Tom Threepersons holster

[dbusarow]

Can you post a shot with the guns in them? They look great.

Dan

[nobearsyet]

Photo wit hgun in them would be really helpful

[rhall]

Lobo you may be interested in looking at the Elpaso Leather site as they they make a great rendition of the Threepersons Holster!

[Lobo]

Lobo you may be interested in looking at the Elpaso Leather site as they they make a great rendition of the Threepersons Holster!

You are right. El Paso Saddlery makes a very fine example of the Threepersons-style holster. Don Hume of Miami, Oklahoma has been making very nice Threepersons-style holsters for many years. Bucheimer-Clark made their version. In fact, many of Safariland's and Bianchi's products can be traced to the Threepersons original by S.D. Myres Saddlery Company, one of the finest makers ever. Every holster manufacturer of the 20th Century provided some direct or indirect application of this design, it was (and is) that popular!

The entire point of this exercise was to recreate not only the original style, but to provide it with the original carving pattern. No other holster maker is doing this, or has done this to my knowledge.

This 90-year old design is a classic in itself, a credit to its original designer (Tom Threepersons) and original maker (S.D. Myres Saddlery). There have been many, many imitations since 1920, but there is only one recreation of the original style and carving pattern. I am making it now.

By the way, photos posted on my website this morning about 9:00AM; first order arrived prior to 12:00 Noon. Now working with the artist doing my carving on a matching belt and other accessories, as this market seems to demand matching sets.

Edited June 28, 2009 by Lobo

[ChuckBurrows]

Nicely done rendition...

FWIW - with the rotating snap retention device you've in fact pretty much recreated the old George Lawrence Company #120 aka the Elmer Keith model, which is nothing more than the TT model with the retention device added and a minor variation in the shape of

the main seam. Here's a pic of an original uncarved EK model by GLCo with the retention device

Don't know if you've seen it but one of Tom's original carved holsters along with one of his Colt SAA's with MOP grips is pictured in the book Peacemakers by R. L. Wilson -

here's a pic of the holster only

[zaptoid]

Note to moderators: previous posts on this topic have been moved to other categories. I appreciate your attention, but this subject might best appeal to holster makers in general, so I will continue posting here.

Those of you who have followed this topic know that I have been pursuing both the re-creation of a 90-plus year old holster pattern, as well as re-creating the original Sheridan-style carving of the original holster.

Tom Threepersons was a legendary lawman, serving in San Antonio and El Paso, Texas during the early 20th Century. He designed a holster for his own use and had it produced by the excellent company S.D. Myres Saddlery. That design is probably the most copied and most popular belt holster design in history, becoming the standard for American law enforcement, standard issue for the FBI for many years, and evolved into most of the patterns still being marketed today.

Following an earlier post a forum member submitted a photo of an original Threepersons holster, now residing in a private collection. I was absolutely intrigued with the possibility of not only re-creating the original holster pattern, but matching it with the original hand carving pattern.

Where else to look but leatherworker.net? I ran a couple of posts, received multiple replies, and commissioned a couple of very talented people to do some carving in the original style.

This post exhibits two holsters of very similar style, both carved by the same artist, both assembled and finished by me (all mistakes are mine entirely, by the way!). Thought that I would share this with you folks, as prior posts appear to have been popular.

Photos show two similar holsters featuring two different retention devices. One incorporates a strap with snap (allowing simple rotation forward to permit a "ready" position) and one uses a fob-style hammer tab, easily flipped off with the finger.

These holsters are hand-carved in considerable detail. Any attempt to fit a handgun by boning would destroy detail in the carving, so these are "blocked and cased", i.e. wet-formed to the handgun with nothing more than finger pressure and no tools permitted. The resulting fit is sufficient that either holster can be held upside down while retaining the handguns (S&W Model 19 for one and S&W Model 686 for the other).

Materials used included Hermann Oak 8-oz veg-tanned leather for the carved shells, lining is 2-oz. glove leather. Finish includes a "color wash" that I have devised using a water-soluable brown dye that penetrates easily at edges and carved surfaces, but less so on smooth leather, followed by the classic neatsfoot oil treatment, and acrylic finish. These holsters were finished today, so there remains a few light and dark areas where the oil is still "settling in"; those will even out over the next day or two.

One of the weaknesses of the original Threepersons-style holster is the belt loop. Most originals and reproductions had belt loops fitted for very large belts. Mine are pre-formed to fit a specific belt width so that the holster will reliably retain its position on the belt. Originals also featured no retention, then simple hammer thongs. I am making this style with the fob-style hammer tab, rotating snap strap, and with thumb-break.

If you haven't caught on just yet, this is not 21st Century technology! I have pursued this project out of a genuine admiration for the original designer and those holster makers who have made this style a legend in its own right.

For many years I have made holsters for concealed carry. These are not intended to be fashion statements (they aren't even intended to be seen, are they?). When I saw an opportunity to re-create not only a classic holster design, but to include the original carving pattern, I lost all perspective and went into this project at full speed. I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I have several customers waiting in line for these!

Best regards.

Wonderful. I always look forward to your posts and this is no exception. Thanks for sharing. I am presently stuck in the conceal type holster box but soon hope to break out with a more traditional western/field type holster and this is inspiring me to do just that.

[Lobo]

Zaptoid: Please don't allow yourself to be stuck with anything! Find a way to make it happen.

I have eight grandchildren, and a great-grandson. I have spent most of my life stuck doing the necessary while putting off the things that I might like to do, might be able to create (if only I had the time, money, etc).

I'm at a point in my life now where I don't owe anybody anything. The house is paid for, the vehicles are paid for, the Harley Davidson is paid for, the boat is paid for. In short, I can do what I want to whenever I wish. I find that what I want to do involves creating things that other folks are willing to pay me well to create for them.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not advising you to give up the day job to pursue some dream. All I am saying is that no one should ever allow himself to feel "stuck", you should let yourself do the best you can with every opportunity that presents itself.

For me, the connection/infatuation is obviously the Threepersons-style. For you, it seems to be the western style. The world has plenty of room for whatever you choose to create, or re-create. I don't profess to be an artist, I don't even profess to be a craftsman; all I know is that I can turn out good quality holsters and gear for those that want them at a reasonable price. When I needed an artist, I went to leatherworker.net and found people to help me fill those needs.

Best regards.

[Lobo]

Update, for what it may be worth. Posted these photos on my website and within 3 hours had the first order for a hand-carved holster. Since then I have received a dozen inquiries and several more orders.

The Threepersons design is not likely to go away any time soon, I think.

[carljc72]

Congratulations. With such a good looking holster, I am sure there will never be a shortage of orders.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

That is the best work I've seen you produce, LOBO. Any pimp or rookie cop would be proud to own that one!