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photo by Gar Paul Johnston
- Mike Venturino collection
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| The California or "Slim Jim"
style of holster if not originated by Main and Winchester of San Francisco, CA, was brought to it's highest form
by them. It was originally designed for cap and ball revolvers such as the Colt Model 1849 and the elegant Colt
Navy Model of 1851 (that's a Cimarron FA Co. Colt 1872 Open Top riding in this holster)
. This was the "Classic"
western holster prior
to the appearance of the Mexican Loop holster of the 1870's. After being adapted to fit the cartridge arms then
appearing, it continued to be worn by such gun men as Frank and Jesse James well into the 1880's. This holster
classic was usually made with a triple recurve throat, full contoured main seam, sewn in tear drop toe plug, and
a riveted and sewn belt loop. The Slim Jim was often decorated with full incised carving as seen here, but was
also made with border and rosette stamping of various styles. Also shown are our early style shotgun chaps, belt
pouch, spur straps, percussion style belt, and Plains Indian style knife sheath. The holster is in our dark mahogany
finish. |
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