Cowgirl

My sister recently got into the Cowboy Fast Draw game. My dad, Pawpaw, started into it about 2 years ago with my step-mom, and more and more of the clan is slowly getting into it. First was my Nephew, who I recently made the Bowie knife sheath for, then my Brother in Law, Greg. Now his wife, my sister wants to get into it. She has been going to club meets and practicing, and asked me a few weeks ago to make her a rig.

She wanted a medium brown leather setup with fancy border stamping and teal highlights. And she wanted her CDFA Alias stamped into the belt. Also, she wanted the holster made on a Mernickle pattern, meaning with a certain cant and ride height. My dad had one of those holsters handy, so I borrowed it to get an idea for a pattern.

Her holster is a single layer of very heavy, dense hide. It probably runs 12-13 ounces and is cut from the shoulder of the hide. This means  the leather is very, very dense and is about a quarter inch thick. Mernickle uses 2 thinner layers sandwiched together. Both ways have their advantages, but I personally prefer using a single thickness when possible, so that's the way I went. I also made her holster slightly longer than the Mernickle, as on theirs the barrel of the gun ever so slightly stuck out the bottom. That will not happen on mine. Lastly, I omitted the bullet deflector. Not because they are not a good idea, but because I didn't have suitable material to make one, and they are not required for competition.

This is the end result. I think she'll like it.

Finished

Now I have a cowboy fast-draw holster to make...

Next Step

Phase 1: Design and Layout, and Phase 2: Construction, are done.

Phase 3: Finishing and Dyeing are next.

9mm round for size comparison.

Sidebar

I updated the folks in my sidebar just now. Removed a few folks who stopped updating, and added a guy I've been following for a year or more. Frankly, I have no excuse. I've just been lazy. Check out Langiappe's Lair in the sidebar, and meet a fellow gun nut trapped in a beautiful, diverse, colorful, LIBERAL city. He moved to New Orleans recently, and seems to be having plenty of misadventures.

I've hung out with him a few times, and he's a blast. If you don't already read him regular, you should. He's a hoot.

Bowie

With a prolific and large as my clan is, we throw all the children's names into a hat every year, and draw names to see who you buy gifts for. In this way, we each only buy presents for 2 or 3 nieces or nephews, rather than having to buy gifts for a dozen.

One of the nephews that I got this year wants a bowie knife. He got into the Fast-Draw game with Pawpaw, and all the other teenage boys have bowie knives. I scouted around for a bowie at a decent price, finally finding one for not too much money. It's a cheap one, but it's more "costume" than "survival, so I'm not too worried about it. Thing is, it came with a truly horrendous, pleather sheath... in brown, no less. The boy has all of his fast-draw gear in black, so I'm going to make him a proper sheath for the knife. truth be told, when this is all done, the sheath will be worth more than the knife... but as I said, since it's for costume more than function, doesn't it make sense that it be clad in a really nice sheath?

I hope the boy can appreciate good leather.

Louisiana comfort food

In lieu of actual content on this wet, rainy day...

Gumbo

And bread pudding!

Firewood Folly

In my infinite wisdom, I decided I needed to acquire firewood for our fire pit today. We enjoy sitting outside around a fire with an adult libation, and we don't have much wood. After voting, I headed to a local pallet manufacturer that I heard sold scrap wood for cheap. It was an idyllic 20 minute drive down the highway into the country. When I got there, I was greeted at the office by a charming southern girl that said things like "ya'll" and "them over there" and said everything with a smile and a saccharine twang. Kind as can be, she informed me that I could buy a truck bed full of scrap for a 20 dollar bill, and she was sorry, but I had to load it myself. I gallantly smiled and slightly flexed my muscles as she pointed me to a mountain of wood probably 60ft high and twice that around. Looking behind it, there were several more piles like it.

The scraps were mixed hardwood and pine, and I could pick and choose. I tossed and loaded and cussed for 20 minutes, only selecting hardwood, then climbed into the bed of my F-150 to stack it. After packing it in neatly and tight, level with the top of the bed, I hadn't even gotten to the wheel wells! I gasped for air, having not thought that it would be as difficult as it was (am I really that dumb? did I really think it would be EASY to load a truck bed full of wood?!) and wished that I had brought a bottle of water. Or even better, liquor. Damn this wood!

