Just need a little info: Cowboy shooters

Dwight55 · July 20, 2008, 06:21 PM

I make belts & holsters as a hobby, . . . have no desire to make a full fledged business out of it (it's just too much fun to have to worry & sweat about it

) and I wanted to make a couple of "display" rigs to take to our next county fair.

My question simply is what do you estimate to be the three (3) most popular handguns used in the cowboy action shooting? A buddy of mine is in the mounted shooting, . . . he says virtually all of the guys in his group use a clone of the Colt SAA, . . . .45LC, . . . 4+ inch barrel.

I wanted to make different holsters than just the one, . . . but don't know what other guns to make them for, . . . could use a bit of help on this one.

Thanks in advance for all your assistance,

May God bless,
Dwight

Walther22lr · July 20, 2008, 06:48 PM

From what I have seen, the mounted shooters prefer the shorter barreled pistols like the Colt SAA. Then there are the Rugers such as Vaquero, New Vaquero and the even shorter Montado with a 3 3/4" barrel.
Now for the regular Cowboy Action Shooters who don't shoot from a horse, the above are common with the exception of the Montado as it is not allowed. Also the barrel lengths run from the 4 5/8 to 7 1/2. There is a wide variety there.
That is what I have noticed any way. Hope it helps.

Hawg · July 20, 2008, 08:26 PM

I'd say the Colt clones and Ruger New Vaquero with 5 1/2" barrels are most prevalent. S&W Schofield's are getting popular as are Colt and Remington C&B's. Most seem to want their rigs period correct as in no drop loop or fast draw holsters. Also as you probably know good cowboy holsters are thick, stiff leather, 8-10 oz. Mexican Single or double loop like this Cheyenne single loop are popular only in a double rig.

mykeal · July 21, 2008, 05:33 AM

Hawg,

That is a very nice rig. How come we haven't seen that before?

Hawg · July 21, 2008, 06:59 AM

I think I've posted it before. It's actually my daughters rig. It now has the matching left strong side too. Here's a pic of her wearing it when we first started getting her outfitted.

It was made by Brazos Jack of Eutowah Leatherworks. Mine was made by him too but it's a plain jane double loop Cheyenne with no border tooling or loops. I don't have pics of it.

champ198 · July 21, 2008, 08:32 AM

id say the most popular gun that i have seen so far is the Ruger Vaquero in a 4-3/4 barrel in 45 colt or 38/357....i shoot Uberti Cattlemans and they are pretty much the same "look" and size

sundance44s · July 21, 2008, 09:11 AM

Something thats hard to find , for the black powder shooters ..holster belts without the bullet loops ..3 inches wide ...I ended up buying the leather and makeing mine .

Dwight55 · July 22, 2008, 12:22 AM

Thanks, everyone for your input, . . . special thanks to Hawg for sharing the pics of your daughter and her rig.

Too bad, Sundance, I didn't know you earlier, . . . could have helped you out maybe.

Thought I'd share a pic of my rig, . . . I don't compete, . . . it's just for display.

May God bless,
Dwight

Hawg · July 22, 2008, 05:55 AM

Dwight, you do nice work but a question. Why are your bullet loops so wide and why are the bullets in them bottomed out to the rims?

Dwight55 · July 22, 2008, 07:56 PM

Thanks for the good words, Hawg, . . .

That design is from an old West "laced" belt, where the loops literally are loops of leather coming from the other side of the leather belt. Each loop goes both ways through the same hole as opposed to sewing on the loops like the mfg who did your daughter's rig.

I prefer the laced or looped belt, and it is partially personal experience. I have had leather gun belts for 40 years or so, . . . and all were eventually prone to losing rounds, . . . except this one.

The old West belt carried them just like this one, fully to the rim, and long enough to cover all the brass, . . . making it really hard to lose a round. And, . . . yeah, . . . I like this better, too. It is somewhat harder to make a belt this way, . . . 'specially if you have any arthritis in your hands, . . . but the finished product can be more authentic, . . . depending on where one is looking.

May God bless,
Dwight

Hawg · July 22, 2008, 10:18 PM

Maybe so on the belt and loops but the holster is a modern fast draw design first produced in the 1950's. Early holsters covered most of the trigger guard, all of the cylinder and part of the hammer.

GeorgeF · July 23, 2008, 09:29 AM

Can you explain to me the purpose of the little discs of leather on the hammers of those pistols?

Hawg · July 23, 2008, 09:40 AM

It's a tab connected to the holster. It keeps the gun from falling out.

Dwight55 · July 23, 2008, 09:57 PM

Yep, . . . you're right on that one, Hawg. All the older pics I have seen seem to show a more covered weapon in those holsters.

I guess if I was a cowboy back then, . . . I would have wanted mine covered, in fact, . . . I might have opted for a "flap over" similar to some of the old cavalry rigs, . . . just so the thing didn't eat so much dust.

