Post by Burnston on Jan 28, 2020 15:31:44 GMT -5
Like many of you, I grew up enjoying the stories of my grandfather. As a Lampasas rancher, he usually only owned two guns at a time. The pistols varied between various Colts which were later replaced by Ruger's .44 Flattop in the 50s. The rifle was always a Winchester 30-30. The point is, only having two guns, he became proficient and deadly with both.
My lot in life has allowed me the blessing off owning multiple firearms at once, which also means I do not become as proficient in all of them as I might if I only owned two. In an effort to rectify this, I've begin rotating my work guns, both to preserve my favorites, and become proficient in a few of the lesser favorites.
Earlier this month I was confined within the limits of home for twelve days. During that time, I considered conversations I'd recently had with sixshot and a few others about the perks of Hank Sloan leather with a tension screw. Overall I've had no use for them due to the somewhat jarring and bone crunching nature of my work, though I've acknowledged their merit. This time of year, we're often in feed trucks instead of on horseback, so I used my twelve days confined to consider a Rainy Day rig for wintery/wet days, as Oklahoma often affords many. Given that a Rainy Day rig will most likely always be worn with a jacked, Hank Sloan makes good sense, and the security of a feed truck virtually guarantees a tension screw will do it's job.
I wasted a lot of hide. The included photos feature the 7th version of my experiment. Bob Wright's words of wisdom ring true when he posted, "leather work is best left to the professionals." Unfortunately when it comes to working rigs, (as many of you probably know,) they cannot wait for an extended period as the work does not wait, nor is the necessary significant cash always available. That said, I am often forced to be content with 2nd rate, (or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.) leather done from home. My respect for certain hide stretchers has grown, as the angles and geometry of leather-work is only now becoming apparent to me.
My 10th rate holster is wrapped around a S&W LH 624, whose resale value is completely gone thanks to my significant use of it. The first thing I did was get rid of the useless (to me) factory grips and installed a set of Ahrends Cocobolo "Concealed" boot grips. I then committed what many of you will consider sacrilege, by taking a file and removing the fingergrooves on said grips, and raised the portion between the front strap and the trigger guard to better accommodate my unwieldy middle finger. Loaded with 15.6gr 2400 under a 255gr 429421 and wrapped in a stainless frame, this pistol is highly suited for a rainy day. All of this is tied together with the incomparable Simply Rugged "Real Man's" gun belt.
I've only carried it for a short while, and therefore have only taken a large and aggressive tom cat with it. I was deeply disheartened in the fact that the cat ran 25 yards before suffering the courtesy of perishing. My friend Scott Ambler has suggested breaking my cast only habit and considering some jacketed hollowpoints as a sad cat hardly offers the bodily resistance suitable for a hard cast bullet. I shall listen to him one of these days. Yet I take solace in the knowledge that this rig and load is designed around angry bovines and unwelcome hogs.
I respect my Grandfather, and those of you whose existence is geared towards one or two firearms. However, I am please that the Lord has blessed me with the means to design specific guns/rigs around weather and work. With some more tweaking, this one will prove useful on those days when blue revolvers and Tom Threepersons leather are too much to risk.
My lot in life has allowed me the blessing off owning multiple firearms at once, which also means I do not become as proficient in all of them as I might if I only owned two. In an effort to rectify this, I've begin rotating my work guns, both to preserve my favorites, and become proficient in a few of the lesser favorites.
Earlier this month I was confined within the limits of home for twelve days. During that time, I considered conversations I'd recently had with sixshot and a few others about the perks of Hank Sloan leather with a tension screw. Overall I've had no use for them due to the somewhat jarring and bone crunching nature of my work, though I've acknowledged their merit. This time of year, we're often in feed trucks instead of on horseback, so I used my twelve days confined to consider a Rainy Day rig for wintery/wet days, as Oklahoma often affords many. Given that a Rainy Day rig will most likely always be worn with a jacked, Hank Sloan makes good sense, and the security of a feed truck virtually guarantees a tension screw will do it's job.
I wasted a lot of hide. The included photos feature the 7th version of my experiment. Bob Wright's words of wisdom ring true when he posted, "leather work is best left to the professionals." Unfortunately when it comes to working rigs, (as many of you probably know,) they cannot wait for an extended period as the work does not wait, nor is the necessary significant cash always available. That said, I am often forced to be content with 2nd rate, (or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.) leather done from home. My respect for certain hide stretchers has grown, as the angles and geometry of leather-work is only now becoming apparent to me.
My 10th rate holster is wrapped around a S&W LH 624, whose resale value is completely gone thanks to my significant use of it. The first thing I did was get rid of the useless (to me) factory grips and installed a set of Ahrends Cocobolo "Concealed" boot grips. I then committed what many of you will consider sacrilege, by taking a file and removing the fingergrooves on said grips, and raised the portion between the front strap and the trigger guard to better accommodate my unwieldy middle finger. Loaded with 15.6gr 2400 under a 255gr 429421 and wrapped in a stainless frame, this pistol is highly suited for a rainy day. All of this is tied together with the incomparable Simply Rugged "Real Man's" gun belt.
I've only carried it for a short while, and therefore have only taken a large and aggressive tom cat with it. I was deeply disheartened in the fact that the cat ran 25 yards before suffering the courtesy of perishing. My friend Scott Ambler has suggested breaking my cast only habit and considering some jacketed hollowpoints as a sad cat hardly offers the bodily resistance suitable for a hard cast bullet. I shall listen to him one of these days. Yet I take solace in the knowledge that this rig and load is designed around angry bovines and unwelcome hogs.
I respect my Grandfather, and those of you whose existence is geared towards one or two firearms. However, I am please that the Lord has blessed me with the means to design specific guns/rigs around weather and work. With some more tweaking, this one will prove useful on those days when blue revolvers and Tom Threepersons leather are too much to risk.
