Blackey Cole

You charge for you labor don't you, and probably your clients pay well for it.

Looks like I'm not alone in wanting them in a digital format

Nice possibles bag. Little loops for tools would have been a nice touch

Jim, been a we bit over a month since you announced it. Any word on if there will be an ebook version? I happy with PDF or kindle. Both are good to me as normal for kindle I have rights to the book and don't Owen it and those rights are not transferable. PDF is easy to copy and pass along. But most of your stuff you put out anyway. I would buy the paper book if it came with the ebook. I would turn around and sale it but I would buy it if that was the only wat for the ebook. I live in a vr, space for books I'd prioritized by need. I have some books not available on kindle that I have to hang on to or thru the leather library. But if it's available I get it digitally I have two file servers on my network so digital space is handy physical isn't. My movies go on one and everything else goes on te other. I have several 3tb USB drive that backup the NAS machines.

The only universal holster I know of is the slide style holster but then you need to make them in various sizes because a j frame smith is smaller than a k frame smith. Autos are usually fairly consistent enough to make a one size fits most but revolvers range from small to huge and will need different size slide holsters. Iirc a j frame and a 1911 auto will use the same slide while not a perfect holster it does allow one to carry a firearm on the belt.

Tandy's online leather library has a black powder shooter pattern pack, and several patterns for possibles. Yeah it's not free but the patterns while look dated, the fifties, still are useful.

Iirc Stalmans how to make holster book had a pattern or was it the Tandy holster pack.

Are you talking about the pad for the rope or the rope itself? I bought mine at a pawn store when I rode back in the 80s. Try and find a used one, it already broken in and stretched.

Why not draw larger items in the computer and take to staples to have printed on poster board they can do it.

Which brand American, cobra or bond and which model? Bond makes several sized derringers I have the Texas defender with a med length barrel iirc.

I actually think I bought it from hide crafters that kit and the cap and ammo pouch kit. I made several pouches off that kit but never made the holsters iirc it had a 58 and that one in it.

If your talking about maniquine heads try a beauty school the use them till there no hair left to cut/style and might give the leftover to you. I got a couple I use for photography that way.

Jim would you be willing to put all the patterns on a cd/DVD and mail it out?

Think of it like this your not paying for the content your paying for the work done to put the content on the cd and the cd. He had to find all that info, combine it, format it, organize it, burn it, label it and sell it.

Jim I'm interested in a ebook version also

I had an old case that started out as an electricians or electrical specialty tool case I'm gonna make up a several boards that will have pouches for my tools and stack them in it much like the two that came with the case. It lockable, metal thick briefcase type about twice as thick as a regular briefcase and maybe a little less on the other two dimensions. I let you know how it comes out. Still in design stages as I just remembered the combo for the lock. I might have the panels fold over so when removed they can stand up or lay down instead of individual panels.

Iirc a leather worker made a bag similar for his cowboy rig in the leathercrafters and saddle men's journal a few years back. It might have his pattern and construction techniques.

First off what size xdm? Full size, compact or subcompact, 9/40mm or 45acp. That's five variables for the holster and mag pouch alone. Then you need to measure the gun bearer also. Ther was a great article in the leather crafters and saddle mans journal several years ago on how to properly make a shoulder rig from measuring, paper pattern fitting and so forth.

I finally got my laptop up and going, switched it from win 8 to win 7. Download both draft sight and Inkscape plus photoshop for my photography. I will need to go through the tutorials next week or so and see if I can make heads or tails out of it. One thing I want to do is select an object draw it roughly out the tweek it's size by changing the properties to the exact size and placement. That'll save a bunch of time. Then get that object perfect then create a new layer for the next object ie layer one is the belt layer two would be a series of bullet loops in one caliber layer three a series of bullet loops in another caliber. My first project will be loading strips or stage strips. I'll have three variations one in 38/357 another in 44/45 and the last for WBAS which holds ten rifle rounds, six 12 gauge and and a 1911 mag. All will use the same base leather stock which is doubled over with a loop like a dog leash. The the first two will have ten rounds on each side the pistol in two groups of five and the rifle side would be all ten then maybe an additional loop separated from the ten for rifle reloads. The last I'll have to design to see which side will have room for the mag. The reason for using the same base for all three is once everything is tried and true I'll have a plastic template made up or a clicker die for cutting them out. The cad file would be the layer for the base that I would send to have it made. No chance of a mistake if I send them the cad file with the correct measurements.

Jim have them sell a PDF version for those of us who quit buying paper books to save trees and space.

Well I guess I'll have another go at it trying to find you tube tutorials and such. I want the dad drawing in case I want to send it out for a template to be accuractly made. Plus I want to learn to use the program for designing things. It is a lot easier to make a change on the computer when you know how than to make it on paper especially when the first try didn't work like you wanted to. Also, I was going to try and print on laser clear plastic sheets to use to layout on leather. I can get way more accurate on computer than paper. I want to be able to draw by pen tablet or by selecting an object inputting size measurements and input location.

Back in the early 80s I took a mechanical drawing class and did well. But, it was all paper, pencil and ink then. Plus my first 15yrs in the Air Force my job required reading blueprints of aircraft parts and at time draw up repairs on metal. So drawing on paper isn't that hard for me but paper patterns get lost, destroyed or just plain wear out. I do this as a hobby now and the best templates I'll have will be out of metal flashing, it's thin and very easy to work with put metal can discolor the leather my second choice is X-ray film been using my moms old back X-rays then mine but now X-ray film is recycled and images are either printed out on regular paper or sent digitally. So I want to learn how to draw in a cad program. Iirc I have turbo cad on my windows machine, I also have a couple of Wacom tablets a Intuos 4 and a Cintiq I use for my photography. I tried to use the turbo cad a couple years ago and could get more than a box the right size. What I would like to do is draw items in cad each piece would have its own layer(s). If print it it could be just a cutout pattern or a full pattern with stitch lines etc. Do any of you use cad to draw your pattern? If so would you be willing to mentor me. Mt items are stuff I use a make for cowboy action shooting. Some will be digitized copies of work I want to do out of Leatheworkers and Saddlers Journal and other patterns that I have purchased for my own use. If it is something I'll make several of I may send the pattern off to have a plastic template. If it is easier than me cutting one out of lexan or poster paper. One reason is to have different overlays for a basic object. Like loading strips : have a basic size that works for every loading strip we use 38, 45 and WBAS which has 12 ga and a place for a 1911 mag on one side the other has ten 45 loops or maybe the mag will be on that side depending on how much room 6 12ga loops take up. But the 38 & 45 have ten on each side maybe eleven on the rifle side for rifle reloads on the clock during a stage. Another would be belts Sumer would be buscadero other hunter style with or without loops then the different size loops. Just hide the layers you don't need. I can use photoshop but it isn't made for cad work. If I send the cad file any errors are my fault not someone who is trying to interuporate what my idea is. The second is anytime I need a pattern I can just print it out on mt photo printer for a one off or to use as a guide for poster paper or lexan. Let me know if your up to mentoring someone in cad drawing using turbo cad preferabilly.

I got mine from coon creek. Buck is recovering from surgery last I heard so keep trying until you get them.

I used to have most of their patterns but I'm not sure where to find the PDFs now. You might want to let them know before post his work. It can become a problem.

Thanks Jack