And you are also correct on the little discs, . . . they are connected to a ribbon of leather that goes between the two thicknesses that make the back of the holster, . . . and keep the weapon from bouncing out of the holster. You talking about a trick, . . . making the tool I use to make those straps, . . . hope I don't ever lose the one I have.

May God bless,
Dwight

July 20, 2008, 06:21 PM	#1
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	Just need a little info: Cowboy shooters I make belts & holsters as a hobby, . . . have no desire to make a full fledged business out of it (it's just too much fun to have to worry & sweat about it ) and I wanted to make a couple of "display" rigs to take to our next county fair. My question simply is what do you estimate to be the three (3) most popular handguns used in the cowboy action shooting? A buddy of mine is in the mounted shooting, . . . he says virtually all of the guys in his group use a clone of the Colt SAA, . . . .45LC, . . . 4+ inch barrel. I wanted to make different holsters than just the one, . . . but don't know what other guns to make them for, . . . could use a bit of help on this one. Thanks in advance for all your assistance, May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!

July 22, 2008, 07:56 PM	#10
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	Thanks for the good words, Hawg, . . . That design is from an old West "laced" belt, where the loops literally are loops of leather coming from the other side of the leather belt. Each loop goes both ways through the same hole as opposed to sewing on the loops like the mfg who did your daughter's rig. I prefer the laced or looped belt, and it is partially personal experience. I have had leather gun belts for 40 years or so, . . . and all were eventually prone to losing rounds, . . . except this one. The old West belt carried them just like this one, fully to the rim, and long enough to cover all the brass, . . . making it really hard to lose a round. And, . . . yeah, . . . I like this better, too. It is somewhat harder to make a belt this way, . . . 'specially if you have any arthritis in your hands, . . . but the finished product can be more authentic, . . . depending on where one is looking. May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!

July 23, 2008, 09:57 PM	#14
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	Yep, . . . you're right on that one, Hawg. All the older pics I have seen seem to show a more covered weapon in those holsters. I guess if I was a cowboy back then, . . . I would have wanted mine covered, in fact, . . . I might have opted for a "flap over" similar to some of the old cavalry rigs, . . . just so the thing didn't eat so much dust. And you are also correct on the little discs, . . . they are connected to a ribbon of leather that goes between the two thicknesses that make the back of the holster, . . . and keep the weapon from bouncing out of the holster. You talking about a trick, . . . making the tool I use to make those straps, . . . hope I don't ever lose the one I have. May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!

July 20, 2008, 06:48 PM	#2
Walther22lr Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2000 Location: Arizona Territory Posts: 296	From what I have seen, the mounted shooters prefer the shorter barreled pistols like the Colt SAA. Then there are the Rugers such as Vaquero, New Vaquero and the even shorter Montado with a 3 3/4" barrel. Now for the regular Cowboy Action Shooters who don't shoot from a horse, the above are common with the exception of the Montado as it is not allowed. Also the barrel lengths run from the 4 5/8 to 7 1/2. There is a wide variety there. That is what I have noticed any way. Hope it helps.

July 20, 2008, 08:26 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I'd say the Colt clones and Ruger New Vaquero with 5 1/2" barrels are most prevalent. S&W Schofield's are getting popular as are Colt and Remington C&B's. Most seem to want their rigs period correct as in no drop loop or fast draw holsters. Also as you probably know good cowboy holsters are thick, stiff leather, 8-10 oz. Mexican Single or double loop like this Cheyenne single loop are popular only in a double rig.

July 21, 2008, 05:33 AM	#4
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Hawg, That is a very nice rig. How come we haven't seen that before?

July 21, 2008, 06:59 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I think I've posted it before. It's actually my daughters rig. It now has the matching left strong side too. Here's a pic of her wearing it when we first started getting her outfitted. It was made by Brazos Jack of Eutowah Leatherworks. Mine was made by him too but it's a plain jane double loop Cheyenne with no border tooling or loops. I don't have pics of it.

July 21, 2008, 08:32 AM	#6
champ198 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Posts: 217	id say the most popular gun that i have seen so far is the Ruger Vaquero in a 4-3/4 barrel in 45 colt or 38/357....i shoot Uberti Cattlemans and they are pretty much the same "look" and size

July 21, 2008, 09:11 AM	#7
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Something thats hard to find , for the black powder shooters ..holster belts without the bullet loops ..3 inches wide ...I ended up buying the leather and makeing mine .

July 22, 2008, 05:55 AM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Dwight, you do nice work but a question. Why are your bullet loops so wide and why are the bullets in them bottomed out to the rims?

July 22, 2008, 10:18 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Maybe so on the belt and loops but the holster is a modern fast draw design first produced in the 1950's. Early holsters covered most of the trigger guard, all of the cylinder and part of the hammer.

July 23, 2008, 09:29 AM	#12
GeorgeF Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2004 Posts: 572	Can you explain to me the purpose of the little discs of leather on the hammers of those pistols?

July 23, 2008, 09:40 AM	#13
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It's a tab connected to the holster. It keeps the gun from falling out.