Another Holster A Year Later

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I made a cross draw holster to match one made last year. The dye is the same but the holster came from a different side of leather so the color is close but not exact. It came out fine and the shooter's pleased with it.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Very nice.

Slim

[Capt Quirk]

I really like that border Will, what is it?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, Slim.

I really like that border Will, what is it?

It's made with a pair of Hackbarth palm stamps along a single bead. A large seeder at the corners. As I recall, those stamps are copies of original stamps from the 1800's.

This is my practice piece.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Very nice Will
TEN Wolves. 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Rod.

[Johnny McCrae]

Beautiful work Marshall. Many thanks for sharing your talents and expertise with us.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, John.

[Capt Quirk]

I have never heard of that stamp, thank you.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Glad to help, Capt.

If you're interested, Hackbarth stamps are still available in limited runs. Lonnie, the guy who took over after Ellis Barnes died, is semi-retired but still making stamps. 520-642-3891 I think he's on Facebook, too. If you do Facebook, that is.

I think the Chinese make copies of them but I'm sure the quality is not at all the same. I talked to another leather worker who bought some Chinese leather stamps and those kept bending and breaking when he used them. You get what you pay for.

There are some kinda similar ones available on ebay from an outfit in Bulgaria for about half the price. I prefer the originals but those might look good, too.

[Virgil Lantey]

Great looking holsters!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, pard.

[Capt Quirk]

Most of my stamps are from China, obviously. I mean, where else is anything made these days? But, I have never bent or broken one. I must be using the wrong hammer.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Most of my stamps are from China, obviously. I mean, where else is anything made these days? But, I have never bent or broken one. I must be using the wrong hammer.

The secret is to beat the tar out of them with a 2# ball peen hammer.

That said, here's a link to the Chinese ones, if you're interested. Those impressions don't look quite as clean but it may get you going.

Frankly, I'll pay the price for American made stamps. Here's a link for them, too. Call and talk to Lonnie rather than placing an order online. He's semi-retired and you want to make sure he is still available to make them for you. The price is still what I paid some 20 years ago when Ellis Barnes was alive.

[Capt Quirk]

Hey Will, thanks for that link. I looked at the Hackbarth tools, and realized that one of their stamps cost as much as all my Tandy and Hobby Lobby stamps. I know they aren't the best, but I'm just trying to keep myself busy, make some cool stuff... and not raise the ire of the book keeper.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yeah, those sure do hit the pocketbook but the quality of the impression good quality stamps make is so superior that they spoil you.

Those Chinese made ones are close to the originals from what the photo shows. Those might be the way for you to go. They're 1/3 the cost of Hackbarth palm stamps and 3/4 the price of the Bulgarian ones that are not even the same.

I've used them for other designs, too. Like this one I did just playing around.

[Capt Quirk]

The way I'm looking at it, the better the artist, the better the tools, the better the product. I'm just ok, on a good day. Tools can only do so much for me. But, that is a cool stamp.

[Rube Burrows]

What a beautiful set of holsters. Heck, all the holsters you posted in this thread are wonderful. Classic.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

The way I'm looking at it, the better the artist, the better the tools, the better the product. I'm just ok, on a good day. Tools can only do so much for me. But, that is a cool stamp.

It helps to have better tools because the impressions are clean and crisp. Most inexpensive tools are sand cast and so muddled looking that they can make anybody's work look so-so. Details come alive with better quality stamps. Not to mention that it's a real pleasure to use them.

Thank you, Rube.

[Cliff Fendley]

Thank you, Slim.
It's made with a pair of Hackbarth palm stamps along a single bead. A large seeder at the corners. As I recall, those stamps are copies of original stamps from the 1800's.

This is my practice piece.

Very nice!