Customized Handguns, Tactical Lights, Etc. Reality Rears Its Ugly Head Again.

[chiefjason]

As an aside, I had a guy on a local gun board want one for a TLR-1 so bad he sent me the light to work with. I had 2 requests for this light in a week. So I OK'd it with him to make 2 holsters with his light and I'll be looking to build a mock light in the process to use later. Going to mock up a CT laserguard for a G19 tomorrow too for a customer. But I don't have anything silly like a backlog of work to keep me from scrounging up work where I can. I don't turn it down until I'm positive I just cannot do it. If I was as busy of some of you guys are, I'd probably not go to all that trouble.

[immiketoo]

So, it's been interesting to see who feels what here and I have a few observations. First, Lobo clearly has been successful enough to be able to refuse an order that he would rather not bother with, and god love him for that. Second, while I still cant think of a scenario where a concealed (Read IWB) light would be necessary, I was approached by one of my detectives who wants a holster for his P220 for plainclothes carry, and I had to chuckle because of the ongoing discussion here!

Will I turn him down? No way, but, will I guarantee him it will be as slick as something without a light? No. In fact, I told him what my concerns were, most notably the bulk of carrying a full size pistol/light combo all day whilst wearing a suit. But, if he wants it I'll try it because I'm not as busy or experienced as the OP, and without trying, I'll never know if 40 years from now I should have turned it down!

[Sixer]

@ Sixer,

The retention isn't as snug as my usual work, due to the lack of detail boning in the trigger-guard area in particualar, but each holster is molded to the specific gun and light (Surefire X300 or Steamlight TLR-1) so there is still a good friction fit. You can do the upside-down shake test and the pistol won't fall out. As any officer carrying a gun-mounted light on-duty in a Safariland 6280 can attest, there's some amount of drag with the light-mounted guns, in particular due to the protrusions of the various mounting attachment tabs on the lights.

I was really skeptical that this would work at first when approached with the idea, which is why I only made the one initial working prototype after going through several design variations, and made the end-user run it for over a full year before making any others.

I initially wanted to make it with allen-screw attached loops, and may offer it that way, but his team specified no screws, rivets, or snaps.So far I have not advertised it on my web-site, because it is a labor-intensive PITA to make. For now I'm content filling contract orders for SMU teams and those few random customers that do inquire if I make such a thing.

Well it looks like you've nailed it! I made one for a friend of mine about 2 years ago. He's a local DSF agent and carries an HK 45 with a TLR-2 on the rail. At that time, making holsters was more of a hobby than a way to earn $$. I was certain to let him know that I had never made anything for a rail attachment and that he would want to wear it extensively OFF DUTY before using on duty. I don't think I ended up charging him anything for it... I know that I was personally not happy with the way it turned out. Fortunately he thought it was great... still wears it on duty, haha. I'm determined to remake it when I get time. It keeps getting pushed to the back because I hated making the first one Anyway... FANTASTIC design and workmanship on yours... there is definitely a niche market for these. That said, unless they are local, I'm still turning down any requests for guns with rail mounted accessories. Of course, I'll do it politely

[Big O]

3. When you are producing over 2,000 completed orders every year, let's talk again.

I think that one line pretty much says it all, when you explore its ramifications.

In the time it would take Lobo to build this one holster, beginning from scratch, how many holsters COULD he have made using his off-the-shelf designs? And that's ASSUMING access to the same pistol and light combo, either the customer's or a generous friend's.

In other words, how much would it COST Lobo in lost business opportunity?

I can see his reasoning. It makes perfect sense for him, with the volume of business he has.

This remains a hobby for me, so it wouldn't be an issue - for me - as long as I can have access to the pistola for the design and molding phases. But I'm handling about 1% of Lobo's volume.

[Dwight]

I have made similar holsters to what Lobo mentioned, . . . they are a pain, . . . and I really don't like doing them.

