Two more California patterns

[armoredman]

Gorgeous work sir, I would have to probably rob a small bank to afford one.

 

[Master Blaster]

Wow very nice could you share a link to your etsy page?

 

[CraigC]

It's in my signature.

 

[FROGO207]

I am curious about how long it takes to tool and assemble one of these holsters. They shure look awesome.

 

[Dave T]

I recently received a California holster from Craig for my S&W 2000 Schofield. The fit is excellent and the finish and workmanship is superb. I've owned a number of El Paso belts and holsters and find Craig's work their equal if not better.

Dave

 

[czhen]

Dave I'm sure CraigC and the bunch won't be mad if you can share his works in a pic here.

 

[CraigC]

I recently received a California holster from Craig for my S&W 2000 Schofield. The fit is excellent and the finish and workmanship is superb. I've owned a number of El Paso belts and holsters and find Craig's work their equal if not better.

Dave

Thank you very much, that's high praise! I'm still buying EPS stuff.

Here's a pic of Dave's holster, hope he doesn't mind.

 

[CraigC]

I am curious about how long it takes to tool and assemble one of these holsters. They shure look awesome.

I keep meaning to time one but never remember to. It usually varies depending on the finish work and drying times. I usually let one dry overnight. If using an existing pattern, I can have it cut out and stamped in about an hour. Then it has to dry before I can stitch anything, else the presser foot will mark the leather. Takes about a half hour to glue it, clean up the mainseam edge with the belt sander and then stitch it. I machine stitch but hand stitch the backstitches. At that point I can dip dye and then wet form it overnight. The alcohol-based dyes dry much faster so if I dye in the morning, I can be finishing it later that day. The finish work takes another hour. I don't use acrylic finishes like resolene so my sheen comes from buffing and burnishing. I would say if everything goes right and I'm in the zone, I can hammer one out in about 3hrs of actual labor. Which is a lot faster than it used to be, especially when I was using water-based glue, dyes and hand stitching everything.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Beautiful work Craig. Makes my El Paso Saddlery 1911 holster look like a real POS.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks!