I read a lot on different forums and posts about people wanting or showing off their "BBQ rigs".
They are usually accompanied by photos of some beautiful, well-made leather. My question is this, Just where and when do you guys wear them? I'd love to have one but can't find a practical use.

well.... do we really need a place or time to own, wear and enjoy works of leather art? ...and maybe one day we can have a , well, convention so to speak in an open carry state for a ...BBQ. Who knows, I for one thinks that would be great fun.

I have made quite a few.....

image by alex1961m, on Flickr
image by alex1961m, on Flickr
image by alex1961m, on Flickr

Oregon is a constitutional open carry state. My newest barbeque gun is a 7 1/2" Colt SAA .45 Colt. It is #16 of 75 Nez Perce - Chief Joseph engraved commemoratives built in 1976. It had never been turned or shot until I bought it last month.

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

Wisconsin is an open carry State as well,That does not mean that you won't be harassed by the Police in the larger cities though

This is AMERICA

Since When must you have a PRACTICAL use to own something that you are Proud of?

My Colt Gold Cup Commander with it's Ivory stocks



has been with me to 3 Inaugurations, 4 Weddings and 5 Funerals. Not to mention many banquets, BBQs and Awards ceremonies.

It is carried in a Galco Windsor (discontinued) shoulder holster. The Windsor is a full horse hide horizontal rig that is lined with pigskin to protect the firearm.

I also have a 1930's era watch to wear to those same events and my Grand Father's stick pin from the 40s or 50s

Your BBQ gun and rig go anywhere that you would dress in your Sunday best for.

When I get some orders caught up, I'm planning on doing a video series on a matching belt and holster BBQ rig for a 4" K frame.
Maybe I'll try my hand at hand stitching bullet loops for a matching belt slide.

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Keep on Chooglin'

I'll be wearing mine to the Superbowl tonight.................in my living room!!!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

This one is fancy enough for me maybe not BBQ but very functional.

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Goal Life Member
Traveling Man

All dressed up with nowhere to go...

A feller can wear a rig like that most any place in Wyoming where's there like minded folks.
Legally, since this is an open carry state, folks could gather for a picnic in a public park on the 4th of July, but "most" of us is smart enough not to poke a sleepin' bear.

There's been some doin's out on the ranch where there was some pretty impressive iron hangin' around in some mighty fine lookin' rigs and that's a fact.

We ain't as advanced as them Texans, but we're workin' on it..

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Eccentric old coot

Here is two of Alex's handmade beauties

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SWCA # 2887

What's a fella to do? Sit around and have a gun showing BBQ invitation come his way and not have anything to wear.
It's better to have'em and not need'em then need'em and not have'em.
I say show'em if you got'em.

Sounds like a great idea. I, for one, will be really interested to see what you come up with.

I like this one a lot. Don't recall ever seeing one quite that style. Where'd you get that one? Got any more photos of it?

"HOW NOT TO BE INVITED BACK AT A BAR-BQ"
show up wearing a Glock in a Uncle Mike nylon holster, wearing pink short shorts and high top tennis shoes.

(please don't ask me how I know)

I wear mine around the house and on rare occasion to work when I fell like having something fine on the hip.


20140930_094813 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20141007_110819 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

What's wrong with pink short shorts and high top tennis shoes?

Like Iggy stated, barbecue rigs are not limited just to barbecues. It can be any social gathering where like-minded folks are congregating. Usually, though, there's somethin' on the grill or in the pit. The ladies help out with the potato salad, hot bread or biscuits, baked beans and plenty of pies and cakes.

It could be a wedding reception in some cases. It could be a gathering of friends. It could be a number of things.

Such a gathering was at my 50th birthday party. A bunch of my old packer and cowboy friends showed up with their wives. An 8-foot length of corrugated tin roofing was laid out in the dirt and covered with a big pile of hot coals where these old mule skinners showed off their skills with their Dutch ovens for the big potluck.

A couple of sheets of plywood were placed across some sawhorses and covered with a table cloth, and the girls laid out the salads, beans, breads, and desserts. There were also a couple of galvanized washtubs full of ice to house the canned beverages.

As it started getting dark, there was a campfire going in the campfire ring over by the old gnarled plum tree out towards the mule corrals.

Now, at functions like this, so-called barbecue rigs are not only acceptable, but also expected. Guns can be engraved, but not necessarily so. Grips, though, need to be a lot more than your standard factory grip. Stag, Ivory, or fancy wood stocks are usually seen.

As for the rig itself...it needs to be hand-tooled. Period. Store-bought plain rigs need not apply. Also, it's not uncommon at these gatherings to have some sort of shooting contest. Not always, but it's one of those things where everybody wants to prove that his "barbecue gun" isn't just another "pretty face." It can pull its own weight when it needs to.

Here's a rig that Keith44spl made for me. That's his Model 1911 in the holster, but I'm proud to say that the rig is mine. Dave knows how to work leather...no doubt about it. This rig is definitely a barbecue rig.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

When I think "BBQ," a lot of things come to mind. There are a lot of fine leather benders out there and a few stand out from the pack. The ones I've finished that might qualify are both wide belts for over the pants wearin'.






That second rig went to a local ammo manufacturer and has been to BBQ's in about 12 states now. Fun seeing them used the way I intended.

This guy might qualify for a budget BBQ? Best I got.

Like the man said, better have and not need, than to need and not have



by Bob Mernickle

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

This year is the big 6-5. Maybe we'll have a BBQ. Washington is open carry and we certainly have enough room in my backyard.

