RVM45

Selling something somewhere down the line proves that you never should have bought it in the first place. A Blue Gun is a TOOL. TOOLS aren't so much bought as they are adopted into a loving Family. {And that goes 10 times over for Real Guns.} "Swapamania" is a sign of deficient moral character. One of the most insulting things that I know of is to be asked if I want to sell something that I own. I have my faults, but selling Family Members isn't among them. …..RVM45

I really like the concept and the implementation. …..RVM45

I remember the story of the Olde Tyme Teas Ranger who carried his 1911A1 cocked and unlocked with the grip safety deactivated with electrician's tape. An old woman asked him: "Isn't that pistol dangerous?" "Damned right it's dangerous!" He replied. I'd be a little leery of too much warning. "See? You knew damned good and well that you were selling a dangerous product!" Firearms are dangerous—like dogs, horses, cattle, automobiles, knives, alcohol, fire, electricity, chain saws, etc. Safe and prudent handling can lower the risk, but it is always present. 100% safety is unobtainable in this world. As Jeff Cooper said: "A man who truly put Safety FIRST would never do anything—and even doing nothing carries certain risks." …..RVM45

Friend, That Holster didn't look half bad... Three-Quarters Bad Maybe—but Not Half... Humor. I really liked that Holster and I have the Stohlman Book. Sadly I don't have a 1911A1 and don't foresee one in my impoverished future anytime soon. But I do have several other Semi-Autos—Ruger MK I & Mk II, a pair of 5906s, Etc. How well do you think the basic Design cold e modified as a Double Rig? Really nice work! ….RVM45

Friends, Suppose that I had a huge windfall and decided to buy a lifetime's worth of leather at one time... Well, it really doesn't matter how or why, but suppose that I had enough full hides to stack up a foot or two high. Are they cool just laying in a pile in a cool dry room? Would the hides tend to get mold, mildew, Weevils or whatever? Should I use spacers to let air circulate? Or maybe I should contrive to hang them all? Obviously quality leather can last 20 or 30 years or more—but it is generally treated and may get regular moisturizing and surface water repellent applied—after the project is finished. As I work my way through my pile, would I notice much difference when I got down to 15 or 20 year old leather? Yeah why the oddball question? Some of you may have read my fiction. I was thinking of a character who wanted to stock leather against a time of need and I realized that I knew nothing about long term storage of bulk unworked leather. Thanks. …..RVM45

Friends, A.} I agree that the potential for Spinal Injury is grave with SOB Holsters. It doesn't have to be a fight. A fall on the ice could do it. B.} If your shirt/jacket should get hiked up exposing the gun you wouldn't know it. I was wearing an Outside The Pants Holster—A Chapman High Ride—one day covered by an Army BDU Shirt Left unbuttoned. I bent over to get a candy bar on a low shelf at a Convenience Store. My Holster hiked without my being aware of it. A law was standing behind me and I wasted the next half hour while he waited to see if my .45 Automatic was on any hot list. I didn't know how to tell the law—without sounding like a Smart Ass and causing myself grief—but all the while he was worried about my 70 Series Colt .45 I still had my S&W 4" .44 Magnum in my Shoulder Holster. Lesson: #1} The Shirt exposed the Firearm without me being aware of it. {I think a SOB Holster would be even more likely to do that.} #2} Any Outside the Pants holster is a poor choice for concealment. RVM45

Friends, Milt Sparks used to market a little leather box-like device that one wore on the belt. It held six .45 Magazines or four double column magazines.You could custom order them for about anything within reason. They don't make them anymore. I don't know anyone who does. I never got around to ordering any and I never even examined one. One of the features that everyone who reviewed them liked was that there were leather partitions between magazines and they didn't clank together. I'm wondering how the partitions were anchored. In photos that I've seen, there are no stitches through the front or sides. Perhaps the partitions were part of an Insert—but the overall size would preclude anything terribly bulky. Does anyone know? Does anyone still make a similar product? Thanks. …..RVM45

Deuce Stevens draws and shoots fast enough for any practical purpose. He's very accomplished. Excuse my ignorance: Is "SASS" and "CASS" the same thing or are they different organizations? I bought a Ruger .45ACP/.45 Colt some time back because I had several hundred rounds of Handloaded .45ACP Ammo on hand and nothing to shoot them out of. (long story) I couldn't locate a 70 Series and loathe any 80 Series and I have several "Must Have" modifications that took most 1911A1s out of my price range... Then I picked up another .45 Ruger to have a pair and invested in Stag grips for them... And in my current economy, if I need a carry Gun in the near future, they'll probably be it... {Yeah, I might barter the two revolvers for a suitable 1911A1—and arguably be better Armed—but I loathe "Swap-a-Mania" and believe that Guns aren't so much purchased as they are Adopted…} …..RVM45

