Lobo

Personally, I thought that this member raised a valid question on a point that merits some consideration. Depending upon where a person lives the laws regarding firearms possession and transfer can be quite strict. While "common sense is the key here" for most of us, for someone living in Massachussetts, California, Chicago, and several other locations with onerous gun laws the situation might just be quite serious. Most criminal cases require a showing of criminal intent to support a conviction. However, there are also many statutes that contain "strict liability" offenses for which no showing of criminal intent is required; prima fascia evidence of a violation can support a conviction without regard to the intent of the party or parties involved. What might constitute a "transfer" of a firearm in one jurisdiction might be considerably different in another jurisdiction. Also, the issue of responsibility for the property of another under one's possession or control can't be taken too lightly either. If there is a business transaction involved, and there is no applicable business insurance policy in place, the individual is on the hook for loss or damages. Even when there is an insurance policy, there will usually be a deductible amount for which the policy holder is responsible before any claim amount will be paid. Where I live we can transfer firearms freely between individuals (subject to applicable laws restricting convicted felons, fugitives, illegal aliens, etc, etc, etc), so this is not much of an issue on its face. However, I have taken steps to preserve and protect the property of others under my control, including insurance coverage and a good safe, and I avoid being in that position of responsibility/liability whenever there is another way to get the job done. We may not need a "12 page legal document" in every instance, but I don't think that this concern can be dismissed so easily.

The welt consists of a piece of 9-10 oz. cowhide cut to fit between the front and back panels throughout the "wing" area (behind the trigger guard and down to the bottom of the holster). The welt is relieved (cut away) in the area of the rear belt attachment. By extending the welt from the bottom of the holster to the rear of the trigger guard there is a significant gain in overall rigidity in the finished holster. By extending the welted area up behind the trigger guard this adds to the ability of the rear belt attachment to pull the holstered handgun in tightly to the body. The tunnel loop panel sewn on the back side also extends upward to the mouth of the holster, thus adding some rigidity to the rear of the holster. There is no additional reinforcement of the holster mouth. This holster was "force dried" using applied heat during the drying process. This also adds rigidity to the finished product. It will, indeed, support the steel anvil with no distortion at this point. Of course, all leather products will wear so I don't expect this degree of rigidity to be permanent, but it will always be a solid piece. Thanks for your comments.

Know your state and local laws. No problems in most places, but in some there are legal requirements for any "transfer" of a firearm (notably California, where every transfer must go through a licensed dealer). Suggest you issue a written receipt for the firearm including make, model, serial number and language spelling out that the purpose is for making and fitting a holster to that weapon and returning it to the customer. This could help prove that there was no intent to make a "transfer" (permanent) or convey ownership. If the firearm becomes lost, stolen, or damaged be prepared to pay for it. Business insurance might provide some coverage, but your typical homeowners' policy will not cover business pursuits. Even my business policy has a $1,000 deductible (I also have and use a gun safe). Alternative: meet with the customer and do the measurements and patterning with him present, then have him return for the fitting operation. As long as he is physically present there can be no hint of a "transfer".

Exceptionally nice work.

