securing the gun in the holster, which is long gone.

 

A lovely holster with much character and eye appeal! Thanks for posting.

 

In C&WAS, there's also an element that prizes authenticity, and when putting together the appropriate outfit, leather's important.

Not every waddy owned a carved rig (hard to imagine, but true) and dry goods (mail order) leather was the least expensive out there at the time.

Thing is, no one today really replicated that - preferring to go with the more expensive gear.

Enter 'Oklahoma Leather' - a low-priced line that looked close to exactly 'right' for a guy just representing a cowboy of the era, and who didn't want to go too far into debt for an expensive game.

Flat, with minor stamped decoration, a bit over-oiled - these were fine examples for what was really worn by working cowboys.

All that said - the addition of spots and conchos 'made' these homely rigs, and now that they've been 'in service' for 25-30 years, they're looking pretty good, so be aware of this.

 

As to the 'big' knife, most were skinning knives and butcher's knives without guards - the sheath was designed to hold them deep so they'd be secure.

 

Chaffee, That is a very nice early pattern Frazier-Pueblo holster for a 7-1/2" Colt SAA. I also like that Scout Belt! Anyone would love to own that rig.

 

Chaffee, That is a very nice early pattern Frazer-Pueblo holster for a 7-1/2" Colt SAA. I also like that Scout Belt! Anyone would love to own that rig.

Thanks. I got that from a member here a few years ago but don't remember who. Any help with dating would be appreciated. the markings read 'R.T. FRAZIER PUEBLO-COLO.'

 

Shooter13, Some great pictures of Indian guns and artifacts. Every time I see those C. S. Fly photos of Geronimo and his band, equipped for war, I want to thank him personally! Also I have gratitude to those Apaches for realizing that they would soon pass from the Earth by allowing the pictures to be taken.

 

I wonder how many old worn out single shots, Spencers, etc. were adorned with brass tacks and sold off as "Indian" owned? I think the old tacks were square shanked and the newer ones round but I don't know the time frame that it happened.

 

Back in the late 80s at a cowboy shoot I traded a Wes Hardin holster I made with bullet loops stitched on it to a guy for this antler handled knife and studded sheath. Black holster made by me during the same period.

 

Here is a holster that was definitely Tooled and Spotted by the same leather-smith. While the holster was still a flat piece of leather, the tooling was done, leaving places for Spots to be added. Spots were then added prior to any stitching. The single loop was sewed on, and then the lining was sewn in place. Finally, the long seam was stitched to complete this holster.

This holster perfectly fits a 5-1/2" Colt SAA, as shown.

 

This holster had a 4-3/4" Colt SAA buried into it (shoved to bottom) when found! It may not have been intended for a Colt SAA, as the indicated barrel length would be 6-1/2". A 5-1/2" SAA is shown inserted.

 

I used to know one of the pre-eminent 'creators' of 'authentic Indian' stuff - he even did it for the guys from the Rez, making Trapdoors, Sharps and everything else into 'ancestral heirlooms' to be sold to unsuspecting buyers of all stripes.

He did it for decades after WWII - until the late '70's - and 'prolific' describes his output - his work was top of the line, and much of it is still in museum displays, largely because 'curators' have their degrees in European Art History.

I actually knew a couple of those guys - one who did Indian War saddlery and WWII German stuff - another who did Native American and Confederate material and followed the flea market circuit in the Southern states - both sold through Manion's from time to time.

I got pretty good at spotting fakes...

 

That is classic! The guy even supplied the Rez. Yes, I have heard similar stories about such as the mother of Jesse James, wife of Pancho Villa, and the lone survivor of the Coffeeville Raid - Emmett Dalton. Many years ago a friend showed me a 4" blued black powder Colt SAA Sheriff's Model that had "Emmett Dalton" lightly scratched on the butt strap.

 

Some great looking holsters in this thread! The sawed off Rolling Block caught my eye, I think that would make a good base concept to fix some of the "sporterized" Rolling Blocks I've seen.

That would be a practical "conversion" from a long-barreled Rem RB rifle. Then used as a Carbine or "Trapper's Model".

 

I seem to recall reading somewhere that many of the brass tacks that Indians used to decorate their rifles, war clubs and other items were obtained by prying them off of wooden chests or luggage that was captured from white settlers or travelers who had been killed while in Indian territory. Not sure how accurate that is, but sounds plausible.

 

I have heard too that Indians got sheet metal for arrow heads from the ruins of wagon trains headed west.

 

Here's one with spots I made thirty years ago for a friend. A two gun copy of Hopalong Cassidy's rig. Also, that beat up magazine there is a 1970 Guns & Ammo my dad bought when I was thirteen. I was just starting my leather fetish and kept it all these years because of that Indian made two gun beaded rig. I never seen it in any other book or being in a museum somewhere. It's the most impressive holster outfit I've ever seen.

 

Original tacks are lead-backed - with square shanks - the first guy I'd mentioned used to scour the dumps for discarded furniture to get them, because they stayed in production for quite some time.

Another bit of decoration was the tin tags found on plug tobacco, as they were brightly colored.

If you ever want to see a modern maker's examples, look to the sadly deceased Chuck Burrows (Wild Rose Trading Co.) - Chuck marked 'his' work, but he did it right, because his intent was not to deceive - the other guy didn't, though he never 'said' his stuff was spurious - he let the buyer convince himself...

Don't ever by a frame of arrowheads on a yellow burlap background - I'll give you that for free...;-D

 

That is interesting about the lead-filled tack heads. Didn't know that.