Terrific Pards here on the leather site.

Johnny Dingus · February 26, 2009, 09:50:41 PM

Well guys, I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd come by and tell you a story.

Last night while over in the USFA section of this site I was trying to help another cowboy. Well one of the GREAT cowboys from this section was over there too and pm'd me. He asked where the heck (family site) I'd been and why hadn't I been around.
Well not quite that blunt.
I admitted to him that I had been checking in regularly but just didn't have much to add to this section as I hadn't improved much and really had been quite busy with my regular life. Been voted in as match director of my shooting club and working towards putting on my first annual shoot as match director for that club. And that I was kind of embarrassed to post much as I hadn't been doing much leather and hadn't been around much.

Well being the GREAT Guy that inhabits this section he just kinda gently said come and visit and we miss you and gently invited me to stop in.

I told him I would post up my last holster I just finished the other night.

I would like to thank TW and all of you for being the kind of people out there that are the good guys, the guys in white hats, the John Waynes of this world.

Well here is my latest it is a little rough yet need to spend a little more time on burnishing. Mind you that I am practicing on trying to get the shape and look eventually of the one on the cover of "Packing Iron" book. I started with just a picture and went from there no pattern. Made my own and I know there isn't a drop in the one on the book. So far just wanted to get a feel for the shape and how to cut the slots out. Will work on carving some on my next holsters.

The back side:

A side view:

Any way again want to thank all of you for being here and the kind of terrific guys you all are.

vince

randyc · February 26, 2009, 09:58:44 PM

Mr. Dingus,
That'a a nice looking holster you built. Keep up the good work!

cowboywc · February 26, 2009, 10:39:01 PM

Howdy Johnny
That's a good lookin holster. Keep up the work.
WC

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · February 26, 2009, 10:54:47 PM

Howdy Johny

Your holster looks good Pard, I like your design and the wide skirt, it looks like it would be right at home on some cowpoke ridding the range, that extra drop you put in is also a nice touch, at least one that I would appreciate, with my long arms, you have your angles right to, the gun should sit on your hips just right, ( IMHO ), you also did an excellent job of stamping your rope border, that's not a very easy thing to do, but you aced it, I have to say I think you are on the right track, Well done pard. And Johny thanks for your kind words pard, we all look forward to when you will have more time to join in with us , after all your family now.

tEN wOLVES

Marshal Will Wingam · February 26, 2009, 11:04:14 PM

That's a good job you did on that one, Johnny. I like the Meanea look, too, and you're close. Nice look, right out of the old west. TW's right about that rope border. That takes some care to get the spacing the same all the way around. Good to see you with us. Thanks for sharing.

JD Alan · February 26, 2009, 11:07:59 PM

Hey Johnny, good to hear from you. That's a good looking holster there pard. I've been busy with my club too, and along with regular life, as you mentioned, I haven't gotten much done either, leather wise.

Good luck with your upcoming match! JD

Springfield Slim · February 27, 2009, 12:41:25 AM

Just coat the edges with beeswax and burnish it with a hardwoood dowel and you will be good to go. So THAT"S what the rope is suppossed to look like, I can never get it too look like I want it to. Good job on that.

Dr. Bob · February 27, 2009, 02:12:07 AM

Johnny,

Glad your back and what a great holster!!

Johnny McCrae · February 27, 2009, 08:36:31 AM

Howdy johnny,

Very nice job on your Holster! I like the design and good job you did with the "rope" stamp. Many thanks for sharing this with us.

santee · February 27, 2009, 08:37:28 AM

Flower came out real nice, too!

HorsePen Henry · February 27, 2009, 11:37:11 AM

That's a real fine lookin' piece a art work there, Johnny. AND...you are right that we are a great bunch a fellas. I think it is because we have more preachers per square inch than any other place on the web. That tends to help keep us playin' nice.

Plus...there are plenty of iron packers as well.

Horse Pen

Johnny Dingus · February 27, 2009, 08:56:13 PM

Thanks for all the replys.

Yeah of all the websites in this here internet we got a great bunch of guys that come around here.

The thing I like best about this holster of all the ones I've made so far is that when your pulling the gun out the holster doesn't come out with the gun. Now that may sound a little weird but I mean it doesn't want to pull out of it self when the gun is coming out. And I did not have to connect the back side to the front with any mechanical means or brace.

One of the guy's I shoot with makes holsters for sale and he says he has a barrel full of rejects. Do those of you that make lots of holsters have a lot of rejects or seconds?

I know I am critical of my own work, but I learn from them and what I want to do a little different next time. I still use them though and learn from them. Having only made about 5 different sets of holsters is probably a lot different than making hundreds.

HorsePen, I think we have a bunch of older gents that aren't parading around and are more uh mature than some. Besides if my mom was still around and I misbehaved she would have me sit in the chair in the corner to wait till Dad got home.........The dreaded wait....... was ....... more ....... punishment ....... than ........ Dad's ....... sometime.

vince

Gun Butcher · February 27, 2009, 08:59:07 PM

Johnnie welcome back. I Like the holster. It has a look about that appeals to me ( and I mean that in a good way).
Like Springfield said, I would just do a little burnishing to give it a well used look and I think you have a real winner.

Ace Lungger · February 28, 2009, 01:23:10 PM

Nice Job Johnny,

I will say it like Springfield said, I can never make my rope look that good!
Thanks for sharning!
ACE

Wiley Desperado · March 03, 2009, 08:16:32 PM

Johnny, That is a real nice looking holster I like everything about it the design, stamping and coloring. Looks mighty authentic. And I agree with you there are some great pards hanging out on this site.

Johnny Dingus · March 03, 2009, 08:48:33 PM

Thanks Wiley,

The one thing I would do different is the flower. I just made a flower using some different stamps. I like Ace have succumbed to the I want it done now problem. I haven't done more than about 10 or 11 holsters now and so am starting to calm down and slow up my process. Also not having done many you try new things and then think hey if i'd only done it a little different. Then the next time you try it different and you think I should of done it the other way.

Johnny Dingus

Wiley Desperado · March 03, 2009, 09:02:34 PM

Well I think the flower is good. How about when you look at something you made awhile ago and can't remember how you did it exactly or how you achieved a particular color. Makes a fella wonder about himself!!
maybe its an age thing I don't know.
Wiley

Dalton Masterson · March 03, 2009, 09:43:17 PM

Johnny, I have quite a few rejects as well. Sometimes, if they dont get far enough to be sewn, they get used for knife sheaths, or other projects. If they are sewn, I try to finish them all the way to useable at least, and either give them away (wishing I could get my name off of them) or use them for loaners.

One thing you can do, is make use of the scrap leather you make. Try out a flower design on scrap, and if it looks good, trim it nice, and keep the scrap piece. Then later when you are wanting to put it on a holster, you can place the scrap on and check to see how things look. If it looks good, then you can copy it to the project. Also helps to get proper placement of stamps too.

Nice holster btw, and welcome back!

DM