The
Last Best West Presents. . .
Custom
Old West Leather Products. NOTE:
NO FIREARMS OR CARTRIDGES ARE INCLUDED WITH OUR CUSTOM LEATHER PRODUCTS
- THEY ARE ONLY FOR ILLUSTRATION. Expect
6-8 weeks for delivery in North America. ::
PLEASE
NOTE: Color differences caused by individual computer monitors are
beyond our control.
Custom
Cowboy Leather - and this is just a sample of what we can
make for you.
Back
in the 1880s cowboys earned a dollar a day if they were
good, and the luxury of a gun belt and holster or some
other fine leather work might often be determined by their
own abilities as a leather worker. Most every ranch or
outfit had at least one person skilled with working leather
- after all rein's, bridles, and the such all needed maintaining,
repairing and replacing, and a cowboy that was skilled
with leather just added to his value as a ranch hand.
People were much more self-sufficient then, and you couldn't
always ride to town and get what you wanted or needed.
So you made it - or paid a neighbor who was skilled to
do it. Or you bartered your services for his.
Our
gun leather is made from top of the line 9/10 ounce leather
and made to last for generations. Our holsters and
belts are based on pictures from museums, archival photos
and mail order catalogues from the late 1800s and early
decades of the 20th century. Our Master Leather Crafter
has been working with leather since 1976, and his talent
and experience is our greatest asset. For truly authentic,
top-notch gun leather you've come to the right place!
Please
bear in mind that the answer to almost all questions that
start with, "Can you. . . ." is yes. These
are custom pieces, not made on an assembly line, and we
will take your requests and build you what you want.
Questions?
E-mail us at
"A
cowboy is a well-armed man with guts and a horse."
Custom
Gun Leather
Top-quality gun belts and holsters, authentic to the 19th
century. Prices are based on what you see here. Available
with or without hammer or leg tie downs. We suggest 3 lengths
of holsters: 4 1/2; 5 1/2 and 7 1/2. This allows customers
holsters that will fit several of their side arms - because
from our experience most people who own one pistol, tend
to own several. OR if you prefer a specific length
of holster we'll be happy to make that for you. Price includes
one line of edge stamping on the holster or gun belt, and
16 cartridge loops on the belt. Unless
other wise stated all holsters are an open toed design.
PLEASE NOTE: Our logo is only on the images not on the leather.
All sizes are in INCHES. We will contact you within one
business day of your purchase(s) being made - to see if
you have any special requests, and confirm the details and
make, model, and barrel length of your firearm.
Orders
call toll free 1-866-207-1909.Or
contact us here.
The
Masterson - Custom Cross Draw Holster
Conceal and Carry Rig - Simple, elegant,
and functional.
Canadian
Bat Masterson
was one of the most feared and respected "Shooters"
of the Old West. He employed a cross-draw pull, and
his skill with a hand gun was such that everyone kept
theirs holstered with Masterson around. Inspired by
Bat's simple - yet elegant rig. Belt is 1 3/4"
- to accommodate belt loops on today's britches. We
made sure it fits Levi's jeans, and when worn with
a sport coat or longer coat, is the perfect holster
for people with the conceal & carry permit.
Shown in black cow hide, with heavy, plain black belt.
In the holster is a 45 Cal. 1873 Colt Peacemaker,
with 4" barrel - nickel plated. We will custom
make to accommodate the make, model, and calibre of
your firearm. Side arm is very secure when pushed
down in the holster and comes with a hammer tie-down.
Or not - your choice. Belt is plain no adornment and
no cartridge loops. Save 20 bucks when you buy
the complete rig.
White
handled pistol shown is a reproduction of a pistol ordered
by Masterson from Dodge City, on Longbranch Saloon stationary
in the 1890s. The Longbranch was owned by his good friend,
and one time Marshal Luke Short.
Bat's order was for a 45 Cal. 1873 Colt Peacemaker; 4"
barrel, nickel plated, with ivory grips. This design was also
carried by George S. Patton throughout his impressive military
career - with a couple of changes. Patton ordered a matched
pair and his Colt's were silver plated, with 4 3/4" barrel,
and the ivory grips had his monogram on the butt.
Winter
2008 - Guns of the Old West Magazine: Above right -
featured our Masterson rig. Our thanks to
Denis Prisbrey for including us in his article - we're still
blushing from the kind words!
Teddy
Blue Rig "All the cowboys I know are
afraid of only two things. . . a decent woman and being
set afoot. . . ." - Teddy Blue - Cowboy,
1882.
This
Rig is similar to the gun belt and holster shown on the
traditional 1880s cowboy at the
top of the page. The cowboy in the picture likely personalized
his rig by adding the brass spots or tacks himself.