I've had an idea bouncing around in my head for a year or so for a variation on the Avenger style holster design. I've also had a very nice Kimber Custom Shop CDP .45 pistol for some time and hadn't gotten around to making a holster for it. So, I decided to do a prototype of the idea and make it for the Kimber, thereby killing two birds with one stone. The basic Avenger style, as made by many makers over the past 25 years or so, is said to have been originated by Colonel Charles Askins, noted writer and afficianado of the 1911 style pistol. In the typical form this style is an envelope-style in construction with wings added aft of the trigger guard reminiscent of the pancake style belt slots. A tunnel-loop belt attachment on the back of the holster carries the weight of the handgun and the belt slot pulls the holster snugly into the body. This style will be seen both with and without a reinforcement band around the holster mouth, typically as part of the sewn-on tunnel loop assembly. The idea that I have been considering involves two variations: first, to see just how high a ride this style holster will support while still keeping the butt of the weapon securely held into the user's side; second, to incorporate a welted seam which adds rigidity to the wing area and rear belt attachment. The full-size 1911 style pistol is a good test of this approach. It has the length and weight necessary to test the concepts involved thoroughly. I opted to go without the mouth reinforcement for two reasons. First, in my experience a holster made of 8-oz. cowhide seldom requires such reinforcement, particularly for OWB use. Second, the reinforcement band adds bulk in an area that we want to keep concealable. The welted-seam construction also allows for the rear belt slot to be cut into only the rear panel of the holster, with the welt providing a nice tunnel-style attachment. This permits only one layer of leather under the belt at the belt attachment point, thereby eliminating the "lump" of two layers typical of the pancake-style belt slots, with the result being a modest improvement in comfort. I made this holster with approx. 7 to 8 degrees butt-forward cant. This is my personal preference, especially with automatics, because increased cant requires more rotation of the wrist when drawing the pistol from a high-ride holster. The more that we rotate the wrist, the less grip strength we have. As usual, I pre-formed the belt loops and slot using a wooden mandrel 1.5" X 0.25" in dimensions. This permits easy use of the heavier and thicker belts without requiring a great deal of effort in break-in. The Kimber CDP (Custom Defensive Pistol) is a product of Kimber's Custom Shop. It features just about every upgrade applicable to a carry pistol, including Kimber's full "carry melt" treatment during which all sharp edges are radiused. The CDP will easily fit into any holster properly formed for a 1911 style pistol, but removal of all the sharp edges means that the fit will be less than perfectly matched. This holster was formed directly on the CDP, so it has the best possible fit. Here is the result, which I will be wearing for the foreseeable future. The welted seam (9-oz cowhide) adds significantly to the rigidity of the holster and keeps the grip frame firmly against my side. The holster rides on the belt with only 2.5" below the belt line. This permits better concealment with shorter cover garments. Even without mouth reinforcement this holster will support a 12-pound steel shop anvil when lying flat on a table with no distortion of the holster mouth. I am thinking that it should be possible to raise the ride another 1/2" to 3/4" without difficulties. Other handguns like the Glock 19, Kahrs, and Colt Defender can be carried with practically nothing projecting below the belt line. The sharp-eyed folks looking at these photos will note one problem: my pattern ended up covering the magazine release button, which is not good (holster pressure might depress the magazine release enough to release the magazine). This will be corrected on future production.

Very similar to the old US M3 design, sans retention strap for the handgun. The M3 style is very comfortable to wear and offers very good access, particularly while seated. The trade-off is mostly in concealability, with that strap across the center of the user's chest. I've made quite a few hunting rigs for the big hand cannons (TC Contenders, Remington XP, revolvers with scopes, etc) with a widened shoulder strap. Very stable means of carrying the large and heavy handguns. Nice job.

Very nice job. I've had a few inquiries about holsters for the Taurus Judge, but no orders yet. It appears to be a handgun that will require some thought in designing a holster.

Not so plain, I'm thinking. Well designed and nicely executed piece.

Good job, Tom. Very nice and easy to use website. Also, as a retired cop and Vietnam vet, thanks for recognizing those who serve.

PayPal works quite well, as payment is made in the currency specified with all the conversion taken care of by PayPal. Foreign buyers may use major credit cards for PayPal payments, regardless of currency. One note on PayPal is regarding the seller protection and buyer protection plans; if the buyer reports an item not received the seller must provide proof of delivery (delivery confirmation, tracking number, etc). Not all countries' postal services can provide this. UPS and FedEx serve many countries, and can provide delivery confirmation on-line. If the seller is unable to show evidence of delivery PayPal will take back the funds from seller's PayPal account and reimburse the buyer. There have been quite a few PayPal buyers in other countries that have learned how to manipulate the PayPal buyer protection plan. I know of sellers who simply refuse to ship to some countries (notably Italy and France) because of this. Many banks will issue checks in US dollars for their customers. There are also a lot of check forgeries reported in international transactions. Check clearance can take quite a long time internationally, so delaying shipment pending check clearance may cause some friction with customers. I have actually had customers in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Japan, Korea, and China (mainland) send me US currency nicely folded up in an envelope. Cash is king, and it appears that US dollars are in wide circulation. Note on insuring a parcel in international shipment; many countries simply do not have a system in place for insuring mailed parcels. Items sent via US Mail with insurance may lose that insurance coverage when passed over to the postal service of another country. FedEx and UPS are pretty good on their standard insurance coverage on international shipments. Note on customs and duties; make sure to specify that customs and duties are the responsibility of the buyer. Otherwise, in some countries, parcels may be held (pretty much at ransom) until the SENDER pays customs fees and/or duties. Lots of issues involved in international sales and deliveries. I might become concerned in the event of a high-dollar order, but since most of my sales are less than $100 I usually just verify the purchaser and means of payment, issue disclaimers regarding insurance and delivery by non-US services, and ship the item (should worse come to worst, I can duplicate a $100 order with about $10 in materials and a couple of hours of my time). One-of-a-kind items, and items requiring many hours of artistic endeavor to produce deserve more attention and protection. Some US cell phone plans permit international calls without long-distance charges, others don't. Some foreign countries do charge customers for incoming calls, particularly those with government-owned telephone services. Mail to Canada must have sufficient postage to cover both US and Canadian postal charges. I think it's about a dollar for a letter-sized envelope now, check with your post office or the USPS website. Good luck.

