Howdy
When I got started shooting CAS, I bought whatever leather I could get quick and cheap. A simple set of holsters and a belt from Cabela's and it served me fine. I've experimented with different hosters as I have gone along, to see what I like and dont like, and various pieces of equipment to go along with it. I saw several rigs I liked, but nothing that seemed to really suit me, until I was lookin at the pictures on the SCORRS website of the rig Clint wore in the Pale Rider movie. I shoot one of my '58s as a cap n ball, and those loops for the extra cylinders were just what I wanted. Plus the look was right on. So as a temporary measure I made my own cylinder holster out of a speed loader holder and started hunting for a belt. Only no one made it. I couldnt even find anything CLOSE to that belt. I figured there's enough cap n ball shooters out there that someone would make a belt with the extra cylinder loops, but I figured wrong. I had to go custom.
Then I heard folks talkin about Don Barnett (GrouchyOldBear) and his Liberty Leather shop. I sent him the pictures of the belt Clint wore in that movie, and over the weekend he worked up a blank with workable cylinder loops. Amazing how easy it was for him. I did get put off a couple weeks by Hurricane Rita, but as soon as he had power he was back in the shop and picked up where he left off.
Now I have to say, for just a simple belt it really is amazing. I feel like a kid at Christmas playin with this thing. A BELT. Jeeze, good thing he didnt make me holsters too, or I'd be unable to sit down long enough to type.
I'll never be able to buy anything off the shelf again after experiencing Don's custom work. Heck, now I look at my shabby holsters and I want to replace them too!