Josey Wales Shoulder Holster

Dino · June 06, 2010, 01:13:35 PM

Does anyone know where I can find a shoulder holster for an 1849 Pocket, like the one seen in the movie "The Outlaw Josey Wales".

amin ledbetter · June 06, 2010, 01:48:09 PM

Yeah! Soon from me! I have just spent three weeks working the patterns for that very holster. It is very unique in designs. I will say that! The gun is held in by a strap that goes under the grip around the trigger guard. without the the gun strap in place the gun can easily fall out of the holster. I'll post pics as I get further into the project. I will be cutting leather for it this week if the good Lord will let me!

Dino · June 06, 2010, 01:54:56 PM

Quote from: amin ledbetter on June 06, 2010, 01:48:09 PM
Yeah! Soon from me! I have just spent three weeks working the patterns for that very holster. It is very unique in designs. I will say that! The gun is held in by a strap that goes under the grip around the trigger guard. without the the gun strap in place the gun can easily fall out of the holster. I'll post pics as I get further into the project. I will be cutting leather for it this week if the good Lord will let me!

AWESOME!
Please keep us posted.

amin ledbetter · June 06, 2010, 02:06:45 PM

It looks to be a thin leather that it made out of like either 5/6 oz or 6/7oz. I may make it out of heavier leather. It does appear to be un-lined as well.

Dino · June 06, 2010, 04:47:55 PM

Quote from: amin ledbetter on June 06, 2010, 02:06:45 PM
It looks to be a thin leather that it made out of like either 5/6 oz or 6/7oz. I may make it out of heavier leather. It does appear to be un-lined as well.

The pic I posted was all I could find.
Do you have better pics?

amin ledbetter · June 06, 2010, 05:08:35 PM

Quote from: Dino on June 06, 2010, 04:47:55 PM
The pic I posted was all I could find.
Do you have better pics?

Actually still shots of the shoulder are almost none existent! ( I ain't figured out how to pull still shots from the DVD! ) I did all the research by watching the movie, and the making of the movie on DVD and pausing the footage to make the patterns. My patterns may not be 100% but I think I am at least 95% in replicating it with the work and research I have done. I have tried to contact the costume designer for the movie and hit a dead end. So I pursued my studies of the movie. It's a good thing I can't get tired of watching that movie! It's my favorite!

Gonna make the gun belt and holsters for the Walkers as well.

FEATHERS · June 06, 2010, 07:56:17 PM

G'Day Amin & Dino,Found this on dixiegunworks.com hope it helps.Feathers

Dino · June 07, 2010, 03:17:43 PM

Quote from: FEATHERS on June 06, 2010, 07:56:17 PM
G'Day Amin & Dino,Found this on dixiegunworks.com hope it helps.Feathers

Thanks FEATHERS, but I don't think it's the same holster.
I've seen that one and many others, but nothing quite like the one used in the movie.

Amin,
I'm curious to see this "strap" that holds the gun in place.
Just from the one still pic I do have, it looks like it there's a snap that holds it secure, no?

amin ledbetter · June 07, 2010, 06:19:04 PM

Quote from: Dino on June 07, 2010, 03:17:43 PM
Thanks FEATHERS, but I don't think it's the same holster.
I've seen that one and many others, but nothing quite like the one used in the movie.

Amin,
I'm curious to see this "strap" that holds the gun in place.
Just from the one still pic I do have, it looks like it there's a snap that holds it secure, no?

Yes there is one snap on the body of the holster that the strap that goes around the trigger guard snaps to. The little strap is part of the back side body of the holster. It can be seen in the scene where he kills Liege, one of the two hillbilly's trying to capture him for the bounty on his head. As far as I can tell it was never snapped closed in the movie, but you can see it sticking up when he re-holsters the pistol in that scene. You can also see a glimpse of it in the scene where he dry fires his empty revolvers at Capt Terrel at the end of the movie. ( That's where the still came from in your original post.) One of the things I am not 100% about is the straps holding the holster across the back of the body. I have found scenes in the movie that show there are two straps that come off the main loop that goes around his left arm, and they travel around back over his shoulder around toward his back. I have found no scenes showing anything attached to his belt on his right side so I am assuming it is an X brace strap style that supports the holster across his back. That is how I have designed the patterns for the one I am making. I'll keep ya posted.

FEATHERS · June 07, 2010, 07:28:20 PM

G'Day Amin,The post I did on dixiegunworks & the pic,they say on their web that the holster is the same in the movie???Feathers

amin ledbetter · June 07, 2010, 09:03:51 PM

Quote from: FEATHERS on June 07, 2010, 07:28:20 PM
G'Day Amin,The post I did on dixiegunworks & the pic,they say on their web that the holster is the same in the movie???Feathers

Yeah I know Feathers! I was gonna buy it then I took a closer look at the film. That rig is nothing like the one in the movie! I wish it were it would have saved me a whole lotta work comin up with the patterns.