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought CASS carefully avoided "Quick Draw" and Fast Presentation from the Holster. Nothing wrong with that, but it's a far cry from the old live ammo "Leather Slaps" that eventually led to IPSC. Honest, yes one CAN get away with inserting the Trigger Finger into the Guard of a SA at the outset. I have no real problem with that—far less than some experts. My question was more "How many shooters do this?" and "How many feel that they NEED to do this to get a clean draw?" I liked the Holster that you showed. Much what I imagined. I always carried my 1911A1s "Cocked and Locked" and I made a point of keeping thumb pressure on the Hammer as if I were trying to cock it as I inserted it into its Holster. Jeff Cooper mentioned an Elite Anti-Terrorist Group who carried their Browning Hi-Powers Cocked and Unlocked and never had an Accidental Discharge. Cooper never identified them, but I think I read somewhere that the Unit was French. Cooper disliked the hard pull on the first shot with Selective Double Action Automatics. While he didn't Recommend that someone carry a Gun like the S&W 39 Cocked and Unlocked (Condition Zero) but he had no Problem with Condition Zero. If I had a good stiff Holster I'd carry my 5906s in Condition Zero. Thanks for the Input. …..RVM45

Friends, Why do most Western Style—actually most—Single Action Holsters leave the Trigger and Trigger Guard exposed? Current Modern Technique calls for keeping the Trigger Finger out of the Guard and off the Trigger until the Sights are aligned with the Target and one has reached the decision to Shoot. Questioning a couple friends who teach Combat Pistolcraft and both say that this is best practice even with a Single Action. Leaving aside the Fast-Draw Shooters—do many/most SA Shooters make a practice of Drawing with Finger firmly inserted in Trigger Guard? Why? When making a SA Holster, am I likely to seriously bollix the Design if I choose to run the Leather straight across rather than dipping down to expose Trigger and Guard? A very wee bit more safety—since I'm not gonna stick my Finger in anyway—but better dust/mud/whatever protection for the Revolver and perhaps enhanced retention. One more question—is there any association that still does Fast Draw with Live Ammo? Bob Munden did all his exhibition shooting with Live Ammo. It would be instructive to see the Gear and Techniques used when there is a Very Real Potential to Shoot Oneself. …..RVM45

Thanks. A friend needed an open carry holster for legal reasons and its cold there and he couldn't figure out how to open carry while wearing a long thick coat. I told him that a bandoleer holster with the bandoleer big enough to go over a coat might fit the bill—but then I questioned my own advice. …..RVM45

Friends, Sometimes in Old Westerns in Movies and on TV you'll see someone—usually from South of the Border—who has a Single Action Holster hanging from the lowest point of a diagonal Cartridge Bandoleer Belt. Is this workable? With leg tie-down? Without? Thanks. …..RVM45

Friends, I bought an "el cheapo" inside the pants holster for a .45 Government Model—maybe 35 years ago. The Spring Clip was very weak—generally the Holster came out with the Gun. {If the Spring Clip had simply been "upside down" it would have cured that problem handily.} The Leather was both very thin and it was lined—(some thin cloth)—and still rather thin, lining and all. The Holster carried the Gun very low—Perfect for a low-riding front-crotch carry. After some use, I noticed that the Holster become VERY molded to the Gun's outline—almost like a cheap Askin's Avenger. It had "Ears" all around, about a half inch above the rear of the Slide, that I eventually trimmed. All in all, except for the tendency to draw with the Gun, it wasn't a bad little holster—particularly for something like $10. Well, my old Monte Carlo Holster has gone down the river of time. I have a Piece of Suede Leather—O say 14" square. It was a "Skirt" from a Welder's apron and when he discarded it, I fished it out of the trash—maybe 20 years ago. I have a Leather sewing awl. I am very much limited—fund wise—if I don't have it on hand, then I must needs do without. I had the thought to try to recreate my old Monte Carlo Holster—except with a belt loop instead of Metal Spring-Clip Retainer. A.} Even without the lining, my suede is already somewhat thicker than the older holster—but still far floppier. B.} Should I line my Suede? What sort of fabric? C.} What sort of Molding would you recommend? D.} What about strategic reinforcement with small pieces of sheet plastic salvaged from Margarine or Coffee Can Lids? E.} Does anyone have a good example of the Monte Carlo Inside the Pants Automatic Holster? I'd just like a good Photo. I saw a good image on "E" Bay—but It was a Revolver Holster; but More Importantly, I couldn't save a full-sized image—just a tiny thumbnail. F.} O yeah, the Holster is for a S&W 5906 (And maybe a copy for a Walther PP—if enough Leather remains.) .....RVM45

