1911 Pattern Pack

[will ghormley]

Thanks for the continuing feedback guys.

I'm contemplating adding a narrower spotted pattern, (lace holes, spot layout, concho layout, skirt width, loop size, will all be effected by trimming down the holster and my obsessive/compulsive tendencies, [which by the way improve the quality of my patterns and overall detailed work], have me leaning towards starting from scratch.

Slowhand, I'm with you.  The expense of purchasing period correct military spec hardware for the holster would inhibit most folks from actually making authentically correct military holsters.  I believe by simplifying the pattern to attain the "look" of the military holsters, and using readily available hardware, I can best serve the larger number of holster makers and hobbyists.  I will have to make the correct military gear to suit my own proclivities, but those patterns and hardware packets can be sold separately.

I'll be sewing up another, very abbreviated "Tom Threepersons" styled tooled western holster this afternoon.  I'll post the photo on the 1911 page when I get 'er done.  Don't know how secure it will be.  May have to redesign it with a security strap.

Will

[will ghormley]

Got photos up of the third proto-type, (Tom Threepersons).  It's my new favorite!

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/1911.html

Will

[Dalton Masterson]

Very nice Will. How is the retention? That looks to be a very quick holster for WB.

Thats a nice looking early 1911 in there too!
DM

[will ghormley]

Hey Dalton,

I jumped up and down vigorously and the gun didn't budge a bit.  I figure it would work for just about any shooting competition.  If I were riding a horse, or in a combat environment, I would want a strap on it.  One could be snapped to the face of the pouch, but would have to be backed with thin leather to keep from scratchin' the weapon.

I couldn't be happier with the 1911!  It is offered by Cimarron and made in the Philippines.  The quality and reputation of the Philippine-made 1911s is very good.  They are not high-performance race-guns, but they are workman-like guns that stand the gaff and put the lead down range.  The thumb safety isn't quite right for the earliest model, but all the other aspects of the gun are worth overlooking that one slight shortcoming, (and the thumb safety is easier to use as is).  I will be gettin' me some 550 cord and making a lanyard that will retain the pistol and the first discarded mag.

I was the only guy I ever knew in the Army who still used the lanyard for the 1911A1.  I always dropped the empty mags down my shirt.  Some of those were hot!

Will

[Kid Terico]

Will thats some DARN NICE leather your showing. Thanks for showing. KT

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Very nice Will, this should work for all, my favorite is the Frazier#9


             tEN wOLVES 

[Slowhand Bob]

Will, I gotta disagree with you on this one.  My style is the second model, looks fast and the skirt style is beautiful while also adding the western flare.  Good job on all of them as far as I am concerned.  Are you ok on magazine pouch patterns for the various holster styles?  Though I really like the look of Outriders double pouch pattern more than mine, I would be glad to send mine for you to look at.  They are fairly easy to make and the individual pouches can be done as singles.

On the 1911, I actually have one of the High Standard versions of the same Philippine gun.  It tends to be a bit more picky with magazines than are my Colts but I am up to several that work well with it now and the more it is fired the more mags it is accepting.  Trigger pull is a bit rough but my daughter-in-law ran almost two hundred rounds through it in one outing and loved it!  She wants me to be sure and bring it back, with lots more ammo, on my next trip down home.   

[outrider]

Will,  mighty fine looking leather there pardner....I agree with all that has been said by the other wrnglers on here...

Hey Slowhand..I know what your talking about as far as your daughter-in-law is concerned.  I made the mistake of giving my AR to my wife to try...now I never get to shoot the darn thing.

[will ghormley]

I haven't spent much time thinkin' about mag pouches yet.  I'll probably be doin' something real similar to the old canvas pouch military doubles.  But, Outrider is sendin' me a pattern.  I may end up with several styles, if there is room in the pattern pack.

I'm thinkin' about makin' a deep SOB with a spare mag pouch built in, for those times when you are in a tee shirt and shorts but still want to pack heat.

The Tom Threepersons-type holster is goin' to Gov. Rick Perry this Saturday since he often goes heeled, (as an encouragement to keep on stickin' it in the eye of those who disagree with traditional American values).  It can be made straight, (as shown in the photo), or with a cant to it.  I'll probably make another one with a cant to replace it.

My wife loves to shoot 1911s rather than my wheel guns, (don't know what's wrong with that girl).  Since I haven't had time to shoot it at all, I should get 500 rounds from Cheaper Than Dirt and send her out to break it in.

Will

[Slowhand Bob]

Had my head been screwed on straight I would have used a bigger envelope and included my mag pouch with the order I just sent to you.  It looks very similar to the single mag version Chuck used with his rig but mounted as doubles on a belt slide.  From talking with some of the guys who use these in SASS competition it is important that the slides be made to place both mags facing forward on the off side.  I actually think this allows a standard index finger forward draw and insert technique for the 1911 in any competition.

 PS: I think SASS rules do not allow mag pouches to have any cant angle, mags must hang at 90deg.

