A different kind of twin shoulder holster for my S&W 1917's

[Bill Akins]

I had won this Sam Browne belt on Gunbroker. Notice that in addition to the long over the shoulder strap, it also has four short loop straps with D rings for attaching a longer strap on both the left and right side.....

I have another Sam Browne belt that I will take the long over the shoulder strap off of, and can use it in conjunction with the other over the shoulder strap,....or I can just get two short belt type straps to use instead. Then I can use these straps to support the weight of two shoulder holsters if I wear the Sam Browne belt across my chest (instead of on my waist) as you will see in the pics below. Two straps over each shoulder will hold the Sam Browne belt up so it won't slip down off my chest. This is for open carry naturally.

I am purchasing two U.S. model 1917 flap revolver holsters for my twin 1917 S&W's. I am not concerned with fast draw, I want two shoulder holsters with flaps that will keep my 1917 revolvers secure when in the woods and no way they will fall out even on horseback, also to protect them from branch scrapes and the elements better too. I figure I can get to them fast enough even with them being flap holsters.

The reason I want them as twin left and right shoulder holsters, is because I will already have on my twin 1912 mounted cavalry holsters around my waist holding my hi capacity para ordnance 1911 and my standard capacity 7 rd auto ordnance 1911, thus I need my 1917 revolvers up higher and out of the way of my twin 1911's in my twin mounted cavalry 1912 holster rig, even though that 1912 cavalry waist rig is drop leg swivel holsters, I still need the 1917 holsters up out of the way of the waist belt.

Then I can use the Sam Browne belt rig and straps to make a twin shoulder holster rig wherein the belt is worn around the chest, that can also be worn around the waist if wanted, that I got the idea of from the western comic book called "The Rawhide Kid" as seen in these below pics.....

I thought it would be a good idea because this way I can use my Sam Browne belt and twin left and right 1917 revolver flap holsters to hold my two S&W 1917's either as a shoulder holster rig when I also wear my twin 1912 mounted cavalry waist belt rig with my 1911's, or as a regular waist belt rig if I don't want to carry four handguns at the same time.

Something a little different from the regular shoulder holster we usually see, that can also be worn as a waist belt, so it is versatile and does double duty.

Just sent the money order off today. I'll let everyone know how it works out as a shoulder holster when it arrives. The nice thing about this idea, is if I don't care for it as a shoulder holster, I can still wear it on my waist. But I think it will work out as a shoulder holster too. Will know when it arrives.


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[Venom1956]

one day I want to have that many revolvers all holstered all over my body.

 

[RJay]

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[Bill Akins]

Venom1956 wrote:
one day I want to have that many revolvers all holstered all over my body.

I'd only be carrying two actual revolvers in a twin shoulder holster rig.

The other two handguns I'd carry would be my two semi auto 1911 pistols in my 1912 cavalry drop leg waist belt twin holster rig.

Not that much weight really compared to a backpack, canteen, etc.


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[Bill Akins]

My Sam Browne belt and left and right S&W model 1917 holsters and my left handed cavalry 1912 holster for my other 1911 finally arrived on Friday. I had to make a short strap and rob a few studs, a long strap and a buckle from another old Sam Browne belt I had, grind off one copper rivet, punched some holes and placed some of the studs I robbed off the old Sam Browne belt, then stained the whole shoulder rig and holsters with Old English furniture stain so that it matches the color of my 1911's 1912 cavalry drop leg holster and belt very well. Everything worked out perfect. I'm very happy with how it worked out and it's very comfortable. Gets my twin 1917 S&W's up high out of the way of my twin 1911's drop leg cavalry waist rig. It looks even better than the one the "Rawhide kid" had. I'll post some pics here of it all as soon as I take some.



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[Bill Akins]

Finished pics! A different kind of twin shoulder holster for my S&W 1917's

Here's some pics my wife took today of me with my twin shoulder holster rig I made to hold my 1917 S&W's to match and go along with my waist belt twin holster 1912 cavalry drop leg rig. You can hardly tell from the glare, but the main belt buckle on the shoulder rig has a big "U.S." in it.

I used parts from three Sam Browne belts to make the twin shoulder rig. Brass studs and a small strap buckle from one belt and a long strap and some strap keepers from another belt. Made one short strap and the rear straps "X" keeper myself out of an old leather belt. Dyed everything dark brown using "Old English" stain, to match the already dark brown color of my waist rig. The whole four gun rig is very comfortable. The 1912 cavalry holsters for my two 1911's swivel, so when I sit down they swivel with my legs out of the way. And the 1917 chest holsters stay up out of the way of everything. It is easy to move around and I don't feel constricted at all. Very happy with how the shoulder rig I made came out.

I'm ready to join Black Jack Pershing to go chasing Pancho Villa. Grin.

When I was a boy, my neighbor across the street named Jack Hodap (long since deceased) actually was on the expedition chasing Villa and he used to tell me about it. But that's another story.

Whatcha think guys?


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[Master Blaster 2]

That is a pretty slick set-up Bill. Bet that would turn some heads in Walmart?

