Members troop Posted April 29, 2009 Members Report Posted April 29, 2009 i have been making several holsters in the past few months (about 15). the problem is that being custom made i have to use the customers gun to mold in the holsters. if i am going to branch out this won't be as possible. other than the blue and red training guns i have found online, does anyone know where to get gun molds for this purpose? thanks, tony Quote The hand that feeds you also puts the chains around your neck.
Contributing Member Jordan Posted April 29, 2009 Contributing Member Report Posted April 29, 2009 One option would be to purchase a weapon direct from the mfg. that has been rendered inoperable, usually a defective mfg process in some way causes an unsalable item and rather than scrap them they sell them as non-firing replicas. I have seen some occasionally for 75 to 100 dollars. Other than that the customers gun, rings blue or duncan aluminum dummies would be needed. Also a benevolent gun shop owner may let you spend some quality time with their inventory to make some patterns and test fits. Quote
Members troop Posted April 29, 2009 Author Members Report Posted April 29, 2009 One option would be to purchase a weapon direct from the mfg. that has been rendered inoperable, usually a defective mfg process in some way causes an unsalable item and rather than scrap them they sell them as non-firing replicas. I have seen some occasionally for 75 to 100 dollars. Other than that the customers gun, rings blue or duncan aluminum dummies would be needed. Also a benevolent gun shop owner may let you spend some quality time with their inventory to make some patterns and test fits. thanks, i am thinking the blue guns are the least expensive way to go. Quote The hand that feeds you also puts the chains around your neck.
Members K-Man Posted April 29, 2009 Members Report Posted April 29, 2009 Blue guns generally have the better detail and are truer to size of the original gun. The red ASP guns are out of spec more times than not. The aluminum guns from Duncan will do okay, but oftentimes require some additional attention to clean them up. There are some dummy guns for sale in the "for sale" section here on the forum. There may be some in there that you can snag for a good price. Quote
Members troop Posted April 29, 2009 Author Members Report Posted April 29, 2009 Blue guns generally have the better detail and are truer to size of the original gun. The red ASP guns are out of spec more times than not. The aluminum guns from Duncan will do okay, but oftentimes require some additional attention to clean them up.There are some dummy guns for sale in the "for sale" section here on the forum. There may be some in there that you can snag for a good price. very nice....thanks K-man! will check em out. Quote The hand that feeds you also puts the chains around your neck.
Members ABC3 Posted April 29, 2009 Members Report Posted April 29, 2009 Try Roper's Supply in MS. $35.95 is the best price I've found. Quote NRA Member Certified Firearms Instructor www.agcustomgunleather.com
Randyc Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 Hey Guys, On March 17th I ordered a Blue Gun from a police equiptment supplier. I paid around $36.00 for the mold. I was told it would be shipped within a week and a half. My credit card was charged for the order. On Monday I called the supplier and was told they were scheduled to receive the shipment from Rings on May 11th. I found out that most suppliers don't actually stock all of the Blue Gun model. Around 3 weeks ago I ordered a different model Blue Gun directly from Rings Mfg. I was told I would have the mold in 2 weeks. Still no molds. Now I can't deliver on the holsters I've promised my customers and I'm falling behind on my projected build times. I can't do much about Rings manufactoring times, but I sure would like to find a reseller who would be up front about delivery times. Randy Quote Randy Cooley Bulldog Custom Gun Leather www.bulldogleathercompany.com
Members ABC3 Posted April 30, 2009 Members Report Posted April 30, 2009 Hey Randy, What are you looking for. I know how it is when your back is to the door. I don't have any for sale but I'll loan you what you need if I have it. Let me know. Quote NRA Member Certified Firearms Instructor www.agcustomgunleather.com
Lobo Posted April 30, 2009 Report Posted April 30, 2009 This subject seems to come up pretty frequently. Rings, ASP, Duncan's, they all share certain qualities: none is perfect, no one seems to be able to deliver within a reasonable time, they seem to be rather expensive (considering what they are, how they are made). For the smaller-volume holster makers what seems to be needed is a rental service, or perhaps a cooperative formed to acquire and share dummy guns to members as needed. Interesting concept there. Personally, I would be happy to loan out a forming piece, except that while it is loaned out I don't have it on hand to use, so this could actually cost me business. I suppose I'll just continue ordering additional dummies as I need them. After all, the first holster sold pays for the dummy, so the cost isn't all that big a deal. Actually, for some older out-of-production handguns (for which no one makes dummies, and for which many holster-makers no longer make holsters) I have purchased used handguns in the $250 to $400 price range to use for forming holsters. I have done this several times, and in each case the cost of the handgun was recovered in holster sales within a few months. So, I have added to my gun collection while writing off the cost as a business expense. Quote Lobo Gun Leather serious equipment for serious business, since 1972 www.lobogunleather.com
Members Shorts Posted April 30, 2009 Members Report Posted April 30, 2009 Hey Guys,On March 17th I ordered a Blue Gun from a police equiptment supplier. I paid around $36.00 for the mold. I was told it would be shipped within a week and a half. My credit card was charged for the order. On Monday I called the supplier and was told they were scheduled to receive the shipment from Rings on May 11th. I found out that most suppliers don't actually stock all of the Blue Gun model. Around 3 weeks ago I ordered a different model Blue Gun directly from Rings Mfg. I was told I would have the mold in 2 weeks. Still no molds. Now I can't deliver on the holsters I've promised my customers and I'm falling behind on my projected build times. I can't do much about Rings manufactoring times, but I sure would like to find a reseller who would be up front about delivery times. Randy Yeah, everything I've ever ordered came directly from Rings. I've only had one item back ordered. To my surprise is was a Beretta 92F. I did not receive any word about a back order. I learned of it after I emailed an inquiry a month after the order was placed. I thought that was rather poor way of doing business. Fortunately I wasn't on a deadline, but had I been, things would not have been pleasant. Randy I hope your items come through. Quote
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