Page 137 - 4091-BOOK2

LOT 1173
Desirable Billings, Montana, W.B. Ten Eyck “Mexican Loop” Colt Single Action Army Holster and Cartridge/Money Belt - Manufactured c. 1886-1900
in Billings, Montana, by W.B. Ten Eyck, one of the more scarce Western saddle and holster makers. Ten Eyck was born in Pennsylvania in 1858, traveling westward
in the 1880s, he originally found work in a Miles City, Montana, saddle and tack shop before moving to Billings and establishing his own shop in 1886. Like most holster makers in the American West, Ten Eyck specialized in saddles first and foremost, for which his shop gained a notable reputation. This example shows
the eye-catching, framed “W.B. TEN EYCK/Billings M.T.” maker’s mark on the
outer surface of the holster as well as the belt billet. This holster was very clearly originally manufactured and paired with this belt as it is riveted to the belt with
the same copper rivets used on the holster loop. The is sized for a 4 3/4 inch Colt Single Action Army revolver, with single “Mexican Loop”, light border tooling, and an open toe. There is a single row of cartridge loops on the belt that appear to accommodate .44 or .45 caliber cartridges, a small opening for storing money near the buckle, and the buckle is iron. The rig is oriented for a right handed shooter. The belt is 3 3/4 inches wide and approximately 40 inches long.
CONDITION: Very fine overall with some mild wear and handling evidence typical of use on the Western Frontier, some scattered age-cracking, and almost all of the stitching remaining tight. This is a very fine example of a holster rig from one of the American West’s rarer makers!
Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
135