Kcinnick

Well, I found my gator supply. I may have been using the wrong term, but gator tanned in a way that will not make guns rust. I just happen to find out I shoot with someone who removes nuisance gators and he cannot sell the meat outside of Gator Season, but he can eat it, donate it and keep the hide. He is going to get an estimate on how much it cost to get the hides tanned, and I am going to make him a belt or holster per hide and pay for tanning, and he is going to give me the hide. I will probably have lots of extra back... probably no extra bellies. I am thinking horsehide would be the best backing, am I wrong? Sorry I mixed up the tanning terminology.

Does anyone know where I can buy Vegetable tanned wild Louisiana alligator? I can get salted hides, I can get whole gators, I can get gators with tails cut off, I can get a living gator, but I want a wild Louisiana Hide! The wild Gator has a nice black color, the ones that are farm raised are a muddy brown color.

Does anyone make a Kahr CW9 Demo gun?

Yeah, You need to sand off 3 things The made in USA The words blackhawk demonstrator and a small circle near the end of the barrel, I think this is where the poor in or inject the polymer into the mold. Enjoy! You can usually find LA police gear coupons just by using google. Anywhere from 5% -20% depending on the coupon and special.

I have all of the ones they make. They are true to size. Cons - Lighter than Blue guns, not as dense of material - They markings on them that are non factory, like the word blackhawk Pros - CHEAP - CHEAP - Are the right size - With coupons can be had for under $20 shipped each, I think I averaged around $17 each from LA police gear, I got one from Amazon. I would prefer a blue gun over a Blackhawk, but a blackhawk over a duncans or ASP.

I think HO is heads and shoulders about W&C as far as my needs. I have never carved leather, but the HO takes my makers mark much better, and holds it shape much better when I make holsters. I am using the remaining W&C leather for try on belts and practice patterns for holsters. Besides, Hermann Oak looks amazing when Oiled.

I dip dye in a mixture of 1 part dye 5 parts alcohol. I oil after I dye to get it back to its original softness. It darkens the leather somewhat, but comes out nice after a day or two of the oil evening back out into the leather. Even on Holsters, as long as you don't put more oil in than you take out you will be fine. From reading posts on here some people are scared of neatsfoot oil, but I talked to one of the most famous holster makers in the world and he use to dunk his holsters in oil and they still kept their shape. I never put oil on the back side of the leather, always the hair side, the back side soaks it up too fast. Just my 2 cents from experimenting. I tried at first with very little oil because that was what was suppose to be done, but once I started oiling liberally I got much better results.

Save your denatured alcohol for dyeing, just use cheapo rubbing alcohol, it comes off easily with the cheap stuff.

I guess that is more of a specialty shop formula, because every retail environment I ever worked in the margin was in the 30% range for general merchandise, that is for a broad array of items, not just leather goods. These are gun shops, not leather shops or general stores. 25 % off retail is a 34% margin, if that is not reasonable, I think I am going to stay with the sell it myself route.

I could sell my products at 50% off and still make money, but I won't work for that little of money! By time you figure out I have two Herman Oak straps, 2 Chicago Screws, dye, thread and a buckle I would only be getting paid around $15-$20 to make a belt, and the guy selling it would be making $35-$50 for selling it. I have plenty of interest in my products, and don't need to sell wholesale, but I wouldn't mind a steady order of product even if it meant giving a 25% discount, a 50% discount is a little too much.

Well, I shoot with these guys, at comps and get together's. I know one personally very well, he is a stand up guy, and if I got a special order from him I would give him the kick back. The deal is I am still selling locally, but I want to fix the price structure so we are selling at the same price. I already have plenty of loyal customers, but some people contact me and they want a belt today, and I just can't provide that kind of service. I don't do anything fancy, just your basic double layer gun belt, with high quality hermann oak leather with nice buckles. I am just getting into selling holsters and mag pouches, but I have gotten pretty good at making belts in batches. I can have as many as 30 going at one time at one of my 3 stages, I could probably go more but never had the need to. I have a dye station in my sun room where I dip dye everything but black (I use drum dyed HO), a glue and sewing/edging area, and then a finishing table (Kitchen table).... Is 25% off really not enough to discount for wholesale? I know the margins on some of the products I plan to sell other than leather I make, and I can assure you none of them are 100% mark up.

