Just make me this.......& What's On The Bench

Sounds simple enough, "just make me ______".  An actual conversation..... "I bought a holster and wondered if before you mailed it, you could add a glock 19 omni?" reply "I dont have any on hand but I can make one", "can you just mail it with the one your mailing today?" reply, "I don't print them on a printer, it takes a week to make one". I spend way to much time on each holster but that is part of what I like doing.

I like the occasional "scratch my head with wonder how I will do it" projects. But I think most people have no idea what goes into leather work. Most people think it is like a push button operation (more and more that"s all people understand).  Thought of making something with your hands is becoming more and more foreign to people every day. Just thinking out loud (or in writing)

What's On The Bench

Finished up the Wingman for a glock 42. Worn left handed in the small of the back

 Finished up an Avenger with a mag carrier for a CZ compact.
 

Couple new gaming mag carriers for myself

 Front and back of the above mag carrier

 Front and back of a wet molded mag carrier (has to coat a little more)

Finished up this holster for a M&P 9. It is a 0 cant avenger in washed brown with natural panels. Still lack the mag carrier to go with it

Part of a big order finished. Left handed 0 cant commander 1911 with 2 inch belt slots

Still on the bench

3 gun belts. Two in the washed brown and on that is a 1 3/4 with some double stitching.

 Glock 42 Skinny

 Part of the big order. Lefty 0 cant avenger for a M&P 9

Price Points / What's On The Bench

As disorganized as I am, believe it or not.....I have a plan.

A quick google of Handmade leather holsters will show you that my price point is anywhere from 30-75 % of custom leather work. That is a pretty wide spread of percentages, if you think about it. Custom leather work's "price point" is based on a couple of things.

• Quality. Only makes sense that the higher priced stuff has  a better quality of craftsmanship involved.
• Reputation. You might think that quality would be all that mattered. But if a person builds the absolute best holster in the world but does not have the reputation to go along with it, his prices wont be at the top of the food chain. Most people only pay top dollar for things they have confidence in. Confidence in a person is born from experience with that person.
• Supply & Demand, If a person has too much work backed up, he will charge more.   

I have personally known a few people that started making holsters and just assumed they could charge what the guy that has built a reputation charges. With out the established reputation, they have know demand for there holsters. Discouragement sets in and the next thing that happens is they give it up.

I am fully aware of where my quality of work falls in comparison to others. My price point comes in as 60-80% of similar quality holster makers. I don't do that to "undercut" someone, but I don't have the reputation that "said holster-maker" has. So, I price the way I do, in order to get orders and along with that will come reputation as long as there is quality.   Bam Bam Holster Prices

With every holster I keep in mind that there has to be something that I want to make a little bit better and never be afraid to try an idea of improvement. I do some "busy" work and sell the product on ebay. The busy work is where I try new things, and experiment on various methods. These efforts affect quality and reputation.

There will come a day that I will have to charge the price that the quality, reputation, and supply dictates. Until then don't be afraid of a good price on quality work. And if there is any doubt, I make the same promise I always have. If you don't like the holster I build you, I will exchange the money you paid me for the holster I made you and there will be no hard feelings. To me, that is better than you keeping what you don't like and having hard feelings........again....reputation.

 What's On The Bench

Below is an Omni For a glock 19. This is a lined holster, with some decorative work. it also has a tall sight channel to accommodate the sights in the customers gun.  This color scheme is really growing on me. It is what I call washed Brown. It is actually a clear coat over the area that appears lightest. Then a Brown antiquing process. The whole color changes when the holster is submerged in water and then formed to the holster. A little more labor and attention but sure looks cool.

Omni with an Elephant Overlay for a Glock 26. First overlay I have done.

Omni for a Shield.

 Still on the Bench

Just about finished with a Wingman for a Glock 42. This is a lefty made to be worn Small of the back. If I understand correctly, it is for a policeman's back up or off duty carry.

 Working on a few "gaming" mags for myself and one of these will go to accompany the Avenger below, which is for a CZ Compact.

This little guy has sat idle for a week. This one for a shield will be for sale.

Random shot of the chaos in the coarse of the week.

I spent far to much time figuring out which little screws to order that go in the wingman snaps.

The Gun Belt / What's On The Bench

The usual progression of the first time gun buyer or even first time Conceal Carry person, is they think long and hard about the gun they want. They do research and hopefully test fire or at least handle several guns to see what they like. Then after much deliberation they purchase that fire arm. While most just "buy something" to put it inside of there pants, some will give almost as much thought and attention the holster that they would put it in.

For most, that is as far as it goes for some time. After all they have purchased the gun, and a holster to put it in. What people often over look is the support system which is the gun belt. I have never heard anyone that moved up to a gun belt that did not say it was so much better that the regular belt they had always worn.

The Bam Bam Gun Belt is made from two layers of leather totaling just a hare over 2 tenths of an inch. I can make them even thicker if you like just be aware of whether or not the thicker belt will fit you pants and holster. Belts start at 60.00. Stamping or decorative stitching pattern is an additional 15 dollars. The pic describes how to measure it. There are seven holes 3/4 inch apart, centered on the measurement you give. If the belt is wrong because you measure wrong, it is your problem, measure correctly (don't just give your pant size)

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Cut them out of the back of a side of leather

Fit the buckle

Cement the two pieces together

Let them set up and get a good bond

Dye time. Then stitch it up, sand, burnish, burnish some more and then burnish a little more.

Two coats of sealant

What's On The Bench?

Finished up a gun belt that has some tooling on it.

I have not timed it, but probably 15-30 min to do a border stamp

Ruger LCP

M&P Shield Lefty

Glock 42 Lefty -----this one is for sale

Finished up a tomcat 32

Glock 19 OMNI -----this is what I call my "washed brown" and "natural" section and some tooling.This one is for sale.

IN THE WORKS

Doing my first "overlay". This is elephant.

so far so good

Shield Omni with two colors. This one will be for sale.

Shield Omni with a washed Med Brown and natural panels. This one will be for sale

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Any comments or questions .......FEEL FREE