What are the two gadgets with little Belts and Buckles up front? .....RVM45

Good Stag grips are always in order, on any Pistol or Revolver. .....RVM45

Does anyone have any experience with a sheath for a relatively large Knife--probably a Bowie--carried horizontally on the Knife hand side; point to the rear; cutting edge up? I pictured drawing it much the way a Samurai would draw his weak-hand sword. I've never seen a sheath system for a big Knife that seemed anything but makeshift... {Except the old "Vorprol" system--anyone know how to do one of those?} Since it seems a good idea to me; but I've never seen it attempted, I fear that I'm missing something. Safety? I would think that it would prove most difficult to get either arm in the path of a drawn blade... But once again, maybe I'm missing something. .....RVM45

Great Book. Love Free "E" Books! Got any on Holsters? Seriously, I'm thinking of adding another Hard-Drive to contain my ever-growing virtual library... Now if I could just read and concentrate like I could forty years ago... .....RVM45

That's quite a hat, friend. I keep being drawn back to look at it. Tell me, what do you think it would look like, if one kept the color and crown; but extended the brim all the way around? I picture it with a Six to Eight Inch Brim; turned down like a "Cherokee" or "Slouch" hat. .....RVM45

The belt is ingenious; and well done... But for some obscure reason, it makes you look like a girl... .....RVM45

Several things come to mind: A Master Craftsman is confident of his work and has no qualms about sharing his experience. Some half-@ Shabnasticator, on the other hand, is desperate to discourage potential competition by any means--fair or foul. James Krenov--a famous Cabinnent Maker--had some remarkably deep thoughts about the nature of Skiil; Value; and Craftsmanship. He recounts the following Dialog: "The man down the street wiil do it for $50." And I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying: "If that is the type work that will satisfy you__Please go to the man down the street!" You will encounter this situaion many times, if you open your own bussiness. Sometimes work will be slow; you'll be short on cash; and you'll be sorely tempted to knock out something quickly for "$50"__But you won't__for many reasons... But mostly because you're not a "$50 Person". I paraphrased. Can't quote something that I haven't read for several years exactly. I take "$50 Person" to mean a Whore--though a very high-priced one... Finally, its purely a matter of aesthetics, but does anyone know what pattern to cut the leather to get the olde tyme looking blackjack that is shapped roughly like a miniture punching bag; or slightly elongated light bulb ? You see this pattern kosh in cartoons more than anywhere else--though they did make them. I wrote a novella one time. One of the Warders threatened the clients with one fairly regularly--and the narrator said that it looked sadly in need of some Viagra... (Which is another indirect way of describing the shape....) .....RVM45

When I worked in the slaughter houses; every once and awhile they'd skin out a fairly large red hog. The hair was a beautiful color, and I wondered if it could be tanned hair on, to make a leather jacket? I'm deliberately trying to avoid the word "Fur"; because hog bristles don't exactly fit that description... In fact, I have also wondered if the stiffness of the bristles wouldn't make a leather pigskin a bit uncomfortable to wear... Then again, perhaps the hair could be relaxed; coditioned; broken down a wee bit... If nothing else, it would make a bang-up novelty football... Anyway, anyone ever seen or tried it? .....RVM45

Try these folks. A whole antler would be a bit of an investment--around $80--but you should be able to get at least a couple dozen knife handles; and more. http://www.yellowstoneantlers.com/ .....RVM45

Anybody have any experience with the Two-Gun Ambidextrous Shoulder Rigs? I've heard some Gun experts say that sometimes its easier to hide two Guns than it is to hide one. I asked because I've been considering a double rig for my S&W 5906s... .....RVM45

Thanks for all the responces guys. Just to clear it up--I was asking about both types of belts--a good concealed cary belt (I can order leather trouser belts that fit; but was impressed by Lobo's extra thick carry belt); and a sort of Western Style belt. Sometimes I run things together; and it's not clear that I'm asking two questiond at one time. .....RVM45

Neat little Pouch. Sorry to ask a dumb question; but what does this sentence mean: "Lined it with about 3/4oz suede so the edges arent mirrored. "? What would it mean if the edges Were Mirrored? Haven't encountered that term in leather working. .....RVM45