Let's Dance!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

OK, pards. I finished up a Dance Wannabe project and it needs a holster. Since this is the new year, I'll post the progress as it is this morning. Normally I'd wait until it was completed but this breaks in the new year.

The Wannabe started out life as a Pietta 1851 with a 7-1/2" bbl. All parts on it except for the screws have been modified in some fashion to turn this into what it is. Here is the one in need:



The holster as is now. Since Dance pistols were made in Texas, it needed a star on it somewhere:



I made the tool to make the double bead while I worked at Charlie Miller's saddle shop, some 40+ years ago and never used it. I decided to break it out and see how it works. I also made a single bead tool which came in handy to make the beads right where they end against the flower stamp. Notice that the maker's stamp is off at a slight angle so it looks right after the holster is folded over to stitch.

The tools (there's no mistaking these for commercially made tools):





OK, then. Lets start those projects, pards. Maybe someone will beat me to posting a finished item.

[Mogorilla]

Excellent design on the holster and love the pistol.   I have a pietta dance i treated
Myself to upon graduation.    It is on my needs a new holster list.   

[Rube Burrows]

Excellent! I have been following your rework of this revolver on the open top forum for a while. Glad to see it finished up. Turned out very nice looking.

The holster looks great so far and I really like the way your tools work. Makes a great looking design. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Mo. Those Dances are nice. I had to grind/draw file my recoil shields off and had to rework the barrel to get it round. Looking forward to seeing what you do for your holster.

Thank you, Rube. I see you beat me to the finished project post for the year. It looks really good. Three thumbs-ups for that.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

A little color helps. That's drying, now.

[Rube Burrows]

Thank you, Rube. I see you beat me to the finished project post for the year. It looks really good. Three thumbs-ups for that.

Thanks. Just a quick project this morning.

I'm looking forward to seeing this one though.

[Smokey Dave]

Fantastic work as usual Marshal. Looking forward to the finished holster.

The Dance will look right at home in it.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, pards.

[Skeeter Lewis]

Great work, Marshal.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, Skeet.

[Coffinmaker]

  Yessssssir Marshal 

That there Dance is one Swell Piece of Work.  A little excess Barrel, but hey . . . .

The leather is starting out really nice too.

A great start to the New Year!!  May 2021 be fun and prosperous.

[Johnny McCrae]

Many thanks for posting this. Excellent design & workmanship. It's very interesting and informative to follow the progress.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Mike, Johnny.

A little excess Barrel, but hey . . . .

Yeah, that is a bit longer than it could be. A friend and I tested it out, though, and while sighting it in at 7 yds we consistently put groups of three through the same hole. It may be the most accurate one. It has earned the right to stay like that, I guess.

[Cliff Fendley]

Nice work Marshall. Thanks for sharing. Love to see custom hand made shop tools at work.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Cliff. Sometimes tools can be as much fun to make as the item.

[Major 2]

I find myself staring at your Dance, I like it

The clean simplicity of the holster border is also appealing

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, Major. It's taken a while but it was a fun journey. This holster finishes the project.

Then there's the other one that will need a holster...

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Will, it's always nice to see your gun again, and that new holster looks great , can't wait to see it finished, and the color is awesome, totally my taste...

tEN wOLOVES 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, Rod. I've been working on getting that color for a while. It's going to be difficult to match again but at least for now I have 2/3 quart of it.

[Cliff Fendley]

Thanks, Cliff. Sometimes tools can be as much fun to make as the item.

What I find most satisfying is making things with tools that you also made.