The better part of an hour later, and I had finished filling the bed. Sure, the last 20 or so pieces were pine, but I was too tired to give a crap about climbing the woodpile AGAIN so I settled for the easy pickings near the base of the wood-mountain.

I stopped at a gas station near the pallet factory, and got a poweraid to rejuvenate myself, and wryly patted myself on the back. I had secured a whole truckload of fire pit goodness! I slowly crept home, savoring my electrolyte laden beverage.

A few blocks from my house, realization set in. I was going to have to unload all that damn wood! Ah, hell! I backed into the driveway, and got as close as I could to where I stack firewood, about 20 yards away. The firewood stared up out of the truck bed balefully back at me. It laughed. Or maybe I did. surely that wasn't a crazed sob that came from my lips?

I dreadfully cleared a path between my preferred firewood location and my truck. with grit and determination, I dutifully wheeled the wheelbarrow over to my truck. I started loading into the wheelbarrow. Was this wood heavier? Surely if each piece weighs this much, my rear tires should be flat! Over the course of the next hour, I made approximately 11 million trips back and fourth between my truck and the wood pile, neatly stacking each piece. Some of the stacks may look like a drunk with the shakes stacked it, but it must be because the wood was uneven. I take pride in stacking wood neatly.

Did you know that firewood has teeth? I didn't. But it must be true. I was stacking wood as carefully as can be (an outside observer may have thought I was worn-out and half-heartedly throwing wood willey-nilly on the stack, but this is a technique I learned from my father. It keeps your neighbors from feeling bad about themselves when they see you preforming nigh-superhuman feats of endurance), when one reached out with its teeth and bit me! Right into my cuticle on my right middle finger! As I said, I was being very careful to stack it neatly in spite of my neighbors oddly standing around pointing and laughing, so I know I couldn't have inadvertently smashed it between 2 pieces of firewood.

Finally the last piece of wood was stacked. I put the wheelbarrow away. I heard the leaf Springs on my F-150 sigh in relief. I'm pretty sure it was the leaf springs. I mean, I know it wasn't me... my sighs are quiet and dignified, not loud and screeching...

Anyway, the wood is stacked, and I am all set for a cheery fire that i can't enjoy, because the rain came in, damnit!

I'm sure that cruel witch at the pallet factory that convinced me that I was getting a STEAL on a truckload of wood for 20 dollars is cackling right now, enjoying my misery that the rain she called in would inflict.

Handguns

After work yesterday I went and spent some of the detail money I've been making. I made a deal with my wife that I would work a bunch of details to get us back flush and build up money for Christmas, but I was going to buy a gun and accessories for same if we met our financial goals before the detail ran out.

I bought a G17 gen 4 glock, and upgraded the sights to Ameriglo night sights. I am happy with the purchase. I have carried a Glock 19 gen 3 as a work gun for 5 years. I'm intimately familiar with it, and trust in it daily. I like the platform, and accept it's limitations. It is not a safe queen or range toy, and it's not pretty.

But it's a great tool, and it is well designed for its intended task. I decided to go with the 17 because I like the longer grip. I like the modularity of the gen 4 grip as well, but the base size fits my hand best. the texture is much better than on the gen 3 as well.

I feel very comfortable with my 19, but it is owned by my department, and I really wanted a duty weapon that is mine. I don't want to have to learn another gun -even another Glock- if I ever decide to move to another department.

Looking at my handguns today, I have come to realise that I don't have a need for any other handgun at this point in my life. In fact, I have a few superfluous guns. I'm not getting rid of any, because the 3 handguns that I have that don't fill specific roles all have a place in my heart, but I don't see a need to add to my handgun collection anymore.

In the top left, you see my new G17. I hope to become as familiar with it as I am with my department's G19, below it.

Under the 19, you see a Kahr CW9, which is my constant off-duty companion.

