K-Man

S&W MP 40, the Kahr MK 9 and one Glock 17 mag sold, pending receipt of funds.

Scott: You can email me through my profile page. Regardless, my email address is Kevin (AT) kdholsters (DOT) com.

Payment can be made through Paypal or by credit card (Mastercard/VISA). S&W M&P 9 Compact is sold.

Guns: S&W M&P 9 Compact (Ring's - cut out on grip for Crimson Trace Laser grip) S&W M&P 40 (Ring's) Kahr MK9 (Duncan) Glock 17 (Ring's) Glock 36 (Ring's) SIG P226 w/rail (Ring's - cut out on grip for Crimson Trace Laser grip) Magazine: .22 Mags (2) (Duncan) Glock 17 (2) (Duncan) SIG P229 (Ring's) SIG P239 (Ring's) H&K P7M8 (Ring's) Price is $30/shipped for each gun; price is $15/shipped for each magazine. Will combine shipping for multiple items. I also have some genuine mags available for a variety of guns - Glock, SIG, H&K, Springfield, Taurus, 5.7 x 28, and a few others. Price for these are $15/each plus shipping. Feel free to contact me if interested.

Thanks, Rick. PM sent.

Thanks, Cheryl, for that info. However, the Springfield price is $2.99; the Etsy price is $15.00. A bit of price gouging it appears.....

Sylvia: I did talk with the folks at Springfield this morning in an attempt to place an order for it. They were out of stock. Nice looking guitar in your avatar pic.

Does anyone know of another source for this beveler blade? I contacted Springfield today and was told they were out of stock and to call back in a couple of weeks. They would not backorder it or put me on the list for one when they received more.

I've been asked to make a guitar strap for a customer who wants a picture of each of his four dogs put on it. My skill in figure carving is not even a consideration. However, I've done a couple of pieces utilizing the Billy 2-Shews method. In each of those instances though it was one picture which covered the entire piece of leather. Has anyone tried the 2-Shews method by putting multiple pics, in different locations, on a single piece of leather?

dickf: The main press is the Weaver bench top press, the Heritage Hydraulic Bench Press. I did some modifications/additions to it in order to use it as both a press and a clicker. The standard plates are 1/2 inch. I welded a second 1/2 inch plate to the bottom plate. I swapped out the standard 6-ton jack with a 12-ton air-over-hydraulic jack that I got from Harbor Freight. The press is rated for a 12-ton capacity. When using it as a press, between the steel plates I add one-inch gum rubber top and bottom for pressing, and use the hydraulic portion of the jack to press the mold/leather. When using it as a clicker, I place 1/2-inch cutting board on top of the bottom steel plate. I use the air portion of the jack to click out the pattern. All total, the set up cost approximately $500 for the parts/shipping. I'll try and get a couple of pictures posted tomorrow. denster: The quality and durability of the Tippmann dies is excellent. I've had some of the dies for nearly 10 years. I've clicked out approximately 4500 holsters with one die in particular and it's just now getting to the point where the edge really needs to be sharpened. I would estimate that I've gotten some 50-60 dies from them.

I've used Tippmann for 99% of the dies. I've also used Texas Custom and Pro Rodeo Originals. Tippmann and Pro Rodeo have really good prices and usually very quick turn around.

I've used it to cut out IWB, OWB and pocket holster patterns, spur straps, and similar.

I've been asked by a friend who is a professional musician to make a guitar strap that will be used primarily on a '47 Gibson Jumbo. We want a distressed look/finish. What's the best way to achieve that on veg-tanned leather?

I used a belt sander to skive edges all the time when I had my shop. Only took a few seconds to skive the piece of leather down, whether it was a long skived edge or a short edge. Then it only took a couple of more seconds to trim the fuzz. It was an overall time saver and I had great control over the skiving of the leather. Now with us being in a set up where I don't have the immediate access of tools as I did in the shop, I've gone back to skiving edges with the knife. (Living in a 5th wheel RV has a few drawbacks. ) As others have stated, it is imperative to learn to use a knife. If given the choice, I would use a belt sander. YMMV.

Great work. You're always welcome to run down here for a visit. We'll be here until Christmas. I can show you my press/clicker set up. Very efficient and takes up very little bench top space.

Sixer: The only place I know to get the NAA PUG is from NAA themselves. You have to fax in your request to their main office, part of which you have to show that you're a legit holster company - not some hobbiest. You'll have to find out from them what documentation will satisfy them in that respect.

Here's one I did on a Dyna Low Rider. On the sides of the seat, we ran it front to back; on the center of the seat, we ran it side to side; on the bags, we ran it front to back.

Email sent.

The design such as shown is a great way to conceal a small handgun. We've been offering this style for about 6 months or so and have found it to be very popular. We put more of a cant on ours. The trailing belt slot is not really necessary due to the overall size. With the gun canted, the belt falls across that area behind/below the trigger guard and pulls it in good and tight. We have had customers ask for the trailing belt slot, but it's really not necessary. The cant gives greater access to the grip in a strong side carry.

Thanks for that info. I'll give the 6997 a try.

Thanks for the picture/info. Where do I find a double beveler?

Bill: Thanks for that info. I do have that Tandy handout. TO: Thanks - that's what I was looking for. I tried the beveling of both sides of the cut line and it just didn't look right. I'll try one side.

Can anyone provide insight on how to do the tooled quilt pattern like you see on notebooks, etc.? Thanks for your help.

Amazing work, sir.

I have the Cobra 4, and it is the best machine I've had the opportunity to use over the last ~10 years. Steve's customer service has been excellent up to this point and I've had the opportunity to work with him when he was at Artisan, prior to his starting Leather Machine Co. You're able to switch between threads, thickness of leather, and tension very easily. Mine does not have the EPS on it, as I do not envision having the need to use that feature. The Cobra 4 really is easy to use, even for the novice. I put my sister-in-law on it and she was sewing in no time. She had no prior experience with the industrial machines like these. Depending on where you're at, there may be someone nearby to you that has one of the machines. If so, I'd suggest getting together with them and checking it out.