Ditto on Boomstick's comments on the lighter weight leathers. 7/8 oz. works well for most holsters, pouches, etc. and has the strength to withstand hard use for the long haul. I recommend veg-tanned leather produced by Hermann Oak and by Wickett & Craig, both are excellent tanneries and their products are consistently high quality. I know that purchasing small quantities can be difficult, and the price per square foot can get pretty high when you do find a source. I generally buy sides for 7/8 oz. and double shoulders for 9/10 oz., and I use about 3 sides and a double shoulder per month, so I usually have a reasonable quantity on hand. If you would like to have a small piece or two, sized for the patterns you intend to cut, let me know. I will send those to you for my cost plus postage. Good leather not only results in a superior product, but it is also much easier to use. If you are going to put the effort into making a product you will be better off with good material. Best regards.

Very nice work!

I have also had negative experiences with consignments. I now have 4 stores that stock my general production items (holsters for the more popular handguns). I usually have a pretty good idea what they are selling, so I can produce enough on a monthly basis to re-stock each dealer. This way I can simply pull what they need out of a box in my truck, write a quick invoice, and pick up a check. I am also working on permanent display boards with a few sample holsters, belts, pouches, etc. mounted on the display, showing various styles and optional features. I expect to provide the boards at no charge so the dealer can take special orders for my products, then I can produce and deliver to that dealer and pick up a check. The special order items are generally higher profit sales, so I don't mind fronting some expense for marketing purposes.

Patrice: I have been active on eBay for quite some time, both buying and selling. I recommend that you avoid any sellers who do not respond to e-mail inquiries. If they won't reply when it is time to make a sale what can you expect from them when there is a problem with the item? Taking deliveries in one country for transhipment to another country could bring unwanted attention from customs officials in both countries. Surely there must be other dealers who will ship directly to Canada. Best regards.

The machine that is used for sewing such pieces as shown operates at approx. 45-degree angle. I think they are also used in some shoe-making applications. Each piece of leather must be pre-formed to the precise contour needed, then assembled and sewn. The handcuff case shown is a good example of leather formed in a press.

Sent out two holsters for the Colt SAA last month, both made on the Duncan's Outdoors cast aluminum dummy. Both customers report perfect fit.

Nice looking outfit. My hat is off to anyone who has hand-stitched a belt!

Just as good as it can get. Exceptionally nice workmanship and finish.

Ditto on the lining, especially with the Rugers which use an alloy trigger guard/grip frame assembly that does not handle holster wear without finish damage in short order. For applications like this I have found that 7-8 oz. veg-tanned lined with 2-3 oz. suede or smooth leather works well. Ditto on the hammer thong. Very useful when riding, and can prevent nasty damage should the revolver fall out (the Rugers are pretty safe due to the transfer bar striker design; other handguns are not so safe when dropped, so accidents can happen). Overall, nice design and execution. The details will get better with practice.

Rick: I am a retired cop, and spent several years as a fraud and forgery investigator. Now, I do some consulting and investigative work for insurance companies on suspect claims, reviewing case files, making recommendations, doing field investigations and interviews, occasionally serving as an advisor and/or expert witness in legal proceedings. Between the two businesses I manage to stay busy and have a little fun in the process. Best wishes.

