Randyc

Syd, Welcome to the forum. Theres several people here to assist you with biker type leather projects. Randy

I don't have any exotic pieces large enough for a complete holster, but I still have plenty left for accents. So many plans, so little time. Semper Fi

Hey all, I was born and spent my younger years in Chicago. I've spent my entire adult life in the north suburbs of Chicago. I'm still there. After highschool I did a stint in the Marine Corps. I've been a police officer for the past 29 years happily "cuffin and stuffin" the bad guys. In hind site, I probably should have joined the fire department because everyone likes fireman. Around 4 years ago, I purchased a vintage leather craft kit off of ebay. I made quite a few wallets, money clips, checkboot holders ect. In 2006 I learned to make western style boots while studying under master bootmaker Carl Chappell. In 2007 I started Bulldog Leather Co. and hope to use that as an avenue to market my holsters, knife sheaths and hopefully western boots one day. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Dave, Great looking sheaths. You did a very nice job on your inlay work. Randy

Welcome Drac! Randy

Luke Very cool sheath. Randy

WaG35, Thanks for the feedback. Molding/boning holsters is a whole new adventure for me. Randy

K-man Tasteful use of exotics on your holsters. How did you keep your eagle in porportion after molding that black pancake holster? Did you stitch your exotic overlays after molding your holsters? Randy

Buff, Great looking group of holsters! Randy

Regis, I may try border stamping on a holster and possibly go from there. I think full blown tooling may work better on a lightly formed verses a wet pressed, fully boned holster. I think a finely tooled pattern may become distorted during the wetting/forming process. I've never tried it so I don't know for sure. I've seen some real nice western and sheridan style tooled holsters displayed with Colt 1911's,Sig Sauers and Browning Highpowers. Randy

I've never liked carrying a pistol in a inside the waist band holster. I designed this holster to ride between my belt and waist band. I stitched a lizard skin strip across the top of the holster and applied a tan-coat finish. Outside of a couple of stitching screwups I'm happy with the results. Randy

"George Bush"

Luke Nice inlay work.

Frog, Welcome to the forum Randy

Buff Welcome to the forum. Randy

Buff, Great looking chinks. Randy

Tina, Grest job, love those dragons! Randy

Ryan, I've been a copper for the past 31 years. I can't help you with the paddle dilema. I don't like them either. As a matter of fact, I hate holster belt clips worse then paddles I bought my molding rubber from McMaster-Carr $68.52 for 2 12"x12" 1"thick pieces of gum rubber. mcmaster.com product# 8633K63 Randy

Hey Jeff, I was hopeing for a critique from you. I first glued, then molded then stitched this holster. After building the holster, I realized that I should have stitched before molding. I don't plan on making that mistake again. I wasn't happy with the leather developing a wave after wetting the leather down and molding it. I made that one out of cheap scrap leather because I needed a duty holster quickly. I just built another holster that I designed myself. That one I designed to ride between my belt and waistband verses inside the waistband. I've never been comfortable carrying inside my waistband. I will be designing an inside the waistband holster because of their popularity, along with an avenger type of belt holster. I've also built several pocket holsters which have sold well. Lastly, I will start creasing my unstitched edges. Thanks for your help! Randy

Frog, Welcome to the forum. Nice job on your buckles. Randy

Guys thanks for the kind words about my boots. SmokinP I really don't know the reason mass factory boots usually don't come standard with a spur shelf and for that matter the cheaper made boots don't have stacked heels either. Adding spur shelfs would probably take some degree of retooling. CharlieR Custom anything is becoming scarce in this country. In the last couple of years, I've spent several weeks in Texas, twice at the Boot and saddle Makers Roundup in Wichita Falls and 2 weeks in St. Jo learning the basics of the craft under Carl Chappell. Your probably fortunate. I believe Texas probably has more custom boot makers then any other state. I've met quite a few of the Texas bootmakers. They are really nice people and open to assisting us fledgling bootmakers. Don101 I need to half way master the standard western boot before I venture off into unchartered waters. At this rate I may be able to venture off in about 30 years. :D chocolateducttape Get ready for 6 days of boot buildin fun. Carl is an excellant teacher. You will go home with a custom pair of boots and your own shaped lasts. Carl will not leave you hanging. Like any other craft, the key if practice. Try to start another pair as soon as you get home. Don't worry if you don't have the real cool machinary that you will get to see and use in Carl's shop. Boots can be built using a few handtools, so take the class and build some boots!!

Steve, I haven't used the press for clicking out parts yet. I purchased it mainly for the wet forming of my holsters. At a later time I will most likly use the press for clicking out parts. Size wise the press will suit me for my holster and knife sheath clicking needs and takes up minimal workbench space. Randy

Check out Zack White Leather Company. www.zackwhite.com They sell a shoulder holster harness. You would probably have to scale it to your size. I've never built a shoulder holster, but would most likely have a sizing problem too. I'm 6'4 and only a few pounds south of 300 lbs :D . Randy

Drac, Thanks for the jewelers saw idea. I'm familer with Blueguns. I have one for a Colt 1911. I'm not familer with Blackhawk training weapons. Blueguns are the closest in specs. to the real thing. Other holster makers have concluded that ASP Redguns are bigger then the actual weapon, making it difficult for an accurate holster mold. Randy

I have to agree, nice job on the belt slots and stitching. Very clean holsters. Randy