
K-Man
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Everything posted by K-Man
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Resolene vs Tan Kote
K-Man replied to Shorts's topic in Dyes, Antiques, Stains, Glues, Waxes, Finishes and Conditioners.
Cutting the resolene by 50% lends to allowing the dye to bleed through. There's been numerous reports of that on some of the gun forums. 25% or less mixture of water is a better solution IMO, based on my personal experience. -
I woulod like some suggestions
K-Man replied to Jordan's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I've made a couple of hundred of these, and they're not a lot of fun to make. It really depends on the light that's on the gun. There's a whole slew of lights available. The "easiest" ones to do are those that are no wider than the frame of the gun itself. So I generally stay in the easy category. I have made holsters for large guns, i.e., Beretta/Taurus 92 with a Streamlight on it. Did not place a retention strap on it. One in particular has been used every day for the last couple of months. Have not had any retention issues develop. I would not use the same holster for a gun without a light on it. IMO holsters should be made to facilitate the function. -
Manipulated a blue gun?
K-Man replied to Shorts's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
What Jeff said is pretty much right on the money. If you want to mold the holsters with the safety off, then make sure your customers who order holsters for a 1911 frame know that. Otherwise, you're going to have a bunch of unhappy customers and a bunch of unsafe holsters. There's a much greater risk/liability in that respect. And once the word gets out that you're molding holsters with the safety down, your sales are going to go down as well.... But that's a choice as the holstermaker that you have to make for yourself. The blue guns have very low durability with respect to parts that extend out from the frame of the gun. Until someone comes up with a better version in that respect, there's not much you can do. Putting a gun in a holster that's sandwiched into a press is going to break the pieces off the blue guns in relatively short order. I've seen a great number of people get into the holstermaking because they think it's quick and easy money. But more importantly, there's inherent risks associated with making holsters. And unless a person is willing to address those risks and liabilities, they should be turning thier attention to other aspects of the leathercraft industry where there's less risk/liability. -
Rhome: I've had great success, and at many levels, with the Chinese JUNK machines over the last few years. I currently have two Artisan 3000's and have made a great number of product(s) with them and have really had virtually no problems with them. I've had one machine for 3 years and the other for 2.5 years. I would like to have a needle and awl machine some day, but just to be able to have one in the shop to use when I felt the quirk to use it, not rely on it as a primary machine. There are those in the holster-making industry who use nothing but the needle and awl machines and they do a tremendous job. My experience has been that it's the craftsman that makes the difference in how the product turns out. The machine is but the tool.
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What wood(s) are you using for the cues themselves?
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I personally would prefer the genuine lizard vs imprinted cowhide. I've used genuine lizard on the gun grips I make/offer and have not had any issues arise with respect to durability and/or function:
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When do you expand your gun list?
K-Man replied to Shorts's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Well, actually, they also sell to bonafide holster businesses. You might want to clarify with them as to who they sell to and for how much. It's a rare occasion that a company would allow another to sell their product for less than they do. -
When do you expand your gun list?
K-Man replied to Shorts's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
DCKnives: Are you saying that you'd be able to offer them for less than a holster business can get them for if buying direct from Ring's? Jordan: You bring up a couple of good points. You should determine where in the market you want to play, i.e., if you want to only support your local gun shops or go to a wider market. There may be enough business for a person to stay within their own locale/geographic area. Another consideration, and Boomstick eluded to this, is if you want to do a wide variety of guns or just limit where and what styles you offer. There are holster makers out there who do nothing other than pocket holsters. You could probably do well just doing IWB holsters, as concealed carry is growing in leaps and bounds. There are a couple of folks who only do the "gun belts." If someone wanted to concentrate on doing nothing but holsters for revolvers, i.e., J-frames, K-frames, L-frames, N-frames, and X-frames, they would have a substantial amount of work in their shop. Conversely, diversity is going to bolster your bottom line more so, and much sooner, than concentrating in one arena/aspect of the industry. There's a myth (IMO) out there that says, in essence, "If you do too many things, you're not good at any." While that may be true in some instances, it's definitely not true in all. -
If you can do this kind of stuff with it, then I'd say that absolutely you want to keep it: All of those shown above were done on veg-tanned leather, mostly 6 oz range. Some were just engraved, if you will, while others were also cut out with the laser. It's a phenominal tool that has nearly unlimited capabilities when it comes to leather work. Just think outside the box.... (P.S. For those who may wonder, I had the license at the time the SASS items were made/sold to put their trademarked logo on leather items. The NASCAR clock is my own.)
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David: Never said you had given any legal advice. I only posted the caution as a general statement.
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Yes, David, you are correct - license agreements are one way of putting a trademarked logo on a product. There are other legal ways to do it as well. Again, it's best to discuss such issues with legal counsel if there's a question in one's mind about it. And unless one is such legal counsel, one should be cautious about what advice they offer in that respect.
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Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Here's what we'll be able to initially offer: 8/32 black t-nut 8/32 black screw, .5" length (If you need a different length, let me know, and I can see if it's available.) 3/32 allen wrench black cup washer We will set up pricing to buy the above as a "set," rather than individual pricing of the items. That way you can save a little bit. There will also be a minimum $$ order amount ~$25.00 + shipping. You will also be able to buy the above pieces individually if you desire. We are working on a black screw that will have an 8/32 shaft with a 6/32 head in order to fit in the Pull The Dot Snap (or similar) sets. Hope to have those details worked out soon. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I'll post the pricing on the above soon. -
David: You might want to talk to some of your patent/trademark attorneys with respect to your statement of: "...he made an object and put a Harley emblem on it....yeah Harley made the emblem but putting it on something he made IMPLIED that it was an official Harley product. DONT DO IT. Good way to get in trouble." There are legal ways to do that, so maybe your attorney friends can explain it to you. Russ: As some have mentioned already, it would be best to know to some extent what you're trying to recreate. I've seen many examples here on leatherworker where folks have ignored the fact that they've infringed on a copyright or trademarked logos. It simply amazes me that one would do so. IMO, it reflects a great lack of integrity on the part of the artisan. It's always best to consult with competent legal counsel if you really have a question about such issues. You can do some initial searches on the U.S. Patent/Trademark website that may or may not answer your basic questions.