[Dalton Masterson]

Yep. Straight hang mag pouches, and 2" of the mag covered at least, if I recall.
DM

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Very nice designs, Will. I particularly like the Frazier. Darn beautiful holster, there.

[will ghormley]

I'm workin' on the pattern for para-military belt holsters right now.  The look will be very similar, but I'm makin' 'em with belt loops, rather than the wire military hangers for the web belts.  Even though it will detract from the overall correct "look", a feller won't have to go buyin' extra hardware to have somethin' that will do.  Even at that, I've found photos of non-issue, private purchase, belt holsters that were used in WWI/WWII.

Same as any other conflict, and even my own experience in the military, (I modified and added to my own gear, and that of fellers in my Company.)  I've noticed how many "personal purchase" items show-up in news feeds from Iraq and Afghanistan.  So, even though the holsters aren't mil issue, they are similar in appearance, functional, versatile, and easier to construct.  The leather is heavier than mil issue holsters so it doesn't need all the reinforcement redundancies built into the originals.

Gotta get back to work!
Will

[will ghormley]

Got two of the para-military belt holsters done.  One is made like the earliest Cavalry holsters with the swivel.  That's the one shown in the photo.  The other uses the same holster, but has a simple belt loop instead.

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/1911.html

Will

[Dalton Masterson]

Looks like the cats meow!! Good job on that design.
DM

[will ghormley]

Got a pancake holster proto-type done.  A few bugs with it that will have to be fixed, but it's headin' in the right direction.

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/1911.html

Will

[Arizona Cattleman]

Nice!!!

AC

[Dalton Masterson]

Will,
I have a new favorite holster I think. That pancake looks like a BBQ rig if I ever saw one. Very neat design.

Lookin forward to this pack of patterns.
DM

[Blackey Cole]

Will, I really like the flap swivel one it is like the one I shot my first WB match in several years ago.  I hooked the flap on the hanger so it was out of the way and never had a problem but mine didn't have the leg strap or look as good.  I think I picked it up from Coon Creek the Year before.  How about including a 3 slot pancake holster in that pack..  Everyone does the folded Threepersons styles nobody does the pancake type.  I am currently checking several of the DVDs on holsters and so far it is all folded holsters no pancake ones.  I looked at Bianchi, hurst and waiting on Dusty's to be delivered.

[will ghormley]

I like the pancake too, except the carving that is hidden by the gun make you want to pull the gun out all the time so you can see it.

I'm goin' to re-configure it with a thumb-release strap and a wider pouch to accept 1911s with larger sights than the originals.

With the three slots, it hangs straight or angled, without any modifications to the pattern.  I like it!

Will

[mtgelaude]

They all look awsome to me.  The shapes and style alone are great, the carving is just eyecandy.  .  I like the second one the most still, but the flap holster is now the new #2. 

[Slowhand Bob]

I'm with you mtgelaude, #2 just brings out my gamy side (not talking BO here either  ).  Lets vote, in order of  preference, I vote 2,4,1,3, and 5.  I think #4 will prove to be a money maker for those who like the military dress-up 'on a budget' side of the game.  As we know there are more than a few who will prefer the bling offered by #1, while #3 will go well with the working cowboy or conservative traditional lawman look.  I really like #5 but consider it more of a modern working/sports style.  When I get mine, I will likely alter all to open toe designs except for #1 and #4 which are actually enhanced by the closed toe.

[mtgelaude]

Bob,    that is about my vote too.  I would say 2, 4, 1, with 3 and five ranking aobut equal.  If I was the type to wear a CCW, I would like 5, but I like the idea of the very basic holster with nothing to get hung up on somthing.  IDK, I still love No. 2.  It is like a Mexan Loop/Defensve Carry/Hand of God kind of holster.  Now only if I had one of those Cimarron 1911's to go with it, ( do not think they are legal in this state  )

[outrider]

Unless you are in Europe...they are legal in every state.  Some countries in Europe do not allow calibers larger than..... I think it is .38/.357

[Slowhand Bob]

I would really think the top three would line up just like that for any pards here who use these as patterns for their SASS Wild Bunch holster line.  I just spent a little time in the shop working on a magazine pattern like the one JD uses.  It is a dandy and somewhat simple to construct BUY as always, I want to make some alterations to 'make it mine' so to speak.  My first change was to lop one inch from the pattern, straight across the top, to get more of the magazine up for that fast draw look.  I left the bottom fold up at full length with the idea of rolling it down/inside at the top for the belt loop but I did run into a problem.  It went together really well and is a snug fit on the two inch belts I use BUT, without a tension device, it doesn't close up against the fold in mag divider as I had hoped.  In my mind the belt insertion should have snugged everything down but alas it did not happen.  It looks good and I have a couple of ways to make it work BUT none that I like.  I want that front to remain open for a small pattern and all of my ideas so far either require a concho or such on the front or complicated fixes.  If I get some time today I will do a kwik photo or two of the first proto and post to illustrate my miseries.