J Allen

I will not sell a "sterile" piece. Even if the customer asks. If they want something that is not marked then they can find someone else to make it. I believe that the product is MINE until it is theirs. As I do not do many custom orders and make and sell stuff I want to make, it will be made with my mark. On custom orders, my price is much higher and I still mark it. I choose to place my mark predominantly yet not to distract. As for the Ford Debate... I agree that Ford has a name and brand. That name and brand was developed by selling a product that was identifiable and marked. Coach and the others... same same... they built the brand. In many cases it is the name that sells. How did buyers know the brand? Duh.. they were marked. This argument either way should be not if you should mark or where the mark should be but do I do the best job possible on every piece, stitch or carving and does it deserve to be identified with my mark. If so, then yes you should SELL the item. I got a ton of stuff in the trash with my mark on it.

Sold and delivered. Thanks!

The knife is "loaded" while in the sheath.. Meaning it is partially open. the post in the upper right in each photo works as a self opener and as the knife is retracted from the sheath it opens the knife. So you can open the knife just by removing it from the sheath.

Sweet.

So you work for Obama? Or maybe Darth Vader? The Brain from Pinky and the Brain? Walmart? Lots of Evil

Which evil empire?

My bad it is am angled blade. lol my eyes are crooked.

Up for your consideration is a Like New SK3 swivel knife. I found that the first SK3 I purchased is all I ever reach for so this guy has been super lonely and I would be willing to be has only seen about 15 minutes use in it's life. This is Leather wranglers photo and since my digi camera batteries were dead I borrowed the photo. I can get photos of the actual knife if anyone insists. This is the 3/8" barrel with the 3/8" flat blade. Large rounded yoke Red color just like the photo. Just like the one on the left. Smaller barrel. Looking for $100 even. Shipping included in the US. Will ship overseas but at an additional cost. Honestly you can't get closer to new than this. And $50 off the new price. Post up here or pm if you are interested or have any questions.

Instead of fabric, try using Tyvek sheet. I do not advocate going to the post office and using the Tyvek envelopes from them as they are cash strapped and sucking money from the taxpayers at an alarming rate.... sorry for the tiny rant. You can acquire sizable amounts by going by a new home construction site and looking in the dumpster or asking the foreman. Often the areas cut out of doorways and windows can be several square feet and can make dozens of wallet interiors like these. Eco friendly and free. PS. it is generally white, but will black dye just fine. It is highly doubtful you would ever tear it EVER and it glues and sews just like regular fabric. Hope that helps someone.

I'm afraid of midget ninjas and tofu. I don't like waiting. I want to start and finish a piece in progression. I hate to wait for stuff to dry... tooling leather, dyes, or finishes. I want oget on to the next step and get it done.

ok. I am interested as well. I want to be able to market a completely US made product and have been diligently sourcing products made only in the US. Been a lot of trouble for various reasons, mainly the importation of Chinese made metal products by 99% of the retailer/outlets available to a small one man operation. I'd be interested in heel bar buckles in 1, 1.5, and 2 inches in 3-6 dozen each size if a deal can be worked.

I guess this deal died?

Common! Lets see some interior shots. Whats under the hood? LOL

No I meant it like it was written. Should elaborate. ..die... from shear awe in the bitchin leather do-dad you just made. HA! I am usually a bit more careful in my typing. Oops

It is block dyed. Wrapping a piece of t-shirt over a block of wood. (I use a 2X2 cut at 3 inches in length) Apply the dye to the cloth and then lightly move the block along the item. On belts you can either do each side separate or you can cheat a bit by slightly bending the edges in by hand and then dying. Dont fold it, just make a bit of a cup along the center. This will allow the block to ride the edges more. Afterwards I like to take a bit of tshirt material and wet it the same color as the dye. I let the t shirt dry with the die on it and then apply a bit of neatsfoot oil to the tshirt rag. with a light touch I "buff" the item with the rag. It will move a bit of the surface dye around and with the dye on the rag darken areas and show more high/low spots. After all this is done I buff the item completely. Then dye the letters and oil it again if needed. Seal the belt and wear it.

No need to jump on the leather. Find some rough concrete in the driveway or an older asphalt roadway. Newer roads will sometime seep sealant into the leather. Lay the cased leather down and then put a couple heavy books on it. Wait about 1/2 hour and pick it up, dust it off and you have distressed leather. Let dry, oil and then die.

