Lobo

I was in the business from 1972 until retirement in 2015, last 8-1/2 years were full time. Started out with very little money to spend so I learned to adapt and modify tools to meet my needs without much investment. For sanding edges I used drum sanders in various sizes chucked into a bench top drill press. I sanded while the leather was damp, which allows the leather fibers to fall to the bench rather than filling the air with dust. Typical holster or belt takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Sanding sleeves for the drum sanders cost less than $1 each and will do hundreds of holsters and belts. For edge burnishing I used dye on the edges, then rubbed on a mixture of 50% beeswax and 50% paraffin wax, then burnished using a hard felt polishing wheel chucked into the drill press (about 1700RPM). Typical holster or belt takes about 3 minutes. Waxes cost about $2 per pound, which will do many hundreds of products. Felt polishing wheels cost about $1 to $2 each (depending on size), and each will do 200 to 300 holsters and belts. Friction from the felt polishing wheel polishes the edges while also melting the wax and forcing it into the leather fibers at the edges. Result is a well sealed edge with high gloss polished surface, stands up well to use. Far superior to edge painting. Waxes can be combined by placing equal amounts into a heavy duty freezer bag, then suspending the bag in a large pot of boiling water, then pouring the mixed wax into molds (I used muffin pans, producing cakes of about 2 oz. weight). Later on I found a nice lady who makes candles, and she produced my wax mixture in her machine, charging me $20 for 20 lbs (which was probably a 5 year supply in my shop). Watch the sales at Harbor Freight and you can pick up light-duty bench top drill presses for about $60 each. I found that they last about 2-3 years in production (about 4000-6000 holsters, belts, etc). The shaft bearings eventually wear out because pressure has been applied from the sides rather than in line with the shaft, as a drill press is designed to function. When that happened I just bought another (actually I usually had a back up sitting new in its box ready to set up and continue production). You might prefer to pay more for a heavy-duty drill press from other sources. So there you are. Less than $100 and you can expect proven professional results with minimum time and effort.

A deal has been done. Lobo Gun Leather will be going forward under new ownership in November, 2015.

Sorry if I annoyed you in some way. I deal with this issue with customers all the time. Most people just don't understand that in order to pattern a holster you must have the firearm (or close replica), in order to form the holster you must have the firearm (or close replica), that not every gun now offered or ever made is available as a dummy, or that dummies are not manufactured primarily for the use of holster makers. Lots of folks think that if a firearms manufacturer offers something the holster makers can produce holsters for it. Some folks think that a holster maker must have everything ever made to be in the business. When S&W started offering the Model 66 with 4.25" barrel some time ago (intended for the Canadian market, with some production sold in the US) I had a customer tell me that I would have to get one if I wanted his business. Since no dummies are made of that variation the customer was exactly right; if I wanted to complete his order I would have to spend hundreds of dollars for the revolver. Ruger has offered the GP100 with 4" barrel for years, and recently added a 4.2" barrel to meet Canadian requirements. We are seeing some of those show up in the US market, and no dummies are offered. Lots of holster makers receive inquiries from people who have handguns that are not commonly seen or available. Some folks have handguns that have been custom made or modified from original specifications. There are also hundreds and hundreds of after-market products (laser sights, tactical lights, custom grips, custom safety levers and slide releases), all of which can complicate the business of finding a holster for a specific set-up. Any attempt to service every possible market segment or demand will run up against the brick wall of cost vs. benefit. Again, I have been a bit lengthy with this response, and I have probably annoyed someone again.

What we commonly refer to as "dummy guns" are produced by several companies (Rings, ASP, Duncans are the most frequently encountered). These products are actually made primarily for training of law enforcement, security, and military personnel. Use by holster makers is a secondary market area. Dummy guns are usually offered only for current production handguns that have achieved a significantly large market share. That usually requires a year or more after a handgun is introduced. Most handgun models are never offered or available as dummies simply because of low market share. Of the 500-plus different handgun models now offered less than 100 are available as dummies. The S&W 500 series is a highly priced and low production handgun. It is not likely to ever be offered as a dummy gun. If you wish you may purchase one of the S&W revolvers, then send it to Duncans Outdoors where they will make a mold and cast dummies for you. I think the minimum order is 6 pieces to cover the mold making, etc. So you would have about $300 in the dummy guns, another $120 to $150 in shipping costs to send the S&W there and get it back, and the price of the S&W revolver (MSRP $1,369, plus sales taxes). Shouldn't add up to more than about $2,000 to get six brand new dummy guns, and you can probably sell 5 of those for about $50 each. Of course, once you have purchased the new revolver you no longer have need of a dummy gun, do you?

