chuck123wapati

If you think you can, try it with a friend then get back to me with the actual outcome not an opinion. Yes the duke would have because he has more sense than most people he also would have a secure weapon. By the way I'll post what I want to say thanks.

To those who think you can outdraw and shoot accurately before a person lands in the middle of your chest watches to many John Wayne movies. At best you will be wrestling over a half drawn gun. To those who think I'm wrong get a friend to Run at you from 10 yards, which is much farther than most altercations, and try to draw your piece( use a toy gun!) before he gets there! One last thought on personal protection the bad guy usually knows he's going to attack so wont give you 10 yards.

I use any of the leather boot waterproofing products that have mink oil/ beeswax in them, haven't had any problems, some of my personal sheaths are 30 + years old. they darken the leather a bit.

if your pattern is in metric then use metric tape if its in inches use a tape in inches. Don't try to figure out the stuff you don't need to its irrelevant and a waste of time.

Thanks for your thoughts and not putting people new to the craft down because they don't have the needed experience or talent to compete. Where I am at there is a lot of tourism in our state, as you can see I'm in Wyoming so the big thing here is western type goods. I'm not great at Stolhman type work and realize that but still I think I can produce some goods more to my experience level that fits the market I am in and at least break even. I think that is at least part of the key to starting out at least in my amature opinion. I,ve read a lot of post here that pertain to bad quality products and I agree fully that they exist, I don't think however that the bad work is intentional but just above the workers ability, everyone has to start somewhere and at some point put themselves out there if they intend to pursue this craft as a profession weather part-time or full.

I think you have very good idea and I think there would be some interest in these types of videos. I also think that the leatherworking industry Isn't as clearly defined however that one video would do it justice. On one end of the spectrum you have the people who , for whatever reason love the craft but don't feel the need to invest in thousands of dollars worth of machinery but still want to pay for their materials and maybe make a few bucks, usually only sell locally or at fairs and such,their requirements for "profitability" are much lower. On the other end you have younger folks who want to build a business and want it to pay their mortgage, bills etc. and would need to be mechanized much more to compete at that level of profitability. Defining profitability alone would be a video worth watching IMO, lets face it The stitching I do in my home is not comparable to machine made stuff, I know that, I don't do it to compete but if I do sell it I am competing in a very small way and I want to recoup my investment as well as anyone else, I feel however that I am competing with others selling hand stitched leather crafts and want to do it faster easier and cheaper than the guy in the next booth. You on the other hand are competing at a much higher level and I would say are competing on a global level. I agree there are enough how to vids on YouTube to waste a good weeks work and learn nothing but then again the educational system has taught most young folk that only an expert can give sound advice so there is a niche for you new product. When it boils down there are only a few ways to learn leatherwork, blindly do it yourself, read about it, watch someone do it or get lucky enough to be taught the trade from family or by being hired and trained.

You need to do one with ghost riders in the sky theme, I think you could make it look really good.

Thank you !!!!

I really like that backpack, Awesome work.

Outstanding work!!

looks like a 2" billeted belt with a pretty plain slim jim type holster. I was looking at some of the James boys (jessie and Frank) rigs they look similar. looks like she's totin a Remington 1858. I don't know if a SAA would give the same profile as the ejection rod is off to side instead of under the barrel loading handle of the earlier BP pistols.

I wish I could help you all that slithers around here are rattlers

I usually just use a good quality waterproofing like sno seal ,or any beeswax mink oil combo. Slightly darkens the leather. then a nice buff.

they look great !! my only suggestion is to finish or dye the leather button to match also. The middle one rocks what did you use on it?

I'm a definite apprentice wannabee but have had some shade tree sewing instruction from a plumber. PS don't touch my beer! lol

Actually I was talking about ALs work in the context of trends in the market. Then vs, now,. I don't consider myself nearly as good and I'm sure no one else would either. Most young folk buying leather wouldn't.t know Stholmans name from anyone else's unless they googled it. Now leather crafters or collectors seeing his name would buy it just because they knew who he was.

So does the market! sometimes leather is in sometimes its not! Leather was far more sought after in the western look back then, now maybe the money is in biker stuff, your cb handle story is a perfect example of trends that drive the market, Stohlman may not have done any better than us if he were in our time. But HE had a name and still has a name and his floral carvings would sell for more simply because of that, quality of leather wouldn't matter. The biggest variable in leatherwork or any of the crafts and probably the most problematic =when your work quits being just functional and becomes art, how do you price an artistic piece comparative to other people artistic endeavors? People buy products for a number of reasons, that run the course from frugality to just spending for spending sake everything in between. I think that's the best reason to pick a market, plan on selling to frugal people , rich people, bikers, whatever but don't consider others out of that target group as potential buyers. Your target group has to be able to support you and your competition by itself. What people paid back in the day is inconsequential to many other variables have changed.

Both JL and Tony have good points but I think have very different business models so have taken different approaches. Obviously very few will pay out the nose for crap, some will compare your stuff to box store items that usually aren't even leather. The first step is making the decision of what you are selling, ie stamped belts machine sewn etc, or totally handmade custom ordered belts , for example. Yes they are both belts but take different supplies, construction methods. Time, etc. , they cant be compared simply because they are belts and hold up your pants. Your ability to sell is just like any other commodity, supply and demand. First step make plan, decide on a product, find a market for your product, at that point then your pricing has to be competitive with those in the same market unless you are very famous which you aren't yet. That involves also supplies and your ability to drop your overhead, no new truck, you will be competing against those that have through the years found the cheapest sources for their supplies, quickest ways of construction with less defects and have created a name for themselves. There will always be those that want your custom handmade belt to be just as cheap as the stamped belts on the rack at Costco but they aren't buying customers plain and simple don't even think about them or vegans as real customers lol, remember you have found your target group, if it isn't big enough then you wont make it no matter how nice your work is or how much competition you have. in my experience those that have bought from me understand full well what they want and what the quality should be and the price of comparable products. If your quality of work isn't up with the apples to apples competition you wont sell as much and those that do buy wont come back and wont refer you to others at that point you have to change something quality or price.

friggin awesome!! don't forget the 12 pack! lol

I drilled my first ever stitching holes for a pistol holster the other day, glued the thing together, made sure the edge was square then used a piece of wood as a guide along the edge, with a piece under just the edge also to drill into, worked pretty well. I grooved the front first then played connect the dots with the groover on the backside, the grooves helped straighten the stitching a bit. Your sheath looks great.

Calling yourself a craftsman is easy, its when others call you a craftsman that is the defining moment I think.

really nice work!!! but I have to ask why the bolt isn't in the rifle? I use a button of elk or deer horn with one hole and a leather thong , just one half hitch around the other end of the strap and pulled tight will keep it secure and its easy to loosen.

very cool !!!!! thank you.

very cool modern moccasins lol.