Left and Right California holsters

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

At page 76 of PACKING IRON it states that the California pattern was produced in both right- and left-hand configurations in about equal numbers.

I have wondered about this statement as left-handers make up about 10 to 15% of folks, generally.

Now, Californians were mostly miners, grubbing around in the dirt.  Where do you hang your pistol while you are wading in a creek with a shovel and pan, or kneeling down picking great big nuggets out of your pan.  Surely not anywhere in front of your hip-bones!

My theory is that a choice for a miner is to carry your revolver over your kidney, in a small-of-the-back location.  A right-hander can easily reach back and draw from a holster with the butt toward the front.  Does anyone have any evidence, for, or against my theory.

[Boot]

Although they were known as "California holsters" and may well of originated in that state at the time of the gold rush, it was during the next two decades when belt holsters really became popular.
The Colt's Navy was the first belt sized revolver to be introduced and this was two years into the gold rush.
Colt's Walker and Dragoon models were considered Horse pistols and as such were often saddle mounted.
The pistols most often seen during the gold rush are either single shot or Pepperboxes.
Miners for the most part were a very poor bunch and their defensive weapon was most likely a shotgun or Bowie knife.

My understanding of the equall numbers of left and right holsters, if indeed it's true, is that percussion revolvers were ofter worn in pairs or braces.
Although very few men could shoot with both hands, if pistols were worn butts forward, it was quite easy to remove one from either holster with the strong hand.

Boot.

[Black Powder]

Boot -

That makes a lot of sense.  I woulda come to that conclusion eventually  , but I don't have the time to figure all this out for myself!  Thanks for sharing.  It gives newbies such as I the chance to catch up.

BP

[Fox Creek Kid]

Sir Charles, unless I am misunderstanding you then I think there is a misinterpretation here. A TRUE left handed holster is just that. It is not a RH holster slid over to the left side for a cross draw. So, if 90% of the pop. is right handed then there is no advantage in this based upon our modern interpretation of the times. There is no logical explanation for the preponderance of true LH holsters other than these people probably considered a longarm as important and a sidearm as secondary. Also, in as much as art imitates art, there really wasn't much to go on as the only real use of revolvers before then was in TX, which ironically seems to be the birthplace of the slim jim holster.

[Boot]

A left hand holster would be worn on the right hip, but forward and in that position could be drawn with the right hand in a twist draw, as with a military holster.
The right holster would be worn on the left hip and drawn across the body.
When worn in this configeration two pistols can be worn and drawn with either hand.

Boot.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Boot, that's true.  But why? It's a very awkward way to draw a revolver for a right handed man IMO. The only answer seems to be ex-military or "monkey see, monkey do". However, the Dragoons carried their revolvers & horse pistols in pommel holsters at this time (1849) as the '51 belt pistol (1850) was not invented. Perhaps it was a carryover, so to speak, as the military carried a sabre on their left side and based upon primary historical evidence there was a preponderance of Bowie style knives, hence these may have been carried sabre style, i.e., on the left side. My money is on this being the reason. 

[Boot]

As I said in my initial post although California holsters may of originated in California circa 1850 it was the following twenty years when they became popular and this is the period to which I was refering.

I was atempting to explain why holsters may be found in equall numbers of left and right, this is the only explanation I can offer and the most common way of wearing two pistols at this time.

I don't believe it's particularly awkward to draw a pistol in twist draw. Wild Bill was known to of employed this method with both hands.

