A Vintage Holster For S&W and others

 This original Montgomery Ward & Co. holster is a good antique example of the leather goods made for the working American market in the late 19th and early 20th century. Montgomery Ward was one of the great mail-order houses of its day, putting practical goods within reach of customers across the country. This particular holster, however, shows the work of a skilled leather shop rather than something made without care. The single-loop design is hand stitched to the skirt, while the main seam is sewn tight and clean. What sets this one apart is the elaborate hand stamping: a large horse-and-rider motif decorates the pouch, with two prancing deer on the pouch loop. The workmanship is comparable to the better-known shop-made gun leather of the period, including makers such as Heiser. The leather remains soft, flexible, and shows real use with only a few stitches missing at the bottom of the main seam. In good shape for its age, with no visible cracks, breaks, or significant damage. Stamped on the back, the model number 51, and the suggested barrel length of 6. It fits a 6" -6 1/2” S&W Double Action Frontier and Colt’s without ejector housings. Merwin and Hulberts . And others. This holster is also documented in Packing Iron, appearing on page 135 and inside the front cover. Old West gun leather like this was made to serve a purpose, but good workmanship gave it a life beyond the working day. This one has the character to complement a fine antique revolver or stand on its own as a piece of Western leather history.  My guns are not included.