Gunsmoke , Matt Dillan's holster

[newdaddy55]

I was watching B&W gunsmoke  were Marshal Dillon was wearing what looked like a on the belt holster , not the Buscadero holster like on the opening sequence. Does anybody know what that holster was. Thanks!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Was that an early episode you saw? Maybe they hadn't decided on the final rig but needed to start filming. Or maybe the early episodes used this rig.

I found this image online. He is with Chester (Dennis Weaver), his first sidekick.

[newdaddy55]

Thanks ! I'm glad I wasn't the only one  who noticed. my thinking is, Its an off the shelf rig from the prop department, whose makers name has been lost in time.

[St. George]

Much of the leather was actually 'real', period gear  - purchased by prop men everywhere.

You'll see a lot more of it being worn by the background actors - along with original saddles and clothing - especially if the film's been colorized.

The 'hero' was the guy who got the 'Fast Draw' rig and the better-fitted clothing - everyone else got what might fit.

By the '40's, Buscadero rigs were widely seen being worn by the principals who might actually have to pull the piece - the original, period rigs - worn high, with deep hulls - were somewhat difficult to draw from as quickly as the film demanded.

Scouts Out!

[Skeeter Lewis]

Those TV movie rigs of that time were made by Arvo Ojala.

[Trailrider]

Was that an early episode you saw? Maybe they hadn't decided on the final rig but needed to start filming. Or maybe the early episodes used this rig.

I found this image online. He is with Chester (Dennis Weaver), his first sidekick.

Later, when they filmed the opening showing Matt Dillon galloping down the trail.  His buscadero holster is about beating him to death, so he puts his right hand down to stabilize it.

[Abilene]

I like the looks of that rig, and there seem to be a number of pics of Matt wearing it on a Google image search, but they are all pics from the front.  I wonder what the side view is like? 

Maybe the producers thought the slanted belt made him look too much like a gunslinger?   

[bear tooth billy]

This picture looks like wooden grips, the later on the show look like stag?
Where is his gun at?

                         BTB

[St. George]

His grips started out as wood - then, when they strapped an Arvo Ojala rig on him, they were Franzite 'stags'.

Scouts Out!

[Skeeter Lewis]

The rig looks like an Ojala rig without the drop loop.

[Russ T Chambers]

If I remember right, it was Arvo Ojala who was the man gunned down by Matt Dillon in the opening of the early Gun Smoke episodes.  I always thought it was interesting because he taught Arness gun handling and fast draw.  Dillion wouldn't have stood a chance against the unnamed man.

[Rube Burrows]

I always find myself pausing and rewinding old westerns to look at their gear. You can really see some neat things if you look closely.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I always find myself pausing and rewinding old westerns to look at their gear. You can really see some neat things if you look closely.

So do I. You'd be amazed at the things you see that way.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

The later rig Mat wore was made by Arvo Ojalva, which had a great influence on Hollywood gun leather, as Well as Alfonso Penella, which did most of Arvo's work for him, this was a time when the Hollywood drop down holster came into effect....I have gun leather by both makers, made for me in the sixties...

tEN wOLVES...

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

He switches to the Buscadaro rig during the sixth disc of season one. That is where I am now in the series.  My wife and I watched all the color episodes but, she won't watch black and white, so I am watching them by my self.  I got the complete 20 yr series as an early Christmas present back in October.

Disc 6, season one is also when Kitty starts using the mole on the cheek.  I find that the early episodes have a better story line than the ones at about year 18-20.  I think everyone was getting tired by then including the writers.

[The Pathfinder]

If you check out YouTube for something about secrets about Gunsmoke, there is one that has in it a redo of the opening filmed in color where after the shots are fired Matt falls over. Apparently Arness didn't think he won that one.

Here's the link.



Check out around 5:50

[Capt Quirk]

The complete 20 years on DVD? Binging that much is unimaginable.

[Cottonwood]

Been sick for the last 3 days from the 2nd vaccine shot.... watching westerns on INSP