Ernie Hill, and other old school outfits.

[m25operator]

jt40p's thread on gun belts got me to thinking about old school guy's. About a year ago, I needed a new holster and I wanted an Ernie Hill speed scabbard to fit this pistol. I have several of Ernies rigs from comp to a fast track full race setup, I googled him up and nothing. Did Kydex replace craftsmanship, or worse did something happen to Ernie. I'm sure Michael has the answer, I probably won't like either answer as it means no more holsters, and I really like Ernie and would hate to find out something happened to him.

Next, what happened to Denny's shooters supplies? I've had about a 7 year layoff of doing what I love to do, on a weekly basis. Seems many strong companies are not to be found.

[texcaliber]

as for

Did Kydex replace craftsmanship,

the easy awnser is yes. Leather race holsters for open-class went out almost as quick as the .45 and ironsights on a comp-gun. No worries single-stack class seems to be catching on and i see a lot more .45s racing now so mabe the other old school leather holsters will become retro also.

[Michael Bane]

Sorry...no answers!

I too have an Ernie Hill speed rig from The Old Days...a decade or more ago I ran into him at a cowboy shoot and thought he was ramping up to do western leather (he came out of World Fast Draw). Then he dropped off the face of the earth. I love his leatherwork (as well as that of Gordie Davis, another holstermaker whose work I still use).

Makes me feel old...er, older. I would like to say that Mike Kirkpatrick at Kirkpatrick Leather still builds 'em the way they used to. You know, i was thinking of shooting some USPSA single stack this summer...be cool to do that with a retrol leather rig, wouldn't it!

Michael b

[texcaliber]

be cool to do that with a retrol leather rig, wouldn't it!

I can see MB's retro setup now......it prob. would start out from Wilson, maybe a gun/holster combo. The holster being of very exotic leather(stingray which did in "Steve", gator"worldrecord size", or baby-baldeagle) you know which ever is on hand..... oh yeah with matching cut and skin for the magholders. Yes i twing of jelious undertone.
All joking aside i sure hope it gets on DRTV if MB does go "retro".
tex

[Hazcat]

Hey Tex,

How come I can't see your avatar?  You and 2HDO both are just the red x.

[Sponsor]

[2HOW]

hazcat,mostly because Im a idiot and cant figure out how to move a pic from my computer to this web site, and when I tried it just became a red x and now I cant get rid of that.

[DonWorsham]

Over in the Support Forum, Marshal has posted how to do the upload.

[mnshooter]

Denny's Shooter's Supply in Iowa seemed to have closed their doors about 5 years ago.
I had ordered from them many times and always had next day delivery.  I called them the day after the 1994 "Assholes Weapons Ban" -oops, I think that was supposed to be "Assault on Gun Owners Weapons Ban", -never could get in sync with the brady bunch terminology.  They said that someone had cleaned out their shelves of every hi-cap (or more accurately-standard capacity) magazine.  They said some people were upset that they couldn't get more mags (no kidding?), and weren't going to buy anything more from them.  I doubt that had anything to do with their closing, but does show the attitudes of some people, -likely the same people who have never in their lives written a letter to their representatives.  Denny's was in the same class as Brownells and Dillon for quality service; maybe someone else can provide more information.

[Hazcat]

Tex,

The lovely and talented Marshal'ette has offered to help.  Just send her the pix you want to use.

[texcaliber]

Hey Tex,

How come I can't see your avatar?

if I am to be honest also Hazcat i have yet to really put any thought into the avatar and do not know which to represent myself with. Ahhhh to be able to make up your mind on such an important thing as ones avatar seems sooooo easy and yet i make it complacated.
tex