Manufactured c. late 1870s to early 1880s, this is a desirable holster rig of the "Slim Jim" or "California" pattern, which were popular around the time the iconic Colt Single Action Army revolver burst onto the scene. This style of holster was popular for a couple decades prior to the release of the Single Action Army, but did not stay in fashion long before being usurped by the "Mexican Loop" styles, making surviving examples such as this very scarce. A very similar example to this one is pictured on p. 91 of "Packing Iron: Gunleather of the Frontier West" by Rattenbury. The holster shows tooled rosettes, a floral border, is marked "45" on the belt loop, and has a sewn in toe. It is configured for a right handed shooter and will accommodate a revolver with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. Included with the holster is a 2 inch wide cartridge belt with a single row of .44/.45 caliber loops and a California clipped nickeled buckle. The belt is hand marked very faintly with a name and "Denver/Colo." on the front near the billet. It measures 41 1/4 inches overall including the billet.

Very good, the holster showing moderate wear, some minor age cracking, some scuffs, and some of the tooling softened. The cartridge belt is also fine with some light age cracking, some minor scuffs, and the buckle billet a later replacement. A desirable holster from early in the period of the legendary Colt Single Action Army revolver!