Practicality of buscadero holsters.

[Madbo]

For practical farm use this old plowboy has used a Threeperson's holster 20 degree cant with a 1 3/8" pants belt positioned just behind the right hip most of my life.
Just like the old "mexican carry" without a holster where I have a permenant indention in my back from carrying like that so many years.

I have been working for a while with the Hank Sloan--- Barranti Leather Company holster you see in my avatar worn the same way and think......It's Great!

Robs Simply Rugged Sourdough is another great holster for just such a carry.


The fancy heavy skirted Buscadero Rigs are more for show in my opinion, not for the working man, or for everyday use around the farm or ranch it is just not practical.
Thinner and lighter drop loops can be obtained and do work for general chores, yes I think they are a might faster on the draw than a high ride also.
Bod Munden "The Fastest Man Alive" makes his seem pretty practical!

So to each is own. Dang I love holsters!

The following is some of my observations on the "Bucadero Rig" and the story behind it.

Buscadero has a double meaning examples such as:
Searcher
Searched for
Hunter
Being hunted
Hunted one
Lawman
Outlaw

Prospectors can be called "buscaderos" as they are searching for something.

Well maybe we are all bucaderos.

The birth of the Buscadero.
Captain John R. Hughes of the Texas Rangers was wounded in the "Indian Wars" and lost some mobility in his gun arm.
He made a contraption of a holster rig that hung down lower so he could draw easier and faster.
He went to Sam "Tio" Myres of S. D. Myres Saddle Company to see if he could produce him a better rig.
Sam made him a very wide belt with a drop loop that the holster attached to. This made the sixgun ride much lower.
Now did Cap Hughes see something like or similiar to the rig he brought Myers in his travels? This could very well have been possible.
"Tio" Sam was the first to start making these rigs commercially and made some super ornate ones.
I'm sure it fit right in with Hollywood's creation of the cowboy.

I've used Bucadero Rigs made by S. D. Myres, George Lawrence, Berns Martin and many others.
I love'em but not for practical use.

Thanks for starting this discussion on your SEARCH for a new gun rig..........hmmm ;D

Long Live The Buscadero!..........Hi-yo Silver! Away!

My George Lawrence Buscadero Rig for two 4" S&W .44 Magnums.




Berns Martin Buscadero for my S&W .357 5"

[taffin]

SALIVATIN' OVER THE BERNS-MARTIN!!!

[taffin]

Feb 25, 2011 16:07:58 GMT -5 jayhawker said:

Buscaderos are not an great all purpose rig. But, they are getting a bad rap here. Many of us grew up watching our favorite Cowboy hero in B Westerns and the great Adult TV Westerns get on and off horses while wearing a Buscader rig. Didn't seem to be a problem for them.
Jayhawker Bob

FANTASY BOB, JUST FANTASY!!

[robl]

MB! That Berns Martin rig is GREAT! and yep the Tom Threepersons or 120 IS a great practical yet traditional working rig.
I talk to several of these types every day; ranchers farmers outdoors man that use these everyday on horseback ATVs and tractors.

The other group of working gun toters I talk with every day is our GI: The poor GI's that have drop leg holster sinflicted upon them mostly Loath those low riding rigs and opt for a chest/MOLLE or shoulder rig.

[jdpress]

Here is my "Buscadero" holster for a 7-1/2 inch barreled Colt .44.

It was made by a saddle, leather goods and holster company, Rocking K Saddlery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is lined in English Bridle leather and will fit a pistol belt up to 4-1/2 inches in width. The proprietor, Frank Kaiser, uses only premium, US made, Wickett & Craig leather for all his leather projects and the quality of the leather matches the workmanship in the construction of this holster. This is one of the best holsters I have ever owned, including some vintage, single-action, lined holsters made for me by the original George Lawrence Company in Portland, Oregon many years ago.

I wear it with a 2-3/4 inch lined pistol belt when I am out just leisurely shooting in the desert. I purchased it just for fun and fun it is to wear this rig. I just really enjoy the nostalgia that this holster generates every time I use it. There is something about strapping on a long barreled Colt in a heavy duty piece of leather that is pure enjoyment.

J.D. Press

[jayhawker]

JT, Great seeing you back.
I can't help but to point out that oneof Elmer's favorite rigs was a Ed Bohlin Buscadero with Elmer's mods.

[robl]

Yeah, and as pictured in MB's post, Elmer had a very cool two gun double cartridge loop rig as well. I'll bet he didn't use one while working cattle.
The subject is "Practicality of buscadero holsters".

Not "Are Buscadero rigs's worth even owning" :-)

Nice leather is always worth having, but some rigs are not as practical as others.

[maxcactus]

I greatly appreciate all the information you gents have supplied above, especially Rob L. and Mike B. Perhaps I should have made more explicit that concealment is not my intent in the rig I'm thinking of purchasing, but more woodsbumming and hunting. That said, the Mernickle rig is not quite was I was looking for. I have a few of Bob Mernickle's works and they're all quite fine. The particular piece I'm looking at (see image below) has very little drop off the belt but the holster does hang from a cut out in the drop and hence is lower. What attracts me to this rig mostly is the level of coverage it gives the revolver. I was also considering a flap holster on a standard style belt as speed out of the leather isn't a primary concern. Comfort & security are toward the top of the list however.



All that said, I'll defer to the master craftsmen and those more experienced and and rethink my wants/needs for this project.

Mike B, thanks for all the terrific information and the great pictures!

Max.

[robl]

Being somwhat expert at bumming, woods, desert, beach, hunting or otherwise, I feel qualified to relate that just about any sort of high riding close fitting holster will serve your needs. A holster that moves with you rather than hanging off of your belt is far more comfortable at the end of the day, and particularly at the end of several days or weeks strung together than a buscadero rig.
Mike Baraanti's holster, pictured in MB avatar, is an excellent example.
Cannon Watts, who also posts here and is a certified good guy makes a very well put together version as well.
All the best,
Rob

[chantico]

Byron,
If you're reading this, email me for the high ride field holster to go along with the gun for your son's friend. I don't want him stuck with something that seems to be unusable. email is in my profile. Bruce

[brionic]

Rob, what would you call this crossdraw rig of Rick's? It isn't as high and tight as one of your SD or as low and dangly as a buscadero, so it's sort of no man's land, but... it's nice for bumming. Not as fast as the others due to the way it hangs on the belt, rather than having the belt threaded through it.

Anyway, Whatzzitcalled?



PS - don't razz me about the Kimber. My S&W was offsite and I needed a pistol for the image.

[robl]

Dang you just about cornered the Gittlein carved market:-) I think Rick took elements from several designs for that cross draw rig.
You'd better send that Kimber home with me for proper fitting...

[brionic]

Some nice guy cut me a deal on them... not sure if it's the carving, but they are MUCH softer than my genUwhine Simply Rugged Sourdoughs, for whatever reason.

I'll bring the Kimber to Mr. Tom's and you may shoot it all you like. It is a keeper. The old prewar Colt feels better in my hand, though

[Deleted]

Brian, is that a set of Fishpaw's on the S&W?

[brionic]

Yes Scott, they are Fishpaws. VERY comfortable. I purchased that set secondhand and by golly, they fit my 25-5 and my hands like they were made for us.