Billy Hell

Anyone use the higher end bevelers from Springfield Leather? I'm about to pull the trigger: StampingTool,Sheridan,SKB936http://springfieldleather.com/33525/StampingTool%2CSheridan%2CSKB936/

Thank you sir. I tend to only look at the problems in the work. I did make another one to try out on ebay. I think I'll make another pair cut down so the barrels of my two 4 3/4 inch show out the end.

I'm on the Springfield site putting an order together. I have a few swivel knives but nothing great. I was looking at the Barry Kings and saw this: Craftmaster Pro Series Swivel Knives: SLC's Exclusive Radical New Ergonomically Contoured Design reduces finger and hand fatigue for ease of use and greater comfort while carving! Anyone using this? I sure like the looks. Link: http://springfieldleather.com/41683/Knife%2CSwivel%2CPro%2CDlx%2CTall/

Sounds good to me!!

One thing that has stuck in my mind is the user Electrathon said, "I will caution you about trying to be creative till you get the hang of carving." That made me really try to do it the right way. I started googling up floral tooling examples to see what stamps others have used in what way. I realized to get the "feel" or "look" of real western floral I would need to learn the rules of floral carving/tooling. I was raised on Stohlman type carving but my next goal is to try to learn more of an 1850's style and start working on some slim jim holsters. I want to get down the FA Meanea style. I am pretty blown away how few floral patterns there are on the web. I have found some nice patterns on this site but as vast as the internet is I'm blown away at how few things there are to see. I'm pretty sure they have floral carving competitions. I want to see, and study, that caliber of work. While my hero is Al Stohlman the belt book "Lucky Eight" has some great variations of tooling and credits the carvers. Mervin Ringlero is great!! These things are what have inspired and pushed me. I'm excited to keep carving. My only regret is that I waited until I am 50 to do it. "How thick them 'rounders'? 6 oz? 8?" At most 6. You brought up a couple of times maybe my leather wasn't good - after tooling on my 8 to 9 ounce I immediately knew what you were talking about. It just takes cuts and stamps so much better. The rounders will make you appreciate some good leather!

Once you tool those tiny rounders holsters make you feel like you can really stretch out!

JL - If your looking at this photo, that is actually after I put on my first Bag Kote: About price - I have given away just about everything I have carved to date. But if I were to sell something like the holster above I think I would ask $200, which is probably high but I'm not carving to make a living. I'm carving because I have always wanted to do it. I probably have 5 hours in that one.

Thanks for the great words. It's very exciting to be able to produce things like this!

Still working on my tooling, cutting, stitching and style. Here is my latest...

Still working on my tooling, cutting, stitching and style. Here is my latest...

I see. Thanks!

Photos....

Why would the long leg be sharp? Looks like if it was supposed to hang off it would be dull.

I scored this on ebay. I was as interested in the blade as the swivel knife. All I have in the way of swivel knifes is an old newbie knife by Tandy and the $28 swivel with the black rubber yoke. I was looking at Henley's knifes but there aren't any in stock. I found this on ebay and it looks to be a ball bearing based swivel from Tandy??? The blade looks like an edge beader with one long leg and two sharpened blades. Anyone know this swivel knife? Anyone know anything about the beader? I'm assuming I cut my line and then use the long leg in the cut cut line and get a second line from the second leg?

Thanks for the great words y'all! I started out tooling those little rounders. Tooling small is tricky! Tooling larger items give you more room to do it right! Loving it. That strap was a few days of figuring out how to build it, how long to make it, what floral pattern to design and that damn boot. I did the boot 7 or 8 times to get it right. Each large panel of tooling took around 3 hours. I shot a video of one that I plan on speeding up just to show the whole process. I don't think folks who have never seen anyone tool have any idea of how we do it. Just got back from Tandy with less $$ and more cool leather stuff. The Alzheimer Association requested I tool something for their silent auction so that's next! Loving it!

Thank you sir. The Bday is this coming Sunday so it's still a secret. Another interesting note is the half that strap is Herman Oak leather and the other is 9 ounce leather from Tandy. I got a whole whole shoulder (18.4 sqr feet) from Tandy for $95. I could feel a difference between the two when cutting. The Herman Oak tooling looks cleaner/crisper to me but in real life when I ask folks they can't tell the difference. Just an interesting leather tooler side note.

So I had all the makings to create myself a nice gun belt. I have a few Colt Single Actions and have lusted over some nicely tooled rigs but would never spend the money. The fact I can make my own now is kind of mind blowing. I was ready to make my belt and a good friend of ours, singer/song writer Kevin Welch invited us to his birthday party. Seven days before the shin dig I decided to use my gun belt fixings to make him a guitar strap. I was going to keep it simple due to the time factor but making things as hard as possible seems to be my way. I basically made a gun belt into a guitar strap. I used the Cody buckle and added his initials. I also carved a boot on the front. That was based on a painting done by John Hadley for an album Kevin did. I think it turned out great! It can go from 45 inches long to around 54 inches, which should be enough for anyone.

That is a modified Stohlman holster but great point! I got $100 for my 1880s paddle holster. Met Joe from the Nashville Leather Guild and he said I asked too little. I'm just learning so each holster is taking less time BUT $100 doesn't really cover my time, it is nice to stick $100 in your pocket though! A good friend of ours is also a singer songwriter (Kevin Welch). He is having a birthday party next Sunday so this week I'm tackling a fully tooled 2 1/2 inch guitar strap. Kevin's music (alt country/Texas Country): http://www.kevinwelch.com/ We have some original art from one of his albums so I took that and worked it into the strap. This proved harder to execute that I expected - 6 of these later I got this (included is the original art)... I'll antique it in the morning. Then I'll tackle tooling the strap. The tooling I'm not afraid of, it's the backgrounding I'm not looking forward too.

Here is one for a .38 snubby...

This works with my Rock Island compact Ultra (Officer) or the Para P10...

I sold the one above. Making this one on request for a compact double stack 1911. Looking good so far!

Thank you sir!

Thanks! I sold my first holster on Saturday. I just ordered my maker stamp (as a reward).

I have found that my floral hand drawings never look quite right so I'm hoping to find the pattern.

I have searched the forum and google but have yet to find a pattern for the old Meanea ponisettia. I'm close to hand drawing it and hammering it out until I get it right but I thought I would see if anyone on here knew where I might find that pattern: Examples: https://img1.etsystatic.com/023/0/6107199/il_fullxfull.498888429_fa1b.jpg http://www.purdygear.com/SAhalfbreed.html