Holster Maker Selling Items I Would Toss Away

[George B]

Just returned from a local gun show in Hpkinsville, TN. and I was totally flabergasted at the gun leather I witnessed being sold.

I am fairly new to gun leather, I have building for under a year now and a couple of years building western saddles. A local holster builder had a couple of tables set up with numerouse pancake holsters and such on them. I took a careful look at his work, rough, uneven and unfinished edges, cheap leather, bad dye jobs and belt loop slots that looked like they had been cut out with a chain saw. He gave me the speal about how all his holsters are handmade and how great they were compared to Galco and Bianchi, The whole time he is standing in his bare feet wearing cut off sweat shorts and a ragged sweat t-shirt with torn off sleeves telling me this, I am thinking "I would buy them over yours".

I told him I was not interested and moved on, the whole time thinking how I have tossed away holsters that were not half that bad and that the guy will starve selling his work.

OH BOY WAS I WRONG!

People were buying them! And paying a premium price!

I have booked a table today for the next show in Jan. of 2012.

I am not going to do anything with my gun leather that I am not doing now, I will not sell shoddy workmanship or junk. But I will take all of those items I have been throwing away with me and set up a seconds table at half price as they are perfectly functional with blemishes and edges or stitching that didn't turn out quite right.

I learned today that I have been way to hard on myself when judging my work. It makes me feel kinda good!

Thanks, George

[jlaudio29]

I have been trying to get my sister into leatherworking, not into the holster scene but other areas of leatherworking because i think she would enjoy the craft and she wants to start a small buisness to put up on etsy.com. So in various conversations and me showing her examples and her showing me what she has found we have now have a running joke. She will link me something and say "HANDMADE" and its usually something that is incredible horrible that I cant believe someone would be able to sleep at night knowing they actually sold that to someone for the prices they are asking. On top of that on etsy.com you can see the venders selling history to see what items they sold and for what price... my mouth drops to the floor when i see what has sold and for what price... UNREAL i have stuff sitting in my scrap bin that i think are garbage but they make it look like gold.

So the running joke is "Hey check this out its HANDMADE" we always get a good laugh out of it.

[woodandsteel]

Yeah, I've been making holsters for just under a year. I know I'm still pretty green, but I too am appalled at some of the holsters, belts, and leather work I see being sold at shows and boutiques. Just awful workmanship.

I've thought about selling my screw-ups as well, but on the other hand, do you really want those pieces representing your name, brand, and workmanship? If someone sees one of those pieces, would you want that to be their impression of your work?

[Ferg]

I have been preaching these principles of workmanship for years. I will not allow anything I made that I consider inferior out of my sight. Which means I throw away a lot of "stuff". That is just the way it is.

ferg

Yeah, I've been making holsters for just under a year. I know I'm still pretty green, but I too am appalled at some of the holsters, belts, and leather work I see being sold at shows and boutiques. Just awful workmanship.

I've thought about selling my screw-ups as well, but on the other hand, do you really want those pieces representing your name, brand, and workmanship? If someone sees one of those pieces, would you want that to be their impression of your work?

[DuaneS]

I'm very new to leather work - have yet to even try to sell anything - mostly because I consider most of my work to still be in the 'He's Still Learning' category, but I got to agree on the quality workmanship, or lack there of, that I see being sold around here and at what I would consider to be more than a premium price!

We have several local 'weekend markets' where local craftsman can show/sell their wares... One in particular sells "custom, one-off, hand made knives' with a matching "one-off Leather Sheaths"... and he asks what I would consider a very high price... His 'one-off sheaths' are garbage... poor stitching, edges not finished, poor dying work - you name it and it's wrong... His knives are ok, and if he were to put as much care into his sheaths as he does on his knives they might actually be worth what he's asking.

There is also a new store in the area and while they have a number of interesting items and a small supply of hardware and leather - the Quality Control on their hand-made items leaves a LOT to be desired. Again, it is the raw, unfinished edges, and VERY poor stitching - most of which is machine done.

[K-Man]

It seems there's a growing number of people who want to be a holster maker, and they quickly become a self-proclaimed expert, with only a few months experience. Of course, I've seen the other end of the spectrum as well - those with XX number of years experience. They're still making stuff that is poor quality, poor craftsmanship, and a hazard to wear/use. And the really sad thing in those instances is that they're passing on their haphazard skills to the next person as they extoll their experience.

I would encourage you to continue to set high standards for yourself. Don't settle for anything less. Part of that, too, is recognizing where one's skills really are. You may not be any good at making ___________________, but you sure can do an exceptional job making ____________________.

[mlapaglia]

I noticed this, bad goods sold as good, on Etsy last week. Saw a person selling belts that were not finished on the edges. I sent him an email and asked him how he burnished his edges, knowing he didnt. His reply was "Whats burnishing" I explained it to him and got an email the next day thanking me for explaining it to him. He says the belts look 100% better now and commented that he is now embarrassed about the older ones he made.

My point is sometimes people put out bad stuff because that's all they know. In this persons case he bought some blanks at TLF and they didnt tell him about how to handle the edges. Now his belts look pretty good. If you can do it, without making the person look like an idiot, education is a great way to improve someones quality of work.

My Failed Projects bin is full of stuff that is bad only because someone took the time to explain to me why it wasn't as good as I thought it was. This forum is a great place to learn that you do not know it all and there is a lot to learn. If you have the time and the opportunity mentor someone. Even if you only know a little more than they do, as is the case with me, you can help them along and improve their product.

Storing soap box away till next time.

