Lobo

Thanks for your comments. Back side of the belt slide is cut to the same pattern as the front (reversed, of course) with two belt slots cut. The belt goes through the tunnel formed by the stitching pattern at each end, through the slots and across the back side of the holster. The holster rides nice and flat against the belt and waist. Time? I seldom spend more than 2 or 3 hours at a time in the shop. I combine multiple orders into production runs, do all the cutting at once, all the assembly at once, all the sewing at once, all the forming at once, all the dying at once, all the finishing at once, all the hardware at once, etc. I may go to the shop a couple of times each day, spend an hour or two as needed for each stage, then do other things (I have another business). Doing things in this way I can complete each production run (usually 10 or 12 pieces) over the course of several days, with a total of about 9 to 11 hours of working time. Those times involving drying (during forming and finishing processes) allow me to have more than one production run going simultaneously; while one batch is drying after being formed, etc, I can be working on another stage of another batch. We can't put extra hours into the day; all we can do is make each hour as productive as possible.

Having recently converted to the T-nut and screw attachment for loops on my IWB's, I have experienced a couple of screw failures (typically, the screw breaks due to excessive tightening force). It is nice to be able to pop the T-nut out and install a new one. I have also had a customer report a malfunctioning snap, which was easily corrected by simply sending him a replacement belt loop with snap installed, ready to mount (saving return shipping for repair, then delivery back to the customer). Also, some of my customers are ordering additional sets of loops for different width belts, and one gentleman requested additional sets of loops in other colors to assist in concealment. These requests are easily accomodated with the T-nut attachment. For what it may be worth, I have found that the #6X32 T-nut with 1/4" post installs neatly in two layers of 8 oz. leather, and the #6X32 machine screw fits nicely through the snap stud while permitting the snap to function properly. Your experience may vary depending on application.

Very nice workmanship in every respect.

I must insist that any further references to my ex-wife be deleted from this forum.

Quijote: You have completed a fabulous project, in keeping with the finest traditions of blade-making and leatherwork that Spain has maintained for many centuries. Thank you for sharing these photos with us.

Received an e-mail today from a gentleman wanting a 4-position OWB holster (strong-side FBI cant, strong-side SOB cant, cross-draw, etc) with a thumb-break set for condition one carry, plus a slide shield, and IWB strong-side and crossdraw capability. Pistol is the Argentine FM Hi-Power clone in the "detective" style (short slide).\ In short, this customer wanted every single feature of every possible holster, with contradicting features in several respects, for an obscure and seldom encountered handgun. How does one make a holster with a slide shield and a thumb-break? Perhaps it can be done, but I doubt that either feature would work very well. I may be totally wrong, but a thumb-break retention on a IWB holster does not seem like the best idea to come down the road lately. I have made a couple of "dual carry" models (strong side and crossdraw), but 4 positions? And capable of IWB as well? I submit that this gentleman has absorbed the entire contents of every holster catalog ever printed in the free world, and has decided that he can order one holster that fits every description, performs every function, and offers every feature. About the only things he didn't specify were carving, tooling, or exotics. I think we can award this gentleman the prize, at least for this week. What shall it be? Suggestions are welcome, so long as I don't have to make it out of leather. Enjoy your day!

We all have personal preferences. My preference is a closed bottom for pocket holsters. What is best is what the customers want. Why not make up several of each, give the customers a choice to obtain their own preference? This might help you better identify your marketplace.

Very nice work indeed. Good design, very well executed.

Thank you, Mike. The carver is a forum member. If you would like to get in touch with him let me know, I will send him a message and get his permission to release his contact information. Very talented artist!

