leather holster for cowboy action
- Thread starter Big_red_truck
- Start date
- Location
- Prince George B.C.
What does this mean?
As long as the setup falls within the rules then there should be no issues........right??
John
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NorthCoastBigBore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northwest BC (Rural) 103-I-##
Make your own.This is my very first atempt working with leather. I bought all the tools and pattern for under $100.00 It took 3 days to make. Now I have something very personal to hand down after I'm gone.
x2 on making your own. Why the heck not, I built mine - and my Uberti fits perfectly into a standard SAA pattern, you don't need a Uberti-specific rig like the OP is enquiring about. Tandy has great kits for the starter - use thicker leather once you get the hang of it. Like Lone Ranger says, a couple of evenings of time and you end up with a nice rig.
...and as someone else posted, I picked up a nice Left Hand rig in Mexico for thess than the Tandy kit. That said, the Tandy is reinforced better - BUT I really haven't used the left hander (Mexican) since I got it. No CAS up here!
Good luck / Happy Shootin'
SASS is an American association. Not all Canadian clubs follow SASS.
Cariboo Lefty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kamloops BC
Most of the CAS clubs out west follow SASS rules, the ones that do not seem to have limited participation. I have never in 20 years of CAS in Canada seen a club that would not allow a SASS legal holster or any other SASS approved equipment. If anything most clubs make allowances in monthly and fun matches to allow more participation.
Cariboo Lefty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kamloops BC
I think that Walter Ostin on Vancouver Island is back making leather on a limited basis. His leather is first class(I have 3 sets) and he knows how to build competitive or traditional holster rigs and belts. He is not the fastest manufacturer, but his leather work is superb.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
X2 on Walter Ostin's work. 2nd to none.
One bit of advise I'll give for home -grown holsters, if you are planning on using them in Cas events is.... Make them stiff enough that they will hold their shape with use. A pancake flat holster is a receipe for a dropped gun. Double thickness lined is best and if not lined, very heavy, stiff harness leather at the minimum.
If you are using an Awl to stich with and find it hard on the hands for heavy or multiple layers of leather, a very simple stiching machine can be made from the small drill press's sold at hardware stores for under $75. Remove the drive belt (you don't need it to turn). Install a good leather needle in the chuck and use the mechanical advatage of the drill to punch the needle though the leather. You thread the stitch as you would with the Awl. Mark the stitch lenght off equally so it looks neat and tidy and use heavy thread from a harness shop.I have effortlessly stiched 4 thickness's of 1/4 " leather with mine. My wife & I used home grown holsters for 5 or 6 years until she talked me into "those fancy tooled one's from Walter.
One bit of advise I'll give for home -grown holsters, if you are planning on using them in Cas events is.... Make them stiff enough that they will hold their shape with use. A pancake flat holster is a receipe for a dropped gun. Double thickness lined is best and if not lined, very heavy, stiff harness leather at the minimum.
If you are using an Awl to stich with and find it hard on the hands for heavy or multiple layers of leather, a very simple stiching machine can be made from the small drill press's sold at hardware stores for under $75. Remove the drive belt (you don't need it to turn). Install a good leather needle in the chuck and use the mechanical advatage of the drill to punch the needle though the leather. You thread the stitch as you would with the Awl. Mark the stitch lenght off equally so it looks neat and tidy and use heavy thread from a harness shop.I have effortlessly stiched 4 thickness's of 1/4 " leather with mine. My wife & I used home grown holsters for 5 or 6 years until she talked me into "those fancy tooled one's from Walter.
- Location
- Prince George B.C.
Bottom line is that the most competitive sass-legal holster rigs have modular cartridge holders and 2-shot per loop shotgun modules. The ammo is exactly one fist away from the buckle and the holsters are metal-lined and would not hold a gun securely when sitting down because you want a fast draw and fast re-holster.
They do NOT look authentic and are referred to as "gaming rigs". In my experience gamers usually migrated from ipsic or idpa and tend to care more about scores than the fun of the event. Every year the sass manual gets thicker as they try to stay close to 19th century tech while the gamers try to turn CASinto a less-laid back single-action version of IPSIC.
My advice, buy a holster rig that is comfy, reasonably well made and not drop-leg. Go shoot some matches b/c by year three you will be buying different leather anyhow. Happens to everyone as they develop a sense of what works for them.
They do NOT look authentic and are referred to as "gaming rigs". In my experience gamers usually migrated from ipsic or idpa and tend to care more about scores than the fun of the event. Every year the sass manual gets thicker as they try to stay close to 19th century tech while the gamers try to turn CASinto a less-laid back single-action version of IPSIC.
My advice, buy a holster rig that is comfy, reasonably well made and not drop-leg. Go shoot some matches b/c by year three you will be buying different leather anyhow. Happens to everyone as they develop a sense of what works for them.
Claven2, I am thinking about getting into CAS and have been looking at drop leg holsters. I am just curious why you said to avoid drop leg holsters? Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to try any rigs but I though the drop leg would be more comfortable. I am not concerned about speed with whatever set up I decide to go with.
Drop-leg holsters are restricted to only a couple less-common CAS matches - the most popular of which is B-western. A standard match rig consists of two loop holsters on a cartridge belt.
Here is a pic of my rig, well, half of it anyhow. Yours should be of a similar configuration.
This rig is a Laroche Leather rig - very well made to my measurements. Joe does not metal-line his holsters though and some guys really prefer that. Instead he uses very thick leather and forms it in a very resilient way. Mine have yet to cause any issues with re-holstering and have flared throats to guide the muzzle into place.
