GUNS Magazine August 1955

THE MYTH OF THE QUICK DRAW(Continued from page 27)top holsters fit carefully around the triggerguard, but expose the fancy handle of thegun.Commercial holsters followed the pattern,either tight and "Mexican" or with a flapcovering the gun to protect it in frontierservice. A gun was valuable; it had to beguarded from weather.First "modern" holster is actually onepopularly believed to have been of the "oldwest." It is the "buscudero" or drop loopholster, often used as a pair, and slung lowon the hips. Tie thongs sometimes straparound the thigh and hold the holster tipsdown. Stiff leather in drop loops and holstersis relied on to keep the holsters from"riding up7' with the guns in drawing. Oneof these outfits was made for Captain A. H.Hardy, then U. S. Border Patrol, by Tio SamMyres of El Paso back in 1910.Buscudero literally means "outlaw" fromthe spanish verb buscar-"to hunt." Carelessmagazine cover artists for the nickel novelsof Ned Buntline and other myth makers areas responsible as anyone for the popular notionthat western outlaws wore their gunson loose belts, slung low and bumping againsttheir knees. Cowboys in town on a spreewould often turn up at the local photographicsalon for a group portrait. Their ownguns had been put away, as practically everycow town had and enforced ordinancesagainst wearing pistols on the street. But thephotographer always kept a good variety to ,borrow. With "prop" revolvers and holsterthey would glower fiercely at the cameraand be recorded for posterity. Some of thesewestern characters simply bristle with guns,so much iron that they would have had difficultyin walking.Send forPATENT U'&O~FATIONINVENTOR'S RECORDOb'igOtiOnREG'sTEREDATTORNEYu~~s%i~;~~;r, IX;I!~N~?Patent Attorney & AdvtsoeGUSTAVE MILLER US. Navy Dept. 1930.194765-AR Warner Buildingw h t 4. . c PATENT LAWYERFITZ GRIPS NOW WALNUT OR ROSEWOOD