The Fontiersman's Mexican Loop Holster
From the mid-1870's to today, this gunleather form is still the classic Western holster.
Categories: Collecting the West , Photo Gallery
By: Phil Spangenberger 08/01/2008
Dress Me Up
By the time of the introduction of the Mexican Loop holster, the trend in gunleather adornment had already shifted from the heavily carved floral motifs to simpler, border-stamped designs. These smaller, less flamboyant embellishments usually followed the outer edge of the scabbard portion of the holster, with additional stampings found on the edges of the skirt loops and sometimes around the outer border of the skirt. Periphery designs could vary from single or multiple lines, to that of a small repeating pattern, stamped to follow the general contours of the holster, loops and back skirt. Saddlers often incorporated different patterns into one design to create the finished border. Sometimes a stamped rosette or geometric motif might be added on the upper portion of the scabbard. The “maker’s” cartouche was frequently stamped in this spot, or on one of the loops. Some maker stamps were worked into the central portion of a floral embellishment, thus disguising it to some degree.
While border stamping accounted for the greatest number of loop holsters throughout the period of the Mexican Loop holster’s greatest prominence (1880-1920), by the 1880s, the more elaborate floral carved versions could again be found in fair numbers. In keeping with the looks of the times, though, the handiwork on these so-carved sheaths was generally contained within a pattern-stamped border, rather than the simple lined edge so prominent in the percussion age.
Holsters hailing from south of the Rio Grande were often decorated with embroidery rather than stamping or carving. This delicate work was accomplished via fibers from indigenous plants, as well as silken or metallic threads, and included designs such as the Mexican eagle and snake motif, geometric and Aztec patterns, and floral interpretations.
Sometime around the mid-to-late 1880s, basket stamping made its appearance on holsters. Within a few years, improvements in leather working equipment brought about inexpensive machine-stamped and rolled-on border designs, embossed floral work, fish scale, basket stamping and other full-coverage embellishments.
By the turn of the 20th century, as cowboys and other six-gun packers took to adding their own brand of trimming to their holsters, new ways of adorning gunleather was getting the attention of saddlers out East as well as out West. Alternatives to the stamped or carved scabbards included laced-on conchos as well as nickeled brass studs (called harness spots) that sometimes bordered the rigs, while, at other times, it virtually covered them. Main seams and borders that were sewn with contrasting rawhide thongs could also be found. Before the first couple of decades of the 20th century had passed, the loop holster could be had in more configurations and with a greater array of decoration than any other gun scabbard in history.
Truly Western
Despite the passing of the wild and woolly frontier, the coming of the motion pictures in the early 20th century gave renewed life to all things Western, while adding to the myth and lore of the cowboy and his tools. Like the 10-gallon hat, six-gun and silver-mounted spurs, the Mexican Loop holster—with all of its silver screen flamboyance—was assured a permanent place among the Westerner’s classic gear. You’ll see this holster on Roy Rogers in films like Don’t Fence Me In and Son of Paleface, Gene Autry in Back in the Saddle and Robin Hood of Texas, John Wayne and Joel McCrea in Red River and Colorado Territory respectively, and on just about every other movie cowboy hero.
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