PRODUCTION TIME – 3 TO 4 WEEKS. 6 WEEKS FOR ORDERS THAT ARE CARVED.

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Feb 3rd

Tools for fools; Small of the back (SOB)holsters. They seem like a good idea. But they allow the gun to print easily, you cannot see if the gun is exposed due to a clothing malfunction. They cause you to take a weak grasp of the pistol. Knuckle  to the torso designs will cause you to drag the muzzle across your spine and lower vital organs as you are drawing. SOB holsters are inherently weak and less than optimal for defending your weapon from a snatch attempt. One of your first things to do during a gun grab attempt is the pin your gun into the holster, while you spin your body away from your attacker. with an SOB holster, You will be literally fighting with one arm behind your back. The draw, the muzzle should be oriented laterally during the draw you won’t be crossing any parts of your body as your brain sends the signal to press the trigger to your finger. Carrying a hard metal object over your spine is a bad idea. Dean Speir wrote and excellent article on the subject titled “P-a-r-a-p-l-e-g-i-a” Many store clerks consider the SOB design as a viable option as they are on their feet all day. Unfortunately, the SOB holster is very easily spotted if a person stoops to pick up and object or turn and reach for an object drawing one’s clothing tight or even exposing the pistol. Again the gun is in a very hard to defend position. Strong side just in front of or just behind the hip is a superior way to carry.

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1 Feb 2012

Yen/Yang Cuda holster Gator basket weave

I made this from a piece of Alagator leg overlayed onto a basket weave stamped Cuda.

I sent it to Jeff Quinn for a review.  Jeff’s article on Gunblast.com does say something about a new SIG 1911, but really it’s all about my holster…http://www.gunblast.com/SIG-Scorpion1911.htm

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Diplomatic Carry  by Alan Korwin

After a hard fought battle to get shall issue here in AZ, many of us in a pro gun civil rights think tank were pretty happy with what we had accomplished. Alan Korwin was not! He stated then, that he would not rest until we had constitutional carry in Arizona.We have it. Now, he steps further and it’s time has come: Diplomatic Carry.
The Second Second Amendment
by Alan Korwin
The Uninvited Ombudsman
Officials travel armed. When a contingent of our officials visits any other country, they bring armed personnel in classic right-to-bear-arms manner. Life is dangerous and the ability to protect yourself is a reasonable and prudent thing, a fundamental human right of existence, a moral imperative. So they go armed. It’s only rational. Hillary and similar bring along enough firepower that if some of their group go one way while some head off in another, they’re both covered.

The same is true in reverse. When an ambassador from Trashcanistan comes to the United States, discreetly armed bodyguards accompany the party at all times, “laws to the contrary notwithstanding.” That’s lawyer-speak for “their right to carry supersedes any other rules,” or in plainer English, “We’re above those laws.” The ambassador might decide to personally carry too. I’m guessing Hillary does not.

There’s this whole “second system” of gun possession and carry here domestically, another layer of rules on top of the common ones you must follow, operating quietly with people in the know cooperating.

Where are the laws for this exception to every gun law on the U.S. books? How does this special class of people exempt themselves from laws controlling the rest of us?

No one is harmed by their exemption. In fact, community safety increases, because assaults on those armed people are naturally deterred, even defensible if needed. Should we the people maybe have Diplomatic Carry too? Is a diplomat’s life truly at more risk — or worth more — than any “commoner”? How does this comply with equal protection under the law?

Local authorities understand implicitly that these armed folks aren’t going to randomly shoot people, or settle arguments with gunfire, the same as you and me when we’re armed. They enjoy proper respect (even if they come from regimes that don’t deserve it). We on the other hand have rights denied haphazardly, even with Constitutional Carry. As good as it is, Constitutional Carry is not enough.

Americans need and deserve the next step, Diplomatic Carry.

The body politic moves slowly. After several decades of experience, police nationwide understand and operate just fine within a framework of millions of people traveling armed. As the number of people carrying arms for crime control has increased, assaultive crimes have decreased. The media generally calls this “a surprising decrease in crime that has the experts baffled.” All these people are walking around armed, expressly to forestall crime, and the media can’t understand why crime has dropped. But I digress.

Oh sure, armed forces within the U.S. — from local police to secretive agents our government is now filled with — keep a watchful eye on the armed diplomats, as well they should. They also provide backup in the event of need. The same as for us.

But in the big picture, diplomats have less need for an ever-present armed escort than the public. A rare few diplomats face death at the hands of the mobs. Thousands of citizens are murdered each year. Who needs protection more?

The freedom of Diplomatic Carry, a concept many of us can easily grasp, is mind boggling to the great unwashed. So insulated from any truth about firearms, victims of television and the government-run school system, they have imbedded ignorance that is hard to shake. Destructively misinformed kids and teachers compound the problem. I digress again.

Now, Diplomatic Carry is not going to happen overnight. Many voices will be raised in objection to such freedom.
And unfortunately, some opposition will come from people who consider themselves firearms enthusiasts. Establishing everyone’s uninfringed freedom to carry is scary, at least to some. But that’s OK. Real freedom is a house high on a hill.

Diplomatic Carry is a paradigm shift. A window into a world that could be, and ought to be, a lofty goal. Your right to your life and its protection cannot morally be denied. It is denied only by force, and there is only one viable countermeasure to force unfortunately, in this best of all possible worlds, and that’s countervailing force. I don’t like it, but there it is.

