Frontier Holster Carvings?

[Skeeter Lewis]

This example of tear-away carving from El Paso Saddlery is worth a look. It's their Jesse James rig.

http://www.epsaddlery.com/popup.aspx?src=images/Product/large/211.jpg

[Dalton Masterson]

Ive always had it referred to as incised carving, but tear away works too. Makes sense, if they are using nails, and just stripping parts away.
I will try my freehand groover on one of these days, and see if it comes out much different.

Outrider, the wee one is doing well. 6 mos old yesterday, and I pulled his cap guns down here to the bench a few minutes ago, so I can get started on holsters for them one of these days.

Heres a link to HPH's post. About 1/2 way down the page.
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,228.2480.html
DM

[outrider]

Dalton...that's great..getting started already huh?

Incised would be cut with a swivel knife whereas "tear away" is actually removing leather...like a groove.

[Dalton Masterson]

Aaah, good to know that difference! Everything I have done is incised then, while HPH's is tear away style.
Thanks for the learning today!!
DM

[outrider]

Dalton...I think you already knew that

[Dalton Masterson]

Actually, no. That was the first I have hear tear away in regards to carving. Now tear away pants on the other hand, I have heard of.
DM

[outrider]

Dalton...yes, I have heard of tear away pants...and also edible undies...but that is a different forum for different folks

[ChuckBurrows]

Until reading the EP Saddlery site I've never heard or read the term tear away carving in period sources - all I've ever heard it called is incised carving. Not saying the term wasn't used but I'd like to see their documentation for the term.......

Having examined many different original holsters carved like this first hand I can state that at least two methods were used:
1) A tool, something like a groover, was used to remove a bit of leather such as HP Harry did

2) A knife, swivel knife or other type, was used and then the the cuts were opened up using a ball end stylus or similar

3) Sometimes a combo of both methods was used

Take a look through Packing Iron and you should be able to differentiate between the two methods - the second method will have slightly raised ridges along the edges of the cut where they were pushed up and away from the cut.

see page 75, the bottom holster for an example of #1, page 80 the holster with the beaded sheath in the same pic, and page 84 & 85 are both method 3

Hope this helps......

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I didn't know there was a difference either. That's an interesting differentiation. Thanks for pointing that out, Outrider. Thanks also for the references, Chuck. I'll have a much more discerning eye from now on.