DaltonMasterson

Are there any books or videos on modern holster making out there? There are plenty of books on making western style holsters, but am wondering about something that gives specific details on pancakes, iwb, etc. Things like using a dowel for a sight track are foreign to me, as we dont need that in our western style gear. Thanks, DM

Thanks KingsX. I toyed with the seeder idea, but went for more simplistic in style. The pic dont show it, but there is a small tip of the mulesfoot stamped at the corners at an angle to take away the abrupt corners. I will play with the seeder on the next one. DM

Nope, no reason other than I probably forgot, and hadn't even noticed it until you mentioned it. Its easier for me to let it go now that its flawed... DM

I beg to differ on the clientele. SOME gun show attendees, at least here in Nebraska, are actually looking to spend good money on good quality items. Yes, there are some that just want the cheap junk, which they can find somewhere else than on my table. I have had lots of good orders and repeat customers from gun shows. I dont build ostrich leg holsters, and dont care to. Its not what the people in my area want. And whats wrong with 1950s metal shop and aircraft hangars??? Seems to be an appropriate guy thing around here... DM

I built this holster for a Ruger Bearcat but seeing as I didnt have a Bearcat to pattern, I used my 1849 Colt. This holster was very hard to give up, but the new owner likes it, so that is what matters. The belt is an older one I made from buffalo, and is just a picture prop in this case. What do you think? DM

EagleStroker, I also have long turn around times, and I am 38 years old. But I have a full time+ job, a wife, a 2 year old boy that takes precedence, and any other little thing that life throws in the way. I tell my customers right up front that it will be approximately a 6 week wait or longer, and most are usually fine with that. Chances are I will have it done before then, and they are happy that I got it to them earlier. I always have about 3 orders waiting (10 right now, arghhh) and that is just enough to keep me busy. Now back to the original question... Most of my business is by word of mouth and from internet forums I frequent. Often on the forums someone will ask for something specific, and I sometimes send them a note with my website info in it. More times than not that has gotten me some good orders. My website is a freewebs site I set up years ago for our cowboy action shooting, and I just converted a page towards my leather gear. It has generated a few things on its own, but its not set up as an order site anyway. I mainly just use it as a portfolio. I sold on Ebay initially, but it wasnt worth it for me. I dont have enough of a built up inventory to always have something on there, and am not overly happy with the fee schedule anymore. I have started setting up at gunshows this past year, and that seems to be a lucrative plan. I have lots of orders, although they are usually for pancakes and not the western style stuff I enjoy making. BUT, they do allow me to get my name out, show off my gear, and make some supply money. The concealment market seems to be the hot ticket in our area. I looked at your site. It looks good and professional. Your items are beautiful too! You should come visit us over at the CASCity Leather Shop forum. Lots of western only leatherwork there. LeatherShop Good luck, DM

I would like the: Springfield XD40 compact Glock 19 Ruger SR9 And maybe some more... Does the Wilson CombatPro have a rail on it? Barrel length? I am wanting a 3" and a 4" 1911 without a rail. Thanks. DM

I just started setting up at gun shows this year, and while being far from a professional, I think that my items are at the top of the list of what I have seen at most of the shows. There are a few at the bigger shows that do great work, and are probably closer to the professional side of things than mine are. The last one I was at, there was only 2 of us, and the other guy has the aforementioned unfinished edges, poor dye, uneven cuts, etc. I asked him how he was doing at the show, and he didnt sell a darn thing. BUT, I took in orders for 10 holsters. At one of the shows this last spring, he sold quite a bit, and I sold 1 holster. Neither of us have changed procedures that I can tell. People just buy what they think they want to buy. There is another one that lives pretty close to me that sells at a few shows, and he puts 4 or 5 layers worth of welts into his holsters, and doesnt trim the edges to match. I have tried to help him with tips, and have given him books, etc, but he refuses to change things. BUT people still buy his stuff for the same prices or more than I have mine. Its a frustrating circle that I have since stopped letting bother me. Either people will buy my items or they will buy the junk. Eventually, they will be back to buy again, and I plan on still being there. DM

Thats what I was thinkin. Thanks for confirming that. Got lots of orders at the gun show, and lots of work to do. Thanks again. DM

