Show us your Guns!

[Panache]

Not sure if this the right place, but I thought I would share this vintage holster I picked up at a local gun shop for $10

It was sold by Von Lengerke & Antoinne of Chicago so it can't be any newer than the 50's or 60's

It fit my Ruger Single Six perfectly

After a little bit of work and elbow grease

Cheers

Jamie

 

[DeaconKC]

Now that turned out really nice, well done!

 

[Gin&Tonics]

Not sure if this the right place, but I thought I would share this vintage holster I picked up at a local gun shop for $10

It was sold by Von Lengerke & Antoinne of Chicago so it can't be any newer than the 50's or 60's





It fit my Ruger Single Six perfectly



After a little bit of work and elbow grease
Cheers

Jamie

Holy shamolies! What a difference! I thought by the first pic that it was brown leather, but it's actually black! What an awesome find, congrats!

 

[CodeRed]

That was quite a transformation, well done!

 

[Rathdown]

Your holster was made for VL&A by the Herman Heister Company in Denver Colorado, probably in the 1920s or 30s (Heister went out of business in 1955; as I recall VL&A closed up shop in 1960). Heister holsters rank among the holy grails of holster collecting. Yours, prior to "restoration" would have been worth around $200-$300. The most I've seen a single Heister sell for was $1200, although it was virtually brand new. There is currently a Heister similar to yours for sale in 90% condition on line for $800.

Unfortunately, by dying the holster black it's value has been seriously diminished, and most collectors would give it a pass. You might get $50-$75 for it on a good day. And this is the problem with things that are wrongly restored-- no matter how well intentioned the restorer may have been -- their intrinsic worth (not value) as an artifact of a particular time, place, and use is destroyed forever. In effect the artifact becomes just like George Washington's axe...

As CodeRed so aptly put it, "That was quite a transformation."

 

[Panache]

Your holster was made for VL&A by the Herman Heister Company in Denver Colorado, probably in the 1920s or 30s (Heister went out of business in 1955; as I recall VL&A closed up shop in 1960). Heister holsters rank among the holy grails of holster collecting. Yours, prior to "restoration" would have been worth around $200-$300. The most I've seen a single Heister sell for was $1200, although it was virtually brand new. There is currently a Heister similar to yours for sale in 90% condition on line for $800.

Unfortunately, by dying the holster black it's value has been seriously diminished, and most collectors would give it a pass. You might get $50-$75 for it on a good day. And this is the problem with things that are wrongly restored-- no matter how well intentioned the restorer may have been -- their intrinsic worth (not value) as an artifact of a particular time, place, and use is destroyed forever. In effect the artifact becomes just like George Washington's axe...

As CodeRed so aptly put it, "That was quite a transformation."

OH MY! I honestly had no idea that such a thing would be of value.

Had I known I would have sold it to a collector who would have appreciated its patina of age.

I wasn't trying to restore an antique, I wanted a holster. But what is done is done and I will appreciate it as a quality piece of kit made by a company that obviously built things to last.

Cheers

Jamie

 

[1961MJS]

Your holster was made for VL&A by the Herman Heister Company in Denver Colorado, probably in the 1920s or 30s (Heister went out of business in 1955; as I recall VL&A closed up shop in 1960). Heister holsters rank among the holy grails of holster collecting. Yours, prior to "restoration" would have been worth around $200-$300. The most I've seen a single Heister sell for was $1200, although it was virtually brand new. There is currently a Heister similar to yours for sale in 90% condition on line for $800.

Unfortunately, by dying the holster black it's value has been seriously diminished, and most collectors would give it a pass. You might get $50-$75 for it on a good day. And this is the problem with things that are wrongly restored-- no matter how well intentioned the restorer may have been -- their intrinsic worth (not value) as an artifact of a particular time, place, and use is destroyed forever. In effect the artifact becomes just like George Washington's axe...

As CodeRed so aptly put it, "That was quite a transformation."

Hi

I didn't note that Panache dyed the holster, but anyway, would oiling the holster cause it to diminish in price? If so, how are you supposed to keep the old holsters in good shape?

Thanks

 

[Heater]

Here are my babies!! I used to own serious guns now I just like fun guns!

 

[DeaconKC]

Kevin! Good to see you!

 

[MikePotts]

Hi

I didn't note that Panache dyed the holster, but anyway, would oiling the holster cause it to diminish in price? If so, how are you supposed to keep the old holsters in good shape?

Thanks

Holsters should be, apart from a good 'dusting', left alone. Any type of 'treatment' will cause them to lose their 'block'.

 

[Rathdown]

Holsters should be, apart from a good 'dusting', left alone. Any type of 'treatment' will cause them to lose their 'block'.

Leather, with age, will dry out, crack, and shrink. My SAA rides in a holster that is at least 80 years old and it has not suffered from an annual application of Lexol. If you are concerned about the holster loosing its shape try this -- after treating your holster with your preferred leather dressing, wrap your handgun in cling film and put it back in the holster. This will help the holster retain it shape and is harmless to the finish of the gun.

 

[DesertDan]

I like your holster refinish Panache.
Go wear the heck out of it til it looks like it did when you started. It'll probably be worth even more by then!

 

[Landman]

WWII 1911-A1 Pistols

Here are a couple of my favorite pistols and a shoulder holster that was with the Remington Rand when I purchased it.

1944 Ithaca

1944 Remington Rand

1944 M3 Shoulder Holster

 

[BigFitz]

^
Love 'em.

 

[Landman]

1945 Remington Rand

Here is another one of mine. This is a 1945 Remington Rand. I was incorrect in my earlier post when I said the 1944 Remington Rand was in the shoulder holster when I found it. Actually this was the pistol that was in the holster. It was also loaded with 1943 head stamped ball ammunition. There was also some more 1943 head stamped ammo with it in a box. The original owner who had passed away was a retired Lt. Col. that had served in WWII and Korea. He retired in 1961 so he never served in Vietnam Nam. He obviously took very good care of this pistol because it was well oiled and lubed. I'm assuming he used it for home protection since he kept it loaded and wrapped in a handkerchief. They just put it back in the holster for the estate sale. The holster was well taken care of too. It was obvious it had been treated with leather conditioner regularly and was very supple with no signs of cracking. The holster is actually an Enger-Kress M3 shoulder holster.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I bought one of the WW2 Shoulder hosters to wear mowing the range etc. They're very comfortable and easy to draw from. Pacific leather sells them at a low price and the leather's worth the money paid.

later

 

[Panache]

I like your holster refinish Panache.
Go wear the heck out of it til it looks like it did when you started. It'll probably be worth even more by then!

I like this!

The holster was pretty flattened when I go it and being unsure of what the oil and dye would do to my Ruger I dug around my costume box and found a cowboy cap pistol that was pretty much the same size as my single six. I used that to shape the holster and am storing the cap pistol in it now to hold its shape.

Cheers

Jamie

 

[MikePotts]

This is fun:

10 rounds of .308Win - kinda like an updated Jungle Carbine.

MP

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

What is that exactly Mike? Looks like a viable alternative to the French MAS I've been thinking of getting. Only thing about the French rifle I don't like is the lack of available ammo. But the MAS is smaller and lighter than an M1, as well as less expensive, it would be about the perfect semi-auto I think, if ammo were readily available. I heard about the tragic Century Arms debacle in the early 90's I think. When they attempted to re-chamber the MAS to a .308,(Just a matter of about a half a thousandth of an inch I think?),.. but most unfortunately were botched and turned into single shot rifles by the process.:eusa_doh:

 

[penates]

It is a Ruger Scout rifle chambered in .308. The detachable mag and bottom metal are Accuracy International clones.