1911 Pattern Pack

[will ghormley]

Got the revision of the "Pancho" done and a photo posted on the page.  Don't know if I'll get any other work done on the pattern this weekend.

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

Will

[mtgelaude]

Wow, I like it.  I am not sure that I like it more than the last version, but I still like it a bunch.  How the heck do you make revisions and a holster as fast as you do?  I work on one holster for weeks between designing and making it.  Nice work.

[will ghormley]

Glad you like it mtgelaude.  As for how I get it done, this is all I do.  If I don't do it, my kids go hungry.  That's a pretty good motivator.

Will

[JD Alan]

I sure am looking forward to this pattern pack becoming available. I would imagine that's true for many guys on this forum.

That carved Pancake holster is really sharp; well they're all sharp!

Someone may have already asked this, but what kind of leather are using for these holsters? Your leather always looks super nice, and  the color is outstanding.

Thanks Will, God bless, JD    

[will ghormley]

Hey JD,

This is the veg-tanned, half-hide, 9-10 oz. carving leather from TLF.  Actually, since I'm such a Scott, all of the holsters shown are made out of the scraps I wouldn't use on holsters for my payin' customer.

I've applied extra virgin olive oil and used gum tragacanth on the edges and backing.  Since most of the leather is old, it already has a nice color to it after it is oiled.  However, for those that were a little on the pale side, I set those in the sun for a couple of days.

I just finished what I call the "Over/Under Crossdraw" for concealed carry.  It can be made either way for either side.  Since I just made one proto-type, I took the photos wearing it first on the left side for right-hand draw, then on the right for left-hand draw.  I'd be interested in knowin' what you guys think of it.  It's kind'a different and my not be appealing.

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

Let me know.  Thanks,
Will

[Dalton Masterson]

Will,
I like the general design of that crossdraw, but something doesnt seem quite right about it.
The outside belt version seems fine and beautiful, but the inside the belt version looks uncomfortable, having the belt twisted out and around like that.
Of course, I have to wear a belt tight to keep up my pants, so this may actually work for someone else. I have tried a few inside the belt holsters, and have never liked the feel of them.

I do like the outside belt version though. Its kind of like an unflapped flap holster. Lots of room to do carving and such.
DM

[will ghormley]

Thanks for the critique Dalton.  Yeah, if folks don't like inside the belt holsters, they won't like this one either.  And that's OK.  I didn't know if there was any demand for this type of holster or not.  Hopefully, I'll find out.

Plenty of times I've just stuck a gun in my waistline for quick temporary carry, and that's always uncomfortable.  I didn't know if this type of holster would meet a need or not.  We'll see.  I also thought about a bikini holster as well, but haven't made a prototype.

Will

[Slowhand Bob]

Actually from a design standpoint it should be a winner in the functional arena.  I would tend to prefer redesigning the belt loop to a snap around feature of attaching to the belt from a full inside waist band carry.   

[will ghormley]

Great Idea!
Will

[Dalton Masterson]

Now thats a good idea, SB! A western IWB for those of us that prefer not to have ugly gear! 
I like that idea too, Will.
DM

[Blackey Cole]

Will, I would agree the one or two patterns for several of the modern stuff would be better that several variations for the 1911 especially after your current pattern.  Just ask here for us to pm you with the guns that we make holsters for and compile it to the top five.  I would expect glock (All three sizes), XD, S&W M&P or the most popular frame sizes for their wheel guns, 1911, RugerLCR, Khar, Browning High Power, the M9/ Berreta P92 and Kel-Tec 9mm and 380.

[will ghormley]

Got two prototypes for mag pouches done.  One is a snap-on competition pouch.  The other is based on an early leather military pouch.  Both are made entirely of 4-5 oz. leather.

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

Will

[Blackey Cole]

Will, I went to the house Friday and found several items that I thought were lost.  Of these I found my repo tanker shoulder holster for the 1911 and my leather mag pouch for the 1911 If you would like I will photo these and try and post them here for you and others to compare them against your originals to.

[will ghormley]

Hey Blackey,

I think everyone would be interested in seein' 'em.

Will

[outrider]

Heres some pics of the 1942 Tanker I did about two years ago.

[will ghormley]

Very clean Outrider!  Thanks for the pics.

Well, a friend of mine who comes over for a Monday evening fellowship at my house, asked me if I wanted to go out and actually shoot my new Cimarron 1911.  He has a Glock knock-off .40 cal. and was favorably impressed by the trigger action on my 1911 when he checked it out in my shop.

