"HOLSTER FREUND & BROS TOOLED SLIM JIM FOR COLT POCKET REVOLVER. Fine early holster, 9-1/4" overall length in the California Slim Jim style with sewn back edge and a Cheyenne plug with belt loop on the back secured with three copper harness rivets. Body of holster, which is for a 6" pocket model 1849 Colt percussion revolver, is very nicely decorated with tooled open style foliate arabesque patterns and has a small brass plaque near the top that is marked "FREUND & BROS." Belt loop is marked "E L GALLATIN / MAKERS" who was one of Freund's major leather equipment makers. The Freund story is a classical "immigrant makes good" tale. Frank Freund was born in 1837 near Heidelberg, Germany and his brother, George, was born in 1840. By 1856 Frank had completed his gun making apprenticeship in Germany and had journeyed to Austria, France & England to study gun making there also. In 1856 he joined the German Army but soon left and emigrated to America, landing in New York. Frank served in the Union Army the last 18 months of the Civil War and was shortly thereafter joined by his brother, George. By 1866 Frank had established a gun shop in Nebraska city in Eastern Nebraska territory and marked the first recorded appearance of a Freund gun store on the western scene. A while later Frank was joined by George and they followed the tracks west setting up their store at "end of track" and moved each time the railroad advanced. There are numerous pictures and records of the Freunds from Nebraska City and North Platte in Nebraska Territory, Julesberg in Colorado Territory, Cheyenne, Dale City, Laramie City & Bear River City in Wyoming/Dakota Territory. From there on they followed the tracks to Salt Lake City, Corinne & Promintory Point in Utah Territory. After the Golden Spike was driven they returned to Wyoming and established a shop at South Pass City. By 1869 they were established in Denver where they remained for many years and became one of the major outlets for firearms and all sorts of sporting goods for the region. In the meantime they had kept their shop open in Cheyenne and by 1875 had relocated to their "Wyoming Armory" where they became major outfitters for the Black Hills Gold Rush, buffalo hunters & Indian fighters. In 1885 Frank's wife prevailed and he sold his Cheyenne business and moved to New Jersey. He died a broken & disillusioned man at age 73. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Dark & oil stained with crackled surface and a break on the back. The "GALLATIN" mark on the belt loop is mostly legible. There is a small opening in the seam near the toe. 4-32045 JR224 (1,000-2,000)"
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