Work in progress, My take on President Thoedore Roosevelt's Holster.

[Forester]

Hi All

Work in progress, this is my take on President Theodore Roosevelt's colt .45 holster, to fit a 7.5" barrel. My question is, does anybody know if this holster had a sewn in toe plug or was it open.

Regards Forester

[Dwight]

I really don't have any idea whatsoever, . . . but my guess would be, . . . as loose wound as he was, . . . it was probably open.

Ol' Teddy was one of my heroes growing up.  Always loved the fact that he was HIS man, . . . no matter what the opposition had to say.

And that is really good looking from this end.  Make sure you throw up  a bunch of pics as you go along, . . . and of course when it's done.

May God bless,

Dwight

[DisplacedLouisianaGuy]

Very cool holster you have there. I didn't realise there was a holster out there still in existence with provenance that showed ownership by Teddy Roosevelt! 

 

I fell down a rabbit hole looking at pics of Teddy's 1883 Colt and holster. Unfortunately, the only hanfway decent pic of the holster I could find showed the holster in the background, with the camera focused on Teddy's Colt. And to add insult to injury, the holster is displayed in such a way as to not show the toe!

 

But I was able to see a line along the very bottom on the holster that looks suspiciously like a stitching groove, which indicates the distinct possibility of a toe plug. Also, all the reproductions I have found have toe plugs.

 

This is circumstantial, and very inconclusive, but if I had to put money on it, betting for or against a toe plug...

 

I'd bet it had a plug. Good luck!

[RickHodges]

I'm in agreement with DisplacedLouisiana.....the pictures I see look like a stitch line around the toe.  My vote is it had a toe plug.

Edited March 24, 2018 by RickHodges

[fredk]

I can't answer your question but I have one to you - have you left yourself enough room for the stitching up the edge? It looks like it will be rather tight and close to the edge

[Northmount]

Photo includes view of the holster.

http://collections.theautry.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=M539660;type=101

Also see https://gunsoftheoldwest.com/2015/09/45-maker-tr-cowboy-holster/  Description says the original had a sewn in toe plug.

[Forester]

Hi All

Thanks for your input, i think i will insert a toe plug. As for the question on the stitching line, i was going to put it just shy of the camouflage stamping which makes it just under a 1/4 inch or 5mm, should be enough, have done it with less. Attached picture is what i have been working off.

Regards Forester.

[dikman]

Just because there's stitching at the bottom doesn't mean it's got a toe plug as it could simply be decorative, as in carrying on the edge stitching to give it a "finished" look.

[DisplacedLouisianaGuy]

12 hours ago, dikman said:

Just because there's stitching at the bottom doesn't mean it's got a toe plug as it could simply be decorative, as in carrying on the edge stitching to give it a "finished" look.

You are absolutely correct!

 

What I was getting at is that with a stitch line, the POSSIBILITY of a toe plug existed. If there was no stitch groove, then there would be no chance of a plug. Add to that the fact that all the reproductions I have found have had a plug made me lean towards the probability that it did, but as I said, that would only be a bet on my part.

 

BUT...

 

Northmount's links went ahead an put that question to bed, at least for me. The second link basically says the original had a toe plug.

 

Good research, Northmount!

[fredk]

20 hours ago, Forester said:

... As for the question on the stitching line, i was going to put it just shy of the camouflage stamping which makes it just under a 1/4 inch or 5mm, should be enough, have done it with less. ...

Grand, its just that in the photos it looks like the stitching would be terribly close to the edge.  Wouldn't like to see all that nice stamping go to waste cos you couldn't sew it

[Forester]

Hi All

The holster is lined so the stitching at the bottom could be there to secure the lining, just a thought.

Regards Forester

[dikman]

DLG, my apologies, I missed the bottom line in Northmount's post that said the original had a toe plug. My bad. It made my post somewhat irrelevant in this case.

[DisplacedLouisianaGuy]

No need to apologise at all. Your point was correct! A stitch line alone does not definitively ensure a toe plug. I myself have made holsters with a stitched bottom edge that did not have a plug. I was just clarifying that I guessed at it, and wasn't saying it for sure had one.

 

Although, like you said, the point is moot now that we have Northmount's source.

 

But again, no need to apologise at all!

[OLDNSLOW]

I didn't read all the answers but it could have also been for a liner if it was a lined holster, a lot of makers will sew in a liner all the time, if you take a look at Slick Bald Custom leather you will find many fine examples of that.

[Lizardo]

I have seen the original (or a direct copy of it) in the museum on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt and as I recall, this was better  than twenty years ago, it was stitching for the lining and not a toe plug. They had one of his Winchesters and a Peacemaker on display also. I was ships company and went there every chance I got. It was only open when we were in port and special occasions.

Edited March 28, 2018 by Lizardo

[Vikefan]

From what I can tell by looking at his holster, I too would be it had a toe plug.  Many this style do!

[Lizardo]

It was many years ago when I saw it, so I could very easily be mistaken. It does look like the toe is holding it's shape very well for not having a plug, so there must be one.

[Forester]

Hi All

Messed the first holster up so I had to remake, took a while but got there in the end. Also went with a toe plug.

Regards Forester

[dikman]

Looks very nice, Forester.

[plinkercases]

I  love your reproductions sir (and your originals but...) . Very well done.

[noobleather]

Great work on the reproduction. Nice carving and sewing. Toeplug turned out really good

[Doc Reaper]

Most holsters do not have a toe plug! Most holsters are open toed, so water ma drain and not cause damage to the barrel interior 

[JayInOz]

If you know where the original is, can't you ask whoever is looking after it if there's a toe plug or not? Prolly make some fellers day to be able to help with an answer. JayInOz

[Steve75]

On 5/21/2019 at 3:15 PM, Forester said:

Hi All

Messed the first holster up so I had to remake, took a while but got there in the end. Also went with a toe plug.

Regards Forester

Thank you for posting the finished holster.  That turned out really nice.  Good job!  I am curious, where did you find a pattern for the tooling or did you recreate it yourself?

[Forester]

Hi Steve 75

I found a picture of the tooling pattern somewhere online, just try searching for his pattern.

Regards Forester