Most of the earlier XD-9, XD-40, and XD-45 pistols share common dimensions at most critical points, the major differences being overall length (barrel-slide group) and grip-frame dimensions. The later XD-M series introduced an entirely different slide profile and a few minor dimensional differences. The only thing I am absolutely sure of is that when I think I have it all figured out they will promptly announce another "new and improved" version. Happens every few weeks.

Many customers have strong preferences for or against certain things. Lots of folks insist on suede linings and won't consider any holster without it. Unless you are willing and capable of convincing the vast majority of the buying public that one way to do something is definitively better than another way all you will be accomplishing by refusing to provide suede linings is to send potential customers to another source. There is really no big problem with suede holster linings. The problem comes along when people leave their fine firearms stored in leather holsters or cases over long periods of time. As long as the firearm is removed from the holster after each use, wiped down properly (oily rag or silicone-treated cloth), and stored separately from the holster there should never be any problem. All suede leather is produced by tanning methods utilizing chemical salts (chrome tanning, aniline process, etc) and residual chemical salts remain in the leather. These can readily go into solution with water (precipitation, perspiration, ambient humidity) and are capable of etching metal (blued steel, nickel plated steel, stainless steel, Parkerizing, manganese phosphate, etc) which can result in corrosion and damage over time. All leather items (vegetable tanned, chrome tanned, brain tanned, or rawhide) will absorb and retain moisture, so the only viable protection is regular cleaning and proper storage practices.

I must admit that I have no experience with the Ferdco machines. I have had about 5 years experience using the Cobra Class 4 from Cobra Steve at Leather Machine Company. After about 9,000 products completed (holsters, belts, accessories) the Cobra Class 4 continues to function flawlessly. I am constantly amazed at how little maintenance attention this machine requires. When a couple of little things have come up I know I can call and either Steve will answer the phone personally or he will have a qualified tech there to answer the phone and I will be walked through any needed adjustments. You can buy a machine from any number of sources. You will not find any source that will provide the level of customer service that Leather Machine Company will deliver. Best regards.

Nice old High Standard HD! Very popular .22 target pistol from the 1930's until about 1960 or so. Interestingly, during WW2 the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) issued a variation of this pistol equipped with a suppressor (silencer) to some field operatives. Basically, a close range assassination pistol.

There is a sure cure for stupid, but there are also strict laws prohibiting homicide.

You will receive at least as many opinions about neatsfoot oil as the number of people you ask. Neatsfoot oil is rendered from the lower legs and feet of cattle. Some describe it as being "cow oil", which is pretty accurate. Neatsfoot oil compound is a combination of neatsfoot and mineral oil, typically a bit less expensive than straight neatsfoot. Neatsfoot oil has been used to finish and preserve leather for many years. One of the traditional finishing methods used by saddle and harness makers was to heat neatsfoot oil until it would melt beeswax, then use the mixture warm. The oil penetrates and infuses the leather fibers while the beeswax seals the surface and can be buffed to a soft luster. The vegetable tanning process removes just about all of the natural moisture in the hide. The wet-forming process used in holster making stretches and stresses the leather fibers into the desired shapes. Leather so formed is very rigid. Since a holster must flex to some degree during use (on the belt as the body moves, when the handgun is holstered or drawn) this presents the possibility of the leather fibers cracking or tearing, whether completely through or only within the structure of the leather. Some of us (myself included) believe in the use of a modest treatment with neatsfoot oil as a means of replenishing a bit of the natural moisture removed during the tanning process, thus providing the finished holster with the ability to flex without cracking or tearing (or significantly reducing that possibility). The oil should be applied in moderation, and only once as the first step of the finishing process. I do this using a 1" paint brush dipped into the oil, then brushed over only the outer surfaces (top grain side) because application to the flesh side results in very rapid absorption and less control over the amount applied. The oil is absorbed into the leather (I call this "settling") and spreads itself evenly throughout the piece, a process that usually takes several hours (I leave it overnight before going forward with sealing and finishing). Neatsfoot oil can certainly be overdone, leaving any leather article limp and useless. Properly applied the oiling works as described above, with the finished holster remaining solid in the formed condition. Others will argue strongly against any use of neatsfoot oil. All I can say is that I've been doing things this way for 43 years, with tens of thousands of finished products delivered to customers in all 50 US states and 33 other countries so far. YMMV.