Thanks for that company LNL. I will check them out. I see that Blueguns offers a Springfield Micro Compact with 3" barrel. This should be the same basic frame as the Colt New Agent, correct? Thanks, DM

I am in need of a Colt New Agent dummy gun or a like model from another company. I didnt see any on the Rings site, and Duncans site wont show me a list for some reason. Anyone have one used to get rid of? I am also in need of a Kimber Pro Carry. Is that the same size as a Commander? I am thinking it is a little shorter, and the customer didnt have the gun with him to compare. If anyone has the following dummies used they want to sell, I would be interested. Springfield XD SubCompact .40 Colt New Agent Colt Govt. .380 Colt 1903 Glock 23 Glock 23 mag. Thank you, DM

If they are still of a decent quality and useable, I will sell them. I went through a time when I would put a 2 on the back of a holster that was not up to perfect standards, but have discontinued that. I do put dates on all of mine, and find it interesting to see the old ones show up once in awhile. Most of the old ones would have been seconds today. BUT, I will tell the customer that it is sold as defective/used/bad dye, etc. Then it is their option to buy it as is, for a reduced price. These are only sold at local gunshows, and are never mailed out to a special ordered customer or without a customer handling it for himself. If it is a simple flipped pattern problem, or wrong color/ barrel length etc, I sell them as stock items on my table for regular price. No need to discount them because you made the wrong holster. DM

The vinegaroon has a few coats of EVOO and then a coat of Skidmore's. I applied the vinegaroon with a foam brush, so its not soaked clear through with it. It left a nice brownish black in spots for some antique effect. DM

Heres a few of my 1849 Cotl... And 1 for my Walker with a vinegaroon finish.

Here are a few of my newest holsters. They are for 1851/1860 Colts.

I just moved some stuff, and it is a Model F. DM

Sending you a pm....

I agree on getting the obsolete and making holsters for them. I had a good run on 1907 Savage holsters awhile back, and I did not advertise for them once. It was just a word of mouth thing that kept coming back to me. When I am sitting at the gun shows, people are always coming up to me, and asking for the most bizzare stuff. At least bizzare in the day and age. Lots of antique autos dont even come close to fitting in a lot of what is commercially available. Another thing I need to get better at having on hand is left hand holsters for common things. DM

To keep the post on subject: If you frequent gun shows, you can find a used military 1911 holster for 30 bucks or so. I have one made in 1918, but its missing the flap, so it became a pattern. I have another good one from '44 that was dyed black in the 50s. I used it for the flap portion of my pattern. I think the hardest part will be the wooden block inside the holster, as well as the wire hanger. AND to derail the post again: The Wildbunch rigs are cool, and are getting very popular. Many folks are wanting a military version to go with their outfits, but the western style is popular too. The easiest one is the one in the Stohlman How to Make HOlsters book. Build it as is, and maybe cover the trigger guard if your range requires it. Here is my latest Wild Bunch rig. It is antiqued, but will end up more so when I start using it.

I have been setting up at gun shows to sell holsters this last year, and enjoy the time I get to spend working on some of my projects while sitting there. I have a small piece of marble that I can do some stamping with, but the tables at most gun shows are not the best, ie. plastic tops, old plywood, etc. Definately not the best for stamping. What I am thinking about is making a rolling stamping bench that is high enough to use with a folding metal chair. It must have wheel locks of course. I plan on making it in 2 pieces, so that it will fit into a car easily, ie. 2 boxes of tools. The bottom box will have wheels, then I thought of doweling the corners so that the top box will fit onto the dowels, and be rigid. I want to make it just big enough to fit a 12 x 12 marble slab from Tandy in the top of it, and then a few tool racks down inside so it is all self contained and easy to roll into the building and back out to the car. Has anyone done anything like this, and if you did, would you post pics? Do you foresee any trouble with this plan? (other than the wheel locks) DM

Alrighty! THats what I needed to know. DM

Just a bump back up with another question.. Is the XD 45 the same size as the XD 40 and the XD 9?? Just trying to get started with some dummy guns and dont want to overbuy right now. DM

RMB, I sent you an email with a few questions. Thanks, DM

I have this topic posted in the stamping section of this forum, but thought I might get more bites up here too. Thanks. DM http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=31241

Bearman, That is a beautiful sharpener. I am betting there would be a market for one like that.... *hint hint DM (who now realizes he hasn't really made many tools yet)