But, . . . having said that, . . . if I were in Lobo's position, . . . I'd probably pass myself.

And, . . . that is part of the fun we have in this hobby/business. Some we do, . . . some we do without.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Samalan]

Dwight has it ! imho

[Steven Kelley]

I'll have to say that I can see both sides of this discussion. My volume isn't quite as high as Lobo's, but getting close. I also maintain a full time job outside holster making. I have no help, so I make all the holsters myself. I only have 4 holster models and 4 matching magazine carriers available. Customers still request semi custom or fully custom rigs all the time. I get emails almost daily from people wanting shoulder holsters, holsters (both IWB and OWB) for weapons with attached lights, holsters with exotics that I do not stock, etc. Some just want "semi" custom work, which would include a change in cant angle, belt slots for strong side carry and crossdraw, or maybe unique reinforcement patches. I also get requests all the time for belts, which I just do not have time to make right now.

In the past, I've accepted "custom" orders for the most part without hesitation. As my volume has grown, I've come to the realization that I just can't do everything for everyone. I turn away more custom work than I accept now. It takes me approximately 3 - 4 times as long to make a fully custom holster. When I can only accept a certain number of orders per month, it just doesn't make "business" sense to do that. I can replace that one "custom" order with 4 standard offerings, which is more profitable.

When turning down a custom order, especially for something I don't really see as functional, I'm not as long winded as Lobo was in his reply, but I might be after doing this for 40 years. I had an instance just yesterday where a customer sent a picture of a holster and mag carrier they had just received from me. The holster was ordered for a 3" 1911. I made the holster to fit a 3" 1911. The customer was very happy with the holster. When I looked at the picture, the muzzle of the gun was hanging about 1/2" out of the holster. The gun was a 3.5" 1911, not a 3". I replied and mentioned that the gun appeared to be a 3.5" 1911. I have not received a reply.

[J Hayes]

Custom work is custom work, it takes more time and the charges need to reflect that. That being said is someone really going to pay you for the true value of your time? If you work typically sells for X and you can produce 3 regular holsters in the time it takes to complete 1 full on custom that you may never make again will the customer pay you 3 times X for one holster? Tough call, everbodys time is worth something. In my day job I deal with this on a regular basis (goldsmith) people want something that nobody else has, I may not like the design but they are not paying me to like it. So I figure how much time it will take and how much I can typically generate dollar wise in that time and thats what the price is. Nobody eles makes it, and there will be only one so the price is higher. Some go for it others find something close in a catalog, or find someone to do it cheaper. Also if I really don't want to do it the cost goes up a bit more, some things are just a PIA to make, and frustration adds to the price as well. BUt full on custom has it's rewards too, nobody else has done it and it's nice to be able to do something different and get paid for it!

Mark,

Those are awesome! My LE buddy wants me to make one and I may have to imitate yours slighty, I really like the renforcement on the trigger side, great thinking.

Just my .02

Jeremy

Edited December 1, 2012 by J Hayes

[lws380]

I just send an email and say, "Thanks for your inquiry, I do not make ____________ (fill in the blank). I appreciate you thinking of me".

I've learned to say no a little more and try to concentrate on my more regular business.

[SooperJake]

I'm not just blowing smoke when I said send him to me, not to use him as a guinea pig and give it a try or experiment, but because i've been working with this concept for the past few years. The original prototype of the below holsters was made for an operator friend, who ran it and tested it in the harshest of environments for over a year. After finding no flaws with it, and dubbing it one of the most comfortable IWBs he has ever worn despite it's bulk, a contract order was made for his entire team. Seeing the holster in use has led to a few other multiple contract orders for the same holster by other agencies. So it can work, and several hard-core customers who wear a pistol for much greater length of time than most CCW holders are not the least bit disappointed. The below holster has been made by me for Glocks, Sigs, and 1911s.

What, exactly, is "an operator friend"? Does that mean they work for the phone company?