The Tom Threepersons holster style (that I have posted about over the past several months) seems to have taken on a life of its own. I'm now receiving an average of 5 new orders every week for this style, including plain holsters and holsters carved in the original pattern. I recently started receiving requests for this style in basketweave finish as well, so I dug through my stuff and found my basketweave tools (haven't used those since the 1980's). After a couple of practice pieces I turned out the holster shown in one of the photos (Threepersons-style with snap-strap, 6" S&W K-22). Doing basket stamping must be like riding a bicycle, something you never quite forget how to do. Back in the 1970's and 1980's I did basketweave on about half of everything that I produced. It was very popular, especially with law enforcement personnel. Had a customer in Texas interested in a carved Threepersons-style holster for his Colt Single Action Army 4.75", with the kicker that he wanted to match the finish to an old carved cartridge belt that he owns. Photos showed a piece estimated at about 50 years old with what appeared to be nothing more than neatsfoot oil for finish. Attached photo shows the result, which the customer is very happy with (original open top style, carved in the original pattern by a very talented gentleman who does these for me). Had an e-mail from a gentleman who wanted a very simple belt slide holster, something that I haven't produced for quite some time. He wanted one for his Glock with belt loops done in an enclosed manner to ride flatter on the belt (photo attached). I like the result and will probably be adding this style to my regular product line. These are very simple designs, fast and easy to make, use very little leather and produce almost no waste). August set a new record for my little shop with 131 pieces produced, including 103 holsters and the rest being belts, pouches, etc. Shipped products to 37 states and 3 foreign countries. Customers placing second and third orders now comprise about 20% of my work, so I am very pleased with that. And I'm getting e-mails from folks asking for products they've seen others using at the range or club, so referals are very good. Added another retail gun shop stocking my regular production items (and taking orders for specialty work), bringing that side of the business to 4 outlets. Grandchild #9 was born last month, a sound and healthy boy. I guess I'm rambling a bit here. Started out talking about one thing, ended up with a lot of other stuff thrown in. Anyway, life is good for an old retired cop making holsters in southern Colorado. I hope you are all doing well also.

The operative phrase is "customer is happy", that says it all. Very nice craftsmanship!

Many companies catalog the Rings Blue Guns but very, very few actually stock them; they simply take the orders and Rings drop-ships for them. You can order direct from Rings Manufacturing, but they maintain only a limited inventory (doing production runs to fill orders). Either way, you are most likely to wait on any Blue Gun orders. Duncans is showing their aluminum dummy for the Glock 36 as in stock on the last list I received (last week). They are pretty good about shipping promptly but, as noted in other threads, some makers are not happy with their products. Ongoing problem, availability of dummies. I am giving more consideration to simply buying the real guns. Tax deductible, and they hold their value long-term.

You have brought an artist's touch to the crafting of these. Very nice.

Good looking outfit there. Nice job.

Nice work. I especially like how you have built up the welt to accomodate frame/trigger guard width. Very tricky work there, and you got it right. Nice edge work also.

Received an order in today's e-mail from a gentleman refered to me by a customer for whom I made a pancake-style holster about 20 years ago. I am told that it still works just fine and looks very good. Made my day!

Eric: I have also been receiving such requests, including requests for double pouches with one magazine pouch and a pouch for the light. The "Sure Fire" brand seems to be popular. So far, I have been able to find specifications for the tactical lights on manufacturers' websites. Diameters of barrel and bezel, overall lengths, etc. are usually shown. With that information I can simply use dowels of matching diameter for forming the pouch to a snug sliding fit. Some of the tactical lights have push-button switches located in the butt end, which requires that your pouch design protects that area from inadvertant pressures.

No, I hadn't even thought of that. Pretty good idea, though. When I have made dozens of holsters using the same dummy gun, and customers keep telling me how good the fit is, I figure that dummy gun is pretty much good to go. Occasionally, I will have a customer comment that the holster fit is very tight (this usually involves folks who have never experienced a hand-fitted holster). In those cases I provide a few tips on breaking in a new leather holster, and those customers have always been satisfied. So far, I haven't received a complaint about a holster fitting too loosely. If I ever start receiving excessive complaints about holster fit on items produced from the same dummy gun, then I think I will start suspecting dimensional problems (with that specific dummy gun). Interesting post. Good to know that some have experienced occasional problems with one maker's products. It is also good to know that others have had different experiences.

Interesting information. I have several ASP Red Guns and all of them have been just fine.

Very nice photography.

Wow! Enough said.

Bronson: For a 1.5" belt slot oriented 90-degrees to the belt I found that a 1/4" hole punch and a 1.25" wood chisel worked very well. If the belt slot needs to be angled it will need to be somewhat longer, so the 1.5" wood chisel works better with one cut. A 1" chisel may be used for just about all belt slots, with multiple cuts, but this frequently leaves more clean-up work in the cut hole. Hope this helps.

Jared: My orders for the more standard products have remained pretty constant. These newer products have accounted for the increase described.

Thank you.

One aspect not mentioned yet: when cutting slots the required size can vary depending upon the angle of the belt as it passes through the slot. If the belt slot is cut exactly perpendicular to the axis of the belt, a 1.5" slot will be just right for a 1.5" belt. If the angle of the slot to the belt varies, the overall length of the slot will require adjustment. For what it may be worth.