whitakermk

Hey everyone - when I'm not making things with leather my other job is a culinary writer and cookbook author. I'm finishing my newest title - The Florida Hometown Cookbook - and am in need of about 10 filler recipes, maybe 15. Each recipe is credited to the person, restaurant, chef, food association etc. And - I can plug a business or such in the words/blurb that goes along with a recipe. Basically, the books are made up mostly from real recipes from each state and I include history, photos, recipe backstories aka why it's a family favorite, or Aunt joan taught me this, Mom's favorite pie recipe, my dad's favorite fish fry recipe etc. Lots of good reading as well as great recipes. But, I'm in need of some dishes to plug holes! And, I have about two weeks left on deadline and I don't have time to make it back to Florida again over the next two weeks. Plus, you get a free copy of the book when it is published. HELP! - Pork, Chicken, Beef, Salad, Sides, traditional, southern, Cuban inspired, etc, etc. No Seafood - that's packed already and no crockpot as I have plenty of those. Send me an email with any questions - here's a link to a story the better explains things - http://thedeckchef.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=522:sunshine-state-foodies-submissions-open-for-florida-hometown-cookbook-recipes&Itemid=327 Books in the series include Tennessee, GA, MISS, LA, WV, AL, SC - plus my other titles on BBQ, Grilling, Tailgating etc. Thanks - Kent

I have a HiPoint C9 and it's one of my favorite pistols. Ugly, heavy, never misfired, affordable, could drive a tank over it and it would probably still pop off several rounds. And, nice holster ya made there for it. I've made about 15 - 29 holsters for HP owners. For the same reason, want something in case they decide to carry it instead of bagging it to the range. And, never, ever, ever, do the stuff this guy does in this video. But, my Army Strong son was ragging me about my HPC9 at the range and I saw this - sent it to him... not saying it made a difference of his opinion... but he's taken to firing the C9 when we shot together. Youtube amazing HPC9 review - don't do this at home.

Just ran across this video. Skip to about the 7:50 mark - or watch the whole thing - the dog is my dream dog - just lays there and eyeball's the guy talking!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8Dsuqgis8A

That looks like "real" leather - but I think it's a product of a side of leather being split. Meaning - A thick piece of leather is split in half and the top piece is what we would tool, stain, etc, etc. The split, or the bottom side - is rough on both sides - almost a few steps away from being close to suede if soft enough - or tough as nails and scratchy - depending on the side of leather. Then, some companies/tanneries/processors take the splits and they are treated, smoothed on top, and run through a color and imprinting process to make a product that is leather, but now has a "patterned" leather looking top that's uniform in color and dimple pattern. They can make leather, gator, ostrich, elephant and more pieces. At the saddle shop - American/Big Horn/ShoTan leather - we use the term for leather like that - upholstery leather, or Ostrich Print Cowhide. It's kind of like upcycling and recycling. The leather side of the shop - ShoTan Leather - sells a bunch of that (finished product) to classic car guys, vintage motorcycle shops, as well as some of the saddle builder customers. They seem to use it for seating leather, liners for padded tack etc. Just my opinion - hope it helps - Kent

Bland - thanks a bunch for the pattern link! I can't believe that didn't come up in my Google search! Thanks - Kent

A few months ago I bought the Tandy western style shoulder holster pattern - love it! Thanks for the help via the forum on finding it. But, now have a son in the military going into a professional tactical training career - and a neighbor who is a detective wanting a more modern version of a shoulder holster for work. They both liked the western style which lead to "Oh, can you make me one for my glock... with clip holder, cuff holder, laser...." Mine look like Doc Holiday! I did have a makeshift pattern for a tactical shoulder holster but old computer died and I can't find the one I printed out and taped together - it's been about two years since I made one. Anyway - they both want holster on right - clip holder on left, and officer wants a cuff holder. I can combine everything but am in need of the harness pattern. If anyone can point me towards a pattern I can purchase it would be appreciated. I'm going to start building one from scrap pieces today - but would love a pattern to look over as well. Here's the style shown in a few pictures - thanks - Kent

Hey Matt, is this the crank splitter you mentioned? This is the one I'm looking for some reviews on. Thanks - Kent

Thanks Fiveways - the osborne has a crack on the bottom, both eyelets for screwing onto the table are broken - using a pipe fitting clamp and washers over the eyelets to hold in place. I've kept it together for years - but it's time to pay it some honor and retire. I get my sides taken down to the use needed - 3/4 5/6 up to 10/12 ounce depending on job - so I figure the thick stuff would not work - but maybe thinner - low weight bellies, latigo straps etc. Researching the hand crank splitter from High-tech, or Cowboy, something like that - but can't find any actual reviews on them aside from the demo vids from the sales guy. I'm a big believer on actual consumer reviews. Might bridge the gap for now with the basic splitter/skiver from Tandy - HighTech Craft Tool Splitter

