Members Rayban Posted January 14, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 14, 2009 On the other side of the coin..... I just got off the phone with Chas Clements of Aurora CO. who has been working with leather for 45 years, and he was gracious and kind, and answered all my questions and then some. What a difference a day makes! R Quote Raybanwww.rgleather.net
Members HarryB Posted January 14, 2009 Members Report Posted January 14, 2009 Along these same lines, after looking at their website I e-mailed a pool cue company yesterday asking if they carried woods in different sizes than those shown on their site. Everything they offered was 16" long for pool cue handles and I was asking for "odd" size pieces 4 to 6" long for knife handles but too short for their normal use. I got a very curt e-mail stating somethin like they were in business to make money it it seemed that I was looking for scraps that I could get for a little of nothing and was told that I was wasting their time even asking! Guess what? If I order $100 or $10,000 worth of wood, it won't be from them. And I told them so but not as nicely as this! I understand that we don't all give out all of our "trade secrets" but you can say no politely and not be an ass about it. Just ranting. Quote
Members Go2Tex Posted January 15, 2009 Members Report Posted January 15, 2009 Along these same lines, after looking at their website I e-mailed a pool cue company yesterday asking if they carried woods in different sizes than those shown on their site. Everything they offered was 16" long for pool cue handles and I was asking for "odd" size pieces 4 to 6" long for knife handles but too short for their normal use. I got a very curt e-mail stating somethin like they were in business to make money it it seemed that I was looking for scraps that I could get for a little of nothing and was told that I was wasting their time even asking! Guess what? If I order $100 or $10,000 worth of wood, it won't be from them. And I told them so but not as nicely as this! I understand that we don't all give out all of our "trade secrets" but you can say no politely and not be an ass about it. Just ranting. Just curious, but why pool cues? Is it the type of wood they use? Seems you could just invest in a lathe and turn your own. I don't know, just asking. Quote Brent Tubre email: BCL@ziplinkmail.com
Members HarryB Posted January 15, 2009 Members Report Posted January 15, 2009 Just curious, but why pool cues? Is it the type of wood they use? Seems you could just invest in a lathe and turn your own. I don't know, just asking. No, the pool cue company happened to carry some very exotic woods but they were all 1 1/2" square by 16" long. I need some pieces more like 2" wide and 4" - 6" long that I can cut slab handles out of. I was willing to buy pieces that size if they had them after cutting their other pieces. Quote
JohnBarton Posted January 15, 2009 Report Posted January 15, 2009 On the other side of the coin.....I just got off the phone with Chas Clements of Aurora CO. who has been working with leather for 45 years, and he was gracious and kind, and answered all my questions and then some. What a difference a day makes! R Chas is THE MAN. I had another path I could take in life then it would have been to apprentice under Chas Clements. We did some work together once upon a time and everything he tooled for our cases sold in less than one hour of putting it up for sale with no haggling. He has stamps that go back a hundred years, custom punches from half a century ago, and the knowledge and artistry to use them in just the right way. He pretty much just does jacks and saps these days due to an injury on his hand. I am so glad that you were able to get help from him!!! Quote Support Quality. We are all humans. Buy the best no matter where it's made. That way everyone lives in harmony. Nature knows no flags.
Members Rayban Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Report Posted January 15, 2009 Chas is THE MAN. I had another path I could take in life then it would have been to apprentice under Chas Clements. We did some work together once upon a time and everything he tooled for our cases sold in less than one hour of putting it up for sale with no haggling.He has stamps that go back a hundred years, custom punches from half a century ago, and the knowledge and artistry to use them in just the right way. He pretty much just does jacks and saps these days due to an injury on his hand. I am so glad that you were able to get help from him!!! Chas seems like a very nice man...I usually avoid the Denver area when we go out to visit our son....he lives in Monument....but I will certainly try to stop by to meet him. Quote Raybanwww.rgleather.net
Members dave3 Posted July 31, 2009 Members Report Posted July 31, 2009 So How did this work out for you? Is making a sap/blackjack as easy as it seems? Quote
Members Rayban Posted July 31, 2009 Author Members Report Posted July 31, 2009 So How did this work out for you? Is making a sap/blackjack as easy as it seems? Yes Dave, I've only made a couple and the collector I made them for seemed to be quite satisfied with them. The most time consuming part of it was packing the bird shot into it before stitching it closed. But they are quite easy to make. Quote Raybanwww.rgleather.net
Members Windom Leather Posted July 31, 2009 Members Report Posted July 31, 2009 I don't want to sound like an idiot but I have to ask. What are those, and what are they used for? Quote Will Windom Windom Leather "Slow down and you will get a more harmonious outcome"- Wilford Brimley
Members Rayban Posted July 31, 2009 Author Members Report Posted July 31, 2009 (edited) I don't want to sound like an idiot but I have to ask. What are those, and what are they used for? They're called "saps", used primarily for close urban combat before guns became the weapon of choice. Cops used to carry them to subdue unruly bad guys. I understand they are now illegal to carry in most states. As I understand it, when they are filled with bird shot they are called saps, when filled with something solid, like lead, they are called blackjacks......they can also load the handle part with some spring steel....ouch! Note: the night I made that one I was showing it to the wife and started massaging her shoulders with it, she liked....scored some serious points that night! Edited July 31, 2009 by Rayban Quote Raybanwww.rgleather.net
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