Below the Kahr is a Ruger LC-9 that I got for a song, and is my "truck gun". I don't mind if it gets a little beat up, and it's easy to throw in a glove box when I'm going somewhere. it has a belt holster and a pocket holster and an extra magazine with it at all times, and is basically a gun to have on hand for if I ever get caught out without a gun.

Top right is a Taurus 627 Tracker in .357. It's my woods gun. I generally carry it when hunting as a backup/critter repellant/snake medicine.

Below the Taurus is my S&W 638, which is my deep concealment gun. If off-duty, and unable to carry my Kahr, the 638 slips into a pocket.

Below that is my wife's S&W model 60. It's hers, so I don't ever carry it, but it's a dandy little j-frame.

And in the middle are the "superfluous" guns. the top is a 3-inch model 36 which I just LOVE. A 3-inch j-frame is a thing of beauty that has to be experienced to be understood. it carries like a j-frame but shoots like a k-frame. It's a dream to shoot.

Below that is a grail gun of mine, a 1908 pocket hammerless. What can I say, I've had a jones for that gun forever. I finally scratched the itch, and after shooting it, I'm glad I did. It's a JMB work of art.

Lastly is my Great-Great Uncle's backup, a Ruby in 32. that gun was carried small-of-back without a holster by Uncle Roy for his working career as a Cop in Rural Louisiana in the first half of the 20th century. It has stories to tell, and considering that it may have been a relic of WWII, some of them are likely grim. I'll never get rid of that one, strictly due to the family history.

So that's the handguns. Like I said, I think I've got my bases covered in this department. I guess it's time to start cranking out 9mm on the reloading press, and hit the range!

Finally, a Post!

My lord, has it been that long? Whew! life has been like a rocket-sled on rails, to quote Jerry Reed. I have been working details to pay off a few things and put some money back for Christmas. Between work, Details, Scouts, and housework when the Wife is studying for school, I haven't had time to breathe, much less blog.

But, so goes life. At least I have an awesome one. Being a scout leader is fun, my marriage is strong and happy, and the detail I've been working is mostly fun.

I have had to put Leatherworking on the back burner lately, due to busy schedules, but I did make a shell holder for a buddy that shoots trap. His last name is Cherry, which makes more sense than seeing the shell holder without context.

Anyway, hope everyone is doing great, and the detail I've been working ends in mid-November, so by Thanksgiving, you should be seeing more around here! Have a good next few weeks! If I have time I may post a thing or two, but you'll be seeing more of me before too long, in any event.

Be safe and have fun out there, guys and gals.

Boot Shot

Pawpaw wanted an award for people who flubbed their shot during the Cowboy Fast Draw competition he's hosting next Month.

The "boot-shot" award. Heh!

Snapshots

2 weeks ago, I went north to see family. Had a blast, it was great to see everyone, I hugged necks, and my Pop helped me process around 100 lbs. of lead into ingots. Thanks, pop. I had a lot of fun standing around a fire all morning with you. It had been too long since we last did something like that.

Afterwards, I spent the week finishing up some leather projects, including a holster for Murphy's Law, because I went and saw him the following weekend (last weekend).

Spent Sunday roaming New Orleans and it's usual haunts, including battlefields, museums, and squares. We even went to an old blacksmiths shop (wink, wink, for those that recognise the picture).

Finally, I managed to make a few holsters I've been wanting to make. I've been wanting to make a brace of holsters for my J-frames. The 3 inch 36 is worn strong-side, while the 2 inch 638 is worn cross draw. I tried out the cross draw rig on the way to see Murphy's Law last weekend, and it really worked out well. You can easily access it while driving, but is still comfortable for a long ride.

Cub Scouts is really starting to ramp up, with our first campout in 2 weeks. Life is hell-for-busy right now, but we're getting a lot of fun, quality stuff done, so I'm not complaining!

Camper Progress

Painted today. Found a blue that matches the blue in the tweed of the bench. It was Bahr premium paint+primer, and I got a gallon for 9 dollars.

