NEW HERE By Alaskapacker

alaskapacker · March 21, 2011, 10:41:34 PM

I've been lurking about this site for about a week now, and just now got the nerve to join. I've been making my own holsters for about 6 years, and thought I was doing a pretty fair country job of it for being self-taught. Then I found you guys, and realized I know next to nothing about leatherwork. I'm excited about the prospects, and hope you fellows won't mind too much my 1000's of questions.

Also, I live in Alaska, so am not actually a member of SASS, I hope this is OK. My work is on western belts and holsters for SA Blackhawks used for hunting and bear back-up on my horseback trips hunting and packing, and knife sheaths for friends making custom knives. I've cowboyed in Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho over the years, and cowboy gear is where my heart is.

This is probably the wrong place to step in, and I apologize, but I had to compliment you fellows on your work. It's great stuff.

KidTerico · March 21, 2011, 10:50:04 PM

Alaskspacker welcome aboard. Were all here learning and having fun. Cant wait to see some of your work. Ask all the questions you want. You have some of the best leather workers and most knowledgeable people on this site. I,ve been only doing it for 5 years myself so time dont make a difference to the pards here. They all help. KT

GunClick Rick · March 21, 2011, 10:52:02 PM

Just send me some bear skin,walrus ivory,seal skin,bear skulls,or whatever and i'll get all the info you want

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · March 21, 2011, 10:53:22 PM

Howdy Alaskapacker

Welcome to our forum and Cas City, we're glad to have you with us pard, make yourself at home, and because you are new here, I would suggest you take a little time and look over our rules and different threads and what they are for and about, we also have a FAQ/HOW TO thread that is very helpful, you can access these by clicking on the left of our forum at the holsters, on the main board, this will open the board for you. we hope you will enjoy your time here, and look forward to seeing some of your work.

Regards

tEN wOLVES

GunClick Rick · March 21, 2011, 10:53:45 PM

See how fast i do it,KT read my mind...Ok Ten Wolves you next..See i got these guys in line i tell ya....Ok Cliff you next~~

That will be one bear hide..

bedbugbilly · March 21, 2011, 11:06:10 PM

alaskapacker - Welcome, welcome, welcome!!! Great group of pards on this forum . . . lot's of good info and help . . all you have to do is ask! Don't for a minute think you don't belong here pard . . . . we're all in to the same thing . . . the only difference between you and a lot of us is that we "would like to live on the frontier" and you ACTUALLY do live on the frontier!!!

We're all looking forward to having you "aboard" . . . don't be a stranger . . join in on the fun!

alaskapacker · March 21, 2011, 11:49:40 PM

The only pictures I could find right off, holster I made for my Ruger NMSBH and sheath for my belt knife.

KidTerico · March 22, 2011, 01:21:25 AM

Nice leather work . Can tell your not a beginner. KT

Johnny McCrae · March 22, 2011, 03:10:53 AM

Quotealaskapacker - Welcome, welcome, welcome!!! Great group of pards on this forum . . . lot's of good info and help . . all you have to do is ask! Don't for a minute think you don't belong here pard . . . . we're all in to the same thing . . . the only difference between you and a lot of us is that we "would like to live on the frontier" and you ACTUALLY do live on the frontier!!! Grin We're all looking forward to having you "aboard" . . . don't be a stranger . . join in on the fun!

Couldn't of said it any better!

outrider · March 22, 2011, 07:15:53 AM

I echo what KT and Johnny have said. nice work. Welcome aboard Alaska....I think most of us on here are self taught...I know I am...it takes time to gain expertise..but your off to a good start.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 22, 2011, 07:48:39 AM

Welcome, Alaskapacker. the pards have already said it all. This is a great place to share what you know and pick up new ideas and techniques. Your work is good and it's good to see what you've done. We're glad to have you on board and look forward to your posts.

TwoWalks Baldridge · March 22, 2011, 09:47:46 AM

Welcome AP, some dang nice work, yu betcha! Glad your here. I have been doing this for less than 3 months and have now made a whapping 2 holsters. The pards here have been extremely welcoming and kind.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · March 22, 2011, 11:25:13 AM

Nice work Alaska, your sheath and holster look well made, and I like your high ride holster for your Blackhawk, and the perfect cant for carry. thanks for the look see, we will look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

tEN wOLVES

alaskapacker · March 22, 2011, 11:31:32 AM

Thanks for the kind words, guys. My first project was a knife sheath back in '98 for the knife shown above back when it still had an 8 inch blade. I sat on a roughsawn floor and punched the stitching holes out with a hammer and nail. I had picked up a hook needle somewhere, and I spent about an hour figuring out the stitch. I had watched a saddlemaker sew something by hand, and watched Sam Elliot repair a harness in Conagher, so how hard could it be, right

? I finally figured it out, and eventually learned about groovers and edgers and 4-pronged punches. I still do everything by hand, and still use a hook needle and lock-stitch, even for the few cartridgeloops I've done. I've rebuilt -repaired several saddles, including re-fleecing the skirts, all with a hook needle and lock-stitch, one stitch at a time. It takes weeks and my hands hurt more than they used to when I do it. I'm only 44, so I figured it was time to find a better way before I abuse my body into early uselessness.

I sure am glad to have found you guys.

KidTerico · March 22, 2011, 11:37:48 AM

Alaskapacker I hate to tell you this but I do all my sewing by hand as so many of us do. The more you HURT the more fun your having. NOT KT

Wolf Tracker · March 22, 2011, 03:58:52 PM

Alaskapacker welcome to the forum. That is some nice work you did on the sheaths and holster. Hope to see more.

Drayton Calhoun · March 22, 2011, 06:14:37 PM

Welcome! Hey, I've been doing leatherwork for more than thirty years, but I'm still learning from the real masters in here!

Marshal Will Wingam · March 22, 2011, 10:20:55 PM

Quote from: KidTerico on March 22, 2011, 11:37:48 AM
Alaskapacker I hate to tell you this but I do all my sewing by hand as so many of us do. The more you HURT the more fun your having. NOT KT

LOL, love those thread burns in the folds of your fingers and the awl holes in fingertips. Makes you feel alive.

rickk · March 23, 2011, 12:02:43 PM

I've tried the four prong punch and been frustrated by them. They are hard to get in and even harder to get out. You can't really punch four holes at once anyway because you need to line up one prong in the last hole you punched to get the spacing right.

Having tried a number of ways to make a hole, a very well sharpened diamond sided stitching awl and a stitching wheel seemed way easier to use, at least for me.

I wonder what others have found works best for them?

Also, the needles that I use are blunt pointed. The awl makes the hole, so the needle does not need a point. That saves quite a bit of wear and tear on my fingers.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · March 23, 2011, 12:44:40 PM

rickk , try dragging the teeth of the pronging chisel over your bees wax first, before you even start to make your holes, and continue to do this as you go along, I never have any problems when doing it this way, if you don't you will have the trouble you're having in trying to get the chisel out after making your holes .

tEN wOLVES