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made
my first holster in 1974 when a bunch of old buddies and I were helping
out Phil Spangenberger of Guns & Ammo put on a wild west show at
the Great Western Gun Show. The show featured a cool wild west
demonstration with everything from Cavalry charges to the reenactment
of the O.K. Corral Gunfight. I still have that holster I made for that
skit. I played Ike Clanton and we put this show on twice a day during
the weekend gun show.
We continued the shows,
reenacting the Civil War up at Fort Tejon and eventually started a Custer
period cavalry group. This is really where I got into making leather goods.
I had been making other leather tooled items for fun, but found making
historical reproductions was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about the Old
West and our nations history.
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thoughts go back to our cavalry troop meetings where we all sat around in the evenings
making sets of 1870 reproduction saddlebags. We'd get together in my front
room and stitch saddlebags by hand. During that time we reproduced a complete
1870 period cavalry uniform, including carbine sling, Custer period bridal
and bit and a set of saddlebags. Our group was Company I of 7th U.S. Cavalry.
Fun times! It was during these times that I started to learn about original
makers F.A. Meanea, S.C. Gallup, R.T. Frazier and H.H. Heiser Saddlery.
These old companies built beautiful hand made leather goods that still rival
goods made today. We continued the gunfighter group doing gunfight shows
and parades.
 One
time we even got paid $5.00 an hour each at the Old Town Mall in
Torrance for putting on a show. The five of us would split up and wonder
through the mall all dressed up with guns on! Imagine doing that today!
We would start shooting at each other and lead the people to the food court at
the other end of the mall. We were supposed to get people in the mall
to follow us down to the new food court. I would then get shot off the upstairs
level tumble down and be dragged out through the food court and out the
front door.
I've always loved
the Cowboy Lifestyle and the Old West. When Cowboy Action Shooting
came along I couldn't wait to make a rig and go shooting. The designs
we manufacture today are the accumulation of those years of learning and
historical knowledge of the Old West.
s
active SASS & CMSA members and riding shooters, our goal was to produce a rig that
looked original but was designed specifically for Cowboy Action Shooting.
We take advantage of the modern leather tanning processes and buy most of
our leather from Hermann Oak in St Luis. They have been in business
since the 1880's and many feel are the undisputed best holster leather made.
It is also the only leather that gives that oil tan finish that still remains
our most popular finish over the last 10 years.
I hope we've done
a good job in letting you know how much we enjoy making gun leather. My
son Chad Shelhart now assists me in the business and is also one
of the owners. He too shares my love of the Old West. My old friend Jesse
Manibog use to say, "Shelhart you were born a hundred years too
late!" Well maybe he was right! We will continue to make products
for collectors, cowboy action shooters and sportsman.
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recently have developed our new antiqued look and are working on a few other
new ideas. If you' re in the market for a holster, saddle, belt, cuffs,
spur straps, shotgun pouch or saddlebags give us a call, we do Motorcycle
saddlebags and chaps too. We'll continue to make our products the absolutely
best way we know how! We will not compromise quality no matter what. We
will continue to use modern methods and best leather hides, this truly is
a labor of love. You have my personal guarantee that if you are not completely
satisfied, we'll make it until we get it right!. We make great products
at a great price. It's not a holster—it's an image. Let us create one for
you!
—Mike
Shelhart
AKA
I.M. Riggs
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