Any Interest In Custom Belt Slot Cutters?

[renegadelizard]

Hey all..the guy who made my belt slot cutter for holsters wanted to know if there is enough interest to start producing them...he made mine to use with an arbor press but he said he could do a handle version as well...they are made of stainless steel, 5/16 wide by 1 1/2 inches long//the cutting wall is 1/16 of an inch thick...it cuts perfect belt slots for 1 1/4, 16-18 oz gun belts...im sure he could accomodate a larger slot if needed...he said the price would be around $60...after having paid 38 for a cs osbourne that wasnt made for holster work, i jumped on it and couldnt be happier...he said he would have to a minimum of 10...here is a pic of my latest holster using the cutter...he also made me a few arbor adapters..these are aluminum shafts the fit over electric motor arbors, the ones with a flat for set screws...they step down from an outer diameter of around 1 inch to 3/8 of an inch..the 3/8 part is 3 inches long...then a piece of oak dowel 1 inch in diameter x 5-6 inches long is press fitted on the shaft and turned flat for you to finish with whatever grooves you need..im waiting on a price for those, but i think he said around 40 for those...let me know if there is any interest...

thanks

don

[Shooter McGavin]

I need one that is 1.25x.25, if he can do that with a handle, for cutting the buckle slots in a belt. Shoot me a message or something if he can do that. Thanks!

[SooperJake]

I just paid for my Weaver custom made 3/8" x 1.6" with a handle ( in shipping transit as we speak). With shipping it was a smidge over $108. The guy in the shop at Weaver's said he's already suggested to management that they make a larger belt slot punch, especially for holster makers. I gathered he was going to suggest it again.

That said, I think there is definately a market for sizes other than standard. I'd poll some holster makers before settling on a specific size. What about making a series of over-sized, or a set?

Jake

[particle]

Can you share a photo of the punch? I'd love to see it. My biggest complaint with my Texas Custom Dies punch is the thickness of the shoulders on the punch - if you don't dampen the leather prior to punching, it tears the grain of the leather. I wonder how sturdy 1/16" will prove to be over time. Probably less of an issue when used with a press.

[Eaglestroker]

I'd like one 1 5/8" long by 1/4"" wide, with handle.

[renegadelizard]

here is a pic of my cutter...ill talk to him about doing different sizes...im going to let this post kind of just run for a week or so then im going to figure out the most requested sizes...ive seen a few already for .25...just a word of on this...the double thick duty belts dont fit real well in those slots...thats why i went with the 5/16 slot, it gives the slot the clearance need to fit the belt and bend...

Can you share a photo of the punch? I'd love to see it. My biggest complaint with my Texas Custom Dies punch is the thickness of the shoulders on the punch - if you don't dampen the leather prior to punching, it tears the grain of the leather. I wonder how sturdy 1/16" will prove to be over time. Probably less of an issue when used with a press.

stainless is pretty hard...ive used it more than a few times and it is still razor sharp...

[particle]

Wow - am I correct that is a single block of steel, milled to final shape/size, including the actual angle of the blade? That's cool. Question though - how hard will that be to sharpen? It looks like the base plate protrudes past the angle of the blade, meaning you can't place it on a stone to sharpen it. Am I seeing that correctly? Since it's being milled, it might be cool if the base plate was milled parallel to the angle of the blade so when you lay the punch on the sharpening stone, the base plate acts as a guide to sharpen at the correct angle.

[rccolt45]

I woulkd be interested in getting one with a handle. Email me at landsharkleather@gmail.com if he decides to make them.

[usmc0341]

I would be interested in one to do my belt slots. I use the old punch the hole and use a chisel in the middle method now, but would love to have a punch to make it easier.

[SooperJake]

Well, that looks sharper than the one Weaver's just made for me. They sent me a dull tool, ( 8 whacks with a 4 lb maul barely managed a dent in the leather) . And, get this, I get to send it back on my dime, plus they charged me $8 more than the price I was quoted on the phone in the first place!

This is my first order ever with Weaver Leather, and probably my last.

Jake