So, this Sunday after church, we went out and ran about 450 rounds through it.  We took my South African son-in-law, my friend's wife, and my two youngest sons with us to shoot, (the boys shot an array of .22 rifles while the adults shot the pistols, [and a few rounds through some of the .22s]).

I fired 40 of the 450 rounds that went through the Cimarron 1911 and was very favorably impressed.  Everyone preferred the 1911 over the .40 cal.  We did not stop to clean or maintain the 1911 and there wasn't a single malfunction, no matter who has handling it.

It's no race-gun, but for the demands of the battle field, the accuracy, and more importantly, the dependability of the Cimarron 1911, was everything a soldier could ask for.  I fired one-handed, (as required in an over-run exercise where you have to be able to engage targets within the 360 degrees of your AO without moving from your kneeling position), with both the right and left hand.  All of my 40 rounds were within the six inch ring at ten paces.  You can't ask more of a combat sidearm than that.

I still prefer to shoot wheel guns, but my choice of the Cimarron 1911 was the best choice I could have made for an early cowboy 1911!

Will

[Blackey Cole]

Outrider, I rank 1911's mat the top of the scale.  I have a Kimber Custom that I carry sometimes for a change from the XD-45.  And My RIA 1911 that is setup for Competition is really nice.  I think the 1911's have a really short trigger pull, which makes them very accurate in my opinion.

[will ghormley]

Wooooo Hooooo!  This morning I finally started putting the pattern down in the sheet form it will be printed in.  Hopefully I'll have it done and ready to go to the printer by the end of next week, (cross your fingers).  The pattern will consist of the holsters and magazine pouches shown in the prototypes.  With printed instructions, it should take up three sheets.

I would have liked to get more in, but for most folks to be successful in making the different kinds of holsters, I'll need to have some instructions printed for each of the holster styles.  We'll see how this pattern goes and see if TLF will want a second pattern on the 1911.

Will

[Boothill Bob]

It will be really nice to work with those patterns, if they are as good as the outher pattern you've
made then they are great.
When are you going to get Paypal Will? 

[Dalton Masterson]

When do you think they will be available, Will? Will you sell them or will we have to go through Tandy?
Thanks for your hardwork!
DM

[will ghormley]

Hey B Bob,

Don't know if I ever will get paypal.  I'm havin' a hard enough time gettin' the things I know how to do done, let alone do somethin' I don't have a clue about, (anything electronic, tech, or computer).

Hey Dalton,

If TLF picks up the pattern, it will be mass produced and sold through the TLF outlets.  Because of their infrastructure, they can resale and distribute them less expensively than I can.  If they don't pick up the pattern, (not likely), I will sell 'em myself.  They will be priced like my other patterns that are printed in small batches and hand assembled in my workshop.

But, I'd better get back to work.  My hands start achin' and my neck gets stiff hunchin' over my light table tracing patterns.  I take occasional breaks, usually to check on the young boys, my emails, or, in this case, what's happenin' on CAS.  Then, it's back to work.

Tonight, I have to carve another prototype of the Tom Threepersons holster.  I made some minor improvements to the pattern, but the first prototype ended up with Gov. Rick Perry, (Tom Threepersons had worked in law enforcement in Texas).  Now I have to re-make it and take the photographs for the pattern pack.  I may get the new prototype posted on the website by late tomorrow.

Will

[will ghormley]

Revised Tom Threepersons, in angled configuration.

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

Will

[will ghormley]

Well, it's Friday afternoon, (7OCT11), and I don't have the patterns done yet.  I'm workin' on the text for the third page.  Hope to have it all typed up before I knock-off for the day.  But, I had hoped to have it down at the blueprint place gettin' scanned by now.  Man, has this project taxed my abilities!  If I work through the weekend, I'll get it scanned on Monday.  How long have I been workin' on this project?  I can't even remember the last thing I did before I started workin' on the 1911.

So, next week I'll get the pricing from the printer and send a hard copy to TLF to see if they want to pick the pattern up.  Then, clean up the individual orders that have been stackin' up on my table, and off on the next project.  No rest for the wicked eh...

Will

[Slowhand Bob]

Will, personally I like it and would expect no more.  I hope your hard work and time will pay off big on your end and I certainly will be waiting in line to get my copy's.   

[mtgelaude]

Will, I sure hope that TLF picks it up.  There are very few good patterns for 1911 stuff.  And your patterns are great.  I can not wait to get my hands on a set of these patterns.  Good luck, and don't work too hard