We are really excited about our new blacksmith here at Chisholm’s Trail. We have upgraded our steel at no increase to our customers. The fit, finish, and price are on the par with any knife maker on the net.

First is our new 6″ Bowie. It comes in both our “Drifter, Ranger, and Drover” styles and we can arrange just about any other sheath for it. The metal is (D~2) tool steel and the edge is perfect for cutting a T-bone steak or skinning a deer. We have left the anvil slag on the sides and polished it just enough to not be rough. It looks very frontier. The brass guards come from our partner foundry and are not made from melted down Chineese artillery shells. The handle material is American stag in both the hidden and full tang styles.

Our next Bowie knife is 7″ and is made from the same rockwell hardness (D ~ 2) steel. The blade is a bit thicker and like its brother it is made to use on the trail or in the wilderness. We make this knife for our “Buffalo Hunter” sheath but can adjust our patterns to make any sheath fit. To get a closer look at any of our knifes just click on the photos on the knife page and the image will come in much larger for you to see.

We have had a lot of requests for a replica of Val Kilmer’s gambler dagger in “Tombstone.” To coincide with the second printing of Peter Sherayko’s classic book “Tombstone- guns and gear,” we have reintroduced this dagger and sheath. However, instead of synthetic, our new handle is Ivory colored bone. This is not a toy, but a serious knife built to last. This is the only location to get this knife unless you want to contact the original maker Chuck Stapel. He will be glad to make one for you too.

Many of our customers are looking for something different. According to  them, spear point knives are hard to find so we are reintroducing our spear point Bowie. This one is similar to the George Wostenholm knives of the old west. We use high carbon steel in the six inch blades and they are deeply stamped “Chisholm’s Trail.” The handles are all aged Sambar Stag and there is a small oval plaque for engraving if you desire. Both edges are sharp and we can adjust any sheath to fit this knife.

These knives are all in stock and ready for us to make the sheath you want for them. Don’t forget if you have a knife of your own but want a better sheath we can fix that problem also. We hope you will take the time to view not only our knife button, but all the other authentic historical reproductions we have to offer. Remember if you don’t see what you want, give us a call and we might be able to make it. Have a great summer.

MARSHAL BILL TILGHMAN

MARSHAL BILL TILGHMAN

We are big fans of this actor here at Chisholm’s Trail and really enjoyed the movie “You Know My Name.” This made for TV western in 1999 brought to the screen the final chapter of Marshal Bill Tilghman’s  life. Matt Braun wrote the novel “One Last Town,” which this movie was based on.

Early in his career Bill was acquainted with other lawmen such as Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson, and Wyatt Earp. As a deputy US Marshal, Tilghman made his career bringing law and order to the Indian Territory. He became one of the famous “Guardsman” of Oklahoma. This included Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen.

Tilghman also tried his hand at movies in 1915, when he co-wrote, directed, and starred in the western “The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws.” (if any of you reading this post know where I can obtain a copy of this film ~ please contact me). Tilghman continued to wear a Western Leather Holster his entire career.

When Bill was 70 in 1924 he was convinced to take the position as marshal of Cromwell, Oklahoma and clean up the out of hand criminal element. It was surprising to me that cocaine and heroin were as available as cigarettes at that time.

On November 1, 1924 he was shot by a corrupt Prohibition Agent by the name of Wiley Lynn. What most folks don’t know is that he was dying of terminal cancer at the time and kept his pistol in his vest pocket because his Western Leather Holster and gun belt hurt him so much to buckle on.

BILL TILGHMAN'S BUCKLE

We owe a debt of gratitue to current Deputy Marshal Steve Carson for encouraging us to research the life and locations in which Bill Tilghman served. We found that the folks that made the movie had interviewed many of the same people we did. The rig Sam Elliott wore in the move was as correct as research can prove. We have diligently tried to reproduce this holster, gun belt, and buckle for your enjoyment.

Donna and Alan, Owners of Chisholm’s Trail found Bill’s working Colt Single Action Army in the Davis Historical Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma. It was a plain blue 5 1/2″ barrel gun with faded cocoa brown checkered factory grips in caliber 38.40, with a serial number of 235639. Tilghman’s fancy (BBQ) gun we found in the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas. The curators were kind enough to remove this gun from display and allow Alan To examine and hold it. The pistol is a beautiful, engraved, nickel plated, mother of pearl stocked Colt Single Action.