Anyway: Here's a couple of mine:
Third generation SAA in 32-30. EPS holster. Faux Ivory.


1907 Colt SAA=real pearls in 41 LC.


Another early 1900's Colt: This one is a Bisley shipped to Mexico City. Ended up on the Rez in Northern AZ. Indian artwork on the engraving. Ivory (real) carved grips with real rubies for eyes. Also in 41 LC.


Here it is in the leather by EPS:

About six years ago I made this belt and holster for a S&W Forum member. His gun is this outrageously customized 1917 S&W. I did not make the phone case and I believe he added the buckle and tip.

Guys: I am looking for a little assistance. If you look at my post above (last picture), you will see my EPS rig for my Bisley (it'll also fit my SAA).

I NEED A MATCHING PANTS BELT! Unfortunately, due to my slightly oversized circumference (OK, I'm "portly" to say the least)==a matching belt from EPS will cost me close to $200. I am also hearing some bad rumors that EPS is letting customer service slip badly and very long delays are common.

Can anyone direct me to a source who can make me a pants belt that is pretty close to my holster and gun belt?

Thanks, guys!

HOLY MOLY !! If I had just one of those rigs with fancy weapon, with my good looks and sex appeal, there would be no limit to the heights I could aspire to. Heck I could have my own TV show: " Jimmy Super Dude" faster than a turtle, more powerful than a senior citizen, able to take the elevator of a tall building to the four floor, and most of all, able to pass a Men's Room without stopping.

A while back a buddy's dad passed away. He was kind of a father to all of use. For an older guy, he did a lot of things with us "younger" guys. Like camping and all. Pop and I were closer than most. Started way back on a camping trip. All the other guys were getting drunk and goofing off while I was off to one side, polishing my boots. That really struck him, someone taking care of their equipment. Other interesting things included one of our divisions at work thinking about tossing out a huge amount of sugar free candy. A buddy's wife called me and asked if I had a use for it. Yep, Pop was diabetic. So I caught up with his son and the 3 big boxes were all he could carry. I got full credit for that one, too. And then the cane deal. Pop really needed to walk with a cane. Pride got in the way. So I got wind of it and called his son again. I gave him one of my sword canes. He took it to Pops house. Walked in and announced "Daddy, look what Dick gave you". The old man just hurrumphed. So he took the cane and tapped it against the couch. Then again. So he said "whut was thet?"

By then he was wary whenever my name was mentioned. So he gave the handle and pulled out the 18" of steel blade. Good enough. He walked with it till he died. Anyone aggrivated him, he'd tap it on whatever was near.

So much to our sorrow, Pop passed away. And to his funeral I wore an H H Heiser cowboy rig with an SAA, all engraved and gold inlayed. More flashy than I really needed, but appropriate. And everyone liked Pop so the funeral was a mob scene. The line was out the door and down the block. When we finally got inside, some prissy girl asked way to loud, "why do you need a gun at a funeral!" To which Pops son and my friend looked right at her and said "because Daddy would have liked it and approved." His response was loud and stern enough nothing else was said, except wanting to see the Colt.

Some states and even some social groups don't approve of guns. I live in a very pro gun state. And I don't associate with PC folks.

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Dick Burg

I found this on the internet a few years ago and thought it was pretty good.


Texas BBQ Guns



In Texas, every lawman worth his salt has a BBQ gun. Many lawmen have gone to polymer framed pistols, Ain't no way this side of the Styx than you can turn a Glock into a BBQ gun.

Sorry, ain't gonna happen. It's technically, physically and aesthetically impossible.

So, down to brass tacks!

A BBQ gun is what you wear to barbecues, baby christenings, formal balls, and any other place where a fancy jacket or pressed jeans, starched long sleeve shirts, cowboy hats and boots would be worn.

Usually, a Colt Government Model or clone or a Browning Hi-Power, although any metal pistol with removable grips will do. Either blued or stainless is just fine, and have a small amount of tasteful engraving done to the slide.

Replace the grips with burlwood, stag or german silver custom grips. Fancy wood is acceptable too. Now, look in the mirror. Is your mustache over 50% grey? If so, go for pearl grips. 49% or less on the grey-meter, and you'd best stick with ivory. If you go for mother-of-pearl, have it carved or inlaid. Steer heads are a classic pattern, although badges and stars are always safe.

If you go the ivory option, have the ivory inlaid or scrimshawed. Floral patterns involving roses and the Texas flag are good, as well as the state of Texas, a tasteful rendition of a young lady, or long horn cattle. Any scene from the battle of the Alamo is a surefire crowd pleaser. For those souls living outside the Great State of Texas, the flag raising at Mt. Suribachi may be substituted for an Alamo scene, and anything involving Marines is acceptable engraving material.

The leather for your BBQ gun should be of a Western Floral, Oak Leaf, or Basket pattern. The engraving pattern should extend to the buckle and any other metal hardware which should consist of silver and be polished bright enough to shave in, although gold is acceptable if carried with the proper attitude.

No BBQ outfit is really complete without hand-made boots made from the hide of a critter that is guaranteed to send your local PETA organization into orbit. Pressed jeans under a Western-cut jacket, with a bolo tie, and a black or white Stetson complete the ensemble.

Alright, it's springtime. Now where's that barbecue?

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Keep on Chooglin'

I do not have a extra fancy rig.... that said I do have the following one and would carry it with pride to any BBQ is Texas...