Boots &barrel leagth ?/Date this photo.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Have a look at this photo & give any info on it.http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/shootists/vpost?id=1973770
thanks.

[St. George]

There's a 'look' to it that reminds me of those cabinet photos taken during the Mexican Revolution of 1910 - 1916.

The same photo appears a bit clearer in 'The Peacemakers' - by R.L. Wilson - but there are no cited dates or named photography shop that accompany the photo.

Many of those photos were touched up - some even with color painted in to add a more dramatic appearance - so I suspect that the long-barrelled Colt doesn't really have quite as long a barrel as it appears.

Clearly - a much better photo example's needed.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

My impression is that this is posed with studio props.  A lot of the photos of Old West characters seem posed!?

[Long Johns Wolf]

The long barreled Colt SAA of gent on the left side of the pic seems to have light colored 2 piece grips. Didn't early SAA's have one piece walnut grips? When did Colt start to sell the 2 piece variety? 1890s?
Bootsie

[Deadeye Don]

Very nice to see another period example of a "bikini hoster".    Safe shooting.  Deadeye.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Have you noticed how pointed the boots are?

[Delmonico]

That is what interested me about the picture the first time I saw it.  Wish we had a clear date on it, I've been looking it over for a couple of years and looking at others.  Pointed toe boots seem to have come up out of Mexico sometime after the Civil War, just can't get clear dates yet.  BTW, the custom makers down there are still going beyond what you see make in the US or even what you can buy in the US.  I've seen some make out of colored croca-gator that extend 6-8 inches beyond the toe that is in them.  I'd take a camera to work and get pictures but I might cause problems with some of the guys that come in wearing them since I don't speak their lingo.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Besides that Del, they might be sick birds.............Buck

[St. George]

At the time - and especially in Mexico - boots were custom-made.

There are more variations in carving and material than can be imagined - and all quite beautifully done.

If this photo dates to the Mexican Revolution, as I suspect - the narrower toe was beginning to be seen - but even if it doesn't date to that time, what one bootmaker's idea might be, isn't 'common' by a long shot.

Probably wouldn't be a good idea to pull on a pair of Acme's using this un-dated, unattributed photo for evidence, since it's got that 'photographer's prop' look to it.

Photos of the Old West are used and used and used again when fleshing out various books, and some wind up with quite interesting captions diametrically different from actuality - all thanks to cropping and an Editor's 'idea' of what fits the scene.

I think they call that 'artistic license'...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[River City John]

On the original thread someone mentioned they must be shoes and not boots. I would have a tendancy to agree as, if looking at the vaquero on the left with the buntline, his leg is crossed such that the pantsleg(which is obvious they are already rather tight fitting style on both men)reveals no discernible edge to a boottop underneath.

That kind of 'rustic furniture' used in the setting became very popular in the later 19th century after the Arts & Crafts movement of the late 1880's through 1910 and later. No real help in dating there.

Seems the pleated front coat with the integral sewn belt would be the better item to try to pin down a dating. It looks modern. (And yet. . . .there were similar coat designs that came out of the CW period and shortly after. Simon Bolivar Buckner's coat and the much disliked 1872 pattern U.S. blouse.)

[Delmonico]

Just to make it easier here is the picture.



I need to look this over when I get home where I have a better photo program, I think the best clue to the date may be in the bottles, I may see something.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

That is an extra long barrel on that revolver. Probably close to ten inches( Buntline length). Looks to be nickled though. Maybe a special order that went to some landed Mexican and then was "liberated" by Villa and friends. My guess on time period would be during the revolution, although these gents look a little nattily dressed to be peasants/revolutionary's....................Buck

[Delmonico]

Well I ain't made it home yet but did get out my magnifying glass and look at it better on the screen.  The end of the barrel does look a bit crooked like an added to the photo deal, guess Photo Bucket would have helped. 

And the "Beer Bottles" sure look like "Crown Cap" type with cotton stuffed in the top to look like foam.  Will look at it better when I get a chance, but I am sure those are crown cap type, anyone got a church key?

[Delmonico]

Well with a bit of work one can see that the barrel is not as long as it appears at first.  Copy this to your program and enlarge it if you want, but the "extra barrel length" looks like a cut and paste job.



The bottles seem to have had crown caps so just by the bottles I'll side with St. George on the date.

[St. George]

The Mexican Revolution was a helluva well-dressed one - with many, many three-piece business suits often seen in period photos.

I have a wealth of information about 'La Revolucion' - but the time frame occurs after the 1899 cut-off.

Most likely, I'll address it in the 'Historical Society' forum, one fine day.

The most popular barrel length to be found in Old Mexico was 'short' - whether factory-produced, or by a gunsmith - judging from examples that came out of the border region.

This revolver most likely is nothing more than a prop - and 'enhanced' to make it appear longer.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!