Michael

[King's X]

There are products for every person out there. Good, bad and ugly. The people that probably bought those under par holsters were probably individuals that did not know there was anything better or people who did not want to pay the price for Bianchi, etc. There are also some people who just don't really care what it looks like so long as they "think" it will work out for them. Now, I not a professional by any means, but I hear more and more from other artisans that most people do not want to pay the $$ for what a quality item cost just to make yet make a decent profit from.

You are going to find more and more people like this guy in shorts and a t-shirt. I feel for me, like MLapaglia stated, it is my responsibility to teach others how to make their leathercraft better because down the line, it will impact each one of us as a whole. As for the guy in the short and t-shirt, I would have probably had a more in depth conversation (if he was having it) about his products to get a feel how he learned his craft. More than not, you will probably run into the guy like the one on Esty or guys that don't want to hear it.

As for presentation, I guess I am in trouble because I only wear shorts and t-shirts. I am easy to find at leather shows around all those 'real' cowboys.

I better consult my fashionista again!

[Eaglestroker]

It seems there's a growing number of people who want to be a holster maker, and they quickly become a self-proclaimed expert, with only a few months experience. Of course, I've seen the other end of the spectrum as well - those with XX number of years experience. They're still making stuff that is poor quality, poor craftsmanship, and a hazard to wear/use. And the really sad thing in those instances is that they're passing on their haphazard skills to the next person as they extoll their experience.

I would encourage you to continue to set high standards for yourself. Don't settle for anything less. Part of that, too, is recognizing where one's skills really are. You may not be any good at making ___________________, but you sure can do an exceptional job making ____________________.

I, for one, fit into the category of a relatively new holster maker. I watch a few different forums and I find it amazing not only what some people have the brass to sell, but what it sells for. All the while knowing they've only done 'X' number of holsters with ZERO testing before pushing it out the door.

My point is simply some people don't care, or as mlapaglia put so eloquently some people just need you to gently open there eyes. You don't know which unless/until you try. I've been personally effected by a few members here that have 'opened my eyes' and it makes a difference in the end result.

[DaltonMasterson]

I just started setting up at gun shows this year, and while being far from a professional, I think that my items are at the top of the list of what I have seen at most of the shows. There are a few at the bigger shows that do great work, and are probably closer to the professional side of things than mine are.

The last one I was at, there was only 2 of us, and the other guy has the aforementioned unfinished edges, poor dye, uneven cuts, etc. I asked him how he was doing at the show, and he didnt sell a darn thing. BUT, I took in orders for 10 holsters. At one of the shows this last spring, he sold quite a bit, and I sold 1 holster. Neither of us have changed procedures that I can tell. People just buy what they think they want to buy.

There is another one that lives pretty close to me that sells at a few shows, and he puts 4 or 5 layers worth of welts into his holsters, and doesnt trim the edges to match. I have tried to help him with tips, and have given him books, etc, but he refuses to change things. BUT people still buy his stuff for the same prices or more than I have mine.

Its a frustrating circle that I have since stopped letting bother me. Either people will buy my items or they will buy the junk. Eventually, they will be back to buy again, and I plan on still being there.

DM

[randypants]

Storing soap box away till next time.

Michael

[Liberty Tree]

I'm pretty new to this stuff and don't consider myself a leather worker like many of you, but something to think about. An item is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I very much doubt that digging out some one else's work is helping to perfect yours,and obviously someone is willing to pay for there work. I'm sorry if I sound rude or if this post seems like someone sticking his nose where it dose not belong, but forums like this are generally here to help permote and help better an industry or hobby,not to ridicule the work of others who's skill might not be as honed as your own. The requirements of a holster do not include being a work of art, sure it nice when they are and I enjoy quality craftsmanship as much as the next guy, but I also like to buy from locals who while maybe not museum quality are well up to the task.

Edited September 4, 2011 by Liberty Tree

[goodfella]

i have been doing shows for years and oh boy do i see some lesser quality stuf for sale i did a show in colubus ohio this weekend

there were a few other belt poeple one sold no belts the other sold 4 belts this was a 700 table show

belt wise we did 94 belts a top line product equals good sales thats my modow

[George B]

I'm pretty new to this stuff and don't consider myself a leather worker like many of you, but something to think about. An item is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I very much doubt that digging out some one else's work is helping to perfect yours,and obviously someone is willing to pay for there work. I'm sorry if I sound rude or if this post seems like someone sticking his nose where it dose not belong, but forums like this are generally here to help permote and help better an industry or hobby,not to ridicule the work of others who's skill might not be as honed as your own. The requirements of a holster do not include being a work of art, sure it nice when they are and I enjoy quality craftsmanship as much as the next guy, but I also like to buy from locals who while maybe not museum quality are well up to the task.

I can appreciate your point of view and yes at first glance I took it to be rude

and also misplaced critisism of a simple observation of what I

experienced.

It was not meant to belittle another maker, it was simply an

observation that made me question why someone would buy something of obvious

low quality.

As I stated in my title, I am new to all this as well and would

never question anothers ability.

I simply looked at what was before me and

developed "my opinion".

As far as the use of forums for discussions

like this, I make no apologies.

Last I heard, forums were for the open

discussions of a particular interest as long as the user stayed within the

rules of the forum and remained curtious.

I respect your opinion, but do not agree with it. God Bless America

George

Definition of FORUM

1a : the marketplace or public place of an ancient Roman city forming the center of judicial and public business b : a public meeting place for open discussion c : a medium (as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas

[DaltonMasterson]

I too, mean no offense to anyone, and would rather help a struggling leatherworker make a better product than belittle them.

I was saying, more than anything, that people will either buy my product, or the other guys product. I can only make a better product to sell on my table. I cant make them buy it.

DM