Custom Leathersmiths on the Forum

[StrawHat]

It would be nice if we could compile a list of forum members who are willing to take on commissioned holster work.

Please, let us know who you are and if you have a specialty.

Kevin

[LoboGunLeather]

Retired now, no longer involved in the business (you can Google to contact the current owners).

It would be really nice if there was a general understanding of the difference between a custom maker and a production maker. Custom describes something created to order, one of a kind, a commission to produce to customer specifications. A production maker may offer several styles or designs along with a menu of options allowing a customer to customize a production piece to personal needs or preferences.

The real difference is that true custom work starts out with a concept, a mental image, a description of the finished work, which is converted to drawings, then made into patterns for producing the work. That process may be repeated more than once as the realities of materials and production methods dictate adjustments.

In short, the time requirements are much different. A true custom job might require a dozen, perhaps 20 times as much time, effort, consultation, and repeated attempts before the final result is known.

During my years in the business I offered 13 different holster designs, with or without 4 common options, left-hand and right-hand, in 4 finish colors to accommodate over 150 different handgun models. At my retirement I had two file cabinets nearly filled with thousands of patterns, each of which represented several hours of work to complete. But someone requested something else just about every week.

I was producing an average of 30-plus orders every week. Working in batches of 10 or 12 at a time, cutting, assembling, dyeing, lining, tooling, stitching, forming, finishing, mounting hardware, packaging, shipping. Each batch required several hours per day over the course of a week's time, then I would have 30, 40, perhaps 50 pieces ready for delivery.

A single custom order might require 10, 20, 30, or more hours, time that I could spend producing dozens of production orders. No way to predict how long it might take before you actually get it done. How many customers are willing to pay the total value of all that time for a single custom order?

The answer to that question is almost zero. Lots of people contacted me with their ideas for the "perfect holster", and the standard response became "$40 per hour plus materials and shop supplies". The next question was "How long will it take?", with the answer "I don't know, I've never done it before".

Way back in ancient times I occasionally took on custom work, converting customer's ideas to finished product. Very frequently I heard back after delivery that the result was not what was envisioned, that this or that didn't work as anticipated, etc, etc, etc, ad infinitum. Why go to all the trouble and expense only to create an unhappy customer?

People will seldom remember whose idea it was to begin with, but they will always remember the no-good bottom-feeding worthless hide-pounder that screwed up their cherished dream.

Best regards.

[turnerriver]

Kevin, that’s a good idea, if we get enough of a response we’ll make the results available for future reference. Holster makers, you probably know that our policy has been to have you introduce yourself, show your work and then go to the classifieds for ongoing business-in other words repeated “look what I made” are advertisements that belong in the classified section.
So, let’s see who makes what and we’ll compile a resource list.
Lobo, thanks for the words of expertise. The makers I know something about have been out of business for many years but they all offered a set number of models with a varying number of options and would entertain custom work beyond the cataloged listings. True custom design and execution is as you point out a time consuming and expensive prospect, I’m assuming most of the makers on this forum offer a number of possibilities within their capabilities.
Let’s see what you have-if you’ve introduced yourself here before please do so again.
Regards,
Witty
turnerriver, moderator
Speaking of custom holsters-this was made by Lawrence for a Thompson Contender-probably fashioned to attach to a plate on a vehicle such as a swamp buggy or other hunting transport. That’s a guess on my part as all I know about it is what I can see.

[rednichols]

It's all been said in the prior posts. I can shorten it even more: there are no 'custom' holster makers per se. All the effort and innovation that goes into making the first successful prototype is far better expended on a holster that will see production over many subsequent decades. One could say that at Nichols Innovation 1990-2000 that's all I did: extensive prototyping that holster companies were willing to pay big bucks for because, like DeSantis and Galco, they would make the design even into today.

Then, having said that, were one to find a maker who would go along with the notion, the effort that gets sent to you is not 'best practice' but rather one that was 'good enough' as a one-off. The holster that turnerriver shows is custom in the sense that it's not Lawrence's standard item; but then again, he's right, that's a standard holster with a panel attached to it :-).

There are only four competent gunleather shops in America, which includes first quality designs and construction made for many decades. Time exposes the unforeseen flaws (witness the error in Safariland's Kydex LEO holsters for light-equpped Glocks; they've STILL not got that sorted out after two decades by simply missing the signs).

