The high ride

[Slowhand Bob]

This is the one I showed patterning with the masking tape and the pattern transferred almost perfectly without alteration.  The gun is an excellent fit, much much better than an OJ glove fit!  This will probably be my personal favorite for a Wild Bunch holster, I like my guns carried high on the hip bone such as is done with the California Slim Jims and this holster is very close to that.  The one close up shows the main problem that occurred with the sewing once I reached the trigger guard swell.  The holster tipped no matter how careful I tried to be and this caused the stitch holes to run off the bottom edge.  The fix was done by hand after several failed attempts to repair it on the machine.  More later.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

           The Wolfs back , I like it Bob, I like the high ride style too, this is a nice pattern. I said I'd be keeping an eye on you


                                            tEN wOLVES 

[Crossdrawnj]

A copy of the Bianchi Chapman?

[Slowhand Bob]

Yes, this lacks the sight track and metal liner though.  Not only a pretty good practical drsign but will probably be my choice for Wild Bunch also.

[Crossdrawnj]

I have the strong side, FBI cant version that Bianchi made of this design. I think its called the International model. Used it for IPSC for years and still have it.

Crossdraw.

[TallBaldBellied]

Me likey lots.  When might this be in production?   

[Slowhand Bob]

Let me rest my hands , these are very heavy leather compared to what I usually make, and I will try to make a couple or few.  My biggest problem is that one with a sight track would be more universal in its appeal but this would use a different cutting pattern.  They do make up into attractive holster designs without the track but undercut raised front sights eat the leather up and my limited feedback is indicating that target sights are actually as common, or more so for WB, than the tiny WW1 versions?

Guys I have had joint pain and stiffness for years, whenever I was hand sewing  but this is the first time that it has related directly to cutting leather.  Cutting in this heavier than normal leather had me holding the box cutter with my pointer finger stretched along top of the knife to apply lots of extra downward pressure.  While working on the lighter weight magazine patterns, I have gone to wrapping my entire hand around the knife handle and after a week that trigger finger knuckle joint now only hurts while working.  Before it was like a toothache, hurting all the time.  Just a word of caution as I know some of you are probably getting close to my age, do not use bad habits that stress those old joints.   

[CQMD]

Great job....  They are not that easy of a holster to make. I love the way they fit the gun and the body. They have been one of my best sellers over the last year as they give a great canvas for tooling.  You are going to love this style

Bobby R

[Massive]

Funny how this stuff seems to bubble up at the same time.  I just bought one to start my own process.  Also looking for a few other early IPSC ones.

[Slowhand Bob]

A really beautifully carved outfit CQMD and it is a tough one to work by hand with such heavy leather.  Massive, I think if you look at the early Davis stuff in addition to Bianchi's, you will be looking at what was some pretty good designs.  I have wondered why Bianchi hasn't elected to resurrect some of his older models but think he probably gave up all the necessaries when he sold the plant? 

I must say that some of their old mag pouches were quite inventive but are actually harder to duplicate consistently than are the holsters.  Cutting the pouch patterns has got the hands sore and stiff again so perhaps I need to devote a month or so to trying to clean up the shop and make it workable again!  Talk about a pain, try cutting double shoulders on one or two square foot of available bench space.  This gives me an idea, Im gonna take some shop workspace pictures to show yall what a nightmare looks like.

[Red Cent]

I realize that envy ain't a good word, but it creeps in when I see beautifullly designed leather craft.

SBob mentioned that I should post some pictures. I took and old #5 Safariland holster and did simple mods thinking about its use in Wild Bunch. A few years ago, when I could go into the slight crouch and perform the draw with the holster at 4:00 without pain, this was my favorite holster. Now I carry the lw Commander in an appendix position.

I believe I will be in trouble with my G. W. Davis rig shortly. So I am experimenting. I believe we need to build a rig for speed that does not look like speed. I know that a number of us like the cool style but it is gonna have to get a little more block-ier.





That is not the edge of the port. That is a piece of leather. Remove that little piece and it wiould still be without, question, legal.

[Slowhand Bob]

I do believe that this can be duplicated in a reverse wrap, as you suggested.  It would then actually take on the old 'Speed Scabbard' appearance which I personally liked and think would also make a nice WB design.   My thought would be to add in a small thick piece of leather as a trigger guard rest reinforcement since there is not an actual welt there.  Rise from the guard on the front in a nice rolling line that would meet at the sight track about where you have yours split to now.   Let the back rise up into whatever length you would want for a fol over belt loop or skirt.  Im sure others would have a great vision on how to accomplish what you want that would exceed mine.

[PJ Hardtack]

SH Bob

Nice work! I'm looking at my Sparks muzzle forward cant and it looks very similar. The trigger guard is not 100% covered, but it is impossible to make contact with it in a draw. It is metal lined and has a sewn in sight track. The ejection port is half covered and it has the Sparks brass knob tension screw.
I didn't think it was WB in spirit, but from what you guys are saying, it's in.

I'm also handling my Davis 12450-6 that I used in IPSC when my Series '70 Gold Cup was fitted with a Clarke 'Pin Gun' barrel. While it covers the trigger guard, it is cut well below the ejection port. Metal lined and designed to accomodate any front sight. Came with two screw-on belt loops, one for 'High Ride' and one for 'Low Ride'.

This one is collectible or still quite useable for anyone needing a holster for a long slide 1911. I'm amazed how well it stood up over the years. I could be talked out of it, a swap for a muzzle forward or straight up 'High Ride' along the lines of the El Paso '1930 Austin' I bought, but one with a covered trigger guard.

[Red Cent]

SBob, if the welt is inside and not showing, I agree. If I bought one from you I would request that the trigger guard rests on the holster leather in the same position to the leather as the S&W leather shows, sans welt. I designed and Bob Mernickle created my cowboy holster rig that has the rear seam to the inside of the trigger guard and the revolver trigger guard sets on the top edge of the leather leather.

And, I would like to see something that requires the barrel to be parrallel with the lines of the holster.

[Massive]

What about the 1at, RC?

[Red Cent]

Very nice looking rig. Does the trigger guard set on top of the rear protusion?