Period Pistol Holster

[Sir Beachem Quick]

Flintlock Holster

For those who may be interested.

[John_Flint]

Yarr!

Such a beautiful thing I ne'r did see before

[HarborMaster]

Gotcha.,

[blackjohn]

Except... the existing pirate holsters recovered from the wreck of the Whydah are not like these. The Whydah holsters cover the entire length of the pistol.

[Tall Paul]

Except... the existing pirate holsters recovered from the wreck of the Whydah are not like these.  The Whydah holsters cover the entire length of the pistol.

I was going to ask what the provanence for pistol holsters like this was. After all, belt hooks seem to be the preferred method for carrying pistols in a maritime context during this period of history, and in pictures from this time, they are nothing more than anonymous loops of leather on the cartrige box strap.

But, I guess that this answers my question.

Do you have any pictures of the Whydah holsters, BlackJohn?

Also, what size pistol were the holsters for? I suspect that belthooks were used on bigger pistols, whilst holsters were more suitable for smaller, Queen Anne type pistols. But this is just a supposition, so surviving holsters would help to support or disprove this theory.

[blackjohn]

[blackjohn]

http://www.piratebrethren.com/whydah/Whyda...h_Pistol_2.jpeg

That's one of the pics I have, kindly supplied to me by the folks at the Whydah. I should have some more somewhere, pics I took myself. If memory serves, this particular pistol is the one with the silk ribband wrapped around it. It's in a leather holster. And I believe the holster is lined with linen. I seem to recall they had at least one or two more sitting in tanks being preserved.

As you can see from the ruler, this is a decent sized pistol.

[Tall Paul]

Thanks for that BlackJohn, very interesting.

It is a pity that there isn't more detail in the photograph.

From what I can make out, the construction is very similar to that of Cavalry saddle holsters from the same period. Is there any sort of belt loop on the back?

Are there any plans to publish an arceological report with line drawings? and if so, When?

[Story]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/artic...d_feature.shtml

Blackbeard's baldrick, 2nd photo in article

[Cut-throat]

Here's another of Blackbeard

[Cut-throat]

Here's another. It's hard to make out the pistols but they're there, hanging from the front of his baldric.

[Gentleman of Fortune]

So far, I have resisted the temptation to say

"Which Period?"

in reply to this thread.

Sadly, I cannon hold back any longer.

Greg aka GoF

[Tall Paul]

If we are talking about The Whydah, I would think that we would be circa 1717. At any rate, the Golden Age of Pyracy, ie the last decade of the 17th Century, and the first 20 years of the 18th Century would be a fair bet.

[blackjohn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/artic...d_feature.shtml

Blackbeard's baldrick, 2nd photo in article

Wow, they had cameras during the Golden Age of Piracy!!! I had no idea!

Again, what's the provenance of these? As fas as I'm concerned, they've just copied a bad pirate reenactor cliche.

[blackjohn]

Here's another. It's hard to make out the pistols but they're there, hanging from the front of his baldric.

This is exactly what I believe the Whyhad holsters are like - a little leather bucket sewn to a baldric.

[blackjohn]

Here's another of Blackbeard

Again, more of the same, a full-length holster covering the pistol.

[Cpt. Alva]

I absolutely love how so many people claim Blackbeard as their own.....

Bristol claims him because he was born there

North Carolina claims him because he died there

Virginia Claims him because he lived there

he truly is a worldly pirate!

[Captain Midnight]

Aye, Blackbeard truly belongs to all who love him... :)

[John_Flint]

Arrgh! I want one O' them things!

[blackjohn]

I want a correct one.

[The Doctor]

I found these, but they're still an adaptation of cavalry pistol buckets.

[blackjohn]

Oooohhh, Jack... now we are getting somewhere! Those are very interesting.

[The Doctor]

I've bought almost all of my kit's leather goods from Dorsett House, and I've been impressed with every item. :)

[Story]

Considering the number of horse pistols that saw nautical service, here's some pommel holsters

http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/...ler_pistols.jpg

[Captain Midnight]

I want a correct one.

Me too. I think the closest to correct and the best (in my opinion) shown so far are the pommel holsters Story has posted. I wouldn't think it unfathomable to have such holsters (or at least one, which is probably what I will end up doing) attached to a baldric. Don't know if it was done, but they certainly would have had the baldric, as well as that type of holster available to them, so it seems reasonable at least, what with no real conclusive evidence as to how they were carried...