[StrawHat]

Seriously?

It was a simple request. Nitpick all you want over semantics but the basic intent is;

If you make leather holsters, and would consider taking orders from members of the forum, let us know who you are.

If you are retired and not making holsters but want to tell us about how hard it is to make a great holster, start your own thread!

Kevin

[LoboGunLeather]

Originally Posted by StrawHat

Seriously?

It was a simple request. Nitpick all you want over semantics but the basic intent is;

If you make leather holsters, and would consider taking orders from members of the forum, let us know who you are.

If you are retired and not making holsters but want to tell us about how hard it is to make a great holster, start your own thread!

Kevin

Thank you, Kevin. I will take my semantics and retire for the day.

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Originally Posted by StrawHat

Seriously?

It was a simple request. Nitpick all you want over semantics but the basic intent is;

If you make leather holsters, and would consider taking orders from members of the forum, let us know who you are.

If you are retired and not making holsters but want to tell us about how hard it is to make a great holster, start your own thread!

Kevin

That tone is NOT welcome here.

You just got detailed input by two of the top leathermen extant. You’d do well to show these gentleman their due respect sir.

[Onomea]

Well, getting back to the original purpose of the thread, I'm in favor of having some of our active forum member holster makers post some of their wares.

C'mon guys! It's a chance for you to shine and for the rest of us to admire, learn what's available, and consider.

[DGNY]

The OP’s request was quite in line, it seems to me. Helpfully, some renowned professionals have given us caveats to consider. This is also centrally important.

Yet, with large handgun inventories for many, and a taste for handsome leather, I think more than a few would welcome answers to the original inquiry.

I, for one, promise not to request a $100 well-embossed shoulder holster for, say, a Ruger 14 stainless folder that will fit someone who is medium height and left-handed.

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by Glenn R. McMannly

That tone is NOT welcome here.

You just got detailed input by two of the top leathermen extant. You’d do well to show these gentleman their due respect sir.

No offence was taken and strawhat has always been a gentleman here. I was a bit heavyhanded in my reply which stems from simply having seen too much gunleather in my lifetime.

[raljr1]

I understand that snubbyfan does custom holsters. Wayne did some repair work for me on a leather rifle case, and I have seen comments from others on holsters he has made.

[bruce5781]

I certainly hope my holster maker adds his name. His "good enough" has always exceeded my expectations.
Case in point:
Me: I need a pocket holster for a 2" K frame.
Him: no problem.
Me: I want the front to be tooled.
Him: all our pocket holsters are rough out and don't take tooling.
Me: can't you turn one side around and tool it ?
Him: I can do that.
Me: Oh, and I want it to be fully lined instead of the backside of the tooled front being roughout.
Him: Sounds like fun, let's do it.

Currently having a holster built in a Myres pattern, tooled, lined, toe cap, neutral cant, Franz-Loc, for a Beretta 92.

What more could I ask for ?

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

[Wyatt Burp]

I've made a few holsters and sheaths for people here and over at Colt forum. Here's a few. If you see this you might own one of these. Bottom rig was one I just finished for a best friend of mine. He traded me a Springfield Mil Spec .45 for it. This one shown for display only. It was just too exhausting to make.

[bamabiker]

Wyatt, I always enjoy seeing your stuff. It has a very distinctive look and is always well executed. That double rig is amazing.
I'm surprised more of our leather guys have not responded. We have had some really good ones on here but I think some have retired from doing it or have quit participating on the forum.
I do leatherwork as a hobby and therapy from my real job when I can find time. When you leave home before 6:00 AM and get home around 6:00 PM and then throw in honey do list and daddy do list and have grandkids participating in dance, soccer and T ball there's just not a lot of time for leatherwork.
That said, I have made holsters for members and sold some in the forum classifieds. As far as holsters go, I do florals and basketweave holsters. I have had members request special items and so far that's worked out OK.
I only make holsters for guns that I own or that are very similar. I use my guns to fit the holsters so I am limited on what holsters I can make.
If I can help one of the members I will. It might take a while, not because I have a bunch of orders but because I have to find the time to do them.
While I do enjoy leatherworking I'm not looking for a second job.
I hope some of our other leatherworking members will respond.
Some examples of my work.

