Brothers Gilbert H. and John S. Collins first set up their saddle and leather goods making and wholesaling business in Omaha, Nebraska in 1864, but quickly discovered that many of their goods were more popular further west. From 1872 to 1876, John served as the post trader at Fort Laramie, expanding their business to Cheyenne in the Wyoming Territory. This example, bearing the Cheyenne marking, was likely made during that time. This particular example is pictured and described on p. 108 of "Packing Iron: Gunleather of the Frontier West" by Rattenbury. It is made of brown saddle skirt leather in the "Mexican Loop" style with a tooled border and the maker's mark/address stamped on the front in a unique monogram within a shield format. The inside of the holster is lined with buckskin and it has a teardrop toe plug. The top retention loop on the holster is faintly marked "44C", and it appears that the holster will accommodate a Colt Single Action Army with a 5 1/2 inch barrel. The holster is paired with a J.S. Collins marked (marking on the billet) belt with single row of cartridges loops of .44/.45 caliber size and a money pocket near the buckle, which is iron and appears to have once been silvered or blued. The wide belt has the earlier Collins dual mark measures approximately 43 1/2 inches overall. Provenance: The John Fox Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Very fine, showing generally light to mild wear overall, some scattered very light age related cracking, and all of the stitching appearing to remain tight. This early J.S. Collins holster and money belt rig is a superb example of the iconic Western Frontier gun rig which would be a welcome addition to any collection representing the American West!