countyholster

Hello folks! I'm new here, but not so new to leather working. I began working scraps from a place called Joanne Fabrics, then graduated to Tandy kits. In Eugene Oregon I was introduced to an old fellow named Dave Shelgren. Dave is 90 years old soon, and has a truck load of experience in holster making. You may know a name Orvo Ojala? Orvo was the go-to guy for hollywood stars in adult westerns in the 50's and 60's - among dozens of films. Orvo taught the stars to shoot quick draw. Orvo also invented a specific quick draw with a strip of thin steel sewn between layers of leather. Dave Shelgren devised his own method at the same time with aluminum or tin at the time. Dave and Orvo were shooting buddies in Tucson for quick draw championships. Dave, was a pro shooter/exhibitionist for Winchester, while his buddy Orvo was hanging out in Hollywood doing the star teaching thing. Forward now to 2014: Tandy Leather asked me to be present at The Central Oregon Sportsman Show in Redmond, Oregon a few weeks ago. I brought brochures and business cards to hand out to interested folks, when a guy about my age (I'm 59) came up and started looking over my pictures. He introduced himself as Jon Ojala. At the time the name did not ring a bell, even though I'd read up on Orvo Ojala long before I knew of the connection my mentor and he had. Well, Jon & I hit it off and I hope to know him more through time. He has his fathers equipment shrink wrapped and in storage in Bend Oregon. Some day I may have a chance to take possession of this stuff. This is like the holy grail of leather stitching equipment. You may know a specific shot at the beginning of Gunsmoke where Matt Dillon drops the gunfighter in the opening scene? That man in black is Orvo Ojala. Remember Paladin? The chess piece holster was made by Orvo. He patented the buscadero design that dozens of movies incorporated into gun fights. Orvo died 2005 in Gresham Oregon. His son Jon lives in Redmond, Oregon and daughter is an artist and still does high end holsters. She charges what the market will bear for the designs and history attached to those holsters. Hope you enjoyed this bit of history. My quick draw holsters have the same design as the big shot holsters and belts, as I was taught by one of the two guys who came up with the designs. John Schnase County Holster & Leather, LLC 713 Nebraska St. Eugene, Oregon 97402 (503) 501-6067