[Wyatt Burp]

Originally Posted by bamabiker

Wyatt, I always enjoy seeing your stuff. It has a very distinctive look and is always well executed. That double rig is amazing.
I'm surprised more of our leather guys have not responded. We have had some really good ones on here but I think some have retired from doing it or have quit participating on the forum.
I do leatherwork as a hobby and therapy from my real job when I can find time. When you leave home before 6:00 AM and get home around 6:00 PM and then throw in honey do list and daddy do list and have grandkids participating in dance, soccer and T ball there's just not a lot of time for leatherwork.
That said, I have made holsters for members and sold some in the forum classifieds. As far as holsters go, I do florals and basketweave holsters. I have had members request special items and so far that's worked out OK.
I only make holsters for guns that I own or that are very similar. I use my guns to fit the holsters so I am limited on what holsters I can make.
If I can help one of the members I will. It might take a while, not because I have a bunch of orders but because I have to find the time to do them.
While I do enjoy leatherworking I'm not looking for a second job.
I hope some of our other leatherworking members will respond.
Some examples of my work.

Wow, those are amazing. And your carving and composition is excellent. I love those Target elk grips but especially the stags on thev1911.

[StrawHat]

Glad to see this thread is finally getting some legs!

Wyatt Burp has done a holster for for me. It turned out very nice! He told me that would be the only two holsters in that style he would make, FIRST AND LAST!!! (When you change your mind, let me know. I need a couple more.)

Hopefully, more craftsmen will join this thread.

Kevin

[bcrowl]

I have been making custom holsters as well as knife sheaths since 2007. Leatherwork is not my career, but keeps me plenty busy when I'm not running my boys to all of their sports. Most of my work is word of mouth, but I do post pics on social media for Crowl Custom Leather.

[bcrowl]

Here are a couple more pictures.

[Wyatt Burp]

Like others posting here I'm sure, I've repaired a lot of damaged old yet classic holsters for people. I'm also the family cobbler fixing my wife's and daughter's shoes. Here's a Heiser I was sent to fix but the owner wanted it modified as you see it here. Leather CPR used to rejuvenate the leather. BTW, the rusty cobbler's anvil I found as an ornament in my dad's yard is priceless to me now it's so useful for holsters.

[Capt3513]

Just before I retired I started back up fooling around with making holsters. I made a "retirement holster" for
myself, my Sheriff, Undersheriff and the other Captain (we all left the same year).



After that I made some other kinds for myself and a couple of neighbors.

Mostly from lurking about on this forum (and a copy of Holstory) I found out about Brills (I had an El Paso "not-a-brill"
for an M-1917 since the mid 90s) and started trying to make a "brillalike". This one is for an M-69 2 3/4.



Recently one of the deputies at my current agency had me make a roughout Brill-style for his 1911.



Along with those I've made some Rhodesian-style holsters for myself and a few others and this is the type I generally use for EDC now.



Along with making a few holsters and mag carriers every once and a while, I've made a lot of knife sheaths recently but mostly I stay busy at the full-time retirement job.

[dobegrant]

Some really nice looking holsters shown in this tread.

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

I make all custom leather gear by hand. No machines used for any application.

Thank you,

Henry

[Wyatt Burp]

I just finished this lefty sheath for my son for Christmas. He's a great meat chef and this knife is for camp cooking. The belt loop is off center because I thought it would look weird in the center with the handle towards the back. So I put it there and kind of contoured the shape slightly to jive with the handle better.

[4011]

I don’t have pictures to show. Snobby made me a ranger belt I think three holsters. His work was over and above nice. Price was very fair. His delivery time perfect. Wear the belt with one of his holsters regularly!!!

[StrawHat]

Glad to see this thread is doing what I had hoped it would do. Generate interest and become a clearing house for makers to let the forum know about themselves. Hopefully leather workers will continue to populate it with posts.

Now, when some says, “ who will make…”, they can be referred to this thread.

Kevin

[ispcapt]

Home | Rodek Leather Works

[StrawHat]

Originally Posted by ispcapt

Home | Rodek Leather Works

Is this you?

Kevin

[ispcapt]

Originally Posted by StrawHat

Is this you?
Kevin

No. A good friend. Ed is registered on this site but I don't think he checks in very often.

[StrawHat]

Originally Posted by ispcapt

No. A good friend. Ed is registered on this site but I don't think he checks in very often.

Good of you to vouch for him.

