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VERY NICE EARLY “SLIM JIM” CARVED HOLSTER FOR THE
MODEL 1851 COLT NAVY PISTOL – AN EYE CATCHING DESIGN IN
VERY GOOD CONDITION:
This “Slim Jim” or
“California” style holster perfectly fits a Model 1851
Colt Navy Pistol, and is of the style used from the
1850’s through the mid-1870’s.
Compared to the numbers of surviving Civil War and
Indian War US Army holsters, surviving examples of
original mid-19TH Century civilian holsters
are considerably scarcer. This is particularly true of
the holsters which carried the larger framed percussion
revolvers on the western frontier. Many of those early
holsters were used to destruction in the harsh environs
of the West, and for those limited numbers which did
survive, there was no comparable method such as the
government surplus sales system which routed the
military holsters of the same era into the hands of
modern collectors. The civilian percussion revolver
holsters faded from use as they were eclipsed by the
technology and size of the later revolvers, and put
aside as single artifacts of a bygone era. It is only
through good fortune that holsters like this one escaped
the hands of young boys exploring their grandparents’
attics or the trash pile as estates were cleaned out.
As can be seen in the photograph below, the Colt Navy
Pistol sat deep in this holster, with the trigger guard
completely covered – a feature of the early pattern
holsters. While the holster shows evidence of having
been regularly worn, it has survived in very good solid
condition, with a bright shiny surface on the body.
The front of the holster
is completely covered with finely executed carving in an
attractive floral pattern. The elements of the design
are all distinct; to include the hand stamped pebbled
background. It appears the holster was originally made
with a narrow flap, evidenced by the two parallel lines
of stitching on the upper part of the reverse side,
however there is no finial or strap on the face of the
body to which the flap would have been secured. The top
edge of the opening appears to have been worn through
the years from the pistol being holstered and drawn, and
the worn edge may have been trimmed through the years.
The belt loop, made to fit
a 1 ¾” belt, shows wear as expected from bearing the
weight of the holstered pistol, with some crazing on the
leather surface, however the loop is still strong and
pliable. The stitching on the belt loop and down the
side seam is intact, with no breaks or separations. The
leather is solid and supple, the holster holds its
shape, and the reverse has an overall smooth surface.
There is no evidence of stitching at the toe of the
holster, and it may well be that a plug was not part of
the original design. It is interesting that there is
wear to the toe of the holster - concentrated only on
the reverse – consistent with holsters worn by a mounted
man and the toe of the holster rubbed against the seat
or skirt of the saddle.
Any early, original civilian holster from the frontier
period is a notable find. This specimen, having
survived in very good condition with a particularly nice
carved decoration would be an added value to display
with a gently used Colt Navy. (0909) $850
NOTE: The Colt Navy Pistol
shown in the holster is not included in this offering.
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