My usual recommendations are to avoid all oily or greasy products, touch up scratches and scrapes with leather dye, and use only a light application of neutral shoe polish on exterior surfaces. Obernauf's makes a good wax product for leather maintenance, Johnson's Paste Wax is pretty good, Renaissance Wax is pretty good, but all of these can be overdone, especially if applied too heavily or too frequently. Any holster will wear out with enough use. As a holster ages and is used the leather will gradually become more and more flexible, the leather fibers at points of stress and flexing will become stretched and start to break down. The only way to avoid these results is to put the holster away somewhere and not use it. When a holster has worn to a point that it no longer performs as intended it is time to retire that holster. I know of several holsters that I made 30 to 40 years ago that are still in use, but those have invariably been holsters that have not been used for every day carry. I have holsters that I have used for 5 years or more that still function quite well. When I was a working cop I wore out a few holsters and belts over years of daily use.I doubt there is any strict rule on longevity for leather holsters; the factors of materials, construction methods, user's habits, exposure to the elements, all play a part in determining this. Then there are individual customers and their practices. Like the guy who complained that his holster had gone limp and lost all retention, sent it back to me, and it was determined that he used gasoline to clean it. Some others used baseball glove grease, neatsfoot oil, lanolin, aloe vera, and Lord knows what else to "improve" their holsters, or because they heard or read somewhere that was how it should be done. I remember one who kept his holster on the dashboard of his truck all day every day, then found out what long term exposure to direct sunlight and heat can do to leather.

I call them chew toys.

Very well said.

Here is another one just coming out of the shop. Threepersons, lined, floral carved with black inked background.

Over the years I have had many requests for holsters equipped with the traditional hammer thong retention device. I have noticed that very few people seem to understand how the thong is supposed to work. Basically, a simple loop of leather thong that fits over the hammer spur to keep the revolver in the holster during strenuous activities, but can be taken off easily to allow rapid access to the revolver when needed. I use a thong cut from 7/8 oz. cowhide about 1/8" in width. This needs to be long enough to allow connection to the holster and form the loop slightly longer than the hammer spur rises above the holster mouth. I mount the thong with two holes punched into the back side of the holster in line with the point where the cylinder and frame meet. Tips of the thong can be cut on a slight taper to ease passage through the holes. Holes need to be slightly undersize so that the thong is held securely. In use the thong is not tightened down to where it must be forced over the hammer spur. The thong is left a bit longer to ease the process of securing and releasing the revolver. For good retention the thong is just twisted a time or two with the fingers, which places tension on the leather and keeps it securely in place while allowing easy removal with the thumb or fingertip. Photos show the Threepersons style holster with traditional hammer thong made for a Colt Single Action Army revolver.

A few simple facts about the holster business: 1. New handgun models are introduced all the time, and each new handgun model can be expected to result in some level of holster demand. Whether that demand will continue will not be known for some time. Some will remain popular while others will just seem to fade away. 2. Dummy guns are usually offered only for current production handguns that have achieved a significant market share. That frequently takes a year or more before any of the dummy makers commit to making them. Most handguns will never be offered as dummies. Any handgun that goes out of production is likely to be dropped by the dummy manufacturers. 3. There are a lot of handguns that have been out of production for some time, but there may be millions of them still in use. Holster demand for some of the older handguns can be greater than demand for any of the newer models. I remember when Sig introduced the P238. There was significant demand for holsters, but no dummies available, so I bought the pistol. Used it to fill several dozen orders. Then Sig changed the design (thicker slide profile) so my piece was essentially worthless for my purposes. Since then demand for the P238 has dropped quite a bit, and I receive only a few requests per year. I have dropped it completely and sold the pistol. Dummies are available now, but the level of demand doesn't seem to justify even that. S&W Bodyguard .380 and Ruger LCP came along with big splashes, but after a year or two the demand for holsters has dropped off sharply. I remember when the German police surplus H&K P7 PSP pistols were imported in large numbers. Quite a bit of demand for holsters and no dummies available. I purchased the pistol (excellent piece, very collectible and quite valuable) and used it to fill dozens of orders. Since then the market has dried up, but the pistol I bought is worth double what I paid for it. I remember when Soviet bloc 9X18 Makarov pistols were coming in by the tens of thousands. Lots of holster demand, and a good pistol (Russian, East German, Bulgarian, etc) could be had for well under $100. Bought the pistol and filled many orders with it. Couple of years ago Glock introduced the Model 42. Lots of demand and no dummies readily available. I bought the new Glock 42, used it to make dozens of holsters. Now the demand has tapered off a lot, and the new Glock 43 is all the rage. But I have to say that there is no pistol introduced over the past 20 years that has caused more holster demand than many handguns that have been around for 100 years or more, some of which are still in production. Despite all of the propaganda and advertising on the super-duper new semi-autos, the number one seller in my shop is the J-frame Smith & Wesson revolvers (about 30% of all orders). That is followed closely by the N-frame, L-frame, and K-frame revolvers (about equal demand). Rugers (GP100, SP101, LCR, Blackhawk) produce a solid stream of orders. Colt revolvers (Python, Trooper, Detective Special, Cobra) are in steady demand. My Colt Single Action Army revolvers see more use in the holster shop than most of the modern stuff, and that design dates back to 1873. The S&W Model 39 has been discontinued for about 30 years, but it still sees more use in the shop than anything introduced in the past 25 years. 1911-style pistols are being produced by more than a dozen manufacturers on several continents, and in a wide variety, and those remain a strong seller all the time. Browning Hi Power (FN Model of 1935) is used several times every month. I could list several more, but I think this illustrates things well enough. I can see two possibly viable business plans: 1. Take advantage of the spike in demand for every new model brought out by the major players (Glock, Sig, H&K, S&W, Ruger, etc). Steal the march on the market, don't wait for the dummy makers to make their decisions, just order the new gun, advertise that you have it, and take the orders. If demand falls away in a year or two you still have the handgun, which should retain most, if not all, of its value. 2. Monitor demand for 6 months or a year, then decide whether or not to proceed. If a dummy becomes available that makes it easier ($45 to $60), but if there is enough demand go ahead and buy the gun ($400 to $1000). Ride the wave as long as it lasts. You will know that you are missing out on some orders early on, but you will have a better assurance of continuing demand (and greater likelihood of a dummy) if you wait a while. The used dummies may bring a few bucks, while the actual handguns will hold their value quite well. Either way, if you are doing this as a business the cost for your equipment is a tax-deductible business expense. Essentially, a good portion of the expense is saved in reduced taxes on income. This assumes, of course, that you are doing enough volume to produce taxable profits. If not then it isn't a business, it is a hobby. But even a hobby is better when it can cover its own costs. Making such decisions will be a lot easier if you have a plan.

