WB leather rules

[Slowhand Bob]

Guys I just heard back from the Wild Bunch rules guy concerning the rules interpretation for WB gun gear.  I do not think it will affect any of our makers but just in case?  The first question concerned the legality of using metal or kydex liners in WB leather, no is the answer.  Question two concerned the use of screw or other modern design styles of tension devices for the holsters or magazine pouches, and again the answer is no.  It seems that Wild Bunch wants to keep this as original as possible and not let the equipment race get started, as happened with the CAS side of the game.  Just a heads up, so that you will know how to steer any customers wanting these sort of upgrades.  If I stumble across more, I will be sure and update you guys.   

[outrider]

Good to know..Bob

[TN Mongo]

Thanks Bob.  It would make my life easier if it was banded for regular SASS holsters.

[LoneRider]

Who is this "Wild Bunch Guy"

I've never heard this rule!!! Here's the quote from the WB Rule Book...

Magazine pouches must be worn on the opposite side of the body from the
handgun.
• Magazine pouches must be worn vertical and conform to the shooters body
(i.e. not tilt out from the shooters body).
• Magazine pouches can hold either one or two magazines.
• At least two inches of the magazine must be covered by the magazine
pouch.
• The flat side of the magazines must be parallel to the body. Magazine
pouches may not hold magazines with the thin edge next to the belt. The
flat side of the magazine must be parallel to the belt.

[Boothill Bob]

Do you mean that I cant use metal in the skirt over the beltloop

[Boothill Bob]

If thats the case many shooters are screwd. Mernickle makes his WB holsters with metallined skirt, Evil Roy and many more use his holsters.

[Boothill Bob]

From Wild Bunch handbook page 11 "No metal or plastic (competition) type equipment allowed" For me thats not inclued the lining.

[outrider]

Rider...I think Slowhand is referring to "tensioning" devices on the mag pouches

[Slowhand Bob]

As I understood the officials interpretation, he was including encased skeletal liners as illegal also.  Best I can say is I was told by all parties, official and not-so, they did not want an equipment race in the Wild Bunch side of SASS.

Jack, if you check on official response to my questions asked on the Wild Bunch forum rules board you will see where my questions were answered.  I currently have no dogs in such a fight but did want to know the right answers  before mis-speaking to anyone!  I know it is a very common practice to include tensioning devices in holsters and mag pouches while such devices along with metal and kydex liners have been popular for CAS holsters.  I would be neutral in my opinion but must admit that I was surprised by the strict interpretation.  Of most importance is the fact that we need to know and understand the rules as many here will serve as the line where the rubber meets the road when customers seek information. 

[LoneRider]

I contacted the Chairman of the WB Rules committee for an answer. Will let everyone know the real scoop when I get an answer!

[Slowhand Bob]

A quick check on one of the large maker sites does show advertising that indicates the use of the very mods of which we are talking.  I guess some questions were never supposed to be asked.

[LoneRider]

I asked Happy Jack, chairman of the Wild Bunch Committee, here's his response

Jack, I see nothing illegal about tension screws on either holsters or magazine pouches. They are LEGAL in my opinion. The WBAS committee will be meeting at the Convention and I will mention this, but I do't see any problem with them. They are normal and have been used in magazine pouches from he earliest days. My computer satellite internet is running so slow (obviously a problem somewhere) that it took 8 minutes to load this message from you. I hope the reply makes it. I have no idea who "someone in the know is". There are only the WBAS committee members and the WBAS ambassadors who are "in the know".

[outrider]

we went through the same stuff with the CAS equipment...is this leagl...is that legal....as far as tensioning screws...yes they were used on mag pouches but I don't think they were used on US military holsters

actually i have no dog in the fight since I (and my club) do not shoot Wild Bunch..I have been shooting SASS for over 19 years  and quite frankly I am to the point where I am about to hang up the SASS crap due to all the equipment "wars" ...when SASS started they had a set of rules to follow...then as it grew you had people come in and try and change everything...and now it's nothing but arguing about what is or is not legal...for example just go look at the SASS wire....

OK venting done

[Slowhand Bob]

Actually I do not shoot much any more BUT do plan to start back soon if the Lord wills it.  If things go the way I hope, it will be all about cap and ball for me and the early Slim Jims that housed them.  I do not begrudge anyone that which gives them escape from the normal work day grind, but for me, competition was to similar to that from which I wanted to escape.  A couple of weeks ago I had a friend ask about a Wild Bunch rig that would incorporate all of the modern contraptions that his regular cowboy rig has (and save him money in the process).  For this reason I wanted to ask the question and must admit that I am surprised that the answer has proven to be so uncertain, especially this late in the game.

Back to the leather and how it relates to the equipment race for a good holster maker, and some of you guys are the best in the business.  Many of these newer shooters are of the opinion that leather did not grow up until this maker or that put a metal or plastic liner inside and a tension spring outside, but we know better.  When your customer asks for a metal liner, you give him one but you know that when we glue up over twelve ounces of leather and then wet fit it with warm water, metal has nothing else to offer.  If you need that funky Z-bend on the belt loop, to make the gun butt stand out, you can get a pretty good stand in just by using a well placed piece of rawhide.  But ole Jim Bob dawnt want to hear this, he just wants his leather to mimic that used by who-ever todays champion shooter is using.  One last thought on cowboy leather, wasnt there a spring loaded holster patented way back when and we also know that there were spring clip holsters pretty far back also.  Gimmicks usually do not prove to give equal value over the long haul while those items like the spring clips did remain in use for decades as a form of secureing long barl pistols in shoulder holsters.  Am I wrong?  If anyone has links to pictures of some early gimmicks used to make or replace belt holsters, I would appreciate a peek at that piece of history.

[outrider]

Slowhand,

I agree with what you have said...and yes there have been shoulder hosters that incorporated spring clips.  the metal lined and clam shell style rigs did not come into play untils the 2oth century rolled around and usually they were not designed as what we know as "cowboy holsters"  I think " Packin Iron" has a few pics of these newer styles

I may have to re watch the Wild Bunch movie..but if my memory serves me they wore standard M1911 or M1919 military holsters in that movie.

[Slowhand Bob]

Just do not want to see anyone feeling upset over some of the new stuff that passes for cowboy.  Like I told a pard who was worrried about the cheap 'Mexico rigs", fokes who will buy that stuff were never going to be your customer anyway.  the main competition that an artist has will always be another artist not a copy machine.