AKRob

LOTS of Viking brand cheap holsters around the Southwest. They knocked off everyone's designs and made inexpensive, sometimes functional leather holsters. MY dad carried a Llama 22 in a hair side out (too slick) inside the waist band rig for several years. I can't locate a history, website or any other real info on them. A picture would be handy.

Getting fired was the start for me 6 years ago I started with a one page website and a few free classified ads to promote my business. 18 LONG months of selling on eBay until I could self generate enough business to keep my self as busy as I could stand. As I have mentioned before Joe Rollings book Artisans & Money REALLY is a great help. In fact, I'd call it required reading for anyone that plans to sell their leatherwork. Good luck, go for it! Quick working for the man. Rob

this guy "nobearsyet" real name George Barnes, is posting photos of other peoples work on other forums and claiming it as his own work while soliciting for business. I cannot make it any clearer than that. Rob

Whew, I didn't want anyone to think I was painting with a broad brush. All the Best, Rob

To be clear: nobearsyet has been exposed as a thief & a liar. He claimed he worked for Black Hills Leather at one time he showed pictures of Black Hills holsters , from their website as his own work. I called Rudy Lazzaro, the owner, Of Black Hills Leather, he's never heard of this guy. He has a small family & friends type of operation. George "nobearsyet" also claimed the Tom Threepersons holster above as HIS own work. That's so bizarre as to be funny. I'm not quite sure how you took anything to imply you, sir. check the link I posted. Rob

Yes, we see why you wanted other people's photos: to claim as your own work. This "Nobearsyet " AKA: George Barned Or George Barnes posted the Tom Threeperson holster and some of Black Hills Leather Holsters as being HIS OWN, on another forum. He was banned from that forum. http://singleactions.proboards.com/index.c...amp;thread=1171 I've got no skin in this game, but hate a thief and a dumb one at that. Rob Leahy Simply Rugged Holsters

I've been using threadexchange.com http://www.thethreadexchange.com/

Have you looked on eBay or gunbroker?you might look at eBay or gunbroker

HAh! Tandy Was 1,000 miles away until last October. You learn to make do bone smoth wood carpentry tools etc. Get a slicker (a smooth hammer handle or even the barrel of a pen will work. slick those edges after you get them damp. by allmeans dye that leather when it is damp and use a wool patch about 3x3" cover the leather in just a few smooth motions, let it dry. add Tan Coat when your done.

http://www.johnfongexoticleathers.com/ John's easy to work with. If your going to build something with exotic skin, CHARGE for it. Rob

FASNAP.com they are rebuilding their site but have everything by way of snaps

Don't be embarrased to get paid! Don' sell on consignment, heck I hate to sell wholesale:-) If you get too buy, raiseyour prices a bit. This does not always work, you'll reach a point when potential cliants can see the value and are attracted by the higher price. One thing most ofmy customers realize is that they are not buying a something that will only last a few years. Rob (who needs to charge more for his belts)

fasnap.com they make superior snaps and tools

Thank you.

I red about this just before I got real busy and the sight went down. I can't find info now? Can someone that knows about it let me know. Thanks, Rob rob at simplyrugged dot com

David & Brett have been excellent to me for the 3 or 4 years I have done business with them. Tandy finally came to Alaska, which is great, but I do miss talking with David and Brett. They have both been very helpful to me. Charity & Missy at the Anchorage store are great too. Rob

Slow down/stop on the turns and tighten the top a bit (this works on one of my machines and tightening di nothing on the other) But go slow, complete each stichstroke before moving. I was happy to get my Tippman Boss, but it was so prone to breakage I was compelle to by another for back up. They were breaking down in turn all this last summer- I finally baught a Artisan and pleased. I wish I had known about Artisan 4 years ago. Rob

Except for the body of the machine and the longer bars the parts look like they come from the same source or are cloned.

ah, no thanks.

Use a drill press but cut the head off of a finish nail and chuck it up in the drill. I did this before I got a Boss worked well. It does not remove much leather as much as it pushes it aside and burnishes the hole very strong, very simple. I learned this technique in 8th grade shop, when we all made belt pouches for our Buck knives. Rob I hesitate to call myself a leather craftsman when I look at the work displayed on this thread.

RAndy, Thank you that is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for. The price range is better than I had expected too. Thank you, Rob Leahy

I have a small full time (And then some!) shop we run two Tippmann Boss Machines. They have become the choke point in production. I need a better/faster more reliable machine. Typical sewing is two thickness of 8-9 oz leather. What brand of machine and what power lever should I be looking at? thanks. Rob

First, I recommend you read this book- Artisans & Money http://www.thingswestern.com/artisans.htm it best quantifies what I learned- (I am not making a dime on this and only know about it because I bought my first Tippmann Boss from Joe.) I skip the wholesalers and NEVER sell on commission to retailers; my holsters are worth paying for or they are not. I never do shows- biggest waste of time as far a selling that I can think of. I have watched a couple superior Leather Artisans at the shows- they are more skilled at leather work than I am, but they both work day jobs because they won't market their excellent gear. Use Ebay to get started- eBay frustrates the heck out of me for some of their policies BUT they are a handy portal If you do a "buy it now" sale and target your customers- I advertise by specific model of gun for a given holster for instance. So far- it's working. I make a couple specific products and after 2 years of expanding my product line and options, I am reducing the variations available to streamline production. Don't be shy about doing a press release about a new product: most trade journals are starved to publish something new. Focus on your target market- shot a rifle like ad campaign directly at the folks MOST INTERESTED in what you make. Don't try a shotgun approach. In other words, if you make western holsters advertise to Western reanactors and the SASS folks. Not in a general interest gunzine like Guns and Ammo. The exception to the above is if you can get your product mentioned by a gun writer in an article about a specific gun- THAT works well. I certainly don't k now it all, I know I have a LOT more to learn, but I have been blessed and this eather artisan has had a modest success so far. Rob

A sale without proffit is just a gift. An excellent little book on CD ROM called Artisans and Money really summed it all up well for me. I started selling holster full time 3 years ago, worked a full time job for about 9 months and then just took off with it. MArketing your products is the key. I use the web and it still amazes me how well it works:-)

http://www.reddiamondonline.com/SearchResu...20guns&All=True these are the same thing as the prop guns made for police traing they work fine. Rob