Hand Made Holsters?

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MrDig

MrDig

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Do you think there is a Market for them?

Would you want generic sizes (Sm M L Autos), (Frame relevant revolver sizes)?

Would you prefer custom sizes Made for Specific Firearms?

Would you pay as much as $75.00 for one?
 
A market for them? I know of at least a dozen one man shops that are making superb handmade leather gear. It usually costs more, and takes longer to get. But it's quality compared to even the well known gunleather "factories" out strips them by a mile.
 
Mr Dig, Are you looking for hand made holsters in Minnesota? Or are you thinking of making some custom ones yourself that would be for sale? When I was looking for holsters and cartridge belts, I found having them made custom for my size, the gun and cartridge was best done by someone face to face. Was able to have him talk to me about what I wanted and left the pistol with him. The end result was perfect fit and happy customer. I had 32-20 and 45 cal. belts made with inside the belt storage for money clip or hunting license. To answer your questions, I think $75.00 for a holster is reasonable, and take into consideration aftermarket grips, sights or modifications to the pistol or revolver that will effect the fit in the holster.

DMH
 
I am thinking of making them not only for myself but to sell as well. Seems to me it is a small niche but one I can accommodate.
 
i make leather holsters....i have about fifty auctions going on gun broker...most of mine are wet molded/custom fit at 20-30 range....i sell one or two a month....so far i have not found that niche....the cloest i have come is holsters for hi standard derringer, that have been out of production 30 years.....gary
 
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=264031

Those are all handmade holsters posted by those who make them. Usually they'll have their website in their signature lines, so go ahead and check them out, and it'll give you an idea on what they charge. There is definitely a niche for handmade custom holsters, and other accessories.

Generally, "one size fits most" holsters are looked down on, because they don't offer sufficient retention for the firearm. Those kinds of holsters usually go up on ebay for $20 and never get bought.
 
MrDig wrote,
Seems to me it is a small niche but one I can accommodate.
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Relatively speaking it is a small niche. As smalls points out in his post and link, there are lots and lots of folks trying to fill that small niche, but there is still lots of room for more quality makers.

Most of the makers in the link from smalls have delivery times measured in months (some in years) so there is enough demand to keep them busy.

Since you are in Minnesota, check out "SideGuard Holsters"
http://sideguardholsters.com/

A neighbor in Wisconsin is Del Fatti Leather
http://www.delfatti.com/

I think Del Fatti gets $75 for a mag pouch. He charges 2 -3 times that for a holster. If you are good, you can get whatever the market will pay.
 
JTQ's right, it may be a small niche, but there is enough of a demand to keep makers pretty busy.

I'd much rather have a really high quality handmade holster made for me for just a few bucks more than an off the shelf holster. I own a few Galco products (I consider them the best holster maker you can get at almost any gunshop), and they're pretty nice, but no where compared to Del Fatti, or Milt Sparks.
 
There is a market--I have a couple of hand-made holsters, and they are great. Considering the time involved, I don't see how the people doing make any money though.
 
Well, it really depends on how many holsters you're turning out a week, really. I have absolutely no idea how much time a holster (or any other leather product, really) takes to build.

Kelly gun leather is a one man shop, and I believe it's a second full time job to him.

Milt Sparks, and Alessi both have a team, I believe. They can obviously turn out way more holsters a week than a one man shop.
 
Do you think there is a Market for them?

Would you want generic sizes (Sm M L Autos), (Frame relevant revolver sizes)?

Would you prefer custom sizes Made for Specific Firearms?

Would you pay as much as $75.00 for one?
Click to expand...
In order:

1 - Yes.

2 - No, you can buy those anywhere.

3 - Yes.

4 - If quality is commensurate, yes.
 
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