Paddle holster wip

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  • freekforge

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    My wifes grandma asked me to make her a new holster for her S&W model 60-7 Ladysmith. All she asked for was a "J" and a flower. Didn't have a ton of room to do anything to crazy and I wanted to be able to see the J and flower from a distance so I tied them together then matted down the background and kept it simple. I've never done a paddle before so I made a prototype. The proto had a single layer of saddle skirting for the paddle body and although the single layer was extremely comfortable and light I decided to double it after talking to some other makers.
    So two layers for the body plus a spacer at the top and the ledge to catch your pants and belt at the bottom. When I assemble it all I will have 4 layers at the top of the paddle. It's been a lot of fun so far... hopefully it stays that way. First three pictures are the proto others are where I'm at on the final piece.
     

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    freekforge

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    You do such nice work, enjoy seeing it. Very inspirational.
    Thank you!

    Made some progress last night and today. Stitched the paddle on last night and stitched the holster itself today. Still some finish work to be done then oiled and some tankote. So far it solved the problem she had with the last one being too loose I can shake this upside down and it won't fall out IMG_20221124_191239521.jpg IMG_20221124_191248632.jpg IMG_20221124_191259034.jpg IMG_20221124_191248632.jpg
     

    ditcherman

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    In the country, hopefully.
    Don't let it intimidate you...figure out your cost and add a reasonable profit. I'd be more than happy to be a customer
    + one on all that.
    Start small, all within your bounds.

    Don't work for free, (unless you're gifting like you have been of course), add a decent profit and don't compromise on that if you value your time. You don't want to try to sell to poor people, let the market come to you.

    You've done it enough to know what time you have in it, don't work for $20 an hour, your skills are worth more than that.

    I thought I might get into holster making a little, very basic leather/kydex IWB, and I really do like making them for me and tweaking them my way, but quickly realized my other 2 paying gigs and other obligations spread me too thin the way it is. I would price myself out of the market because my time is too valuable, for such a generic product. That, and I'm slow.

    But if it's something you want to do then it can be done with your mad skills. Don't think of it as a business, think of it as something else you're doing, and the business part will take care of itself along the way. Too many people get hung up on the formalities of 'starting a business'.

    In the words of the prophet Stephen Stills 'don't do no business that don't make me smile' is a tough goal but a good one.
     

    freekforge

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    + one on all that.
    Start small, all within your bounds.

    Don't work for free, (unless you're gifting like you have been of course), add a decent profit and don't compromise on that if you value your time. You don't want to try to sell to poor people, let the market come to you.

    You've done it enough to know what time you have in it, don't work for $20 an hour, your skills are worth more than that.

    I thought I might get into holster making a little, very basic leather/kydex IWB, and I really do like making them for me and tweaking them my way, but quickly realized my other 2 paying gigs and other obligations spread me too thin the way it is. I would price myself out of the market because my time is too valuable, for such a generic product. That, and I'm slow.

    But if it's something you want to do then it can be done with your mad skills. Don't think of it as a business, think of it as something else you're doing, and the business part will take care of itself along the way. Too many people get hung up on the formalities of 'starting a business'.

    In the words of the prophet Stephen Stills 'don't do no business that don't make me smile' is a tough goal but a good one.
    So far I've been pretty lucky out of the stuff I've sold on the side I haven't had anyone complain about the price and I've even had 2 people pay more than I asked because the felt like I exceed expectations which was an awesome morale boost. Eventually I think I could start an LLC and keep things small as I learned the money side of things. Just have to keep improving my leatherwork until that point.
     

    ditcherman

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    22   0   0
    Dec 18, 2018
    7,607
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    In the country, hopefully.
    So far I've been pretty lucky out of the stuff I've sold on the side I haven't had anyone complain about the price and I've even had 2 people pay more than I asked because the felt like I exceed expectations which was an awesome morale boost. Eventually I think I could start an LLC and keep things small as I learned the money side of things. Just have to keep improving my leatherwork until that point.
    Out of curiosity I’m wondering what the point of an LLC is. That’s kind of what I’m talking about when I say people get hung up on ‘starting a business’. Just more fees to accountants/lawyers, hassles, and paperwork.

