The classic image of the westerner is generally depicted with a loosely hung cartridge belt and a Mexican Loop holster

The advent of the metallic cartridge brought about major changes in the design and construction of gunleather. Now, a ready supply of cartridges could be carried on one's person, rather than having to carry a separate container with the loose powder and ball and caps. Almost immediately after the introduction of practical, big-bore ammunition came the practice of packing extra cartridges on the waist belt in fitted leather loops--the first true "gun belt." However, it was quickly discovered that a new type of holster would be needed. The small belt loops on the slim-lined scabbards of the percussion age didn't fit over these bulkier, wider belts of those toting the new "cartridge" sixguns.

Making a larger loop on the back of the California-style scabbards wasn't enough, since a narrow loop on the back side of the holster would cause the holstered pistol to hang loosely at the side, flopping around uncomfortably. The answer to the problem was solved during the mid-1870s, in a simple, rather ingenious way.

Called the "Mexican Loop" holster, the design most likely came from northern Mexico or the American Southwest. While maintaining the general lines of the California pattern holster--with a slender, contoured main seam, recurved throat and triggerguard area--this new arrangement differed in that it consisted of a single piece of leather that formed the scabbard, backing and retaining loops.

The Mexican Loop design features the traditional holster portion sewn shut vertically. However, the top, back side of this pouch is not cut off--rather, it has been pattern-cut to form a skirt backing, then folded over and down horizontally behind itself. This forms both a belt loop and a skirt between the body of the wearer and the holster itself. The backing has two or more slots cut into it (depending on design and length) through which the scabbard portion is passed, creating skirt loops that hold the body of the holster to the skirt backing. This design created a wide upper loop through which the cartridge belt could pass, securing the holster firmly in place, while the skirt loops helped to keep the pouch portion from riding up when drawing the weapon.

While most loop holsters utilized skirt loops that were simply cut into the backing, a number of them--predominantly those manufactured in Texas and Montana--employed loops that were separately sewn or riveted. Some of these loops were fashioned as straight or curved cuts. Some were shaped with scalloped edges, but regardless of style or embellishment, they remained an integral part of the loop holster's functional design.

Early scabbards were turned out with a tear-drop-shaped toe plug that helped maintain the holster's shape in the lower portion of the sheath. Later versions either left the toe open or continued the main seam closure through the toe area. Generally, the skirt backings of the first loop holsters extended only halfway down the pouch, while later-produced sheaths usually featured three-quarter to full-length skirts.

Following the metamorphosis of the California holster, the Mexican Loop holster of the early 1880s went from being a scabbard fitted to a particular model gun to a gently tapered pouch with a semi-contoured main seam. The newer version was so produced to enable a single holster to conform to a number of large-framed revolvers, rather than each sheath being cut for a given model. This gave most gun rigs of this breed a similar appearance. Nevertheless, some Mexican Loop holsters became identified with specific regions.

The "Cheyenne" loop holster, created in the early years of the breed by such regional saddlers as F. A. Menea, E.L. Gallatin and possibly J.S. Collins, is identified by its contoured main seam, fashioned with a slight bulge between the skirt loops to hold the scabbard portion in place while the sixgun is being drawn. Regardless of vintage, the Cheyenne-style holsters are nearly always encountered with the sewn-in toe plug. Occasionally called a "Cheyenne" plug, cowhands of the great plains felt that besides helping keep the holster's shape, this addition was also an aid in preventing the gun's barrel from being clogged with snow--a problem not to be overlooked on the northern ranges. The Cheyenne holster remained popular well into the 20th century and enjoys renewed interest today.

Down Texas way, another unique variation of the Mexican Loop holster appeared in the late 1890s. Given the moniker "Texas Jockstrap" holster, the most prominent features of the form were a gently tapered pouch-type scabbard, coupled with a large T-shaped loop or collar, that actually held its pouch securely at each side as well as at the bottom. This "Jockstrap" was actually a separate piece of leather, affixed to the skirt via rivets--although in a few instances, a full pocket was stitched to the skirt. Saddlers H.A. Holtzer of Llano and S.D. Myers of Sweetwater, Texas, are among the craftsmen credited with originating this holster style. The Texas Jockstrap loop holster enjoyed a modicum of popularity until sometime in the 1940s.

Left, a simple catalog-purchased, pouch-style with embossed border designs and rawhide main seam lacing. The Charles Swope, Montrose, Colorado, border-stamped scabbard (right) has harness spots and heart-shaped conchos attached by its owner.

By the time of the introduction of the Mexican Loop holster, the trend in gunleather adornment had already shifted from the heavily carved floral motifs to simpler, border-stamped designs. Sometimes a stamped rosette or geometric motif might be added on the upper portion of the scabbard. The maker's cartouche was frequently stamped in this spot or on one of the loops. Some were worked into the central portion of a floral embellishment, thus disguising it to some degree.

While border-stamping accounted for the greatest number of loop holsters throughout the period of the Mexican Loop holster's greatest prominence (1880-1920), by the 1880s, the more elaborate floral carved versions could again be found in fair numbers. However, the handwork on these sheaths would generally be contained within a pattern-stamped border, rather than the simple-lined edge so prominent in the percussion age. Holsters from south of the Rio Grande were often decorated with embroidery. This delicate work was accomplished with fibers from indigenous plants as well as silken or metallic threads and included such designs as the Mexican eagle and snake motif, geometric and Aztec patterns along with floral interpretations.

Around the mid-to-late 1880s, basket stamping made its appearance on holsters. Within a few years, improvements in leather working equipment brought about inexpensive machine stamped and rolled-on border designs, embossed floral work, fish scale, basket stamping and other full-coverage embellishments. By the turn of the century, new ways of adorning gunleather was getting the attention of saddlers in both eastern as well as western states. Alternatives to the stamped or carved scabbards included laced-on conchos, nickeled brass studs (called harness spots) that either simply bordered the rigs or virtually covered them, and main seams and borders sewn with contrasting rawhide thongs. Before the first couple of decades of the 20th century had passed, the loop holster could be had in more configurations and with a greater array of decoration than any other gun rig in history.

Although some loop holsters were produced for automatics, it is the western revolver that this gunleather form is most associated with. From its early years of packing iron on the frontier through the action-packed western films of Hollywood to the gun ranges of today's cowboy action shooters, the loop holster says "cowboy" in any language.