Holster Recommendation?

[El Tejon]

Took in a stainless Ruger Blackhawk in .45LC today. It will become a gift to my father this Christmas.

I am seeking a holster recommendation in the "Old West" mileau. He is a devoted horseman and avid "trail rider" (he just returned from a ride in Montana and is very active in the Indiana Trail Riders Association) and likes to wear a pistol while horseback riding. He is very tall, but on the thin side with long legs.

In consideration of his activities and build, what holster would you recommend I order? TIA!

For the fashion bugs, his "tack" (the saddle and stuff that he puts on the critter) is all black, he digs matching accessories (although he is far from tactical--he fixed radios in the USAF and taught classes on electronics and did not jump out of a single helicopter). Something black would be preferred. I was thinking of something along the lines of the Kirkpatrick "Arizona Ranger". What say you?

El Tejon, a good son.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Kirkpatrick is NICE if pricey... another custom builder I'd recommend is Trailrider products...

http://www.gunfighter.com/trailrider/

I have an 1863 pattern holster that's holding up well, after 10 years.

 

[BADUNAME4]

Just got something from www.epsaddlery.com :

 

[K-Man]

Here's a couple of rigs/holsters I've made:

 

[El Tejon]

K-Man, hey, I think he would dig that black one. Rides a little high for horseback riding, no?

Anyone have any experience with that "Doc Holiday" rig from El Paso? Wonder if that would be good for a horseman?

 

[K-Man]

Actually, it's just sitting up in the picture. If you look behind the trigger guard, you'll see where the holster bends over - that's where it would ride on the belt. It can also be made with a cross-draw style of holster.

 

[Souris]

Different people different holsters.

If I was going to carry my Blackhawk horseback riding I would want either a crossdraw (W/ or W/O flap) similar to the civil war type or a mexican loop holster on a cartridge belt so that it could sit over my strong side hip pocket.

Cabela's has some holsters for fair prices but you will have to mold the holster to your gun. Holsters will run you from about $30.00 on up to the sky's the limit.

here's a link to
Cowboy leather links

 

[P95Carry]

Hey El T - let's put this in accessories as we are dealing with rigs mainly

 

[MacPelto]

Anyone have any experience with that "Doc Holiday" rig from El Paso? Wonder if that would be good for a horseman?

Don't have experience with that one in particularly, but I do have several EP holsters and belts, and they are superb. When I ride, I usually wear my revolver in an EP Tortilla holster, which is a fairly hi ride rig, and it never bothers me.


Regards

Mac

 

[Smoke]

El T,

From someone that has logged a few miles on horseback...

The really cool looking, low riding tie down rigs don't work well in a saddle.
Uncomfortable as all get out. If you don't tie it to your leg the gun is moving all over the place. IF you do tie it down, the string between your leg and the saddle gets old real quick.

Check out the El Paso Saddlery site thats linked above. I'm not endorsing them I'm just using them for an example....

The Duke rig or the Cheyenne type work best...similar to the black holster K-man posted. They ride higher up, the gun stays put better should the loop come off. Much more comfortable and secure. Besides noted holster makers many saddle shops produce custom rigs of better quality and reasonably priced. You can have any style and color you like.

Just my $.02

Smoke

 

[El Tejon]

Smoke and Mac, cool, good to hear from horsemen.

If the weapon rides high, does it interfere with the rein control and your elbows? Or, do you just learn to work around it? (He rides Western if that matters).

If the weapon rides high, is there a danger of the weapon dislodging upon mount or in choppy terrain?

I'm leaning toward that Cheyenne model from El Paso. Hope I can get it in black.

 

[Smoke]

ET

In my experience the higher the gun rides the more secure it is whether mounting or dismounting or jumpin' gullies.

Traditionally the reins are held in the left hand....if the gun is on the right it won't matter. I never had the reins be an issue anyway.

Smoke

 

[TheEgg]

EL Paso Saddlery, 1880 "Ranger" rig.

Add extra fancy floral carving if your dad likes to go 'dude'.

 

[El Tejon]

Smoke, he's wrong handed. He's actually an ambi, like me, but prefers left (I prefer right). Usually wears gun on the left side of him and his saddle (pommel holster I think it's called).

I ask about choppy terrain because where he usually rides (Southern Indiana) is forested hills with plenty of ridges, gulleys, moss-covered rocks and sinkholes (or if you're from Southern Indiana "zinkholes"). Stuff bangs around when you are going up or down or sideways. (Dad had a buckskin that would jump over creeks sideways--my dad has a action photo of me completing a side roll away on the deck after discovering this fact).

Egg, hmmm, looks goog too, like the Kirkpatrick. Do you wear that one when you ride?

 

[TheEgg]

EL T, I only get to ride a few times a year, when I visit my sister and her family in S.D., who run the family's horse ranch. When I do, I have ridden with that on for four or five hours at a time and it has worked just fine. I bought it for Cowboy Action shooting, but it seems to work OK for both -- it is a copy of an original design used by cowboys for decades.

Someone who rides all day for several days, like your dad, might have a different opinion.

Good luck!

 

[MacPelto]

Sorry gettin' back so late, didn't see your question until just now...

Anyhow, no it doesn't interfere with reins since I wear it at about 4:45 position. It doesn't interfere with dismount either, since the EPS tortilla has a thumbsnap that only works in one direction. I usually ride western, except when I go to a bird dog field trial, and then it's a plantation saddle, which I hate. The only problem I have losing gear while dismounting is clip on pocket knives in my front pocket. If I dismount right-leg-over-the-fork, they get wiped off as I descend. I've lost a benchmade that way, and nearly lost another.

Mac

 

[scubie02]

I don't own any of their rigs, but these guys look good for cowboy type rigs

http://www.mernickleholsters.com/