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Okay, still trying to clean up a bit as I go... meaning without actually shutting down to clean. Making progress, getting stuff back where it should go. Here's the thing, though... HOW MANY times have we seen Stohlman's 'How to Make Holsters' book quoted, clipped, recommended, borrowed, sold ... and that's just on THIS forum. I've had a copy (at least one) of that book for years. But I rarely see it.. over in that pile of other patterns and carvings and such. So I went through it, be sure there aren't tracings or other patterns between the pages (hey, I want EVERYTHING where it's supposed to be). And there it is.. in the intro... Al wanting to give "a special thanks to my wife, Terry ...." Wait.. what???? I thought Mrs. Stohlman was ANN. Maybe her name is Terry Ann, and she goes by Ann? Is it marketing (Al n Ann)? Was he married more than once? Is there a reason I never noticed that (normally pretty thorough)? Is it even my business? But more to the point ... gotta 'skirt' the issue a bit, because I'm thinking there are copyright issues involved: So, if I SELL patterns -- how much do I need to ALTER a previously available one before it's not considered "copy-ing"? I mean, if you do a rose, and I do a rose, and they're similar -- it may appear to be a copy when in fact one person may not have seen the other. For this reason, I don't sell carving designs. If I make one, it's for me or someone I know. But we see carving designs offered for sale all the time. Always somebody wanting to sell us something -- whether we need it or not! And flipping through the pages of that vintage book, THERE is that carving design I've seen again and again (without even looking for it). I kept seeing slight variations of the SAME pattern, and in time I started thinking I KNOW I've seen that before. Then I'd go back to not really having an opinion, since I don't sell them and I don't buy them. THE QUESTION THEN: Is it legal to use the design to make holsters? Of course .. that was the point of the book. But we all agree that it would NOT be legal to reproduce the PATTERN and sell it. Since the designs exceed 50 years old, some will tout "vintage" and "public domain" -- but that book is still in production. So if I scan it, and use software to "smoosh" it a bit this way and that... is this a copyright issue? Can I "smoosh" it, and then claim copyright protection for my 'smooshed" pattern, even though created by someone else? Not gonna post the thing -- for the reasons I just gave -- but somebody look at page 18 of that book and tell me you don't see that design in a dozen slight "variations".

Hello everyone! I'm looking for some input regarding an OWB holster that either clips on or snaps on. The goal is to make it quick to take on and off. The pro's/con's as I see them thus far are: the snap-on is slower on & off but would likely be easier on the garments (belts, pants, etc) whereas the clip-on would be quicker on & off but the metal clip might be harsher on the clothes. I've done a bit of scouring on LW.net on this topic but nothing too specific has turned up. As you can see from my post count, I'm a green-horn "newb" (LOTS of looking/listening/reading, not much talking)...any wisdom to be imparted would be appreciated! Chris