C.R.K.T. S.P.E.W.

At Academy the other day, I saw a knife on their clearance rack. It was made by Colombia River Knife and Tool, a decent middle-of-the-road brand knife maker. I liked it immediately for several reasons: 1) It was a smaller knife- I'm past the point of wanting *UGE!!* knives, and I find a small fixed blade knife to be ideal for lots of things. 2) it's a wharncliffe design, meaning a straight blade with a sharply tapered point-it's a good utility design that can pull double duty a s a self-defense blade. 3) it came with a solidly okay sheath-yeah, I'm a leatherworker, and this thing may get a new sheath at some point, but it didn't come with a shitty nylon job that I couldn't use, so this knife doesn't have to get relegated to the desk drawer until I can make a sheath.

Anyway, I was able to pick it up cheap today when I went back to academy, and having been futzing with it for the past hour, I like it. I mean, it's just an initial impression and all, but it seems like a well-designed knife. It came very sharp out the box, but I suspect that the steel used will need dressing often.

That's not a problem, however, as I have a nice set of stones to keep it honed.

So there ya go, initial impressions of the CRKT SPEW are positive, even if the name implies that it would blow chuncks.

The JDL Fast-Draw Rig

Anyone who follows this blog knows I'm a hobbyist leatherworker. For about a year now, I have been making "cowboy" holsters. They all have basically been me looking at rigs made by others, and trying to make something that functioned as well and looked as good as the types of cowboy rigs I saw. I've had successes and failures.

My biggest initial obstacle was tightness. For a concealed holster, you want the holster to hold tightly to the weapon. Not so in a Fast-Draw Rig. They need to fit the gun well, but have NO RETENTION, so that the gun can be snatched quickly and get on target. After 4 or so attempts, I finally got a well-fitted design with no retention.

Next, I figured out the correct stiffener for the leather. That was basically just some trial and error.

Then came cant. In fast-draw, you want just a slight forward cant, so that took some serious thought.

After figuring all this out, I settled on a basic pattern that I liked, similar to one of the holsters made by Mernickle. I extended the bottom of the holster slightly, because in the Mernicles, the gun can ride low, and the barrel will slightly poke out the bottom.

I also make it out of one layer of leather, rough-side in, unlike the Mernickle which uses 2 layers, lined with metal between, for a stiffener. Because of the decision to make it one layer, I attached the Chicago screws holding the back flap on differently, too. I use a leather billet that grabs the bottom of the belt.

And lastly, I designed a wax-bullet deflector that is made entirely out of leather, rather than a leather-sheathed piece of steel.

Overall, I like the design, and do feel as if it is the final evolution of this Fast-Draw Rig. As such, I am naming it the JDL Fast-Draw Rig (short for J. D. Leather).

Now, when someone wants one, they can order, for example, by saying something like " I'd like a JDL Fast-Draw Rig, black, with border stamping. I'd like the right-hand cut, and my belt measurement is 42 inches."

At any rate, this is the second of this design, with 2 others that had *almost* all the same features.

Boosting the Signal

Anyone interested in a German Shepard mix? He's a very cool neutered guy that's at a local (ish) shelter. He's heartworm positive, but it's still treatable.

With 2 dogs and a cat in a rental, I can't take him on. He could go on to have a happy, healthy life for many years for the right human.

They keep taking him off the kill list, because he has such a great personality, but he's been at the shelter for 7 months, so finding him a home is critical, now.

If anyone is interested, let me know via email at j(dot)dezendorf001(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee Pro 1000

So surfing around the other day, I came across a post on a local forum from a guy wanting to sell his reloading setup. I clicked through, and damned if it wasn't a progressive press! It came with the press, a powder measure with the auto-disc setup, 3 quick-change turrets, brass feeder, a complete shell holder assembly for .223, .44 mag/spl, and .38/.357. Also, it came with a small loading bench. The guy was asking $125.

So I texted him, and pulled the trigger, so to speak. I need to buy a 9mm shell holder assembly, and a powder-through expanding die for .38spl  (my .38/.357 dies are RCBS), and I will be setup to load my 2 favorite handgun cartridges quickly!

I have been unhappy with my reloading setup for a while, due to it being outside. It is on the back porch, but if strong winds come along, it can still blow rain onto my old Rockcrusher Jr. press, not to mention the naturally high humidity that encourages rust here in southern Louisiana. Since getting the new press, I went ahead and mounted my old single-stage press and powder measure on the back of my new reloading bench, so I can just turn the table around, and I am good to go with either the progressive or single-stage press.

And I can now reload in the comfort of my dining room! I'm pretty excited about this purchase.

Fast Draw!

Finished up a cowboy fast draw holster for a guy. He wanted a bullet deflector, and I wasn't happy with the type I had made in the past. I re-engineered the design, and was pleased with the way it turned out.

Since I had all the stuff out last weekend, I went ahead and made me a fast draw rig for myself! I like it!

Yard Sale

Yard Sales held by .mil types are WAYYYYY cooler than soccer mom yard sales. 2 tourniquets for 10 bucks? Yes, please!

Zion

Did Zion National Park today. Hands down, this was the best park we've been to. It was simply breathtaking. So beautiful, in fact, that I didn't bother taking pictures. They couldn't do it justice, anyway. All I have to say, is that if you go out west, this park is a MUST-SEE.

To paraphrase my wife: "they must have named it Zion, because you can truly see God here."

Seriously, if you ever have the chance, don't miss seeing this park.

48 hours

The past two days... where do I begin?

We went to Bryce canyon, and saw some really cool stuff. Went hiking on "The Arches" trail. I climbed up some slopes, and stood in the arches, like EVERYONE typically does. I did take one pic that reminds me of all the yoga-fanatic girls Facebook profile pictures. I think it's my favorite pic so far this trip.

Then today, we hiked a trail on private land (with permission) that we were told ended in an underground lake. It did not disappoint.

After the lake, when we hiked back to the truck, I went barefoot, because it was on a cattle road, and I had as much sand in my shoes as was left on the road, so I figured "hell with it".

It reminded me of being 12, walking in the fields my dad owned, barefoot, with not a care in the world.

It was a great two days.

11 years

It's hard to believe me and this beautiful girl have been married 11 years, today!

She went into the town close to where we are camped to see the local animal shelter. The Boy-o and I are piddling around camp. When she gets back, we plan on buttoning everything down, and seeing the small western town and it's rock shops and antique malls. Afterwards, we are going to grab dinner at a local Bavarian Restaurant.

It's shaping up to be a good day!

Deer!

HOLY CRAP! There are some big does in Arizona!