Shown
at left in deep
red ochre
color and 7 1/2" length. Low cut neck shows most of
the cylinder and allows for very quick draws. The 2"
billeted gun belt comes with 16 cartridge loops for the
calibre of your firearm. Holster is available in 4 1/2;
5 1/2 and 7 1/2" lengths. Other lengths available.
Save 20 bucks when you buy the entire rig.
Holster:
$166.00
| Shipping: $15.00
TOTAL: $181.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
Wyatt Earp always maintained,
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is final."
In the 1880s more than 50 % of North America lived on farms and
ranches. It was therefore a necessity to be a jack-of-all-trades,
and to be successful all the small towns that supported the farms
and ranches of each area needed three important businesses. A Blacksmith,
a Saddle Maker and a General Merchandise Store were important to
the survival and prosperity of each town. Being skilled workers
with leather, most saddle makers were commissioned to make gun leather,
and a cottage industry thrived in the 19th and early decades of
the 20th century. Thanks to the Internet those days have returned.
Why bother with cheap inferior mass produced gun leather, when for
a few extra bucks you can have quality custom leather work made
to order and to last.
Don't
see the holster or belt style you're looking for? If you have a
picture - in most cases we can make it.
Traditional
Slim Jim Holster
Patterned after the traditional California
Slim Jim shown in the leather makers Bible, Packing
Iron. Nothing fancy - the look
is, sleek, elegant, and versatile.
These holsters adapt well for any of the three draws you may
want to use. Cross-Draw, Strong-hand draw, or the twist or
Hickok draw.
Shown
top left our 7 1/2" Slim Jim design nicely shows off
the unique shape of the 7" barrel Schofield 1875 Cavalry.
Both
holsters and gun belt at left are shown in our deep
red ochre color. Other colors available
are black, saddle brown and saddle tan.
Shown
at left at bottom with a Colt clone 45 cal. Thunderer, birds
head handle; 4 3/4" barrel. Holster is 5 1/2" long
and when pushed deep into the holster, pistol is very well
seated and secure, so you can break that bronc with confidence
still rigged up. Save 20 bucks when you buy the complete
rig.
Holster:
$166.00 | Shipping: $15.00
Total:$ $181.00 :: Order
Now :: Check-Out
Order
one holster and the matchingGun belt
below for $326.00 Shipping is $25.00 TOTAL:
$351.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
"Any
man that believes we're all created equal ain't never been passed
walking on a dusty road, by a man astride a fine piece of horse
flesh. No sir, any man on horseback is one foot up on the next
feller." Teddy Blue; Cowboy, 1882.
Hand
Tooled Traditional Billeted Gun Belt.
Gun belt is either 2 or 2 1/2" width.
For 3" belts add 25 dollars. Includes 1 line of border
stamping. Shown at left with a scallop pattern. More elaborate
work is available. Comes with 16 cartridge loops to fit the
caliber of your firearm. Shown at left with no cartridge loops,
as was common back in the day. All our belts have 7 holes
for comfort and the gun belt can be customized to meet your
needs. Belt shown at left has a better quality buckle with
a filigreed pattern. Standard buckle
is a Garrison square buckle as shown on the Masterson belt
above.
Gun
belt as shown with or without cartridge loops: $180.00 | Shipping:
$15.00 Total:$ $195.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
Below
are more examples of how much care and attention we pay to
making well fitting holsters for our customers.
Note how beautifully we follow the contours of the firearms.
Left
hand draw Slim Jim
with matching Billeted Gunbelt. Can also be worn as
a right hand twist holster.
3
1/2" Schofield reproduction
with Custom Masterson Rig
A pair of matching right draw and right hand cross-draw
Slim Jim's, with Masterson Belt.
Don't
see the holster or belt style you're looking for? If you have
a picture - in most cases we can make it.
Special
requests and questions can be e-mailed to Sonja at:
Slim
Jim Black Powder Holster This holster is what Wild Bill would
have used with his Navy 36s', when he wasn't tucking
them in his sash. Can be seen on the mounted, traditional
working cowboy above right. Shown here with a Remington
36 cal. black powder pistol, with a 7 1/2" barrel.
Holster above is a left draw and can be worn on the
left hip, on the right for a cross draw or on the right
for a right handed "Twist" or "Cavalry"
or "Hickok" draw. When the pistol is pushed
deep into the holster, the firearm is very secure and
ready to handle the rigors of the trail. Holster back
loop is 3" wide to accommodate a gun belt. Shown
plain - no adornment - in a saddle brown color. Save
20 bucks when you buy the complete rig.
HOLSTER:
$166.00 :: Shipping: $15.00 :: Total:$ $181.00
:: Order
Now :: Check-Out
Slim
Jim Holster and Matching Gun belt:
$326.00 :: Shipping: $25.00 :: TOTAL: $351.00
:: Buy
Now :: Check-Out
The
Range Rider is patterned after a traditional 2 loop
holster from the 1880s this holster is a closed toe
design.
