Bedell Rogers of Longview, Texas

[Jim V]

Does anyone have any information on Bedell Rogers from Longview, Texas? He was a holster, belt, ammo carrier, saddle maker who died in the mid 1990's, sometime before '95 I believe. Due to my old 1911 holster addiction and the "curse of eBay", I have bid on one of his "dress" holsters in floral carved black leather. I know his holsters and belts had been a favorite with the Rangers and other lawmen in Tejas and there is at least one roping saddle out there that he made. One of the Texas Rangers that used his leather was/is Glenn Elliott who has retired to Longview.

Any Bedell Rogers information would be nice.

[Jim V]

Well, I got the holster. It is a black floral carved right hand holster for the Government Model Colt (and clones). The holster is lined and the workmanship was/is first rate. It came with an original "Bedell's Saddle Shop" price sticker attached. Original price $7.50. The belt loop is made different than any I'd seen before; it folds down from the top of the holster, passes through a cross strap and is attached with a "Dot" snap. If the snap is un done and the loop removed from the cross strap and then re snapped, the loop would fit a 2 1/2" wide Sam Browne or River belt. I'm not going to mess with how it is now however. As it is not, I'd need a 1 3/4" wide belt as a 1 1/2" belt is too small.

The holster was hand dyed as the black dye does not cover the entire inside of the holster.

I'm still interested in learning more about Mr. Rogers.

[John]

:wl:

You should know by now!

[wichaka]

:wl:

Come on Jim, you ought to know this by now!

Show the belt loop too, I'd like to see the design.

[Jim V]

Okay, I've found a photo host but have no framfrizzle idea how to get the pictures from there to here.

Or I could just email you the pictures (like I did John) and you can look at them that way. :D

[wichaka]

Go ahead email them to me, and I'll put them up for all to admire.......

[Jim V]

I have some information on Mr. Rogers.

From the Longview News-Journal dated 16 October 1914.

"Noted saddlemaker Bedell Rogers dies

Bedell Rogers, Longview saddle maker and leather craftsman, cowboy and rodeo performer, died Saturday at Longview Regional Hospital after suffering from leukemia. He was 80. ..."

He broke horses after school and rode bucking bronchos and bulls in countless rodeos. He also grew up in his father's (Robert Rogers) saddle shop. The elder was Bedell's greatest critic and it wasn't until after he made over 200 saddles that Robert admitted that Bedell had learned his craft well. During the late 1930's Bedell left leather work for a period since he could make more money either boxing or doing rodeos. He got back in the saddle business and his saddles became so popular that he was getting over $1,200 for one. <These were not fancy show saddles, but working cowboy saddles.>

From his obituary dated 17 October 1994, He was born 29 April 1914 and maried Merle Elouise Whitlow in '32. He spent his younger years in Wild Bill's Wild West Show, touring the country putting on rodeos. He later rodeoed professionally for 15 years bull and bronco riding. He rode many that had never ben ridden. An injury ended his bronco riding and he retired to his father's shop, Rogers Leather Craft. He later changed the name to Bedell's Saddle Shop.

He made many saddles and tack for several movie stars, including Tex Ritter, Tom Mix, Ben Johnson and William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy). He was also well known in Texas for his holsters and equipment for lawenforcement personnel including the Texas Rangers. <Now this is something I'd like to know more about> "...Some of his holsters were sent to Germany during World War II. ..."

Since one of the loactions for the shops was across the street from the Gregg County Courthouse, I'd imagine that more than a few sheriff's deputies, city police officers were using Bedell's leather gear.

[wichaka]

Jim, resend those pics as attachments in a .jpg format and I'll get 'em up on the site.

[Jim V]

The photos have been sent. (In several emails since I'm on dial up and I'd still be waiting for them to leave here. LOL)

[gldome]

Does anyone have any information on Bedell Rogers from Longview, Texas? He was a holster, belt, ammo carrier, saddle maker who died in the mid 1990's, sometime before '95 I believe. Due to my old 1911 holster addiction and the "curse of eBay", I have bid on one of his "dress" holsters in floral carved black leather. I know his holsters and belts had been a favorite with the Rangers and other lawmen in Tejas and there is at least one roping saddle out there that he made. One of the Texas Rangers that used his leather was/is Glenn Elliott who has retired to Longview.

Any Bedell Rogers information would be nice. Your holster was modeled on the 1930 Austin hoster originally made for the Texas Rangers by Brill in Austin, Nellie Connally's father. this is duplicated today by El Paso Saddlery.

[Jim V]

Who is/was Nellie Connally? I knew about Brill making holsters, I just don't have one of his in my collection.

[gldome]

She is the wife of the late Governor of texas and former Secretary of the Treasury John Connally.

[Jim V]

Oh. that Connally.

I looked at EPS's web site and their 1930 Austin doesn't look like my Bedell holster. The Austin has a strap that comes around the front of the holster much like a "Mexican Loop" holster for a SAA. The Bedell does not have that kind of strap or loop. It looks like a cross between a Threepersons hoslter and the EPS Austin. No loop around the front but with the trigger guard covered except for a trigger finger cut out. There is no safety strap either.

[TxShooter]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1013529/RogersHolster1.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1013529/RogersHolster2.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1013529/RogersHolster3.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1013529/RogersHolster4.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1013529/RogersHolster5.jpg

[gldome]

After looking at the picture, I have one in my lock box exactly like yours (250 miles away) that fits a Colt M1903 Model M. My uncle carried it as a police administrator in the 40's through the 70's. If I can ever find the key, I will travel down and see if it has a maker name on it. Sorry for the confusion.

[livewire_70]

I was wondering if bedell rogers leather work was worth anything today,i currently own one of his saddles # 133 made in 1962 and is still in excellent condition.Ive looked everywere for information on this with no luck.

[Jim V]

livewire 70, I have no idea what a Bedell saddle would be worth. His daughter tried to keep the shop open after he died but could not. However, from what I've been able to gather, his saddles are still looked for by rodeo riders. Mostly the boys that do the roping of steers.

[John]

Am I the only one who can't see a picture in TxShooter's post?