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Bohlin ''Mexican Loop'' Western Holster

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:350.00 USD
Bohlin ''Mexican Loop'' Western Holster
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Hand-Tooled Russet Leather ''Mexican Loop'' Western Holster, by Edward Bohlin, with engraved sterling silver buckle, c. 1930s-50s, made to fit a small frame revolver with barrel length up to about 4-3/4''. The holster body is completely hand-tooled in the old-time ''California'' pattern of large flowers and leaves against a stippled background tinted a dark brown-black color to accentuate the deep relief of the carving. Even the back flap is border tooled with the same dark background. This style of holster, which supposedly originated in northern Mexico, features a full-length ''skirt'' turned behind the body to form a loop that could easily slip over a bulky cartridge belt; the rear flap also kept the holster from riding up when the gun was drawn. Edward H. Bohlin ran away from his Swedish home at age 15 for the U.S., where he roamed the West before settling in Hollywood in the 1920s. There he became ''Saddlemaker to the Stars'' during Tinseltown's Golden Age of Western films, and gained fame for his elaborate (and expensive) gold- and silver-decorated saddles used in the legendary Pasadena Rose Parade. Condition of the holster is fine, being a smooth light russet color with bold details, and marked ''Bohlinmade/Calif./Hollywood'' in an oval on the reverse side of the skirt. Silver buckle has light tarnish; stitching is sound throughout; leather shows just light handling, age and use. Est.: $700-$900.