Here are my 60 Navy 71/2" barrel Slim Jims

Ace Lungger · August 09, 2008, 09:36:40 AM

:)Howdy Pards,
The time finialy got here and I got my Long Holsters done

I still have a lot of improvements to make, but i find out every piece i do what mistakes i have made!

Almost out of scrap veg tanned, but not yet!! It is a blessing that i did get all this scrap at a cheap price so I could do make a lot of diffenrt styles, and get a feel for the art of leatherworking!
I made these for a pair of 60 Navy's with 7 1/2" barrels! They are pretty plain, the belt is allmost done, I should have pic's in a day or so.
Take a look, and tell me how I could of improved, I made my own pattern, I have yet to use any of the WG patterns I bought, but the next set will be!
Forgot one thing, these were in the walnut dye for 7 days! Tell me what you think, are they to dark?

Thanks for looking
ACE

Johnny Dingus · August 09, 2008, 10:41:48 AM

Ace,

Good looking set of holsters, for the period I don't think they are too dark. Like the stamping and your stiching looks good from what I can see with my old eyes. Did you sew in a toe plug? Around the trigger guard there is a little too much room for me. It's great getting cheap leather. A pard sent me a bunch and that is what I am using too.

Johnny Dingus

HorsePen Henry · August 09, 2008, 11:32:46 AM

They look good ta me, Ace. Yer comin' along fine.
The cut pattern needs a little tweakin' but that's all I see that needs a bit of positive change. No need ta keep apologizin' for yer work. It is lookin' real good. Just keep after it and you'll do fine.

Look in "Packing Iron" for the look of the fit on these early holsters. The trigger guard should snap into the holster at that point of contact. One other thing which is just my drathers is the corners along the main seam are a little sharp. Those curves could be a bit more flowing or rounded to my eye. But, like I said, that is just my own personal preference or whimsey.

Nice set a holsters!!! Hats off to ya!

X Horse Pen

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · August 09, 2008, 12:04:30 PM

Howdy Ace

Will pard you got it done pard, you can see know how deep and dark a shade you can get fron the walnut dye, I like it and as it ages it will look even better, Like Horse Pen said don't beat yourself up on the little things, I know for a fact that when you look at these holsters you know exactly what you would do different the next time, that's all part of learning, and Pard you've learned a lot in this last year, in the fact that you made your own pattern is a feather in your hat, like HP said and MW, has said in the past, you need to tweak your pattern a little as you go along, I'll full around with mine for a while and put it down for a while and then come back to it , a lot of time you will see things you didn't the first time, all in all Ace I think you did a fine job Pard.

Keep it up

tEN wOLVES

Ace Lungger · August 09, 2008, 01:07:03 PM

:)Thanks guys for the comments, and i want to explain, that when I made the pattern, I didn't have any guns, I went to a gun shop where the owner is a friend of mine, and I used his 1860, I came home made the pattern, cut and stamped the leather and put it into soaking, when I got them out and treated and sanded the inside for the glue, and then glued them up, I found out that the gun that I took the pattern off of had Army grip frames and I thnk that is what threw it off around the trigger gaurd (maybe not) but every holster I have made, I have made my own pattern's
And I am a shamed of how big they are aound the trigger gaurd, but i couln't think of anywhay to fix it! It they do have toe plugs, and if I ever go and set up some time next year at a shoot maybe someone will have a pair of pistol that fit better (I hope)

I did the square cuts because I thought i saw a pair like those in a old western i had just watched a week before! I do agree with you guys I like the rolling cures better, for looks and easier to make to! And the greatest thing is I have no money in them other than my thread involved
The real reason to make them was I didn't have my WG patterns yet and I wanted to try the walnut dye out and was at that gun store and made me a pattern

Butt I am very great full or you pard to tell me what you think! When I was teaching Photogaphy, I allways told the truth if I like it or not and why!
and thaty is what true friends do! I want to kow when I make mistakes, you nevergt ay beter when some one sugar coats what they think!

You all have a good weekend!
ACE

Marshal Will Wingam · August 09, 2008, 01:33:04 PM

OK, Ace. Again you do some nice work. the only improvements I could suggest are the same ones you have already said you'd change. Good design work. As to the color, I really like the dark walnut. I was hoping to see that shade possible with the walnut. Thanks for the pics.

santee · August 09, 2008, 03:01:34 PM

Heck no they ain't too dark! Those are terrific. Nice stamping, sewing, heck ya did great!

Johnny Dingus · August 09, 2008, 10:31:10 PM

I don't know about most of you but I know that everytime I make a holster I see all my mistakes. I allso want to imediately make a different one after I see my mistake. But I have to keep on going. I have not made enough to be perfect. I don't think anyone has....but most of the rest of yours are d mm close.

Ace don't ever be ashamed of what your making. There are plenty of people out there that can criticise but can't or won't even try to make anything.
Everything we do is a learning experience. Some have just learnt a little longer than some of the rest of us.
We will never catch up to them. But we get closer everytime we try.
Others never try so they won't even catch up with us.

Keep it up Ace you are doing Great!!!

Johnny Dingus

Ace Lungger · August 10, 2008, 07:18:53 AM

:)Thanks Johnny for the kind words and incurment (man my spelling is getting worst)

I never expect to be in the class of the AWESOME leathersmith that are on here (and there are a lot) and there are many that don't show there stuff and they have there own reason and I respect that!
And there are some on here that are as good as the big named leather smiths, they just don't want anyone thinking they are bragging! I so my stuff to get better!! I want people to tell me how to improve!!! We all have our opions on what we like and dis like, i like them all!!
I have several that i visit with on and off line that i think there work is as good as it can be. I still have a lot of improvements to do on just the basic's! But I think I am getting better each time! As the OLD SAYING GOES "Live And Learn", and by coming here asking questions, and then showing my goods, you GREAT PARDS are honest and tell me what I did wrong and what I did right!

I got a lot of little things (not leather related) that take me so long to do! But when I get some of them done, I am going to start on cartidge belt for my Buffalo gun!

I hope everyone out there has a good Sunday!!

And Lets SEE SOME MORE GOODIES!!

ACE