K-Man

PM sent.

John: PM sent.

Nice job on the holsters, peterk. Keep up the good work. A great number of the top-end custom holster makers that make holsters for concealed carry use leather that is split to 7 or 7.5 oz for their IWB or OWB holsters. The use/application of sound techniques allow for the durability and function of the holster. When you buy your leather and it's split/advertised as being 8/9 oz, you're really getting leather that ranges in thickness of 7.5 oz to 9.5 oz. Two layers of 9.5 oz out in the "wing" area of a holster is exceptionally thick - too thick for comfort and function. Utilizing leather in the 7/7.5 oz range provides for more than adequate function and durability and you can easily mold it for detail.

We moved to a new location not long ago and are still getting things arranged and set up. Moving all of that equipment, etc., and getting it set up to function again is not a lot of fun.

This was my shop:

If still available, I'll take the one for the 1 1/2 inch rosette cutter. Send me a PM with payment info, please. Thanks!

Yes, that's what normally is done. But at the same time, if adding exotics, use some artistic flair and think outside the box.

I disagree. The reinforcement is designed to hold the mouth of the holster open once the gun is drawn. It then allows for one-handed reholstering. In some environments/situations, that can be a critical factor. Some of the designs that are made this way do add a great deal more bulk. But for those holster makers who are skilled in that respect, the addition of the reinforcement piece does not add much more in overall thickness. JRB: You're going to have a very hard time handsewing that type of throat reinforcement. Try adding an extra piece on the front side of the holster only.

You're on the right track with respect to the grips. Here's a set we put on a 1911:

The toll free number for Tippmann is 866-286-8046. The number that indypbear posted is an adult chat line.

I use the acrylic finish from Angelus. I dip the holster in the bucket and then "wick" off the excess. I've done approximately 4000+ holsters that way and have never had a problem.

Don't ya just hate it when a competitor (or not) makes a play on words in order to justify their existence? My experience has often been that the cheaply made product is priced higher than my prices for a matching or similar product. Here's what I would do. I'd set up a spot on my website for educating the general public. Show samples of hand-tooled and embossed patterns on leather, include some close up shots of each. Explain briefly, yet succinctly, the differences between the two. Explain how the process is achieved in both instances. If possible, show pics of what embossed leather looks like new, and what it looks like after a couple of years. Huge difference with respect to the durability/maintaining pattern clarity between embossed and expertly hand-tooled leather. Keep your responses on an informational/educational level. That way you're not taking "digs" at the competition. It's likely that you'll aggravate the heck of the competition because you've exposed their scam, but you've done nothing more than educate the customer with information that they could ultimately find out through their own research. Integrity is the name of the game here. There's a ton of businesses/competitors out there who choose not to follow that line - don't be one of them. In this instant case, I'd show the potential customer detailed pics of what your tooled cases exhibit. Tell the customer what type of leather/materials you use, who the artisan is that does the tooling, and encourage them to do some research on those materials and bios. If they've got a lick of sense (and most do), they'll be back to you with the results of their search and ordering one of your cases. Good luck to you.

Bruce: PM sent.

Curved/contoured belts are appealing to women especially. The belt, when worn, flares out along the bottom edge in comparison to the top edge. A straight cut belt digs into their hips more and can cause some amount of discomfort. In addition, the curved belt lays flatter against the side of the waist/body. The curved belts are also common place for buscadero cowboy rigs because they're generally worn further down on the hips, be it a guy or a gal. John Bianchi's video set on making a cowboy rig shows how to create the curve and how to adjust for size. It takes up a lot of space on a side of leather when cutting a belt with the curve, in comparison to slicing off a straight cut belt. Some of the custom holster makers offer the curved belt, most do not. And almost all of those who do offer it charge an extra fee to make it. I'm not aware of any who use a clicker die to cut them out, though it would be feasible (and expensive for the dies) to do so.

There's been some previous discussions on the aspects of becoming a business, and how to go about that, or at least things to consider. You might try a search here on the forum. The LLC, IMO, is a smart move. Depending on what you're doing, a simple sole-proprietor set up will work. But for businesses that are making a product that has some amount of liability tied to it, an LLC is the wiser choice. When I started a basic leathercraft business, I did the sole proprietor; when I started making holsters, I changed it to an LLC. Depending on the set up of that LLC in the state you're in, it most likely will look very much like a sole proprietor business. There's also tax advantages to being an LLC. And at the point you reach a certain income level, you can change your tax status to an S-Corp, which will bring you greater tax advantage. More paperwork/accounting, but it puts you in a better position. Yes, I have an accountant who does the work for us. I would not even want to be the one putting the numbers together. I provide her the information, and she puts it in the proper place. She offers suggestions on occasion, such as, "Kevin, you need to pay attention to this aspect. You're not putting enough money here (or there)." With respect to the website, it's critical in today's business environment. You'll be dead in the water without one. Keep it current, keep it fresh, and keep it as simple to navigate as possible. Don't make a potential customer go through 14 windows/clicks of the mouse to find out what color options are available. Our site is hosted by Go-Daddy. Have been with them for about 4 years now, and have never had a problem. I pay about $250/year for the hosting and quite a few other accessories. I have another person do the updates to our site. I determine the content, text, etc., and provide that information to him. He makes the changes and uploads the new data. Hope this information helps.

Here's a couple of pics of the "buckle" piece itself, and with it in place (not my belt):

JMorgan, thanks for posting that information. The only thing I would add with respect to patents is to recommend getting a copy of the prosecution history of the patent if you're concerned about possible infringement. It provides a great more detail about the patent and its claims. What you see online at the USPTO website is just a synopsis, and lacks the meat of the matter, if you will.

Beaver tail is a very resilent skin, and has a somewhat unique texture. I've gotten them from John Fong Leather in San Francisco. His number is 415-441-3519. I've used the beaver tail as accent on holsters and knife sheaths. The pieces are not very large normally. Here's a cowboy holster I made and put it on the band of the holster.

They're a two-prong piece that's inserted between the leather. I'll try and get a picture of them posted tomorrow.

I had a similar experience to yours when trying to put together a mechanic's belt. All I needed at the time was the two-prong "buckle" piece. I found a place on line who made the belts, called the guy, and asked for a source for the buckle. His response was, "I've got nearly 5,000 of them." I asked if he would sell me a few. His response, "Buy the belt and cut them out." Typical response I sometimes come across. So I bought a mechanic's belt, found a machinist local to me, and had him make me up a bunch of them. So if any of you need a mechanic's belt buckle, I've got a few.

I use the acrylic finish by Angelus Shoe & Polish. It's available direct from them or at Springfield Leather. I dip whatever the item is in a bucket full of the finish. Take a paper towel and wick off the excess. These are the results I get:

Nice job! I did some of the same kind of stuff a couple of years ago for a young girl, who won 1st place in the costume contest, at the SW convention in Indianapolis. The one thing I learned through it all is the serious folk want every last detail adhered to. Her dad was calling me literally every day. I swore I'd never do anything like that again.

Holster design is my business. Making sure that one does not copy another's work, that's protected by legal means, is a concern of mine. Some information for you. Unlike patents, when trademark protection is applied for, it's basic info is readily viewable and available. In other words, if there's a trademark application in place, it would be accessible. I'll have my attorney contact your registered agent and attorney and ask for proof of your claims. Wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Then provide the registration or serial number. The Trademark office says it does not exist. Without proof of the trademark application and/or registration, then one is free, legally, to make a clip design similar, or in exact specifications, to yours.