There certainly are a few folks out there that have learned how to run this scam. I advertise free delivery to a US address. Customers love it because there are so many outfits using "shipping & handling fees" to boost profits (not that I'm implying that anyone here is doing that, but it does happen). I accept credit card payments via PayPal only. With PayPal, if a customer reports an item not received, all I need to do is send the USPS delivery confirmation number and the case is closed. I have had a couple of people try to use this dodge, and a quick check at the USPS website provides me with the delivery date, time, and address. This allows me to prove that I have provided what I advertised, "free delivery". I recall only one instance of a parcel lost in the mail (no delivery confirmation). I provided a replacement item to that customer at no charge. I also recall one instance of a parcel being returned "addressee unknown". E-mails to that customer were not returned. No telephone listing could be found. That item was pre-paid with a good money order. I've never heard from that customer again. On average, I am sending out about 30 items per week, usually about 24 parcels. First class mail with delivery confirmation costs about $3 per item on average. Replacing one lost item cost me perhaps a few dollars in materials, about $3 for postage, and an hour or so of my time to produce. I find that to be acceptable as a cost of doing business; whereas adding $1.75 to each order for signature confirmation would cost me about $40 per week ($2000 per year) in added expense. Thank goodness that the overwhelming majority are honest!

Monica: As you know, I have only had my website up for a few months. Prior to that I spent an ever-increasing amount of time responding to e-mails, sending photos, answering questions, etc. I was really concerned over the possibility of receiving more orders than I could keep up with, thus alienating customers. I intentionally set up my site strictly as a catalog, describing and showing samples of my standard production items. All orders are taken by e-mail only (with a "contact us" link on the website). So, I spend an hour or so every morning and usually another hour or so every evening going through the e-mails, responding to questions, discussing options, etc. At this point, I wouldn't have it any other way. Most customers seem to appreciate the personal contact, and I have cut incoming e-mails down to those from folks who have seen photos and read descriptions of the products and are at a point of making a buying decision. I try to keep the website updated regularly, especially with estimated production times (probably the most frequently asked question). I've seen your website, and it is very well done. Sounds to me like it is doing exactly what you wanted it to do, and that is to guide customers to you. Best wishes.

Thank you, Rick. There is nothing wrong with a hobby, making things for yourself or as gifts for others. That side of leathercraft has been very gratifying for many, many people. Doing leather work as a business is another critter entirely, and I've seen that there are a lot of forum members struggling with how to make their time, efforts, and skills pay off. Even if someone is only trying to recoup expenses to continue pursuing their hobby or passion (and it can become an expensive one), it never hurts to open the mind to the possibilities. Gun leather in particular has quite a large potential market, and one that is not fully served by the major manufacturers. Depending upon which estimate you choose to accept, there are at least 100 million gun owners in the US right now, and 30 to 40 million handguns in private hands. Millions of people purchase firearms every week, every month, every year. 38 of the 50 states have adopted "shall-issue" concealed carry permit laws in recent years, and most of those states have entered into reciprocity agreements with other states (whereby a permit issued in one state is honored in other states). Increasingly, law-abiding citizens are taking responsibility for their own security and that of their families. Concealed weapon permits are being applied for in record numbers. As a retired cop, I frequently tell this to potential gun owners: "When seconds count, the police can be there in minutes". There is a huge, and growing market for holsters and accessories. And, with the Internet and on-line shopping, that marketplace is within the reach of any craftsman. In years past, leather workers were limited to the marketplace provided locally by the people they knew or worked with, or craft fairs, gun shows, etc. The majority of craftsmen never opened a store, published a catalog, or took out an advertisement in a magazine. A lot has changed, and there is a whole new world of opportunities for those capable of producing products that are in demand. The retail store, with all of its expense, is competing with the website and on-line interactive "store". Individual craftsmen no longer have to make a big investment in bricks and mortar, large advertising costs, and so forth to pick up a piece of the action. If what I offer helps a few others build up a small business, I am happy to help. It does me no harm at all; neither I nor any other maker will lose a bit of business or demand for our work. Best wishes.

I don't do exotics, but for custom work in general I use the "pirate captain" approach: Give me your treasure! Your gold! Your jewels! Your horses! Your whiskey! Your women! Give them to me now and I will let you live! You might have to work on the growly, low voice necessary for proper delivery. It can help to say "ARRRRGGGGHHH" a time or two!

K-Man, I would be happy to refer the gentleman to you but, unfortunately, he revised his request to one of my standard production items and placed an order. Maybe next time.