Low cut neck allows quick access to the trigger for
fast pulls. Add a classic gun belt
(above) to finish the look. Holster is available
in 4 1/2; 5 1/2 and 7 1/2" lengths. Other lengths
available. Save 20 bucks when you buy the complete
rig.
Holster:
$166.00 | Shipping: $15.00
TOTAL: $181.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
Gunfighter
Fact
Likely the most famous pistol fighter of the old west, James
Butler Hickok employed the twist draw and was deadly with
it. An excellent demonstration of this draw is given by Keith
Carradine in the first episode, first season, of the HBO series
Deadwood (may it rest in peace). And as far as the term "Gunfighter"
goes, this was a term from the 20th century, and may very
well been coined first in films. In the old west a man who
was a known pistol fighter was called a "Shootist".
Longfellow,
received the rig and am so impressed I walk around with
a silly smile on my face. Well done and I'll be back
ordering more in the future. You haven't heard the last
of me - thanks again! - Montana Slick
The Buffalo Bill Rig
"My
debut upon the world's stage occurred on February 26,
1845, in the State of Iowa." - William Frederick
Cody.
This
customer is a western entertainer and SASS member who
wanted a fancy rig to show off his matched pair of reproduction
Colt 45s.
To
the left is an example of how we can accommodate most
any custom leather request. Customer supplied us with
the high end belt buckle shown. Then we matched up the
concho's on the holsters and 2 on the gun belt and this
is the end result.
Shown
in black; in a 5 1/2" holster length, black with
leg and hammer tie downs. Gun belt is 2 1/2" wide
and the belt and holsters have fancy edge stamping.
Pricing below reflects what you see. The gun belt
DOES NOT INCLUDE the buckle shown.Buckle
included is the same as the one shown on the billeted
gun belt above.
Additional
concho's add 16.81/E and better buckles add 25 dollars
and up.
Buy
Fancy Holster as shown: $216.00 :: shipping $15.00 ::
TOTAL: $231.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
Buy
Fancy Gun belt Only: $266.00 :: shipping: $15.00 ::
TOTAL: $281.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
Buy
a one gun rig and save 20 dollars. $462.00
:: shipping: $15.00 :: TOTAL: $477.00 Order
Now | Check-Out
Buy
as a package and save 51 dollars.
Rig as you see - 2 holsters and Gun belt: $647.00
Shipping: $25.00 TOTAL: $672.00 :: Order
Now | Check-Out
This
custom holster is for a reproduction of an 1875 .45cal Smith
and Wesson Schofield.
The
Schofield
is significant in the history of firearms because it
was the first top-break loading pistol, and because
of the design significantly reduced reloading time.
It was also very accurate and was one of the premier
target shooting pistols of the 19th century.
First
envisioned by Major George W. Schofield of the U.S.
Cavalry, it was produced by Smith and Wesson in a limited
run of only three years beginning in 1875. The pistol
saw hard use by the 4th US cavalry in their battles
with the Apache's, and was also used by the Buffalo
Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry.
A
favourite of many law men and the outlaws they chased,
the Schofield has a distinct advantage in the quickness
of the re-load over the Colt Peacemaker.
It
was packed by Frank and Jesse James, Bob and Cole Younger,
Wes Hardin, Buffalo Bill Cody, Teddy Roosevelt, famed
Marshal's Pat Garrett, Bill Tilghman, Virgil and Wyatt
Earp. In fact it's reputed to be a Schofield that Wyatt
carried into the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral.
Some
60,000 .44cal "Russian" models of the Schofield
were sold over seas to Czarist Russia, and the Turkish
and Japanese governments. The Russian model added a
lanyard ring in the handle butt, and a re curved addition
to the trigger card.
In
it's day the Russian was considered one of the most
beautiful pistols made, and almost 7 times more Russian's
were sold then the original 9,000 Schofield's.
The
Schofield Pistol at the Movies
Used to be the only significant show of this firearm
was in Clint Eastwood's oscar winning film, "Unforgiven".
The Schofield Kid is one of the key characters and
it's his trademark Schofield the Kid uses to kill
the Cowboy in the outhouse. After getting paid for
the killings; it's the Schofield that Eastwood "borrows"
from the Kid to head to town and kill Little Bill
(Gene Hackman) with, "For what you did to
Ned. . ."
In
2007 a revival of the Schofield has been seen at the
movies, in both "The 3:10 to Yuma",
and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the
Coward Robert Ford", the pistol figures prominently
in both movies. In Yuma, a pair of Schofield's
is used ruthlessly by Ben Wade's (Russell Crowe),
lieutenant, the crazed Charlie Prince, played chillingly
by actor Ben Foster. This is an excellent movie, not
just a western, and well worth the viewing. I never
figgered that the Schofield was a fast draw pistol,
but after seeing it whipped around in Yuma
I may change my mind. . .nah. . . .it's just a movie
- I'd still want a Colt for a quick pull, but for
combat the Schofield seems to be the better choice.
