My California Slim Jim Rig (Lots Of Photos)

[Johnny Dollar]

I've been making stuff for many years on and off but it really took off when I joined and started shooting in SASS matches. I learned how to do it from my Dad who started as something to do after coming back from overseas after WWII. He was in the Navy. I'm using all his tools plus some I’ve bought along the way. There always seems to be one more tool you need....

My most recent project was a set of holsters and belt for my Uberti 1872 open tops in .45 colt in the style of the California Slim Jim using the plans on this forum.http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19714 thanks for that!!

Anyway, I've made a few simple holsters and other things in the past but this project took on a different direction then the others.

I decided to make these lined, use some conchos and nickel spots. I glued two pieces of 5/7oz leather for the holsters and a single piece of 11oz for the belt. They are in a cross draw configuration since that how I shoot. The tooling pattern on the holsters came from the pattern in the link and the belt pattern came from an old camp chair my Dad made decades ago. The chair is nowhere to be found but the instructions were still in my leather library..... I tooled my alias initials in the center.

The belt is 3" wide and I used a forged iron buckle.

So here are the photos. The photo showing the liner being glued in looks dark. I took those with my iPad and it came out looking like that but they are lighter as in the rest of the photos.

[Red Bear Haraldsson]

Hooray! Another Jim Simmons file to download! Between him and Hidepounder, my work has climbed immeasurably. Good, clear directions and great patterns.

Now, that is some mighty fine work you have done there! I do believe when I decide to change pistols to a matched set that I will go with a pair of 1872's (for now I am running a Uberti Cattleman Hombre and an EAA Bounty Hunter, both in .45 Colt). Your guns are just too pretty for words.

Love the clean lines and smooth edges on the holsters. Fabulous work you've done. Did you put toe plugs in the holsters?

I've never been a fan of the Slim Jim holsters, but those have struck a chord in me, those are going to be my next buy, I feel it coming (along with the knot on my head the wife is going to give me!).

[Johnny Dollar]

Red Bear... thanks for the comments! Like I said, I've done lots of leather before but never anything like this. I really enjoyed this project and the fact that I use the rig probably twice a month.

To answer your question, no I didn't put a toe plug in. No real reason other then I just didn't want to. Plus going by the plans, it didn't call for it.

The nice thing about this rig is it also fits my 1860 army percussion pistols as well. I have a set of Ruger Vaqueros that I'll most likely make a set of holsters for at some point.

Oh... I feel your pain. The pain that comes from the knots on your head. My wife has given some to me a time or two.

[Bruno Rock]

Really gorgeous holsters and gun belt! Very well made! Well done!

[Colt W Knight]

You don't see those 72s very often. Very cool.

[Lizardo]

Nice rig and nice Open Tops! I plan on making at least one for my 1860 Army or Leech Rigdon.