I cut the main holster part out of leather tonight. I took some pics of it mocked up with the gun in it. Pics are posted below!

( note: I am making this one a bit longer and wider for my 1862 police. If I mess it up I want to mess it up on this one not the one I do for my 49 Pocket! )

Dino · June 07, 2010, 11:44:34 PM

Quote from: amin ledbetter on June 07, 2010, 09:03:51 PM
Yeah I know Feathers! I was gonna buy it then I took a closer look at the film. That rig is nothing like the one in the movie! I wish it were it would have saved me a whole lotta work comin up with the patterns.

I cut the main holster part out of leather tonight. I took some pics of it mocked up with the gun in it. Pics are posted below!

( note: I am making this one a bit longer and wider for my 1862 police. If I mess it up I want to mess it up on this one not the one I do for my 49 Pocket! )

That looks GOOD amin!

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · June 08, 2010, 09:19:05 AM

I know this pattern is acceptable under the "B Western" rubrik, but are there any historical examples even close to this particular pattern?

It might be improved with a thumb break arrangement of the closure, if its not a copy of an original.

It's nice. I have a 1862 Police w/4 1/2 inch barrel that would look nice in this one!

amin ledbetter · June 08, 2010, 09:31:10 AM

Quote from: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on June 08, 2010, 09:19:05 AM
I know this pattern is acceptable under the "B Western" rubrik, but are there any historical examples even close to this particular pattern?

It might be improved with a thumb break arrangement of the closure, if its not a copy of an original.

It's nice. I have a 1862 Police w/4 1/2 inch barrel that would look nice in this one!

I have found nothing that shows this being an actual shoulder holster from the 1800's. That very question crossed my mind as well. I based my pattern on the film. I think this would make an excellent concealed carry holster the securing strap was reversed making it a thumb brake style. But then again, didn't Josey Wales use it for concealed carry like it is?

Dino · June 08, 2010, 10:37:53 AM

Quote from: amin ledbetter on June 08, 2010, 09:31:10 AM
I have found nothing that shows this being an actual shoulder holster from the 1800's. That very question crossed my mind as well. I based my pattern on the film. I think this would make an excellent concealed carry holster the securing strap was reversed making it a thumb brake style. But then again, didn't Josey Wales use it for concealed carry like it is?

I think you nailed it, amin.

I am kinda curious what your plans are for the harness.
Can't wait to see the finished pics!

amin ledbetter · June 08, 2010, 11:11:13 AM

Quote from: Dino on June 08, 2010, 10:37:53 AM

I think you nailed it, amin.
I am kinda curious what your plans are for the harness.
Can't wait to see the finished pics!

Thanks Dino! I hope I am close. You ain't got a hidden camera at my house do ya???

Cause I was just watching ( over and over again ) the only scene in the movie last night that shows the top of the left shoulder strap with waht looks to be the top most strap to the harness coming off it. Before I make the harness I am gonna do more research on it. I wish there was more scenes in the movie that showed the holster. Oh! I told you wrong about the scene where he kills Liege. You can not see the strap sticking up in that scene, it is actually folded over under the grip of the gun in that scene. It is mostly prevalent in the scene where he kills Capt. Terrel. Sorry about that if you tried to find it and see it and couldn't!

GunClick Rick · June 08, 2010, 01:14:28 PM

Don't get no Jalapeno juice on it..

I know it's gonna be cool when you finish it.

Dino · June 11, 2010, 11:52:39 AM

Any updates, amin?

amin ledbetter · June 11, 2010, 08:47:23 PM

Quote from: Dino on June 11, 2010, 11:52:39 AM
Any updates, amin?

I haven't had a chance to work on it in a couple days! I had a quick job come in I had to get done and out of the way, and I had to work on another holster and gun belt I have going for a customer. I hope to give a little time to it this weekend. I will post any updates. ( My day job and honey do list have had me pretty busy also! $:-\$ )

I did watch the movie again the other night and payed close attention to forming of the gun in the holster. Looks to be just the cylinder and frame that are formed in it. I am debating on whether or not to tool the one I am making now since it is merely a prototype, and not fitted to an actual 1849 pocket.

Dino · June 19, 2010, 12:33:36 AM

Quote from: amin ledbetter on June 08, 2010, 11:11:13 AM
Thanks Oh! I told you wrong about the scene where he kills Liege. You can not see the strap sticking up in that scene, it is actually folded over under the grip of the gun in that scene. It is mostly prevalent in the scene where he kills Capt. Terrel. Sorry about that if you tried to find it and see it and couldn't!

amin,
I looked through different scenes of the movie and these were the best shots I could get.
I actually took these pictures of my television with my camera while pausing the movie.
Didn't turn out too bad.

Hope it helps.