Very nice work.

If the leather takes the shape and holds it then it is probably veg-tanned. By the way, boiling water will damage leather. For wet forming I usually use water at room temperature or right out of the tap, or moderately warm during the winter (primarily for my comfort).

Doing business on-line via website the past several years, it has been my experience that there will always be orders placed that will not be completed by the customer. People change their minds, they forget, they sell or trade the gun for which the holster was requested, or they find something elsewhere before the order is completed. My records show that this occurs in 4% to 5% of all orders (and this is true for both new customers and repeat customers). Because of this my policy is very simple; nothing is made before the order has been paid for. I will not cut leather before payment has been received. It is not just being stuck with a product that is no longer wanted or needed (just about everything will sell eventually, although frequently at a discounted price). When I spend the time completing an order that time can never be recovered. Every other customer with a pending order waits longer because of those who place orders and do not complete the transactions. At a 4% rate I would end up working 2 weeks every year for nothing while losing potential business from others who cannot or will not wait longer for their orders to be filled. There is a very real and measurable difference in order volume as the waiting time increases. As for purchasing dummy guns to complete orders, I never make those decisions based on a single order. New handgun models are introduced just about every week, and each new piece results in some level of demand for holsters. Some will remain in demand, but many will not. Unless I can see a significant and ongoing demand I will not consider adding another gun. About 5 years ago there was a surge in demand for the Sig P238. No dummies were offered so I ordered the pistol. Used it to fill dozens of orders. Then Sig chose to change the P238 (new slide dimensions) making my pistol useless for the new guns. The pistol sat in my safe for a year without use, and was eventually sold. About 3 years ago Glock announced the new model 42 (subcompact .380). Holster demand was strong so I bought the pistol and filled dozens of orders for a year or so. Then demand dropped off sharply (I don't recall a request for the Glock 42 in over a year). Now Glock has introduced the new Glock 43, and I expect the cycle to repeat itself. Ruger LCP and LC9, S&W Bodyguard .380, Kimber Solo, and a number of others provided similar experiences. Considerable demand for a relatively short period following introduction followed by little or no demand. Frequently by the time Rings or Duncans gets around to producing dummies the demand for holsters has tapered off significantly. One of my regular customers really wanted a holster for his Taurus 85. Rings offers the Blue Gun, but demand is so small I didn't really care to buy it. So I offered to make the holster for him if he purchased the dummy, then kept it for my shop. Basically he got a $65 holster for the price of a $45 dummy gun, and I got the dummy gun for a few bucks worth of materials and a little of my time. Since then I have continued to receive holster orders for it several times per year. I also have a dozen or more dummy guns that have sat around unused for several years. Those have little or no value now. At least with the real guns I have something with significant market value (Sig sells to recognized holster makers at very attractive prices. Glock offers their law enforcement discount to retired cops, so I can save a chunk of money on new Glocks). With the prices of quality firearms generally increasing all the time the real guns can be a good investment while also serving as forming pieces in the shop. A dummy gun can pretty much pay for itself with the first holster order. The actual firearm has a longer pay-back time (6 or 8 holster orders) but usually retains its value or increases in value over time.