I am looking to put my products in two shops in the area, one in each of the two largest cities in our state. Well, one wants to do consignment, the other hasn't mentioned either way, he just wants me to bring him some items to look at so he can carry local. They both have the basic made in Mexico leather "Goods" in their shops, but nothing custom or local. I looked around and it seems the normal percentage for wholesale is 50%. I can't work for 50%, I was thinking more like wholesale pricing being 75% of retail, with a fixed retail between dealers and my website (To be up shortly). If they want consignment terms the belts will have to be behind the counter and I would provide a try on belt (I will provide a try on belt either way) and offer a 12.5% commission. I also planned on offering a 12.5% commission on custom orders generated from the shops. Does this seem like unreasonable terms. I don't really need to sell out of either shop, but wouldn't mind expanding and I can still be profitable selling at 75% of retail, but 50% of retail would have me working for pennies, I would rather sell 1/2 as much stuff and make the same money. I am pricing my belts between $75-$100 for Hermann Oak Double layer gun belts, $75 being made with drum dyed black leather, $100 would be an aged finish I do with a charge for the belt being over 50". I would also have some holsters and mag pouches on display and take special orders and offer the same 12.5% commission for custom orders. If 50% is the norm I will stick to word of mouth and creating a website.

We have to wait for the season to open, He had been just catching his gators for MEAT and not keeping the hides! I quoted him a price for a holster, and he said I didn't charge him enough, and said he was paying $15 more than I quoted! I gave him a good price because I want me some gator. He told me the difference between the black gators and brown gator is just the black gator's are wild and the brown are the captive gators, I always thought it was due to age. I don't know how exactly I would go about keeping the tag, I guess I just leave that part attached as long as possible and then retain it once I sell everything made with the gator. Oh well, I hope to have some gator this fall!

I saw this topic when searching for a pricing structure. I guess I don't have as much mark up in my products as everyone else. I have two shops that want to carry my gun belts. My prices range from $75-$100 depending on size and style and I was thinking giving 12.5% commission on consignment and special orders and 25% off for wholesale pricing. Am I way too low on my percentages. I really don't need to sell out of shops, I am selling everything I make, but having more orders tends to motivate me to make more. Thanks for your input. Nick

I barter for everything! My graphic designer, web developer, forum sponsorship, attorney, and sights for my last gun were all traded for leather!

My attorney works for leather, does that count as payment? He is writing up my NFA trust this week and I am delivering some belts to him as soon as he is done. He does estate planning, trusts, etc. I would assume insurance would be in his realm of expertise.

That may be what I need, would it cover myself and my wife, or would we each need a policy. In Louisiana, even though only one person is listed as being the owner of the incorporation, it is assumed that both spouses have equal ownership of each others shares. My wife is actually going to be the owner of the incorporation, she does the administrative side of the business and some of the making (belt keeps, burnishing, etc.).

So, this past month, without even starting my business I sold 39 belts, a few holsters and a few mag carriers (holsters and mag carriers to friend and neighbors only). All from one thread on a local forum and word of mouth. I am incorporating March 1st to protect my personal assets, and I was wondering what kind of insurance everyone carried, and how much it cost? A general liability policy shouldn't cost too much, but it seems like the only quote places are quoting a couple hundred dollars a month. That doesn't seem right for not having a store front. So how do you handle general/product liability insurance, and what is the ballpark cost? Do you recommend any insurance companies? Thanks

I think I figured it out, well at least I can get the staples to feed. So much faster than sewing belt keepers, and solid connection.

UGH. Anybody know how you are suppose to install the new style loop stapler on a heritage press. It didn't come with any directions and I can't get it to feed staples! Thanks, Nick

Woohoo, I found a guy that will catch me a gator and veg tan the hide with acorns. ALL for trading for to have some stuff made!!! I don't know how it works, but hey, he said they have been doing it like that since before the war of northern aggression.

I am looking for Louisiana tanned gator, but it seems all I can find are salted hides. Looks like most of it goes overseas. Why, oh why can I not find Louisiana Alligator in Louisiana!

I convinced him not to touch it and pointed him where he could purchase a replacement if he really wanted. I suggested he displayed it AS IS. He did order a belt and I got to play with a badass piece of history.