Drop-leg holsters are also known as Mexican drop-leg or Buscalero holsters and were only invented around 1916 for the silent movie westerns. They caught on and in most western up to the 1960's they are the most commonly seen holster, despite not being historically accurate. A notable exception, the Duke never wore Buscalero rigs, even when the rest of the cast did
Here is a pic of my rig, well, half of it anyhow. Yours should be of a similar configuration.
This rig is a Laroche Leather rig - very well made to my measurements. Joe does not metal-line his holsters though and some guys really prefer that. Instead he uses very thick leather and forms it in a very resilient way. Mine have yet to cause any issues with re-holstering and have flared throats to guide the muzzle into place.
Drop-leg holsters are also known as Mexican drop-leg or Buscalero holsters and were only invented around 1916 for the silent movie westerns. They caught on and in most western up to the 1960's they are the most commonly seen holster, despite not being historically accurate. A notable exception, the Duke never wore Buscalero rigs, even when the rest of the cast did
Cariboo Lefty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kamloops BC
Claven, I do not know where you are getting your information. However I suggest you check the SASS Handbook on the SASS Website. Buscadero rigs are allowed in all SASS Categories except Classic Cowboy, they are required in the B Westerrn Category. Other than that there are no SASS restrictions on Buscadero holsters.
Cariboo Lefty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kamloops BC
Armycat
I think you will find that the drop leg or Buscadero rigs are not as comfortable as a regular belt holster with a small drop. The Buscadero has a tendency to flop around , and if you tie it down I have seen the revolvers work there way out of the holster as it follows your leg motion when you run to a different position.( I have personally seen this twice with shooters I was ROing). Do a search on the web for Longhunter Shooting supplies and have a look at the holster rig he designed. most of the faster guys I know use a variant of this design. My rig works best for me when with my arms relaxed I can just reach the bottom of my holsters. Also 2 shot per loop shotgun belts or slides are only good if you plan on shooting a SXS, if you use a 97 or copy you would be better served with a belt that will allow you to grab 3-4 shells at the same time. With a 97 you will eventually want to "load over the top" while palming 3-4 shells.
I think you will find that the drop leg or Buscadero rigs are not as comfortable as a regular belt holster with a small drop. The Buscadero has a tendency to flop around , and if you tie it down I have seen the revolvers work there way out of the holster as it follows your leg motion when you run to a different position.( I have personally seen this twice with shooters I was ROing). Do a search on the web for Longhunter Shooting supplies and have a look at the holster rig he designed. most of the faster guys I know use a variant of this design. My rig works best for me when with my arms relaxed I can just reach the bottom of my holsters. Also 2 shot per loop shotgun belts or slides are only good if you plan on shooting a SXS, if you use a 97 or copy you would be better served with a belt that will allow you to grab 3-4 shells at the same time. With a 97 you will eventually want to "load over the top" while palming 3-4 shells.
I stand corrected, but honestly I never see them except in B-western...?
Cariboo Lefty
CGN Regular
- Location
- Kamloops BC
A few of the guys that started 10-15 years ago used buscaderos as there were not a lot of options, and some of the shooters that use long barrelled revolvers like them. The longer revolvers are fine in the drop holsters, but as I said in my other post I have seen pistols ( shorter barrelled) jump out of tied down buscadero holsters multiple times when shooters are moving fast.
- Location
- Prince George B.C.
drop-leg holsters are also known as Mexican drop-leg or Buscalero holsters and were only invented around 1916 for the silent movie westerns. They caught on and in most western up to the 1960's they are the most commonly seen holster, despite not being historically accurate. A notable exception, the Duke never wore Buscalero rigs, even when the rest of the cast did
Check this out. Only picture I have ever seen of an old time lawman with a 'buscadero' type holster.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sheriff_Commodore_Perry_Owens.jpg
John
Bob Lomond
PO Box 321
Stettler AB
TOC 2LO
boblomond@hotmail.com
He makes some attractive belts and holsters
PO Box 321
Stettler AB
TOC 2LO
boblomond@hotmail.com
He makes some attractive belts and holsters
northern ranger
Member
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Got mine from Reddog Leather.
Picked a pattern from his ebay site, requested some custom changes, and was very impressed by what I received.
He will fit specific to the gunframe and barrel combination you have. Belt with or without loops, shotgun slides, loading strips etc.....
Worth every penny.
http://stores.ebay.com/Reddog-Leather
His prices are very reasonable, so are his shipping costs, and turnaround time is a couple weeks from order.
Picked a pattern from his ebay site, requested some custom changes, and was very impressed by what I received.
He will fit specific to the gunframe and barrel combination you have. Belt with or without loops, shotgun slides, loading strips etc.....
Worth every penny.
http://stores.ebay.com/Reddog-Leather
His prices are very reasonable, so are his shipping costs, and turnaround time is a couple weeks from order.
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I shoot 49ner my rig is a buscadero style rig and with a right handed cross draw to boot. I would suggest that a well built rig won't have guns jumping out of them.
In three years of competing mine have never fallen out. As well I have never been DQ's due to breaking the 170 rule.
When I decided to go that route it was after studying the matter thouroughly and I viewed multiple videos of shooters shooting cross draw, the best example is Long Hunter showing the proper thecnique.
It works well for me.
Frenchy
In three years of competing mine have never fallen out. As well I have never been DQ's due to breaking the 170 rule.
When I decided to go that route it was after studying the matter thouroughly and I viewed multiple videos of shooters shooting cross draw, the best example is Long Hunter showing the proper thecnique.
It works well for me.
Frenchy