Some manufacturers use presses (hydraulic or pneumatic) for the forming process. The dampened holster with gun mold inserted is placed between pads of a variable-density material, then pressed together under pressure measured in thousands of pounds. This can result in great detail in forming the leather to the gun mold. A similar process can be applied in smaller shops. If you will do a forum search for "holster press" you will find a number of examples. Apparently my earlier post has been misinterpreted. Holsters are not formed from the inside, the leather is molded and modeled from the outside against the dummy gun (gun mold). What I was trying to convey is that the purpose served is fitting the interior of the holster to the details of the gun, which is accomplished by applying pressure from the outside.

And those who get all of their legal advice from the internet will get full value for their legal costs. I stand by my earlier comments. Separate the business from your personal finances by creating a corporate entity, and carry a good business insurance policy. If a problem ever arises let the lawyers deal with it, preferably at the insurance company's expense. Anything less is just gambling with everything you own on the table all the time.

Boning refers to the use of a variety of tools to fit the leather holster as closely as possible to the details of the handgun shape. Originally such work was done using polished pieces of bone, antler, or ivory; today it is more common to use formed and polished pieces of hardwood or plastic. Basically, boning is done during the wet-forming process. The leather must have moisture content within a fairly narrow range; too wet and it will not retain the shaping, molding, and boning, and too dry it cannot be shaped, molded, or boned effectively. Probably the most critical aspect of this work is learning that point at which the boning can be done effectively. It is easy to over-work a piece during the forming and boning process. Multiple passes of the tool can result in a sloppy result. A single pass, performed at the right stage of moisture content and temperature, will result in nice clean impressions. Another factor that too many people seem to overlook is that the goal is closely fitting the holster to the details of the handgun, resulting in maximum retention qualities in the finished holster. The appearance of the holster exterior is actually secondary to the fitting of the holster interior to the handgun's shape and profiles.

The earliest recorded use of curbside recycling occurred in medieval towns with tanneries. Crews were sent out with carts every morning to collect each resident's containers of "night soil" which was transported back to the tannery for use in tanning hides for leather. The use of urine and feces in tanning processes continues to this day, and is prevalent on several continents. Most of the leather offered for sale in the US is imported, and there is seldom any way to determine where it came from or what method of tanning was used. I trust the products of Hermann Oak Tannery and Wickett & Craig Tannery, as well as the veg-tanned horsehide produced by Horween's Tannery. I do not trust anything else, even when it is offered by Harbor Freight or Tandy's or Hobby Lobby. Your methods may vary.

Rick: Feel free to make what use you can from my handcuff pouch. Pretty easy to make. Recommend 7/8 oz. leather for durability.

I have been manufacturing holsters, belts, and related accessories since 1972. Business is located in Pueblo, Colorado (population 108,000, semi-arid southwest US location, consistently rated as having among the lowest costs of living in the US). This has been a part-time business for many years as I completed a career in law enforcement, and has been full-time the past 8 years. Customers in all 50 US states and 33 other countries so far. 13 holster designs (several unique, not available from other sources) plus belts and accessories provide a very broad product line-up. Assets include a website (currently drawing 1500-plus hits per week), equipment (including Cobra Class 4 stitcher, hand tools, shop fixtures), leased production shop (about 8 months remaining on current lease, should be no difficulty in renewing), all supplies, trade name, and excellent business reputation (approx. 30% of new orders are repeat customers, along with many referrals). Solid cash flow and order volume. Low fixed operating expenses and excellent profitability (approx. 85% gross profit margin). I am considering a sale due to retirement, not because of any business problems. I have just reached a point where it is time to slow down. Requires a person with good basic skills in leather crafting, some artistic abilities, good management skills, and the ambition and drive required to work long hours for a good income and future. I envision a transition period of 6 months to one year during which I will remain active in the business, teaching and mentoring the new owner, after which I will remain available for consultation and assistance as long as necessary and as long as I am able. Willing to discuss outright sale at a reasonable price, or consider a multi-year lease-purchase arrangement. Price and terms are negotiable. Interested parties may contact me via the website www.lobogunleather.com using the contact page. Further discussions may be done by telephone. Site visit and verification of assets, orders, and financials can be arranged for qualified persons.