Boot.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

How Do Gents

             The twist and draw isn't hard at all, especialy if the angle of the holster is right , I tried this for a while years back just to see how awkward or easy this type of draw is and was for them back in the day , and I have to say I kind of liked it , it's just like anything , Practice,  Practice, Practice makes perfect, after doing this I could see why Hichock, liked this style, it's nice having the butts of your gun sitting out there where you can get to them fast and easy.(IMHO)



                                               tEN wOLVES 

[Buck Stinson]

I've had around 35 or 40 original Slim Jim holsters in my collection.  Most of these were maker marked, so they weren't cheap catalog house items but very well made products.  I'm not sure why either, but about 40% were true left hand and 60% of them were right hand holsters.  I think Boot has a point in that, in some cases, these percussion pistols were worn in pairs.  However, I only know of a handfull of original pairs.  One set that I used to own and wish I still had, was made for a pair of 1849 Colt pocket pistols with 6" barrels.  This set was complete with the belt and matching knife sheath.  Both holsters, belt and sheath were full hand carved and made by E.L. Gallatin in Denver. 

I might add that Boot traveled in this country some years back and came to visit me, see the shop and look over collection.  I traded him out of a fine Sheffield marked cowboy pocket knife with stag handles and he got one of my early push daggers.  We still have smiles on our faces.  he's definately a pard to ride the river with and I hope he comes back to this country for a visit.

Adios,
Buck

[Boot]

Thanks for that Buck, I'm glad I'm not to far off the mark.
I was looking forward to your coments on this one as I know you're the expert.
It's interesting that you've confirmed a 60/40 split in right and left holsters, but not many matching pairs.

Boot.

[Fox Creek Kid]

I think Boot has a point in that, in some cases, these percussion pistols were worn in pairs.  However, I only know of a handfull of original pairs.

Probably for the same reason as today: we can't afford to buy two at the same time!!    This has been a great thread. Buck, did you see that link I posted a while back in the Leather Forum with photos of the original set of Walker pommel holsters?

[Boot]

Perhaps the holsters that remain are not giving an acurate picture of what was actually used.

Maybe there is a large proportion of left hand holsters remaning because they were either not used very much or they were not sold and remained with the maker.

Probably the best way to see how they were actually worn is to view photographs from the period.
However the problem arises here that the photographers studio does not always represent what was actually used, items are ofter repositioned and props added for artistic effect.

This is a very interesting question and probably one that won't be answered overnight.

Boot.

[Buck Stinson]

Fox Creek,
If you're talking about the link to the "Guns With a History" site, yes, I did see it.  That is a great set of pommel holsters.  I especially like the bullet hole in the muzzle cap.  One time years ago, a friend had a J.S. Collins, Cheyenne marked holster for a 7 1/2" Colt SA.  This holster was in great condition except for the bullet hole right through the center of the muzzle plug.  The leather was burned and cracked, but the bullet didn't cut a single stitch on that leather plug or do any other damage to the holster.  I tried and tried to buy it, but without any luck.

I have never owned any pommel holsters, but I've had many sets of pommel bags, both plain and carved.  Most have a single holster under the lid on the right side, usually for a percussion Colt of one model or another.  I still own the carved pair shown on pages 59 and 86 in Packing Iron.  These are as fine a pair as I have ever seen and the only pair known with this carving pattern.  They were discovered hanging in a tack shed on a ranch near Salmon, Idaho.  This is the third pair of Main & Winchester bags I've located in that area over the years.  I love this stuff.

Boot,
It may be true that left hand holsters from a double set, were not used as often as the right hand, from the same set.  The pair of Gallatin holsters I mentioned earlier, indicated that the left hand holster did not show quite as much use as the right side.  It was a miracle that the two holster, belt and sheath survived as a complete set.  I forgot to mention in that post that those holsters had a very small 3/8"x1 1/4" brass plate rivited horizontally across the cylinder area on the face of each holster.  Engraved on each brass plate was "Freund & Bro."  This set was obviously sold through one of the Freund Gun Shops, in either Denver or Cheyenne.  Wish I knew where that set was today.

Adios,
Buck

[Montana Slim]

My favorite holster setup is the slim-jim style, no cant, butt forward. You wear these rigs at the waist. This is where you'd carry it in the real-world. Drawing a 8" barreled pistol is quite easy using the "twist" draw with this setup. The holsters are easy to sit down with and again easy to draw while seated. It was the natural way to pack my first C&B revolver 30+ years ago, and still is today.

Best,
Slim