Go2Tex

They must be busy, because every time I call I get a recording and just leave my order in a message. No call back to confirm, nothing. I either get my order in a few days or never. I wait a week or so, and if it doesn't arrive, I have to play phone tag. I guess I could use email.... or smoke signals.

So plating or holstering is the same as tempering. That does explain why some spit leather is so hard to cut.

Thanks for the invite. I will definitely have to do that. Would love to see your shop and talk leatherwork.

I've been using W&C for years, mainly for their drum dyed skirting and for the most part have been fairly satisfied. Occasionally things go wrong but they always are very good about making it right. Of course, this take time and time is money. I waited for several weeks for some brown skirting last year. I forget how long it took, but it was very unusual for them. I don't know if it was the change in ownership a few years back or what, but I've noticed a change in the quality of the leather. It's not as consistent. I started noticing raw untanned areas which never happened before. More fat wrinkles, too. And the price just keeps going through the freaking roof! That's probably the devalued dollar and government over-regulation. My biggest complaint about W&C is their phone answering system. Instead of just connecting you to the next available sales person, they give you all their extentions to pick from and you have no idea who is actually even in the office. I want to talk to a live human being, tell him what I want and get some indication of which century I can expect to get my order. How damned hard is that? Right now I'm looking for some really premium latigo. Not that flimsy veg tanned stuff, but the waxy, retan firm stuff Weaver used to sell. Their Chahin is ok but not quite as nice. I tried their Hermann Oak latigo for some tie straps, and I had a long time customer actually send it back to me! She had noticed the difference right off the bat. Not good.

Is the leather drum dyed? I have had problems with my knife dragging on drum dyed leather and found that frequent swipes on my strop board takes care of the problem.

I saw this saddle on Ebay and was kinda blown away by it. I can't imagine how they did it, unless the swell piece is actually several pieces nailed on separately. The horn looks to be simply plated and engraved. Any silver experts care to comment? Just curious, as I have no intention of trying any of this.

Ah, Ok. So, what looks like a thumbprint is just the knife width at the start of the cut? It's hard to tell from the picture. They are so uniform. Dang! Now I am impressed. And really demoralized. Thanks.

I have had similar problems that totally ruin a piece. I believe it is usually associated with cold temps in the shop, like during the winter. If either the antique or the sealer freezes, some bad things happen. I believe the antique separates and the dye is able to penetrate the sealer. Maybe, sometimes I don't get a good even seal. I use a piece of sponge to apply the sealer and sometimes it just doesn't get the job done. Maybe I don't let it set long enough and it isn't fully cured before applying the antique. That is when the neighbor kids get exposed to a few new words..... not to mention the deer that go high tailin' it.

Congrats on your entry to the Trappings. It's by invitation, right? Juried, or something like that? Yeah, I'm still waiting for that call...... I'm not even on their mailing list. It kinda looks like you added some thumbprint stamps to the finger carving? Nice touch. Very very nice work. Inspirational, as usual. Thanks for sharing.

I had the same problem with some thick harness sticking to my needle and lifting. Try some veg tan. It will also happen if you try to stitch wet leather.

Actually, you can buy them that way. Hansens Silver has them. I think most are brazed, rather than merely soldered. Brazing is like welding, but the temperature is less and does not melt the metals being joined. This is better for something like a silver concho.

Thanks.

Yup. Fresh as a newborn baby.

Wow! Now them's some chaps! Lotta work in those babies.

You better hope you don't need more than 2 rounds from that piece in a bad guy. If you did, his name would probably be Griz.

One can only hope.

If worn just behind the point of the hip, where I would wear a concealed holster, it would take a gorrilla length arm and/or a much smaller belly to reach around with the left hand and grab that magazine. But, to each his own.... It looks really nice.

gulp....

Excellent work! Looks very sharp. One issue comes to mind on the design. Since the holster is being carried on the right hip, how convenient is the placement of a spare magazine on the right side? Think about how one reloads a semi-auto pistol.....

Target sights on a pocket gun makes little sense to begin with, but since that's what you have to work around, it seems to me that you have little choice but to either have the sights dig into the person carrying it, or perhaps catch on the lip of the holster. I think the compromise comes down on the side of comfort for most applications. Obviously, the client is not one to be using this gun "on duty", so the fact that the sights might present a problem with holstering is of less concern. Concealment appears to be the ultimate concern of this user, (e.g. IWB), so I would attempt a design that would protect the sights but not leave them open. Just my thoughts....

Indeed! Classic style holster for a classic handgun. Gotta love it.

I wonder what the horse thinks about that "treeless" saddle?.......

Sorry for not responding to this comment sooner. I just noticed it. But, anyhow, thanks for the compliment.

Well, whatever it's made of, it looks down right comfy! ... a hell-of-a marketing idea. I can see it now....

Yep, rosin would seem to be the best answer..... but I came up with this one instead: