History In Leather Workers

[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

Edited March 22, 2014 by countyholster

[Wishful]

What a cool story, I bet there is a lot of history still left in garages.

[countyholster]

You are right Wishful. The fellow who mentored me (Dave Shelgren) sold a bunch of his equipment before I met him. A fellow named Brett owns Circle KB in Salmon Idaho. He bought Daves business along with all the old-timey equipment. Still uses it and you can see him operate the old stitcher on a video at his web site. I've actually been given some stuff and hold on to it like it is gold.

[Trox]

Nice story, all I know about this; is that Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke was played by James Arness (AKA James Aurness). His father came from same place as my father did, Kristiansund in Norway. His fathers name was Rolf C. Aurnes, Aurnes is a place not far from Kristiansund. He changed his name to Aurness after he came to America in 1887. His son James (Marshal Dillon) later lost the "u" to Arness, It sounds much more American does it not. Matt Dillon and Gunsmoke was huge in Norway when I was a kid, the hero being of Norwegian heritage probably helped allot too.

Thanks

Tor

[countyholster]

Well Tor, now you have opened up the box...Orvo Ojala (the hollywood quick draw coach & super holster maker) was Norweigan. I'm supposing James Aurnes and he were aware of their heritage after a short talk or two. I'll bet money the folks in Norway who were glued to the TV knew the connection - giving Gunsmoke the 'double whammy' effect.

Great post and thanks for updating me! John (by the way, I spent my childhood years in Denmark, Copenhagen - Something to add here: My father - Richard Schnase was the designing engineer in USCG that implemented the Loran system Long Range Aid to Navigation, in Europe. This is the predecessor to GPS).

[Trox]

Hi John and thank you.

Its a small world, in fact there are more people of Norwegian heritage living in the USA than Norway. A small correction; his name was Arvo Ojala not Orvo and its a Finnish name (they are both Finnish names). He was from Finland not Norway, its not far from Norway and we have a borderline to Finland. We always have discussions with the Finnish about famous people, we argue over Santa Claus too. Is he Norwegian or Finnish, to me it does not really matters much as long as I gets what I want for Christmas, He he. No, jokes aside we have to give them Arjo. Copenhagen "er en deilig by" is a lovely city, one of Europe nicest cities. I like it very much, and tanks to your father I will find my way around there too.

Thanks

Tor

[Trox]

Hi John, somehow I can`t open your holster pictures.

Tor

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Morning John, great stories, keep them coming, love to talk about the old days. Even though we grew up far apart, the experiences always seem to be the same, and it's always easy to see yourself right there. Have a good one.

Bob

[Trox]

Hi John,

I did not mean to be a "smart aleck", I just happened to know about those famous Scandinavians. Western history in the other hand, I know very Little about. Thank you for posting.

PS. I would love to See your holster pictures.

Tor