Laroche Leathers: end of an era

[COREY]

Some of you may already have known this but Joe Laroche, of Laroche Leathers, of passed away this past fall. I am posting this here as he had made holsters for many shooters here; I have a pile of them at the house now.

I remember when my first child was about to be born. I told him about it and I was trying to get a cheap cowboy holster before I was broke for some time. He told me he could find something in his pile of extra gear for me cheap. When I went over to get it, I found a full cartridge belt and holster all decked out for me, nothing out of the "reject" bin (his rejects were better than many others best work), for about what a basic holster would have cost me.

He was a good craftsman, and a good man in general, and I thought many of you would want to know.

 

[bellero]

RIP, I hope the business will continue to be.

 

[Trinimon]

Rip.

 

[COREY]

Unfortunately it looks like the business is done. Claudette, his wife, has some old stock left over, but once that is gone, it is gone .

 

[TANK1867]

Thank-you for posting the passing of a good man, I hadn't heard and was about to ask him to make a flapped cavalry holster for my Rogers and Spencer.

 

[COREY]

You may want to contact Claudette; if it is close to another firearm shape, he may have made one at one time and it is sitting at the house.

I remember the leather samurai armour he had made that was sitting in his living room, or the clock he made mostly out of leather.

Does anyone here know any other leather craftsmen like Joe here in Canada? I was spoiled by Joe; I look at the belts at The Bay and cringe at how poor quality they are compared to his work.

 

[josquin]

I hadn't heard of this. Very sad. His website is still up and running, though, with no notice of his passing.

 

[Jay]

Sad to hear the passing of another member in our community.

Thanks for posting Corey, prayers to his widow, family & friends.

Jay

 

[Hitzy]

I still have the shooting belt, holster, and mag pouches I got from him to do my Black Badge about 20 years ago.
Belt's a little tight now though...lol.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Thanks for posting I met the man on a couple of occasions and he was one of the best guys around for leather products.. all my respect to his wife..

 

[mmattockx]

Some of you may already have known this but Joe Laroche, of Laroche Leathers, of passed away this past fall. I am posting this here as he had made holsters for many shooters here; I have a pile of them at the house now.

Damn, that is sad news. I have several of his holsters and his work was top notch at very reasonable prices.


Mark

 

[kamlooky]

Been sitting on the fence regarding a hipster.
Dang, this is indeed sad sad news of a fallen comrade.

Utmost condolences to those he left behind.

 

[wcmd]

Rest in peace!!!

Excellent work is a great legacy!!!!