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Picking favorites. Not cool if it’s your kids, but holsters don’t read.

Gibson Leather, Bruce Gibson Design, natural Hermann Oak leather OWB holster with rope basket stamp and liner. Roughout back panel.
Natural OWB with rope basket stamp, Barry King half-flower border, lined with roughout back panel.

This one’s a favorite. I built it last week along with a dozen others, but I only lined two of them. The other is the hammered finish I put in another post a week or so back. I like it, too, but I really like this one. That doesn’t happen too often. I should probably use the past tense talking about this–this one’s not mine anymore. It’s got a new home in South Texas, and it was interesting packing it up in that Priority Mail box and putting it in the hands of the Postal Service. It’s my hope the Postal folks don’t take it on a month-long tour of the Southwest. They did that with one a couple of months ago.

It was only here a few days after it was finished. I’ve got some I’ll probably die with, and others that aren’t finished yet, but already have “dibs” called on them. I’ll miss this one. But only for a few days–I’m building a couple more just like it.

That’s it for now. Thanks for riding along. It’s 7:30 PM here on the Redneck Riviera, and I’m calling it a day.

From what’s left of America…

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On the bench…

Working on a half-dozen or so for inventory. I thought I’d shoot a few progress photos for the blog and give you some idea of the process, and the steps involved in making a 1911 holster. These will all be natural, with no stamping or carving, white stitching, outside-the-waistband, high-ride, pancake-style, detailed molded, etc. These are my favorite to build, so that’s the reason you see so many of them.

The photo above shows a couple of my favorite tools–they’re both stitch grooves for cutting stitch lines before sewing. The general purpose is to recess the thread into a channel to minimize wear on the thread. I’m a clean-stitching freak, so anything I can do to make my stitch lines as neat as I can I’m in for. The tool at the top of the photo is one made by Bob Douglas up in Wyoming. The other is made by Jeremiah Watt. You can reach Jeremiah at www.Ranch2Arena.com and order one if you’re in the market. Jeremiah calls it a Gum Tool, and you can find it on his website at this link: https://www.ranch2arena.com/collections/horse-shoe-brand-tools/products/67-5200-gum-tool?variant=20123771011185 I don’t get a commission/reward for recommending the Watt/Horseshoe products–I just like to brag occasionally about the stuff I use and like. These come in two sizes–the #1, and the #2. For little stuff, like holsters, I only use the #1.

That’s about all I have for today–we rockin’ along and staying about as busy as we want to be. Thankful for great customers, and a fun job. Be sure to head over to our other website at www.GibsonLeather.com to check out the holsters we have in stock. We’ll be listing them here as time permits, but for now, they’re all over there.

Questions and comments are always welcome, so feel free!

From what’s left of America …

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Birthdays.

Today is mine. 59-years ago, in a land far away, I hit the ground butt-naked and screaming. I was born in California, so that could explain both, the naked and the screaming. But, it was different back then. California was a little goofy, but not completely off the rails insane like it is today. The weather’s still good, so they do have that.

I’m in Florida now, where I’ve been for over 30-years. We left California when I was around 8, and moved to Louisiana. In hindsight, I don’t think anyone knew what a communist hell-hole California would become back then. I count myself fortunate that I didn’t have to grow up there.

Birthdays, to me, are kind of like getting new tires. Brand-new when you’re born, and then over the years (the miles), the tread gradually unwinds. A roll of toilet paper is kind of the same thing, but for the sake of keeping this sanitary, we’ll stick with tires. At some point, down the road, after many, many miles (we hope), there’s a blowout, and you’re outta here. Having a choice, I’d like to go in my sleep. I came in naked and screaming. I’d like to go out with a little less drama.

Statistically, I should have another 20-years. Give or take. I choose to take.

I’ve been crazy blessed, and I’m ridiculously thankful.