Easy to see why a pistol fighter would want one of
each.
In
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward
RobertFord, Jesse (Brad Pitt) can be seen
packing a Schofield most everywhere he goes, and Frank
(Sam Shepherd) also carries a Schofield for the all
of 5 minutes he's on the screen.
Ben
Foster is perfect as the ultra violent Charley Prince,
in the excellent western, The 3:10 to Yuma.
{2007)
It's
also a nickel plated Schofield that Jesse gifts Bob
Ford (Casey Afflick) with, and then is used to kill
Jesse with. This is historically accurate to what we
know of the life and death of Jesse James. More
about Jesse James death
All
prices are in USD - convert to most currencies on our
secure order page.
Custom
Rifle Sheath
Indian
Style - This
soft rifle scabbard is made from garment quality hide.
Can also be done in standard buckskin color. Has a long
"waterfall" fringe, and a fold over weather
flap with a bone button for closure against the elements.
Decorated with beads and studs. We will e-mail you within
24 hours for sizing and customizing instructions. Price
is subject to change - depending on size and add ons
requested. This Indian style rifle sheath is in black
and was made for a 1901 Winchester Model 1894 32-40
- take down.
"I
felt only as a man can feel who is roaming over the
prairies of the far West, well armed, and mounted on
a fleet and gallant steed." - Buffalo Bill.
What
Clients say, "Mr. Longfellow, I received my (custom
rifle) sheath last week and was very impress with it, job
well done!" Thanks, R. Fuller, Colorado.
PLEASE
NOTE: Our logo is only on the images not on the leather.
Medicine Pouch
A
cowboy needs a handy pouch to store his "needful
things" in. Like cartridges, matches, money,
keys, or even medicine! This beauty is well-made and
will give you good service. Back loop is 2 1/2"
wide - big enough to slide over virtually any gun
belt. Heavy grain cowhide, with bone button and leather
tie. Shown at left in dark saddle brown.
Buckskin
Fact
Buckskin clothing and covers virtually always had a fringe attached.
Why is that? Most folks think it was for show - but like most things
cowboys used - the fringe on a buckskin jacket, shirt, knife, or
rifle sheath had a function - it channeled water off the garment
- keeping it dryer - and after it was wet, allowing it to dry faster.
Basic
Leather and Buckskin Care
When
wet - allow the leather to dry naturally at room temperature. If
stained use a mild mix of dish soap and water and clean carefully
with a clean cloth. Commercial cleansers and chemicals should NOT
be used, or they may cause discoloring. In the first year the natural
oils in the hide should keep it fairly weather repellent. After
that we recommend using a spray protector like Tandy, or Mink
Oil, which is an excellent protector for leather (NOT buckskin:
it will cause matting if used) mink oil will condition the leather
and waterproof it to a certain extent.
Disclaimer!
Supplied as information only - you're own common sense should always
be followed.
Our
knifes are premier quality, made from high carbon steel and
are built to last for generations. We can custom make to anyone's
taste or requirements. E-mail your questions to:
Pictured
at right is one of our custom frontier knifes, and giving
this big functional knife a unique look is the curved handle
made from goat horn.
"Cowboy
Diplomacy is the ability to tell another feller to go to hell in
such a way that he looks forward to the trip." Will Rogers
Custom
Cowboy Hats
from The Last Best West
In today's world of depleting Ozone and
the rise of melanoma and skin cancer - everyone needs
a good hat to shield their face and neck from the harmful
effects of the sun. What could be more timeless and
useful than a fine fur-felt Cowboy Hat? It will keep
your face and neck in constant shade - regardless of
the position of the sun, and your eyes and lips will
say thankee-thankee. It'll be your friend for life and
will age just as gracefully as you!
We'll
give you what you want.
Made
to your Specifications. If you don't see what you want
- send us a picture - and we'll make our version of
that hat.
Longfellow
researched the designs based on historical photos and
original mail order catalogues from the late 1800's
and the early decades of the 20th Century. Of particular
help was the Smithsonian Website, the Library, and the
archives of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. And of course
those great Hollywood Westerns.
Dodge
City Peace Commission photo of 1876
Seated Left to right: Charley Bassett, Wyatt
Earp, Frank McLain, Neal Brown.
Back Row from Left: Longfellow
(recruited in 2007 and standing in for W. H. Smith), Luke
Short, Bat Masterson, and W. F. Petillon.
Want your picture blended in an archival old west photo?
Have a look at our custom
wanted poster page - here.
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