After 4 coats on the countertops and camp boxes (my great grandfather made the camp boxes. My dad passed them to me recently. With my son, this will be the 5th generation to use them), it was time to install the counters. Here is a picture of the interior in "packed" mode.

The idea is, the two boxes in front get removed from the camper, and get converted into tables that go outside the camper. The white box in the middle flops back (there is a piano hinge connecting them) onto the blue countertop in the rear of the photo, making a small galley kitchen. Once set up, it looks like this:

My wife spent about 2 hours giving the camper a good cleaning while I was working on the counters.

I got the gas lines re-run easily. Next is the water lines. I am soaking all the connectors, so I will tackle it in a day or so.

After the water lines are done, all that is left will be replacing the matress, and putting in a new A/C unit.

I'm pleased with the progress!

Camper tear-out

The refurbishment of the camper started yesterday. I spent about 4 hours cleaning and tearing out. When I finished, right before I closed it all down, it looked like this:

It's cleaned out, and the countertops are removed. The sink and stove are stored at the moment, and the hoses and water reservoir are removed for cleaning or replacing as needed. I checked the propane lines, and they are in good shape. Hopefully I can just replace the regulator, and be in business, there.

I cut out new countertops using 1/2 inch finish grade plywood, using the old countertops for a pattern. I found a 4' x 4' piece of plywood at the hardware store that they had marked as scrap, and got it for $3.75, so the countertops came out pretty cheap. 

Another trip to the hardware store is likely today, so I can pick up paint( Im going to look in their 'oops' paints, to see if they have a color I can stomach for cheap), water lines, a propane regulator, and various screws. 

It's coming along.

Clutter

Believe it or not, this is what productive Leatherworking looks like.

Seen on Craigslist

No crap, I legit just saw this...

https://batonrouge.craigslist.org/cto/5746845874.html

Figured I needed to share!

The Great American Road Trip: Getting Started

For years, my wife has waxed poetic about one day wishing to take a road trip down Route 66. I've humored her, but honestly didn't think it would happen until after we retired. She posited several months back that next summer would be her last free summer for probably the next 20 years. She has 2 years of clinicals for vet school, followed by 10-15 years of hard work building a practice.

She was right. In a flurry of frenzied planning, she decided that we could camp up and down the historic western road for several weeks on just a few grand. I got on board, but wasn't too excited about the prospect of tent camping for weeks on end.

But then she talked to her dad! Her dad has a glorious treasure-trove that only a true scavenger can appreciate. The family joke us that if you need it, give him a week, and my Father-in-law can find it among his stuff. She remembered that they had a pop-up camper when she was a child.

Long story short, he still had it, and didn't mind passing it on to her.

My son spent a week with him recently, to enjoy the last remnant of his summer, and when I went to pick him up, Father-in-law met me halfway with this beauty:

He did a few things to get it road-worthy. He put new tires on it, and scabbed together the wiring, and knocked the rust off the tongue, and touched up and freshened the paint. But the best thing he did? He stored it properly. You know, put it up reasonably clean, and put it under cover.

As such, it's really in pretty great shape. The cabinet tops and doors need replacing and painting, the propane regulator needs replacing, it may need a new A/C unit, it needs a new matress, and the cushions on the built-in either need replacing or maybe just a good cleaning.

I put on new tow-chains, and re-wired the brake lights today, and bought a piece of plywood to replace the countertops.

Basically, for a few hundred dollars, I'll have this thing in good shape. Hopefully, I can take it on a few trial runs this fall.

Updates will continue.

Life, Man.

Sooooo....

Things have been a little crazy lately. Let's see...

Bought a set of AR500 level III plates and a carrier a few weeks back. After the recent cop slayings local to me, I decided a set of plates were worth investing in. After I ordered them, I got a check in the mail a few days later, covering the cost of the plates, from my father-in-law. It's nice to know that he likes me enough that he wants me alive. Not everyone can say that about their father-in-law, but I have a good one.

Went to a gun show. Didn't see much of interest, but it was only a block away from Cabellas, so I went there, and came out with a new spyderco. I put a fancy "zip-tie" upgrade on it.

