shoulder holster post civil war help!

[edward austin cable]

hello all, glad to be back on the website after a long absence. anyway i am trying to find the most period correct shoulder holster for the  time period of right after the civil war to about 1876.most likely for a 1858 remington conversion 5 inch barrel or a 1860 Army Sheriff model conversion.thanks so much for the help!
cable

[St. George]

That time frame didn't see shoulder holsters, per-se.

They gained popularity in the late 1880's and early 1890's when more towns had enacted laws that prohibited open carry.

The earliest ones would've been a simple 'pouch' style - much like a regular Slim Jim with a loop for the shoulder and a thin cross-chest belt to hold it snug.

The weapon was held straight up-and-down, and deeply inside the rig, as it was used to carry the piece concealed - not to be a modern-day 'concealment rig' adapted for speed of draw.

The spring-clip 'Half-Breed' styles came about much later.

Again, it held the weapon straight up-and-down, but thanks to the spring clip, at least you could actually draw the piece without flapping your arms.

Look at Rattenbury's 'Packing Iron' for some examples.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[edward austin cable]

Thanks so much! for the help, I'll check the book and see what Im going to do

[Slowhand Bob]

Not really anything concrete to offer here but there is a reference I have seen to something somewhat related.  I was always a fan of JW Hardin as the prototype for the consummate old west gunfighter, he would kill almost anyone due to feelings of persecution, shame on all those mean fokes that forced him to kill them (poor misunderstood boy).  To the best of my memory the story was that he designed a vest with holsters attached inside, very similar to shoulder holsters, and perfected a double crossdraw style with it.  If I remember the story correctly, he supposedly practiced diligently with it while holed up in hotel rooms during and after cattle drives.  His cattle drive years were during the late sixties and very early seventies with him seriously running from the law very shortly there after.  I have never seen a picture of this rig and only a minimal description of it, anyone seen or know more.

[Dalton Masterson]

I think if you search for some of Irish Daves shoulder rigs, they will fall into your needs. There are several posted on here over the last year or two. Beautiful stuff.
DM