Leathercraft

[Gunny]

There was someone recently who did leathercraft. I've looked and can't find it. I need a new holster to adapt to the open carry law here in Texas.

Rob

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

There was someone recently who did leathercraft. I've looked and can't find it. I need a new holster to adapt to the open carry law here in Texas.

Ian something, wasn't it?  IanC?

 

[Queen]

I've spent way too much time lately watching old westerns, if we had open carry I'd be sporting a full gunslinger rig in a heartbeat!

 

[frater secessus]

Maybe it was IanC.

When I got my CHL renewed I received the new style LTC card.  Still carrying concealed.

 

[LeeRevell]

Sadly no open carry in Florida. Only concealed carry. Need to get my CCW one of these days.

 

[Queen]

Sadly no open carry in Florida.  Only concealed carry.  Need to get my CCW one of these days.

I looked into it, not too expensive, but since you can carry loaded in the car and on a boat, not sure I'll bother spending the money.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

If Ian can't/won't do leather work anymore, I can recommend two companies I've done business with and am impressed with:

Milt Sparks

Simply Rugged

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I looked into it, not too expensive, but since you can carry loaded in the car and on a boat, not sure I'll bother spending the money.

I was just talking to a Sheriff in my state of Maine,  (last year Maine converted to no permit required to carry) said that getting the permit still has many advantages......affords you more legal protections in many instances, I don't remember all the details, he was talking to a group of about 15 but he said it's absolutely still worth getting.  One I remember was in regards to being pulled over.......with permit you didn't have to tell cop you were carrying, no permit you do.  Not a big issue unless you forget to tell him and it's discovered, you then committed a felony.  

Not sure what the laws are in your state, but I think they are worth having.  When reciprocity is in question in other states, I think you also have to have a permit for it to be honored.

 

[Queen]

I've jumped through all the hoops here in IL, spent a $1000 for the two of us to have the classes/fingerprints/application fees, still waiting almost four months later to get the things. It's easier in FL, but the whole stand your ground thing seems to make it easier to live without one. In IL there is distinct advantage to having one though.

 

[LeeRevell]

I looked into it, not too expensive, but since you can carry loaded in the car and on a boat, not sure I'll bother spending the money.

Yep, being able to carry in my vehicle is one reason I haven't sprung for it just yet.

 

[Gunny]

I asked a bootmaker whose shop is near the old Stockyards, an old Hispanic gentleman, how much for a holster. As I looked around his walls and saw the boots he was presenting to Presidents, sports legends and such I knew I was WAY out of my league. He said he had a 6 month waiting list for any real leather work. Price would be a 1000 for plain and up for tooling and options. Quality does not come cheap.

I thanked him for his time and left.

Rob

 

[Queen]

Wow, a grand! But you're right, only people doing quality work at higher prices are left, after everything else went overseas.

 

[IanC]

There was someone recently who did leathercraft. I've looked and can't find it. I need a new holster to adapt to the open carry law here in Texas.

Rob

Rob, although I've done quite a few holsters, they weren't the molded type. They require a blue gun to mold the leather on and it was too expensive to have all the replicas on hand for every model.  I always needed the customer's gun in front of me to make a pattern. There is a forum for leathercrafters (leatherworker.net).  There are quite a few holster makers on the forum and a section for people to post looking to have custom work done.  Check out some of their work - it runs from OK to awesome. Most of the crafters on the forum do work out of their houses so it's a lot less expensive.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Wow, a grand!  But you're right, only people doing quality work at higher prices are left, after everything else went overseas.

Milt Sparks in ID is a small, 4 or 5 person shop.  Waiting time (currently about 18 weeks) is quite reasonable for quality holsters, designed by leather workers who also carry daily and compete with handguns.  They use horsehide and exotic leather like sharkskin is available as trim.  Every time I buy a new pistol, I end up ordering a new holster and accessories from Tony.

 

[LeeRevell]

I have been getting interested in doing some knife making lately. Got a few knife blades, guards and scales from Amazon. Of course, sheaths are needed, so I am gathering material and tools for that too. Once I get my Mom's property sold, I will have time to get into these projects. In time, maybe try a pistol holster, but I need to get in some good practice first.
Finding proper heavy leather took time too. First couple tries, it was too thin for a good sheath/holster.
I am a big fan of the TV program "Forged in Fire", but that too is a bit in the future.
Dad taught me good wood working skills, but he never did smithery or leather work. Learning new skills is a good thing.

 

[Gunny]

I've never had a custom holster, just generic holsters fitted for my pistol. The gentleman that charges so much for his work is who resoles my boots, but for 100 dollars.

I like that "Forged in Fire" too, those guys work hard and hot. I bought a Kukri from Cold Steel in S Africa, not bad but still not what I wanted.

Rob

 

[hepcat]

I had a custom shop in Texas make me a horizontal double-stack basketweave magazine pouch for my 1911 magazines... wow I guess it's been over 15 years ago now. It only took him a month to get it to me. Let me dig that out. I'm pretty sure he stamped his trademark on it. I'll see if he's still around and making leather goods.

 

[Dennis]

Check this guy, Gunny. https://www.dannycollinscustomleather.com/ I have seen photos of his work before and his customers speak highly of him. He is in Oklahoma.

 

[Gunny]

Nice work. A decent price too. Thanks, Dennis

Rob

 

[Gunny]

I may be wrong on the price the man told me at The Stockyards, Memory being the second thing to go. Seems high to me the more i look around. Sorry if I was wrong.

Rob