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Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Let me make a couple of phone calls tomorrow, and I may have the solution/availability of these evasive black t-nuts. Initial info shows you'll be able to use them for 8/32 screws/shaft as well as with the pull the dot snaps. I'll post new info/pricing/availability tomorrow. -
Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
OzarkMountainGunleather: Thanks for the info. -
Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Do you have a part number? I checked their website and was unable to locate it. -
Looking to buy used Western holster and belt.
K-Man replied to Laffo's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
Laffo: I have a single holster cowboy rig that is actually brand new, but a little dusty. I took it in as part of a trade for a gun a couple of years ago. It's a medium brown russet color. It measures 38" to the center hole. The holster is made for a 4 5/8" single action. Has approx 12 ammo loops on the belt for .45. The price would be $85/shipped. Feel free to contact me if you're interested. You can send me a pm here or an email at: leathercraft at hot mail ... com. -
Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I guess I don't understand, Brock. Why are you going through all the research/labor to make them yourself if they're readily available through some of the kydex holster manufacturers? Not trying to say you shouldn't do what you want to do, but it just seems like a lot of effort for little return. I agree that going with a direct manufacturer of the t-nuts, at the rate of 25k, would be an unrealistic endeavor for most. But even at the rate of 6,000 per person, that really doesn't take up as much room as you might think. You could probably put that many in a couple of 12" x 12" x 12" boxes. Are you that tight on space, that you wouldn't be able to accomodate such a small box? -
MrJim: Send me your contact info. There was a lady local to me who had two copies of the Last Supper and the Good Shepherd patterns a couple of weeks ago when I visited with her. I took one copy of each. She may still have the other copies. I'll try and locate her contact info for you.
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Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I found them at a number of the kydex holster manufacturers. Only one was willing to reveal his source, but you had to buy in very large quantity, i.e., 25-50 thousand. The majority of the others were willing to sell from their stock. -
Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
You've been in the business of making holsters for a while now - who uses them regulary? Don't think leather - think kydex.... Pick/choose any of those manufacturers.... -
Black T-Nuts
K-Man replied to BluegrassHolsters's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Why don't ya'll take a minute (and a breather) and think about who uses the blackened t-nuts in the manufacturing of their holsters. Then contact them and ask them where they get them from. You might be able to buy them direct from that manufacturer or they may turn you on to where they get them from.... It's really that simple. -
If you advertise yourself as a custom maker of _________, how can you not to a great extent, all things considered? You bring up some good points to consider. Safety and function are some major points. If it's going to make the item unsafe to use, then I don't do it. If it limits the function of the item, I generally will not do it. Most folks solve the "truly custom item that won't sell to anyone else" issue by making it non-refundable when they sell it to the original customer. This puts the responsibility on the buyer as to whether or not the change/addition is worth it. I generally will refund a customer's purchase. I have one item in my shop where that recently happened. The customer came to the shop, picked out what they wanted, picked out the colors (which were hideous) they wanted after looking at samples. When they got it, they stated it wasn't what they ordered. Obviously it was, but IMO it would do no good to argue the point with the customer. Hopefully some day someone will come in and will see it and find it to their liking. In the vast majority of instances, I've found that responding positively to a customer's request turns out really well. I learned early on that by listening to those requests reflects that the customer oftentimes knows best what will work for them, especially if it's a functional-type modification. I had one instance where a customer wanted a functional change on a product, and I honestly thought it would not work. After pestering from the customer, I went ahead and made it. He was very pleased with it and showed it off on a number of forums. It was an instant hit, and since that time I've made approximately 2000 of them. In short, discuss any concerns you may have with the customer. Sometimes though, you just have to take the leap and go with what they want.
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I've had the opportunity to own both the Artisan machines and machines from Neel's Saddlery. I started out with the machines from Neel's Saddlery. The customer service, and equipment, ranks up there with all of those often mentioned here. I had great success with their machines in the making of top quality product. In one instance, we made some items for a young girl who competed in the costume contest at the Star Wars convention three years ago in Indianapolis. I made the holsters, gun belts, rifle sling, and most of the work on her vest. She won first place in the child's division. And for those who have had the opportunity to make items for the Star Wars reenactment players, you know the extent of the detail expected with their costumes. The Neel's machine handled that without any problem. The only reason I moved over to Artisan machines a couple of years ago is because at the time Neel's Saddlery did not offer a comparable machine. I have two of the Artisan 3000's and one of their 618's. Neel's Saddlery does now have comparable machines. And in the last year I've bought one of their patcher machines. IMO, a person cannot go wrong in the choosing of equipment from any of the companies mentioned here, and I would encourage folks to consider all the sources.
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I had these recently made and have decided to let them go for cost. It's damascus steel with micarta grips. Will make/include basic sheath for them as well. The price is $150/each + $7/shipping. I can accept credit card (Mastercard/VISA), money order, or check. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can most easily reach me at the shop: (813) 601-0504, and we're available Monday-Saturday, 9:00 - 6:00 (eastern time). My email address is Leathercraft (*AT*) hotmail (*DOT*) com. Thanks for your interest.