DON’T FORGET THE BOOKS

TOMBSTONE ~ The guns & Gear

TOMBSTONE- THE GUNS & GEAR

Books are one of life’s greatest pleasures. I am not a kindle or computer book reader fan. I suppose it is comming that way and books will be stopped or burnt or something like that. So I will continue to collect as many as I can on the old west. Many are going out of print within a few years of publication. It is rare that one is reprinted and thank goodness “Tombstone – the guns and gear” is one. Originally published in 2004 by Peter Sherayko, it is now back in print in 2010. Who knows how long it will last. Get one today.

Peter provided most of the guns and gun leather for this classic western move with Kurt Russell as Waytt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Chisholm’s Trail has used this book like a bible of correct gun leather for years and has been fortunate enough to develop a friendship with Sherayko. He has often assisted us with the correct patterns for the gun leather from the movie “Tombstone.” See our Western Movie button to purchase gun leather like the movie. The book TGG is available from us for $74.95 “signed by Sherayko”, including shipping and handling.

PACKING IRON

PACKING IRON - GUNLEATHER OF THE OLD WEST

If there is one book you buy, make it “Packing Iron.” This is the ONLY indepth study of American Western cowboy gun leather in existance. The author Richard Rattenbury, is a personal friend and the curator of The National Cowboy Museum, in Oklahoma City. We have visited this museum numerous times and have actually examined many of the holsters in this book.

If you would like a holster from this book just contact Chisholm’s Trail Leather and let us know which one. This is a hardcover  you should own and we have it for $55 including shipping and handling.

GUNS OF THE AMERICAN WEST

This is the most recent book released by Dennis Adler. Dennis is a prolific writter of the American West. He is also a contributor to many books and magazines such as the Harris Publication “Guns of the Old West.” This magazine is available for less than $20 on line and we recommend it highly for both historians and cowboy shooters. Adler is a good friend of ours and we received one of the first copies of this book. It has tremendous coverage of the guns and gun leather that went west and the famous outlaws and lawmen that went with them. Dennis asked us to contribute to the “Billy the Kid” chapter and you can view our gun leather on those pages. Also our famous “Cleaned Up” photo of William Bonney aka Billy the Kid.

Often our customers are our best resources. We were contacted by the fellow that currently owns Pat Garrett’s holster and he was nice enough to share photos with us. You will have to buy the book to see it. If you would like any of our Billy the Kid or Pat Garrett gun leather just contact Chisholm’s Trail Leather. This hardcover book is another must for your collection. Available from us for $39.95 including shipping ahd handling.

Finally after several months of continued research we have been able to reproduce more new buckles.

Quigley

After viewing all of his westerns we noticed that in most of them from the “Shadow Riders” on, including “Quigley” he favored wearing the same style pant belt buckle. Being a stickler for authenticity he did not wear the pant belt with belt loops. We were lucky enough to obtain an identical buckle to cast our replica from.

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Pale Rider Preacher

Next is our “Pale Rider” buckle. You will remember the gun belt the Preacher wore  that held two cylinders. That buckle was tall and narrow. Once again we obtained a movie prop duplicate to cast from.

When you can, take the time to view our expanding “Buckle and Jewelry” button and see our line of historical and western movie buckles.

RED RIVER D BUCKLE

Please enjoy looking over the photos on this site. Notice the various types of edge stamping, holster and belt designs so you have an idea if what you might want when you call. You may “click” on any photo to view an enlarged photo. Our special focus is on clean neat even stitching and smooth finished edges. You can call and leave a message any time, but we are available most evenings. Saturday we will be in the shop working on your holster and gun belt. We believe in the personal touch and will enjoy discussing any new project or design with you. If we have not made it before we will make it anyway. I’ve lost count, but I know we have over 150 different patterns for the Old West gear we make and are adding new ones each week. I hope you will enjoy owning one of these contemporary originals as much as we do making them. If your order is other than what we have in stock, then it will be a special order. Please allow 18 weeks for assembly and delivery for these custom orders.