And my little Ford Ranger gave it up. The transmission just couldn't take living any longer. Traded it in on a used 2007 F-150 with 116k miles.

The Ranger was a good truck, but I really like my new pickup.

Making Meatpies today. Got Murphy's Law coming in tomorrow, so I gotta cook him something worth eating. We plan on going to tour the USS Kidd tomorrow.

Wow! What a busy few weeks!

Another 'Professional'

I've been digging on the classic Nelson 'Professional' holster design lately. More accurately, I've been making what is referred to as a 'Professional' in common holster parlance, these days. Nelson's original design didn't have a reinforced mouth, like most made today do. The reinforced mouth was added by Milton Sparks' version of the Professional, a feature that he borrowed from another Nelson design, the Summer Special.

It's interesting how we got to the current crop of designs we use today for holster making. Brilliant leatherworkers evolved these designs over centuries, always building on the shoulders of the last generation's great leatherworkers.

Also, RW emailed me, saying he got his holster. He said he liked it, which makes me happy.

If you have some custom Leather needs, feel free to email me at

lazyjdleatherworks@gmail.com

Between myself, my brothers, and dad, I have access to quite the variety of handguns, so I can cover many common handguns.

I'll try to put up a gun list of holsters I can make in the next week or so, but if you are wondering about a particular gun you want leather for in the meantime, let me know. I'll do my best to accommodate your needs, at a very reasonable price.

All my leatherwork is patterned, punched, sewed, dyed, formed, fit and finished by hand, so if you order from me, you will have a truly one-off holster. Hope to hear from ya'll.

Sight Upgrade

I went with the wife to a beauty supply store today. They had cheap fingernail Polish, so I picked up some for sight paint. Gave my carry guns an upgrade.

Total cost? $3.18. Did 4 guns, and have enough to do 40 or so more.


I think the math works out okay on that. They're no Tritium job, but they came in at tenths of a cent on the dollar, in comparison.

I'll take it.

RW's Holster

I had a gentleman contact me in reference to a holster. He has a Ruger Super Blackhawk Sheriff's Model (3.75 inch barrel, Bisley configuration) that he wanted a holster for.

We emailed back and forth several times, and settled on a design that he was pleased with. I've been working on it during the evenings first the past few days, and finally got it together.

I am happy with the way it turned out, although the acrylic top coat made the holster appear a bit redder than I was hoping for.

At any rate, if you read this, RW, I'm going to ship it out Monday morning. Once you get it, make sure it meets your needs. If you have any problems/questions/concerns, please let me know.

I borrowed my father's Super Blackhawk as a form, and it fits wonderfully.

Except a little over 3 inches of barrel hangs out the bottom!

Which means it should fit RW's gun perfectly!

In reference to the last post...

It's finished!

I like the way it turned out. Definitely an understated, classically styled carry rig, reminiscent of the Nelson Professional.

Finally!

I bought a gun off my brother a few months back, because the price was right. I went back and forth on what to do with it. It was the old model LC-9, and I already have plenty of concealed carry guns.

Like I said, I didn't need it, but the price was right. I've kicked the can down the road on what to do with it: another concealed piece? A glove-box gun? Trade fodder?

A few weeks back it struck me: I have a pretty decent concealable gun that I don't haveven hardly any money in.... I decided to use it in a get-home setup.

I never had what I considered enough guns that I could casually toss one into a get-home bag and forget about it. I considered picking up a SCCY for that reason, because, let's face it, those guys make an okay pistol at a good price.

But since I have a good quality gun with short money in it, I figured I'd build a rig for it, throw it in a backpack along with a first aid kit, 2 MREs, a few bottles of water, a change of clothes and a pair of boots, and a few other odds and ends, and I could throw it in my truck and forget about it.

Well, I will probably add a few other things to the bag, and since I live in a city, I won't leave the bag in my truck, but I will likely stash it by the door, and get into the habit of grabbing it on my way out.

Anyway, I grabbed a second extended mag for the gun a few weeks ago, and decided to make a holster and belt for it. The belt is completely dry, but the holster is still wet, which accounts for the color difference.