I have an antique Osborne skiver/splitter that can handle up to about 4 inchs. Mostly do 1" - 2" wide straps. I'm about to retire it as it's damaged, guy that sharpened blades retired and passed, would rather shelve it than completely break it - or cut myself when the brackets holding it to my work table finally break off fully. My question is if anyone has used a smaller skiver - like the picture of the cheap style I see on ebay - for a strap wider than the blade. I was thinking for a lot of my smaller duty pieces I could split a 2" strap - rotate it - not flip it and split the other side. Not talking about length - as in top to bottom - but side to side., Or, since the mouth is wide enough, simply bring the strap back, slide it over a bit, pull through a second time to split a wider piece of leather. Kind of like mowing grass. Was hoping to find something to hold me over until could purchase a larger replacement for my classic. Thanks everyone!

Sho-Tan leather in Chattanooga carries full sides as well as upholstery leather - they are part of American Saddlery and Big Horn Saddlery. They split the sides I've bought from them down to the ounce I've requested as well - a brown latigo would be nice looking on a pool table - but stitching them together would drive me crazy as a guy who plays pool 3-4 times a year. Maybe a smaller table for home use.

Thanks much - that's perfect - can adjust to what I need. By Western I meant more of a traditional "cowboy" style - not a modern tactical version that has a double shoulder dual holster design suited for my son when he's geared up for his Army job. I guess I missed that when I searched - that's my first place to search when I need a pattern etc. - Thanks - Kent

Does anyone have the pattern pack number for a Tandy Pack? I need to buy the correct pack that includes a western shoulder holster pattern for a customer. None of the Tandy Pattern packs I have includes a western style version - not the modern semi pistol - aka tactical version. If somebody knows which Pack Item number I need to buy I would appreciate it. - Thanks - Kent

Can't find the sketch - but I have a picture of one of the finished belt slides. This is the $180 with the slots. Imagine the same thing with no slots for the cheaper version. Basically a rounded rectangle with slots. I went with my own die because I wanted a slightly larger size and shape - was thinking about attached lasers pointers on 380's etc.

I called Texas Custom Die - and talked to Rachel - she had me email my pencil/pen rough drawing and she emailed me back by the end of the day with pricing for a couple of die ideas I had in mind. A small belt slide holster - with two slots. Real easy stuff. She emailed me back with a price for one die with slots build in and one with out the slots. About 180 for the added slots - essentially a 3 piece die needing a bridge to make everything stay in place. And the one with out slots was about $60 bucks. Shipping was about $10 dollars. She said she could have the die made by one of her artists doing the final art/line art work. Or, I could do it - by bold black line, or via computer. Since I needed exact matching edges on both sides I went for me laying the die line art out on the computer. I emailed them in, she said perfect, I approved them, paid, they showed up at my door in about two weeks or less. Amazing service, very up front pricing, have used the die hundreds of times so far over a couple of months. Hope this info helps. The pricing noted was my exact pricing to the best of my memory - This order was placed late 2015 heading into 2016.

I found a couple of pictures of my niece modeling some of my first Western Style holsters. These were made a while back for a customer wanting holsters for his assorted Colt Peacemakers. The dark brown one is shown before I really tightened the sewing. I wanted to see how it fit. If you zoom in you can see my lines where I was tracing the pattern I made from cardboard. I later dyed the inside leather as well - similar to the golden long barrel version. I also reduced the width of the back flap on the dark brown holster for newer builds. Just thought I'd post these for fun.

Thanks for posting the images - trying to use my Arbor in a similar manner. Looking for a metal shop to help me with the welding of the press plate - have checked many local hardware stores and they all just scratch their heads when I show the pics. Thanks for the image post!

Thanks Weaver! I set up my account today but probably need to call and give my Biz license info - regardless I am placing an order tonight. Bonnie at American / Big Horn says hello!

Thanks for the replies everyone. I went with the tandy ones for now as I had a holster birthday present to work on. The ones I had before came from a flea market. The guy had a booth of tools, nuts, bolts, oddball hardware items. I think I paid .25 cents each - wish I had bought the whole box. He's not at the flea market anymore.

does anyone have a source for metal belt clips for holsters? I'm looking for some plain stainless looking ones like the Tandy 1240-00 - Belt/Holster Spring Clip I need some for things other than gun holsters and was looking for a source where I could buy a "lot" say a dozen or 2 dozen. $2 bucks plus shipping seems kind of high. I've checked my local Ace hardware and they have narrow ones and local craft stores have no idea what I'm talking about. Thanks in advance - Kent