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I am trying to decide whether the "Duke" Holster pattern I worked on over the weekend is close or not. I would like to gather some responses on whether you think it is close or not? I posted a picture of the original being worn by the Duke himself. Thank you all, Vikefan

I see Sam Andrews did yet another video. I came across it by accident. NOW, he's never gonna be purdy as me, and I couldn't personally listen to that tone for extended periods. BUT, he's got some very concise and to the point demo going on that folks wanting to make their own holster patterns might want to check out. GOOD NEWS (and one of the things I like about Sam) is he doesn't spend an hour getting to the point. This video is 12 minutes 'n' change, and involves more useful info that some spending an hour and a half ... But, Sam - friend - manila folders were big in the 70's ... but now there's 10 places in town that will sell you card stock by the ream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PdKDmcmu8k

Still at it. Just killin' time today between replacing the kitchen ceiling lights, scrubbing the grill, mowing the lawn, and fielding emails ...

Anybody got a pattern for a pancake style holster? S/W 29 Got an email from a guy needing one... but I don't have one and my buddy aint got one, too ... so... Wayne may have already asked this around here. Anybody help him out?

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".

Not even close to dry just yet, but here's a few of the new "models".. Tha's a Ruger LCR (top), a 642 j-frame S/W (left) and a Ruger SP101 3". All pretty good fit, meaning I like 'em about 8.5 outta 10. So the patterns will get 'tweaked' just a tad before sending. Still, very usable holsters...