Kevin

[rednichols]

Originally Posted by StrawHat

Glad to see this thread is doing what I had hoped it would do. Generate interest and become a clearing house for makers to let the forum know about themselves. Hopefully leather workers will continue to populate it with posts.

Now, when some says, “ who will make…”, they can be referred to this thread.

Kevin

Don't get me wrong, this forum has done me heaps of good over the decade that I've been contributing here. But all of us makers have been harshed on for mentioning our products (penalty points awarded) and I'm not even permitted to use my gunleather logo as my icon. So I'm pleased at what must be progress but still understanding why longtimers daren't take the request seriously.

[Class III]

I can vouch for the holsters produced by Henry, AKA Leatherman-Cowboy. I have a couple of his holsters and they just simply work. One was a 1911 belt slide he was giving away in a KARMA. I didn't win the KARMA but ordered one after the give-away The other was a custom belt slide for a 2.5" K Frame. Again both holsters just "WORK".

I've also got a couple of LOBO holsters that I bought on the secondary market. Both are REALLY NICE. One is a OWB for an "J" frame and the other is OWB with FBI cant for a K frqme.

Class III

[Wyatt Burp]

By the late 1980s I had read about gunfighter John Wesley Hardin having used a vest with two holsters sewn onto it worn concealed under a coat. Elmer Keith mentioned it in Sixguns, too. So I decided to make one. There were no photos of such a rig so I had to work from scratch. The end results was a very practical and comfortable outfit, The guns don't wobble and are close to the body. Easy for a reverse "twist draw", too. The vest used was found in a thrift shop then modified.

[ispcapt]

Originally Posted by StrawHat

Good of you to vouch for him.
Kevin

Several on this site have bought holsters and leather work from him.

[gnappi]

Some nice rigs there. I only need a "bucket" to dump my gun into but some pistols are unusual enough to require a custom build. I'll watch this thread.

[Wyatt Burp]

About a year ago I was asked to make a Bowie knife sheath with a shoulder strap for someone who I think was into mountain man era gear and guns. I said it reminded me of one Sam Elliott wore in The Sacketts and another movie. he said that’s exactly what inspired it. I had full creative license to do what I wanted. Luckily I own an exact knife it was for. Here it is, along with a holster I made at the same time just to practice image carving. A steerhead in this case. The background sheath leather is genuine imitation alligator. I think it’s alligator, anyway.

[Faulkner]

I appreciate Lobo's overview of the difference between true custom work and production holsters. I never really considered how all the creative energy to make one holster took time away from productivity. One of my favorite carry holsters is one Lobo made for my S&W 442 before he retired.




I've paid for custom work on occasion and was aware ahead of time that one of kind stuff is not inexpensive, especially for quality work. Lance Nixon has done all my holster work for the past 5 or 6 years and he's produced some special production holsters to my specifications as well as some custom work. My favorite is a cross draw rig based on a pattern I'd seen him produce but with many of my own changes. I think he does a great job.

[BillBro]

I love making holsters and sheaths. My issue is not having the blue (or aluminum) guns to mold to, or pattern because the way I like to make them is to mold and bone the details as detailed as I can.








Ive actually been looking into a cheap leather sewing machine to do more leather and wood stuff since I now have a nice 40×50 pole barn to work in and not hear the woman.
So unless you have guns similar to mine I couldnt make many different holsters, Id be willing to try it.


Those are two different holsters by the way.

[Wyatt Burp]

Here’s a Mexican style double buckle two gun rig I made just for the fun of it and one of those holsters on the one and only money belt I ever made. I just had to try it once. Both lined belts made of the same heavy but rather soft leather and very comfortable.

[StrawHat]

Looks good MAtt! Not my favorite style but the holsters are good looking!

Kevin

[Burnston]

I've been attempting to put my efforts to a more economical use as of late. I struggle with the beauty side of things, but construction/quality will last a lifetime. Though never having been in law enforcement or combat, I've been fortunate to spend my life on ranches, and have therefore had an excellent proving ground for what I build. A host of mistakes and failed projects.......well, both continue to happen. But they're starting to be less frequent, anyway.

As Mr. Nichols can attest, I can get a bit annoying and hard to shake when it comes to talking about leather.
(Tennyson Leather Works)

[StrawHat]

Seeing some very nice leather on this thread. Thank you all for posting your work.

Kevin