The cowboy gun holster has a history dating back to the 18th century. Obviously, a recognizable entity for the cowboy established its share of slang and technological names to enrich its unique recognition. Similarly, the pistol holster became associated with the cowboy.
In earlier days, the gun was a major variety of the cowboy print; however, the weapons cowboys possessed were not always carried for the purpose of killing men. There were many other uses for guns with cowboys other than using them for the purpose of killing people.
There were a lot of sticky points regarding cowboy guns, like how the gun should never be used against a man who didn’t have a gun to fight against. Since carrying a weapon was part of the cowboy’s need for his life. It became necessary to have a gun holster to hold the gun, thus the term cowboy gun holster gained recognition in slang. A good cowboy gun holster would allow the gun to be removed from the holster with very little movement.
The old-style holster used during the civil war had a small loop that attached to the back for a belt to go through; however, with this type of holster it was difficult to draw the weapon. There were models of holsters that were created with a flap that was buttoned above the pistol grip.
The Texas holsters came much later and were held quite firmly against the side of the person carrying the gun. This design allowed the user to pick up the weapon much faster than on older models. This particular scabbard was tied along the leg with a leather thong or cord. This was done to prevent the gun from slipping when it was finally drawn.
There were gun holsters that were open at the bottom in a way that allowed a gun with a long barrel to stick out a few inches. This was actually meant to favor leaning and firing of an “old hip firing method” but this is highly impractical and a made up story.
The most practical pistol holster is the style worn by officers working to keep the peace. This particular holster was designed in a way that allowed the finger to be placed on the trigger and the thumb to reach for the hammer and then tilt the gun forward a bit and it was possible to draw the gun quite freely and point it at the target instantly; the fastest draw from the holster.
Remember, there are plenty of gun-free places where the person with a gun can be convicted of coming across firearms. Federal buildings and post offices are strictly prohibited from trespassing with weapons, even if you have a license. The same applies to courts and schools. Before you walk around with your gun in a holster, understand what the law says.