    (Hint; there’s really no limited liability, if their lawyer is good enough he’s walking right through that shell to your front door)
     

    freekforge

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    Out of curiosity I’m wondering what the point of an LLC is. That’s kind of what I’m talking about when I say people get hung up on ‘starting a business’. Just more fees to accountants/lawyers, hassles, and paperwork.

    (Hint; there’s really no limited liability, if their lawyer is good enough he’s walking right through that shell to your front door)
    A couple other holster makers I've talked to recommend it in addition to some insurance for the tex grebners out there
     

    Creedmoor

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    Madison Co Indiana
    If one is going to operate a business, I would suggest running it like a business.

    Google SCORE and make an appointment to sit with a person that does or has run and accomplished business.
    Find and accountant/book keeper and or attorney to set up what type of business liability you need, sole proprietorship, LLC,
    S corp or others.
    Get business insurance and licenses to operate a business, charge tax, do taxes and pay taxes.
     

    freekforge

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    I'm already a happy customer.
    Henry Scabbard
    View attachment 239390

    1911 holster
    View attachment 239391
    I need to make myself one like the one I made my dad and you. I just finished up one that i think is going to end up in my rotation. I cut it from a piece of leather with stretch marks to see how they looked when dyed and it looks pretty cool plus I used a new border tool that I prefer over the camouflage tool. IMG_20221127_220937231.jpg IMG_20221127_221046147.jpg

    If one is going to operate a business, I would suggest running it like a business.

    Google SCORE and make an appointment to sit with a person that does or has run and accomplished business.
    Find and accountant/book keeper and or attorney to set up what type of business liability you need, sole proprietorship, LLC,
    S corp or others.
    Get business insurance and licenses to operate a business, charge tax, do taxes and pay taxes.
    That's for pointing me to scores it seems like a great resource for someone as lost as I am. I do intend on starting a business hopefully soon.
     
    Last edited:

    Creedmoor

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    6   0   0
    Mar 10, 2022
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    Madison Co Indiana
    I need to make myself one like the one I made my dad and you. I just finished up one that i think is going to end up in my rotation. I cut it from a piece of leather with stretch marks to see how they looked when dyed and it looks pretty cool plus I used a new border tool that I prefer of the camouflage tool. View attachment 239541 View attachment 239542


    That's for pointing me to scores it seems like a great resource for someone as lost as I am. I do intend on starting a business hopefully soon.
    Good, it will be time well spent.
    Are you sewing by hand or do you have a machine?
     

    freekforge

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    Good, it will be time well spent.
    Are you sewing by hand or do you have a machine?
    Right now I'm doing everything by hand the only power tools I'm using are a Dremel and drill press for sanding the edges. My dad has a machine capable of sewing my holsters and sheaths but I would need to get a new motor for it since it was a sweat shop machine and is crazy fast even at it's slowest.

    I've been talking with a holster maker that's been successful on Etsy that says he offers 2 options for his holsters. 1 being hand sewn offered for more money and option 2 being machine sewn sold slightly cheaper. I like the idea of offering 2 tiers.
     

    Creedmoor

    Grandmaster
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    6   0   0
    Mar 10, 2022
    6,418
    113
    Madison Co Indiana
    Right now I'm doing everything by hand the only power tools I'm using are a Dremel and drill press for sanding the edges. My dad has a machine capable of sewing my holsters and sheaths but I would need to get a new motor for it since it was a sweat shop machine and is crazy fast even at it's slowest.

    I've been talking with a holster maker that's been successful on Etsy that says he offers 2 options for his holsters. 1 being hand sewn offered for more money and option 2 being machine sewn sold slightly cheaper. I like the idea of offering 2 tiers.
    The replacement servo money is money well spent. We had a local woman that did upholstery shop retire a few years ago.
    I bought her early 70's Adler/Chandler machine" table and a shoebox full of bobbins and different foots and such for $325.00
    It had both internal upgrades to replace the cotton belt to rubber and some bearing upgrade.
    Like your dad's it has a clutch drive motor on it.
    It rips like a tornado. lol
    Ive looked at Servo motors on Amazon and conversions can be had well under $200.00
    I bought it mainly to do some sail maintenance and one of my sons is interested in some leather work himself.
     
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