Looking for Inspiration, 1858 remington holster

[WyomingWhitetail]

Hello. Wasn't sure if i should post this hear or somewhere else but hear goes. Better than a year ago i bought an Italian 1858 Remington with the 8 inch barrel. Overall i love the pistol and need to build a belt and holster for it so i can carry it this summer while camping and riding (much lighter than my Ruger). Im looking for examples of how to construct belt and holster. Ive built a few belts and holster in the past but looking for inspiration as to what would fit this style of pistol (any where from post civil war to turn of century). I do have some questions though.

1. All the gun rigs i have built in the past have had the holster attach through a slot in the belt. From looking at pictures im starting to think that this a hollywood style type of thing as most pictures i see the holster attaches over the belt.Which would be more correct??

2. Would it be more correct to use one piece of heavy leather or a couple of pieces of lighter leather sewn together to create a lined belt and holster?

Thanks for any input or pictures or advice.

 

[LaBonte]

1) No slots in the belt - just a simple belt loop for a hi-ride is most PC. The slot in the belt type was not invented by Hollywood, but they did have a huge influence on the style which is pretty much post 1899 or so anyway. Holsters can be of the California Slim Jim Style which dates back to the 1840's or the post 1865 Mexican loop style
2) The belt can be made either way and be PC - a single thickness belt if 8/9 oz veg/bark tan would have been the most common until the 1870's when the folded lengthwise money belt style came into fashion.

Best advice for deciding on styles - get the book "Packing Iron"

 

[LaBonte]

You can also see lots of originals and repros on sites like Google

Slim Jim https://www.google.com/search?rlz=...g&biw=1280&bih=569&sei=FaOmT4TjL8abiALk47TiCg

Mexican loop https://www.google.com/search?rlz=...g&biw=1280&bih=569&sei=maOmT76nLImiiQLYtMnaAg

Overall the Mex loop will give you a bit more solid ride on the belt due to the wider/stouter belt loop.
One of my favorite styles is this early Texas style (late 1860-1870's) Mex Loop that was used both for cartidge guns as well as caplocks

decoration on either style can be mild to wild.......

also frined WIll Ghormley sells some nice pattern packs in several period styles - he's got a website

 

[Robert Egler]

Here's a holster I made recently for an 1858 Remington. It's not a direct copy of any period holster but I looked at a lot of photos of period holsters to come up with the basic design.

It is only 2 pieces of about 8 oz veg tan leather, one piece for the holster itself, folded over at the top and sewn to the back to make a belt loop, and one for the cross strap. In looking at originals I noted that they were usually pretty plain, either no carving or stamping or very little simple stamping.

I wanted to keep it simple. I made the stamp from a large nail by filing the head, and the lines were made using a flat head screwdriver, 'drawing' the line rather than stamping it.

Might give you an idea.

 

[WyomingWhitetail]

Thanks for help guys. The packing iron book is a good one, looking through it is what made me start thinking of all the little things. My local saddle shop has a copy of it sitting out on the counter i was looking at the other day when i was in there. As far as string used would it have been linen/cotton string. Would rawhide ever have been used to sew holsters?? Think i will go for a Mexican loop style as i think they look better than the California style.

 

[Robert Egler]

I have a book Guns of the Old West which shows several holsters with rawhide lace, some of which are clearly repairs. It does seem most were made with thread, most likely waxed cotton or linen. I used 50# test braided dacron kite cord which looks very much like white waxed cotton thread and is rot-resistant.

Good luck! Post pictures when you get it made.

I'll warn you though, once you make the first one you'll think of things that you could do better or different and another one starts to form in your mind! I just ordered some more leather to work on another.

 

[WyomingWhitetail]

Well me an my buddies have lots of leather projects planned for this summer so we can get ready to go mule deer hunting next fall, using horses up in the mountains.

 

[FishDFly]

Since you mentioned riding horses, you might give serious consideration to a full flap holster to cover the entire pistol.

A friend is full time guide in Alaska. He had a tree limb partially cock the hammer on a Ruger 44 Mag. and drop the hammer on a loaded cylinder which shot him in the leg. The horse was spared the gun shot.

Had it killed the horse he was in deep problems, he made it back to his brother who flew him out.

Open holsters look cool, but not on horses while
riding in brush.

I did ask him why the pistol, as I had heard that shooting brown bears with a pistol is a waste of time for protection.

He said if a brown bear is going to attack a horse pack, it will take the first horse in the line which is where he rode. He said that when the horse departs, it takes your bear rifle and leaves you defenseless. He said simply, this is to get the bear off me and time for you to leave.

If I was going to carry a pistol while on a horse it's going in a full holster and on my chest.

Safety first, especially while on horses.

 

[WyomingWhitetail]

The thoughts about horseback are good points.
I found this holster online and i believe it is also in the pictured in the packing iron book.

Looks like it would combine all the positives and work really well as a general carry holster. Plus with a few tweaks it would look good.

 

[FishDFly]

Looks like to should work, I would want some way to secure the flap to make it fool proof.

We hunted late 2 days and spent several hours riding after dark each time. The horse only wants to go to camp and does not mind if you are hit by brush or not.

 

[Robert Egler]

that looks nice!

 

[Vairochana]

Mate, where did you find that holster?

 

[WyomingWhitetail]

Its a picture i found online. I believe it is from a site about the evolution of gun leather in the west.Think im going to model mine after it with a slightly different back flap.

 

[ChrisPer]

I found an original English government holster for the Colt Navies bought by the British in about 1852. It was full flap and worn for cross draw, from the front of the left hip.