Mike Craw

Good theory Marine, but I've been making them for 27 years and haven't built one "perfect' yet!!! Mike

If you think he's nice on the phone, you ought to meet him in person. When Carlos and I were at Saddle Week '06, we made the Tour 'd Leather through town, starting with meeting Don King at his saddle museum and ending at Barry's Shop. One of us asked if he made all the tools on site, and he stopped what he was doing and led us on a tour of his machine shop, stopping at each machine to explain how it worked and which tools were made on it. Between answering the phone himself, and leading tours, it's a wonder he gets anything done at all! Mike

Thank You, Johanna, Kate, and anybody else who had anything to do with salvaging our little addiction! Please... Let us know how much financial support this forum is going to need to get back on its feet. Mike

It seems to me that Shop Talk magazine did a thing on taps a couple of months ago, and there were patterns for a few different styles. I won't be going back down to the shop until next week, but I'll check and see if I can find the issue. Mike

I think if there is a leatherworker's heaven, it must look a lot like that!!! Mike

Hey Jordan! I like the molding job around the trigger guard. There doesn't appear to be too much molding in the area of the ejection port, and that's a good thing, since it tends to create drag when drawing the weapon. Speaking of drawing, one of the main points of an efficient combat draw is to gain a good, solid shooting position on the weapon before you start to draw so that you don't have to take time to adjust during or after you clear the holster. From the last photo, it appears that the leather between the belt loop and the trigger guard, on both the front and rear pieces would prevent your middle finger (and therefor your ring and little fingers) from gripping the frame of the pistol correctly. This would cause the shooter to have to stop and reposition or shoot with a less than optimal grip. You can fix this problem by cutting away some of that leather, or redesigning the holster to present the pistol slightly higher, with a little more of the trigger guard exposed. Hope this helps. Mike

Hey Maxx, Greetings from the Golden Isles. Welcome to the board, and I am also looking forward to more photos. Mike

Oh oh, now even my computer is "special"? I'll try the refresh and see what happens. Edit: Just went back and hit the refresh button after the profile view screen went blank, and it worked. I'll leave it to you to figure oout why I'm "special" but I appreciate the help. Mike

I have tried the back button up to six times. I know..."How do you keep and idiot busy..." Since you already know from previous dealings with me that I'm technically challenged, I have no shame in asking - How do I do a "refresh?" Mike

Every time I try to look at a profile, the page starts to appear and then flashes to a blank white screen with the message: <script type="text/javascript" in the upper left corner. Is it something I'm doing? Mike

I'm not an attorney (and I don't play one on TV) but I'd guess that if she sent them to you they were for your use, and sharing them with others for non-commercial purposes doesn't violate the spirit of any laws that I know about. Mike

Hey Rider, Looking back, there were things I wish I hadn't done, things I wish I had done, things I wish I'd done better...but since it was my daughter's wedding present it had to be done. No, it wasn't a stepping stone. It was the best I could do with my talent and time. She doesn't see any of the stuff I see when she looks at it, so what I think really doesn't matter. When you have a wife an two daughters, not much that you think matters. Do the best that you possibly can. Later ones will probably be better but at the time it's your best and that's all that matters. That's my two cents anyway... Mike

Hey Steve, I'm a big fan of Jeremiah Watt's tooling video. It is basic enough for the newest newbie and covers everything up to layout for saddle fenders. I have found that if you can fit a pattern into a saddle fender, most other shapes won't be too challenging. I have been pounding on leather for over 30 years, self taught from books (they didn't even have tape players back then, let alone instructional tapes!) and Watt had a bunch of tips I had never heard of. I have also ordered Pete Gorrell's tooling lay-out book this week, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm really looking forward to getting it, and I'll let you know when it gets here. Mike

Bollsotzx, I would doubt it seriously. The only results I get for Pete on a web search are some references to his Saddle Maker of the Year and the Stolhman Awards. I my brief talks with him at Saddle Week last year and on the phone the other night, I'd say that the telephone about is as, in his own words, "advanced" as he's going to get. Mike

Wow! No wonder your head is spinning. I don't know how you keep all those steps straight! I get the shakes when I put antique on a finished project for fear I'll ruin it. I can't imagine how many test runs you had to do to come up with that routine! The results are amazing. Mike

Tom, Another beautiful job! That gold looks outstanding. Is it paint, or actual gold leaf of some kind? Mike

I called the number you provided yesterday around noon, and left a message. Last evening, Pete called me back and I ordered two copies. He said he'd send them out first thing this morning, and to drop a check in the mail. I offered to give him my credit card number, but he said they weren't that advanced and to just drop him a check when I could. How many people are still trusting enough to do business that way?? Mike P.S. He said he remembered you from class!

I actually tried three or four times, but then I'm kind'a slow with computers. I just tried it off this page and it works fine. Guess the password is admitting your ignorance? Thanks Johanna! Mike

OK, I give up! What was wrong with the first one??? Mike

I just tried to check the calender, while signed in, and got an error message that I didn't have permission to ues it. Am I in time-out for something? Mike

After 30-some years of doing this, I still use a hole punch and cut between for belt slots. I generally use a straight edge between the holes, but I start at one hole and cut about half way, then turn around and start at the other hole and cut back to the original cut. The problem is, if you cut all the way across and into the end hole, as the knife emerges from the leather into the hole, whatever force you were using will cause the blade to shoot across the hole and into the outside...where you didn't want any cuts! Guess how I know that? As far as not knowing what a tool was doesn't make you an idiot. We were all idiots whan we started out, and according to my bride, some of us still are... Semper fi! Mike

Hey Regis, I wouldn't beat myself up over ordering 8/9. Since they are going to be carved, tooled, and molded, 8/9 is a good weight for a duty holster for everyday wear. One thought, based on hard won experience, is that when you get ready to mold the holster to the weapon, only dampen the inside of the front that's tooled, and don't lean too hard on the front or your carving will get mushy. Usually, a good molding on the rear around the triggger guard will be enough to hold the weapon fairly well, even if the thumb break is unfastened. Too much molding around the ejection port, especially on a 1911 A1, will cause drag when it's drawn. Have fun with your projects. A dozen or so should keep you busy. Mike

Great braiding work. I especially like the contrasting colors. But, where'd you get such a big penny? Mike

Hey equipro! As far as magazines go, I think most of us would agree that the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal is the standard nowadays. There were others, but they are no longer in print. LC&SJ has a website: www.leathercraftersjournal.com. In another thread in this same section, Bruce Johnson answered a question for Kristina about a "Waffle Stamp" that covers the really good makers. I won't re-list them all here, but I agree with Bruce about the quality and affordability of Barry King's tools. Now, it's just a question of what kind of stamping you want to do, and how much you want to spend to get started. Good luck, and post some photos of yoiur work once you get started. Mike

The tinfoil underwear worked! Mike