okiwen

I am adding to this old thread as a thank you to all that gave thier opinion. I have reread it with great interest as to the posters themselves. I have had a very busy summer so little had been pursued, but the continual reminder at work that I have not filled their needs brings me back around to these holsters. I will continue to pursue the "original" holster I believe forever, but I do have to admit, there are a lot of really good makers out there. I can't help but learn from them and have it show in what I do myself. Just like the man that I am learning to make saddles from. If he teaches me something and I use it in my saddle am I copying from him? I would hope so just a bit as he is very good. In that vain, I have researched this site for all the pattern making tips I can find to improve my making skills. (do you know how many pages I had to go through?) I think that the real "tips" should be collected into one sticky for easy access. The 'rules' of a good pattern if you will. Thanks again to all. Kevin

That really is a good looking tree. Very clean.

Your right, I apologize. I really would like to figure out a good way to carry in the front (appendix) though. I think that a tuck-able holster in front is easier to control and 'hide'. Yet, if it gets long enough to offer good support or stability it seems to be too long to make the turn around the hip bone or it crosses the center line and the zipper/fly ceases to be useful. I wasn't kidding though, I do appreciate your talent on the holsters I have seen.

Wow, I thought, now we're talking! I was going to say "just long enough to cover her butt" but when I started to read, you all were talking about saddles. I guess I'll look for another thread.

We cut the hand hole out after the ground is dry with a small hole saw from the underside.

she's stupid blink.gif she's clueless blink.gif she's ruthlessly ambitious red_bandana.gif and that combination makes for one scary individual if put in a major position of power. ranting2.gif Hillary already lost to Obama. You can move on now. A bit over the top don't ya think?

Was that the poor that try to go to work and improve themselves or the poor that stay at home with a hand and cup out that you were referring to? I think that I am neither Democrat nor Republican but a Constitutional Conservative. Neither of the parties mentioned have MY best interests in mind.

I have done this. I was looking for leather specific patterns. Ones that had been used so that I might see the placement and connection between blossoms. I am not only not an artist, I am an anti-artist.

I am trying to see a few different options to cover a large area. Thanks to all that can direct me.

+1 on Ron's draw down. Great stand.

My comment was specifically addressing changes that would improve quality. I would hope that as I improve in saddlemaking and holster making that I would be open-minded enough to see that perhaps a customers suggestion might really be to my benefit. I was able to suggest something to the man that is teaching me to make saddles and he adopted it with out another word. I not only appreciated his trust in me but it really made an improvement in his product and his customers will reap the benefits as well. I also believe that to be a CUSTOM maker you need to be a bit CUSTOM. Or, your just a limited production manufacterer. I don't think I would ever produce something that would affect function negatively. I would just pass on the job.

The fit and finish was not as clean as the feet from Artisan to begin with. The right side and left side outer feet would not go on at all. It would have required a bit of grinding or machining to get them to fit on. I don't have the tools to grind these. The inside foot would not tighten down enough to keep the foot from turning and the hole was not quite long enough to allow the needle to pass without hitting the front of the foot. Neels service was very good however. He returned my money very quickly and gave me no problems at all. I was left with the feeling that the problem would be solved sooner or later. I actually look forward to purchasing from him again if he can get what I need. I was very interested in the larger flywheel he tells me come on the machines he sells. No problems with Neel at all. A comment was made that the suppliers make what they make and it is hard to get them to change when something is not quite right. They are hoping that the majority will work and that is what they are after. I wish I knew what parts would fit what machines so that I can get those. I called another sellers of machines that look like the Artisan/Juki/Cowboy/etc. and they have all said that there are differences or inconsistancies that will make the items NOT able to interchange. Do I have the time or ability to go through a whole box of parts from each of these venders to find that one that will fit? No. I have given my opinion and observations to those that I thought were interested in listening. I won't waste my time or theirs if they are not. Just the same, I don't want to waste my money (in very short supply) on people or companies that don't care to improve. I try to improve my leathercrafting and I would expect others to try to improve their skills or products as well. It seems as though there are those that take anothers observations as a personal slight. That would be too bad. I would hope that whomever is making the Cowboy/Artisan/Whateverthehell brand would see this as an opportunity to improve a small thing that means alot to the user. I am still looking for REASONABLY priced additions to my tools and appreciate the comments made in honesty here and other places. I have no bone to pick but what I think matters too. After all, I am the customer.

The "local" Tandy is five hours drive for me but yes, I did (I think) set up an account. I also checked online for the above mentioned sale. Nope. No sale. 20 bucks per book. I'll keep looking though.

Thank you. I'll get online right now and check with Tandy. That sale was not in the latest flyer I received.

Neel's feet don't seem to fit the Artisan very well. I am sure it is something that could be remidied with a bit of quality control but as of the ones I saw...no go. Really too bad. I wanted so buy some.

Point being, they are not the same price. Artisan is about $200 more. And, the feet are astronomically priced. Good machine though.

Bruce, I am so glad I went back to look for this. I have been having a difficult time liking what I have come up with to surround my makers stamp. My stamp does not have an oval as part of the stamp but I couldn't get a good look. Any suggestion for stamping or tooling around an undefined makers stamp would be great. I just need something that doesn't take as long to put on as the saddle itself. I you look to my avitar that is what the stamp looks like. Thanks to all.

Thanks for the input everyone. I know that some people can be impationed by topic like this, that is why I ask. I am not so good that anybody would want to copy me so I guess the concern for my designs are many years off. I have no intenton of coping directly others but the suggestion of contacting the makers that are similar in design is a good one as well.

Given the time it takes to make a stand and the quality of the out come, The Ron's stand is a very good buy. The stand is of GREAT quality and is much better than the Weaver design. I know it is expensive but if you figure that you will use it for 4-8 hrs. everday, the time makes the cost much less than alot of the things that you spend your money on. Besides, Ron's a pretty good guy.

Thanks all, I did the other side today. The awl I used had a Douglas blade (still hard), I was told to hook through and use a lock stitch. I wasn't using two needles. I do believe that I was pulling really hard on the string as well. I was trying to pull the underside up snug for a clean appearance. I do think that awled holes look better, by far, than drilled holes. But, whew are my hands sore and tired. I guess I feel better now that EVERYBODY gets sore. At least I'm finally normal.

Yup, none to be had locally. Thanks.

My hands feel like I am 90 yrs. old. I sewed a cantle today and between pushing the awl in and pulling the thread tight I have torn and cut my fingers and palms. Now the question... Is this normal and is it going to happen on every saddle? I tell you, I will quickly become an advacate of drilling those stinkin holes. Thanks for listening.

Wondering if someone has read theirs to death and might want to sell a copy for reasonable cost or less. I need to read one and then move on but can't see spending full price for what I've seen in the other books at Tandy. Thanks much.

Those are made in three pieces? Cool. I'd love the pattern (for shorter), as the only ones I've seen are one huge piece and connect very different form the way yours look. Oh, and very impressive.