After I finished up the holster, I figured I needed a mag pouch, too, so I made a horizontal oriented one, because the point is concealment.

At any rate, I'm going to dye them black... I actually prefer the look of brown or tan leather better, but this rig is for deep concealment, and black blends in better if seen peeking out from under clothes in an urban environment. I live in a pretty large city currently, and commitments will be keeping me here for the next 3 years. A get-home bag may be set up very differently if I was living in more rural environs, but I think this is a good setup for my current situation.

Another note: I am left-handed. I thought a lot about making this rig a lefty or righty rig, as I am comfortable carrying and shooting on either side. I considered making a right hand rig, because then I could let my wife use it if she happens to be with me, as it would be pretty unusual for me not to have some kind of gun on, anyway, and since this gun has a right-handed thumb safety, and it would be inconvenient to operate it left-handed.

Eventually, I settled on a lefty rig, cut the pattern, started stitching it up, and realized that I had flipped the pattern!

So it's right-handed, which is just as well, really.

Anyway, hopefully I can post completed pics in a few days, after I get done dyeing and sealing the rig.

I can't believe it's been 2 weeks!

Been a while, guys...

Basically I have been lazy about blogging for a week, and then things went fu**ing sideways in Baton Rouge about a week ago. No, don't ask, I'm not gonna comment on it.

I do, however plan on doing some Leatherworking in the next few days, however, so hopefully I will have some real content, soon

In lieu of actual content, though, here is a picture of Gumbo!

Oh, also, in reference to a few posts back about starting a business out of my hobby: I am going to continue taking word-of-mouth orders locally, and I made some business cards to hand out, as well.

If you have seen anything you like, or are interested in ordering some custom leatherwork, shoot me an email at

lazyjdleatherworks@gmail.com

BL(FG)T

Bacon-Lettuce-Fried Green Tomato sandwich,  with fried eggplant on the side. Fattening? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely!

New Rig

Well, here it is, a strong side belt slide holster for a 1908 hammerless.

 On a related note, my wife says I should think about business cards, a small-time website, and investing in a machine like a Tippmann Boss...

Frankly, right now I have enough business to keep me entertained and with a little bit of spending money in my pocket. I worry that advertising will get me enough business that I don't have any free time left. The wife says not to be afraid of success.

I'm not sure I'm ready to take the leap right now. I know that the potential for a cottage industry is here, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, and end up damaging a reputation before I have a chance to establish a good one.

Thoughts?

Good/Bad

Took the Colt out and shot it today. The good news is it runs like a top!

Those are CMP air rifle targets. The black is 1.5 inches across, iirc. As you can see by the top 3 targets, the gun is capable of good accuracy. I threw one on each, but that's my fault, not the gun's. The targets were shot at 7 yards. I did some basic dirt-shooting, and put about 50 rounds through it, both Speer Lawman and Hornady Critical Defense. The damn gun ran so great and shot so accurately, I'm not gonna change a thing with it (much to the relief of McThag...).

Ok, I'm going to change one thing, which brings us to the bad: I broke those cheap faux-ivory grips.

It will have to live with chipped grips for a month or so while I rebuild my gun fund, but I'm definitely gonna need a new set.

I Made Me Another Holster

For my Colt!

I plan on making a belt and another OWB holster for my 3-inch S&W model 36 that match. I feel like this Colt would make a great backup to a Smith wheelgun.

I don't know why I'm digging the thought of that setup... but I am, nonetheless. I know I can carry a Glock 19, without a reload, and have less weight and more bullets, but I'm just... hell, just digging the thought of those two guns as a New York Reload type setup.

So I'm gonna go with it.

Happiness...

... is a freezer full of meats! It makes me feel downright successful to have lots of protein, in multiple varieties at my fingertips!

There's about 25lb of meats, there. And there's 3 chickens, a Boston butt, and a soup bone in the deep freeze. And 2 more pounds of burger in the fridge for grilling this evening.

Ah, heaven!

Edit to add: Wife was incensed that I didn't mention that she found great meat deals at the local grocer. 

I figured that it went without saying that everything good in my life is because of her!