If you buy a cheap exacto handle and have a dremel with cut off wheels you can widen the slot in the collet to hold 3 exacto blades. Then you have made your own hair tool.

Everyday we see more and more "leather goods" retailers adding pics and promos to this forum. Many if not all are eitjer based out of the US selling knock off designs or US sellers selling imported stuff. Might sound like an isolationist bit sure would like to see a cleansing of the forum of such post and retailers.

Dirtclod- I agree let's not turn this into an argument. I read a transcript of the offending post(s) that got the other thread locked down. I stand behind what I said as well. But again that is not the point of this thread. Chief- I watched our other g-strap videos last night. Great job. Im currently looking through the new video and like what I see so far. I promised to do a vid on the strap gauge. I guess I need to get to it. LOL

No not really. I was given an explanation as to why the thread was shut down before and ironically you we the prime reason why Kayak45. Rather than cause problems again just ignore this thread. Sounds like you could use a hug though. So, back to the reason for the thread. I have had BLR make me some makers marks and some other pieces. Quick turn around and made spot on to my specs. Nothing but love from me. Here is a link to the original thread... CLICK ME

It baffles me that the other thread was shut down. How could someone find that the sharing of information on a supplier who works hard to produce a quality product and happy customers would be considered taboo. I see other folks pandering in threads (which was not done here) for business. I see folks selling outside the market place (not done here). So what gives? Are the advertisers complaining that someone is getting good feedback, maybe they need to step up and provide the same customer oriented care and they can get such reviews. Just sayin.... Jallen

I dont do craftshows. I do occasional trunk shows and mainly it comes from relationships and word of mouth referals.referrals. i have a few pieces in boutiques but they pay full freight pricing and mark it up. I will discount if they buy 5 pieces or more. So i guess that is a bit like wholesaling but i do that for regular folks as well. I do not do the web as it is just a way for others to copy. Too many times i have seen good folks stuff copied by overseas and unfortunately stateside makers who have not ever had an original thought... ever. Aounds a bit bitter but early on i had a very popular model stolen and mass produced by a maker in China. Copied it down to the arteork and number of stitches (i used a special stich length sequence for visual effect). Kind of soured the sales and my outlook on what i was doing. Si im nce then i changed designs and my approach to the web. I will not post ky stuff online... anywhere and i have only seen a few examples of my stuff posted in fashion blogs and forums. I like it better that way. I might not ever get "famous" with my stuff not on the web but im ok with that.

Ok, some will never understand. It is a Wal-Mart mentality that kills/killed the American Craftsman. When folks sell themselves short such as a: $20 hand tooled laced wallet $35.00 hand tooled belt. or whatever it is.... Those grossly under priced items are what the general public set as their value of the item. Same as crappy made items from China or so called "tooled" items from Mexico. Granted some of the people making stuff in these countries do fine work, that's not the point. The point is for those who value their time, skill and materials enough to get a reasonable price for their items are the ones who further the craft from a hokey cheese ball "i dunnit on my kitchen table" hobby mentality to what it should be is a craft that people recognize as one that deserves the prices. now working on the kitchen table isn't the point either, I have seen phenomenal stuff made on a kitchen table. The point is it wasn't the kitchen table, it was the craftsman. When I first started I made a few wallets an sold them cheap. Then I realized I loved this medium. Then I looked at what I was doing... and realized I was given a gift to make items that others would give money for. This gift needed cultivation and is still evolving but it is something that I believe demands I get paid for doing. My prices began to climb... so did the sales. I did finally reach a point that the price met a ceiling. Then I assessed the situation and yup I was happy at that price. I do not sell 50 pieces a month. I sell 10-12. I make the same money as if I was doing 50 though. (actually closer to 70). I do not ever think I want to get to the place where I have to sell 50 to make it work. I do not have a website. I do not do craft shows. I do not wholesale and I do not undersell myself.Most items I do are "stock" items no customization or frills. I do the occasional custom piece and charge a premium for it. I am as busy as I want to be and make a decent living doing it. If you want to compete with China or Walmart... you will lose, every time. Just for clarification, I think that Chiefs stuff is very nice. It definitely warrants more more than he is asking... that's the whole reason I even said anything in the beginning.