Rig for Colt 1878 DA

Circa 1880’s

A very cool antique holster and money belt. This rig for Colt 1878 DA consists of a maker marked money belt and an unmarked holster for a Colt with a 7 ½” barrel.

THE HOLSTER is a double loop with a slim jim style pouch and a large (6″ wide) skirt. It’s constructed of heavy textured harness leather and is dark brown in color – it has not been oiled. There is one small tear at the top of the pouch at the back near the hammer area and one small hole above that. Probably for a hammer strap. The holster is in very good condition, showing all the original stitching that is good and solid, with no damage or losses to the leather.

THE BELT is a money belt, 3” wide x 35” long, with 37 cartridge loops for .44 caliber bullets, as shown in the photos. It is maker marked “WYETH HDW & MFG CO, St Joseph. MO” and “44” on the tongue chape. The original buckle shows about half its nickel finish and the buckle chape is marked “941 35”. The tongue has been trimmed short.  However, the rest of the belt shows no damage or changes. All the original stitching is solid and intact as well. The belt shows the same textured leather and color as the holster. Also in good to very good condition.

History

Wyeth Hardware & Manufacturing Co. was established in St Joseph, MO in the 1840’s. They were a catalog store and continued in business into the early 1950’s. They made the mochilas (saddle packs for mail) for the Pony Express eastern divisions in 1860. Buffalo Bill Cody owned a Wyeth HDW cartridge money belt and is in the Julia Cody Goodman Collection and is pictured in “Buffalo Bills Wild West”, (page 11) by R.L. Wilson and Greg Martin.

A great looking rig from a famous maker in St Joe, the gateway to the western frontier.

**1878 Colt and .44 caliber cartridges in photos not included.

Clarks Antiques – Antique Gun Leather – Rig for Colt 1878 DA – Price $1,650.00

Item #1792

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