Belt & Holster for a Buckaroo...What to do?

[Jax Orebetter]

After Christmas I'm probably going to get my son a Ruger Bearcat. (He wants to start shooting with me) I have looked at some of the inexpensive (cheap) holsters at Bass Pro and Cabelas and haven't found anything that would work for him. He is 8 yrs old and skinny. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on leather for him, but it looks like I'm going to have to have some made. Have any of you run into this with young'uns of your own? I'll tell ya right now, I have neither the talent, knowlege, or patience to make it myself. 

[Forty Rod]

Get a holster from El Paso Saddlery or Big Ed at San Pedro.  Hang it on a cheap belt from anywhere.

You might have to dye the belt to match, but he's going to out-grow the belt about once a quarter until he's ten years old.  Then you get a two year reprieve until he starts growing again.  Don't spend much on belts, but get a good holster.

It worked for my kid (Colt Scout, not a Bearcat).

You might also consider a Single Six instead simply because his hands will grow as fast as his feet.

What ever you do, show him what's out there and let him pick (with guidance) the holster  he wants.  He'll keep it longer if it's truly "his".

[DarkBlack]

I got my first rig from a place called the Old Trading Post, http://www.oldtradingpost.com/ it was only about $80 & it was of excellent quality, lined holster, floral carved buscadero rig in a cherry brown. I've been asked by many people if it was made by a famous maker, but no, it was made by a guy named Pablo in Mexico . . .

Any way, I'm sure he'd be able to get you any size waist and caliber you need as all his stuff is hand made, but still on the poor white boy side of things.

I'd also check out eBay, they have many holster with and without belts.

Another suggestion is to check your local hardware store for a plain leather tool belt with no pouches. Most of these are plain, single layer unstitched leather, so it's super simple to measure to the right size & trim, punch some new holes, & voila. Add a holster from eBay or Cabela's, & voila. I found a leather tool belt at Harbor Freight Tools (they might have a www site) for less than $5.00 & I use it for my shotgun shell strippers.

The Oklahoma Leather line at Cabela's is good straight forward leatherwork. It ain't gonna let you get 'em out fast, but it'll keep you friend safely by your side for under $20.

If you invest in a good holster, you can always change belts as the li'l buckeroo grows. You get what you pay for and all that rot.

Hope this helps.

Keep us posted.
--DB

[GunClick Rick]

Hang in there Jax,ima workin a deal for ya~~~~

[Wymore Wrangler]

Big Ed loves kids, I'd give him a shout a San Pedro...

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I think 40 Rod has the idea. Any old belt will hold a holster. A good holster won't change as he grows but the belt size certainly will. You can't go wrong geting a decent holster.

[Cherokee Charlie]

Hello Jax.
I have made several youngsters rigs for CAS.  I dearly love to see kids get into the sport.  I have a special deal for kids.  PM me and I will give you the details.  RSVP even if you have already purchased a rig.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Jax,
I made a holster for a Single-six for my daughter. I then went to Goodwill and bought a few 1.75" black and brown leather belts fer less than $5 each. I cut one to the right length and pouched new holes in it. The other belts will be used when she outgrows this one.

Slim

[Big John Denny]

If I was you I'd start out as cheaply as possible. A basic holster you can buy on a belt you may already have. You never know how long his desire to shoot cowboy is going to last at his current age. If he stays with it you can get him a better rig later. Heck if I had a small caliber western style holster I'd mail it to you for nothing.

[Doc Neeley]

Go on eBay and type in "Bearcat holster". There are 7 of them available.

[Jax Orebetter]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I appreciate it!