Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) Here's my take on a classic. My customer ordered it in left hand for his new model Ruger vaquaro. The "copy" Colt in the pictures is mine. Anyway, I hope he likes it, I was very pleased with how it turned out, what do you all think? Thanks, Josh Edited October 4, 2011 by Josh Ashman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 4, 2011 Here's my take on a classic. My customer ordered it in left hand for his new model Ruger vaquaro. The "copy" Colt in the pictures is mine. Anyway, I hope he likes it, I was very pleased with how it turned out, what do you all think? Thanks, Josh Josh, I like it ..... a nice piece of work. I personally prefer open toe holsters ..... but that's just me. It's mainly from a lot of years of seeing the crud that collects in them over years of use. I can't see how you do your hammer thong. I make mine adjustable, but tight and fairly open .... simple to ease off with the thumb, like this one on a 'Threeperson' style BBQ holster, but firm and thight enough to serve the purpose. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reaper Report post Posted October 4, 2011 That is a sweet Rig. Your customer will love it for sure. I was looking at the John Wayne "Big Jake" Rig in a magazine just last night and your rig is just about as spot on as can be from the looks of it. I'm playing around with the Cowboy rigs now. Hope to get to this level in time, very nice.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 4, 2011 katsass, I like an open toe holster as well but as near as I can tell the ones John Wayne had made were closed toe so I went that way. Closed toe are fine too, if the holster flows and fits right it's hard to go wrong. For my hammer thongs I run a 1/4" lace with beveled edges through the holster body and tie an overhand knot with one side over the other side. Pull the knot up tight to the holster, twist the loop side several turns until the length is about right and put the end over the hammer. It's not fancy or tricky but it works well enough. Reaper, Thanks for the compliment, I hope you're right about my customer. Good luck and have fun playing with "cowboy" rigs. I sure think they're fun to make. Best regards to you both, Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) katsass, I like an open toe holster as well but as near as I can tell the ones John Wayne had made were closed toe so I went that way. Closed toe are fine too, if the holster flows and fits right it's hard to go wrong. For my hammer thongs I run a 1/4" lace with beveled edges through the holster body and tie an overhand knot with one side over the other side. Pull the knot up tight to the holster, twist the loop side several turns until the length is about right and put the end over the hammer. It's not fancy or tricky but it works well enough. Reaper, Thanks for the compliment, I hope you're right about my customer. Good luck and have fun playing with "cowboy" rigs. I sure think they're fun to make. Best regards to you both, Josh Josh, since my holsters are almost all made from two layers of leather ... bonded to each other on their flesh sides, I run the end of a thong onto a hole on the outer layer, knot it, run it up and form the loop, then down into one more hole in the outer layer, and out a second one. The friction of the two bonded (except on the thong) and stitched layers holds tight .... but the thong is allowed to be adjusted with a bit of effort. Of course a Threeperson's style holster is almost always closed toe, but as you did, I leave a little bit open to allow most of the crud to slip out. Again, very nice work. Mike Edited October 4, 2011 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 5, 2011 Mike, It sounds like your hammer thongs work very well. Nice job on your holster for the S&W, the arrowhead inlay, native symbols and finish all combine very well for a cool look. Best regards, Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Report post Posted October 5, 2011 You did a great job on the holster and the belt. There are so many variations of that style out there. This is the one that I did for a customer a while back. I do have several close up photos of a few rigs owned by John Wayne, which help a lot. Most of his were open toe holsters. Frank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 5, 2011 Mike, It sounds like your hammer thongs work very well. Nice job on your holster for the S&W, the arrowhead inlay, native symbols and finish all combine very well for a cool look. Best regards, Josh Thank you Josh for the kind comments on my holster. It was made for the local chapter of "The Friends of the NRA". The symbols you mention are replicas of western cattle brands, burned into the leather, and this holster was named 'A Tribute to the American West' . Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 5, 2011 Frank, That's a heck of a rig yourself, "great job" back at ya. I'll bet the close up's helped a lot, I knew I had the top cut too high but I hadn't realized they were mostly open toe. I guess the stitch line I was seeing was the lining, learn something new everyday. Best regards, Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattsh Report post Posted October 6, 2011 Good Job Josh. I am a huge John Wayne fan and I love this rig. What did you make the belt out of and did you reinforce the single layer behind the bullet loops or did you just leave it as a single layer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattsh Report post Posted October 6, 2011 Frank ---- Nice rig. I like the "aged" ivory grips, looks good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 6, 2011 Good Job Josh. I am a huge John Wayne fan and I love this rig. What did you make the belt out of and did you reinforce the single layer behind the bullet loops or did you just leave it as a single layer? Thanks Matt. The belt is a 7-8 oz apron split I use for "mule hide" horn wraps and it's folded around a piece of 5 oz belly leather. The finished belt is 3/8 thick yet very flexible and feels like it'd be comfortable to wear. The laced bullet loops go through the 5 oz belly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Report post Posted October 6, 2011 Thanks Josh. I appreciate it. The close up photos did help out a great deal. Matt, glad you like the grips. I thought they were fairly befitting when taking photos of the rig. I think I paid $40 for them through Western and Wildlife Wonders. Frank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted October 6, 2011 Personally, . . . I think everyone should have a "Duke" rig. I researched mine as best I could, . . . from what I was told, he liked a closed bottom, . . . and that the belt was also a money belt. Hence, . . . my version: May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh Ashman Report post Posted October 7, 2011 Personally, . . . I think everyone should have a "Duke" rig. I researched mine as best I could, . . . from what I was told, he liked a closed bottom, . . . and that the belt was also a money belt. Hence, . . . my version: May God bless, Dwight Dwight, that's a very fine "Duke" rig. I agree with you that everyone should have one and hope to make one for myself soon. Best regards, Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mlapaglia Report post Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) If you had been at the auction this weekend and had more than $77,675 you could of had an original. From the movie El Dorado owned and worn by the Duke. FYI the $77,675 was just for the belt, I couldn't find out what the holster went for. Doesn't it make you want to reach for the saddle soap and oil to save that rig? Edited October 9, 2011 by mlapaglia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
