Curious how you handle special order holsters

[CaptQuirk]

Thanks to all for your opinions. I haven't been out right charging anybody for the molds, but padded a little in for the shipping That is less than $10 usually, unless they want to speed things up. But, I was talking to someone a while back, and they had asked if I was charging the customers anything for the molds I had to order. They suggested that I should recoup at least part of the cost. So, I just thought I would see how the rest of the world is doing things.

[bikermutt07]

The tooling charge is a good way to look at it. A few dollars on each order for just that purpose (I see) is feasible. And think how many holsters you will sell, and the tooling fee isn't needed for a mold. Then you can apply it elsewhere in the shop. New splitter, sewing machine, whatever.

I won't ramble today.

[OLDNSLOW]

Another way of looking at is that the ROI on that tool, at the end of the year regardless of it being a money maker or just another low ROI on that one sale is the fact that the original purchase is tax deductible as a tool needed for the business.  and yes tools are deductible as they are an important factor in doing business.  so why should the client pay for it when you get to right it as the cost of doing business, just like using a portion of the house, garage, or what ever other space you use is deductible as it contributes to the P & L of the business.

[TrooperChuck]

When I first started my shop I had no mold guns, so I had to take in the customer's gun in order to make their custom holster.  But, I soon found out it is illegal to do that!

Unless you have a Federal Firearms License you can not legally take a gun from the customer to make their holster!  As ridiculous as is sounds, taking a customer's gun and then giving it back to them after you make the holster is considered a "transfer" and to legally transfer a gun nowadays you need an FFL.  Crazy!  I know.  But, it's the world we live in nowadays.

So, I ended up getting myself an FFL, but I am also now buying mold guns to add to my collection of tools.  So, I've had to add a couple dollars to the cost of my holsters to help offset the cost of the mold guns.  Some mold guns can be used for a variety of gun models.  For instance, if you buy one Colt single action revolver mold gun you can use that to make holsters for any of the Colt clones and Ruger Vaqueros.

 

[CaptQuirk]

@TrooperChuck- What can I say? I like being a rebellious outlaw. I also tore the tags off of my mattress, and there is nothing they can do to stop me!

[Dwight]

I generally rely on my own personal stock of guns, . . . some blue guns, . . . and some pine derby guns.

My pine derby guns are literally made of pine, . . . mostly southern yellow pine, . . . from a left over piece of 2 x 10 or 2 x 12 or some such.

They are dimensionally very close to the real thing, . . . and I have never had a problem so far with them.  

Part of that comes from the model making stuff I used to do, . . . and part comes from my carpentering skills and tools aquired over the years.

It works, . . . that is what counts.

May God bless,

Dwight

[CaptQuirk]

@Dwight- That is a pretty impressive skill.

[Bolt Vanderhuge]

3 hours ago, TrooperChuck said:

When I first started my shop I had no mold guns, so I had to take in the customer's gun in order to make their custom holster.  But, I soon found out it is illegal to do that!

Unless you have a Federal Firearms License you can not legally take a gun from the customer to make their holster!  As ridiculous as is sounds, taking a customer's gun and then giving it back to them after you make the holster is considered a "transfer" and to legally transfer a gun nowadays you need an FFL.  Crazy!  I know.  But, it's the world we live in nowadays.

So, I ended up getting myself an FFL, but I am also now buying mold guns to add to my collection of tools.  So, I've had to add a couple dollars to the cost of my holsters to help offset the cost of the mold guns.  Some mold guns can be used for a variety of gun models.  For instance, if you buy one Colt single action revolver mold gun you can use that to make holsters for any of the Colt clones and Ruger Vaqueros.

 

In Washington that is true but there are many states where it is not. Here in AZ we do NOT need an FFL to transfer a gun between private citizens.

Edited February 2, 2017 by Bolt Vanderhuge

[bikermutt07]

6 hours ago, Bolt Vanderhuge said:

In Washington that is true but there are many states where it is not. Here in AZ we do NOT need an FFL to transfer a gun between private citizens.

Can the same be said for a business? I think this is where the atf throws in the monkey wrench.

[TrooperChuck]

Unfortunately, I don't know what other states require.  I suspect Bikermutt is correct in that there may be different rules for private vs. business transfers.

CaptQuirk:  You rock!  I'm gonna go upstairs and tear the tag off my mattress right now!  Just to show how hip I am, I might even live stream my outlaw-ness on Facebook!

Dwight:  Carving some dummy guns out of wood sounds like a good idea!  thanks