 

[Grant D]

Kinda looks like "Bad" Frank Phillips rig in the Hatfields and McCoys Mini series.
Cool set up. When I saw his I was thinking about yours! lol

 

[Bill Akins]

Thanks guys, glad y'all like my shoulder/chest rig. The guy I got the 1917 holsters and my left hand 1911 holster and my Sam Browne belt from has more. So if any of you want to build a chest rig like mine, let me know and I'll post the link to his Sam Browne belts and 1917 left and right holsters. Just be aware you will have to do a little modifying like I did to make it a chest rig.

By the way, he has holsters marked "U.S." or "U.S.M.C." I got the USMC ones for my 1917's and the U.S. marked one for my left hand 1911 holster because I already had a right hand U.S. marked 1911 holster when I bought my cavalry drop leg rig. So I needed to match my 1911 holsters and make them both say "U.S.". Since I didn't already have a 1917 holster, being an old Marine, I got both of them in U.S.M.C.


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[Bill Akins]

One of the fellas at the S&W forum said my pics of my twin shoulder holsters and twin waist holsters coupled with my campaign hat reminded him of the song by Allen Damron and Tim Henderson called "Gringo Pistolero". I'd never heard it before but after finding it and listening, he was right. I really like this song. Too bad Allen passed away in 2005 and Tim died recently also. Had a hard time finding the song online, but finally found an archived online radio show episode that was playing it online. Here's that radio show link to the song if you'd like to hear it......

http://ia600502.us.archive.org/11/items/SethAvantAllenDamronSpecial_0/Allen_Damron_Special.mp3

Great song. Here's the lyrics too.......


GRINGO PISTOLERO
Allen Wayne Damron, Tim Henderson

When the bandit Chico Cano crossed the river at Boquillas,
Stole the young bride of the rancher Juan Otero,
Juan caught up his fastest mare, and up to Marathon he rode,
To hire himself a gringo pistolero.

Send the word along the river; tell it through the borderland,
That the hound of death is howling after Chico Cano's band.
Juan will seal their fate as surely as the rising of the sun,
With the guns of the Gringo Pistolero.

The round hat of a trooper cast a shadow 'cross his eyes,
As he listened to the tale of Juan Otero.
At the name of Chico Cano there could be no talk of price,
Just the Gringo's vow of vengeance: "Yo arrero."

He oiled his big Colt automatics, and by daylight he was gone.
With the coming cold and darkness he rode into Castollon,
And a drunken bandit caught there read the message, "Talk, or die!"
In the eyes of the Gringo Pistolero.

Where the Canyon Colorado twists its way among the rocks
And the ribbon of the sky is long and narrow,
In a jacal of adobe bruised and tied up on the floor
Wept the sweet wife the rancher Juan Otero.

Bandit mirrors in the cliff top flash the message "Now he comes"
Asked the number of his followers, the number of their guns.
The aviso flashed to Chico like the falling of a stone:
"He comes alone, the Gringo Pistolero."

Hidden high above the canyon where the falcon rides the wind,
Chico's best hawkeyed aviso, Juan Romero,
Tucked his mirror in his shirt and gazed with worry towards the rocks
Where he last had seen the Gringo Pistolero.

Put the sights up to eight hundred, hold a yard left for the wind,
And there's one by-god aviso that will never flash again.
Weeping red tears from a third eye that's a gift he cannot feel
From the Springfield of the Gringo Pistolero.

"Chico Cano, you have stole your last damn US dollar bill.
I have come for you and all your companjeros.
You can fight and do your damnedest or just send the lady out,"
Came the echo of the Gringo Pistolero.

Bandit rifles down the canyon to the left and to the right,
Fearful eyes that watch and waited till the falling of the light,
Angry cutthroats who ignore the weeping lady on the floor,
And through the back door came the Gringo Pistolero.

Big Colt autos spitting thunder death at everything that moved,
Flashing lightning in the jacal long and narrow,
Ending hate and greed and cruelty with final flying truth
From the sure hand of the Gringo Pistolero.

One hot and smoking pistol dropped down empty in the dirt
And another flashed like magic from inside the Gringo's shirt,
And the lead storm never stopped 'til there was no one left unhurt,
But the lady and the Gringo Pistolero.

Word is spread to Ojinaga where the Conchos tumble down
And a man's death can come swifter than an arrow,
That although the law can be empty words until justice could be found,
For no border stopped the Gringo Pistolero.

And the old wives tell how Juan's bride came back beautiful and fair,
Lived happily through children and years of silver hair,
But the young girls said that Otero did not treat her well back there
So she left him for the Gringo Pistolero.



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[shafter]

That's what I call being loaded for bear. Pancho Villa has nothing on you. You certainly have a creative mind Bill. The pictures are nice and clear too!

 

[IDAHOMIKE]

Fascinating sir! I have attempted to build myself shoulder rigs on a few occasions, we will more I say attempted. I could see where yours could be pretty dang handy, good work.

 

[Bill Akins]

Thanks Shafter and IdahoMike, glad y'all like it. I'm very happy with how it turned out.



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[seeker_two]

Nice rig, Bill. You could probably even conceal that with a long suitcoat and a wide necktie. I'd just stay away from deep bodies of water, though.....

 

[Bill Akins]

Even if you could, I didn't make it for concealment. It would be pretty hard to realistically conceal those two big flap bulging holsters and grips even under a long coat. The wide tie might cover the buckle but you still have the bulge of the holster problem. But again, it was only meant for open carry. It does a real good comfortable job of that both being up and out of the way of everything.



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