Diplomatic Carry is a new level of autonomy, of personal sovereignty. It raises the bar. In this country, the people are the sovereigns and the government is the servant. How do you justify the servants carrying arms if the masters cannot?
The only consistent position for free people to take is this:

Anything short of Diplomatic Carry is infringement.

I am in the process of dissecting the legal framework that enables Diplomatic Carry, and modeling an approach for extending those principles to the public. Conceptually this is sound. Pragmatically it is an uphill climb, but as Americans we know that anything can be climbed. I’ll have early results soon in my blog, PageNine.org. Sign up to stay informed.
Copyright 2012 Alan Korwin
http://www.gunlaws.com
Permission to circulate granted

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 From a retired Sheriff friend of mine great story, great gun and great old Gunleather.

I came acoss an old 1911 and holster that I purchased in late 1989 or early 1990.
This old .45 and holster belonged to my boss and mentor, Sheriff George Wayman. Sheriff Wayman was not a ‘gun’ person. In fact, he seldom ever carried one on his person and when he did, it was usually a .25 auto in his hip pocket. However, he was a vetern of WWII and Korea and was familar with the 1911, having used it in both conflicts so it was not unusual for him to purchase one when he joined the Osage County Sheriff’s Office in 1960. It rode under the front seat of his car from then until he retired in 1989. I bought it from the local pawn/gun store where Sheriff Wayman disposed of it upon retiring.

The .45 is a ‘hybrid’ of sorts. It has an Ithica slide, an A.R. Sales company, So. El Monte, Ca frame and a mixture of 1911 and 1911A1 parts. Research has shown me that A.R. Sales did business from 1968 to the 1970′s dealing in military surplus firearms.

The holster, as some of you may recognize, is an A.W. Brill, Austin, Tx. One of the popular holster makers for southwestern lawmen from the 1930′s thru the 1950′s.

Not thinking much about what I had purchased, I replaced the plastic military issue grips with wooden panels and carried the pistol until 1997 when I was elected to my first term as Sheriff.
(Since I was in the office more than the field, I bought a LW Commander and a Don Hume ‘paddle’ holster.) I retired this old warrior and holster to the gun safe and never thought to question Sheriff Wayman about the pistol or holster.

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I have been making some mixed media type holsters cow and croc horse and shark etc. very fun great brain stimulus after 26,000 holsters I need to get excited about the NEXT holster…this is one way I do that. Still a pleasure and still a job full of happiness for me. great customers great employees and friends working with me. and my wife, Jan, she holds this whole shebang together and keeps all the T crossed and I’s dotted.

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Attack Monkey Media Gets it wrong every time. Free Nations, formally crushed under the hand of the Soviet Empire Know who saved them. While here at home, Ronald Reagan is forgotten & ignored. His tactic employed against the Soviets- convincing the Saudis to keep oil prices low, there for devaluing in the main export asset of the USSR, was brilliant and it worked. We could do the same thing with our own and Canadian oil to bring the terrorist sponsor nations of OPEC to their knees. We have the resources to do this, but lack the will. If I hear another Lib Media type say but it will take years-… you have been using that argument for years…ANWAR would be online if we had gone ahead in 2005 when W tried to get it opened but McCain stopped it with his friends across the aisle.
http://curmudgeonlyskeptical.blogspot.com/2011/11/ex-commie-slaves-honor-reagan.html

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Very frustrating trying to find a pro-gun merchant services company that is really in business and offers any service. We have been using paypal for years as a temporary measure until we could find something more suitable. Fact is I don’t like them. BUT, have checked in to many card processing companies they all are tied up with or a division of either Chase Wells fargo or Cit bank all of which support anti gun positions and fund abortions. I just can’t bring myself to go over to them. If you absolutely don’t want to use pay pal we have another small processor that we can manually use but it won’t integrate with our website.

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Some new gear for a G-20. Shark trimmed Cuda with tan basket weave and dual CID magazine pouch.

Shark trimmed tan baset weave Cuda and Dual CID G-20

This is a simple, rugged way (Couldn’t help myself) to dress up a working concealment holster & add a little toughness to the exterior. The pancake design rides high and pulls the grip frame in close for better concealment.

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Fake, Feel Good, Shallow, Abitrary “Security” At Anne Coulter’s Speech

I took my family to see Anne Coulter last week. The venue was a Jr. College. Lots of parking lot type “security” types one badge toting Chief of security all un armed along with several scattered local police officers. Upon approaching the door we were informed that they wanted to search my wife and daughter’s purses. I asked why; they responded that Anne had some security issues and wanted to make sure no guns were being carried in in purses. We refused and walked away. No mention was made of looking at me or even asking me if I was armed… I found the VIP entrance and went in there, no questions asked.

Anne certainly has a right to her own security, but not at our peril.

\http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/28/al-qaida-ahmadinejad-911-conspiracy

Build what they need, not what they want.

An older version of the Chesty Puller: A lot of folks want a shoulder holster, but this will serve them better in the outdoors.

“As a rule, end users are generally not designers, and are therefore limited to describing their needs in terms they know and understand.”

From Magpul’s excellent website. They make great simple rugged gear, too.

http://www.magpul.com/

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From a friend: Christ loves Klingons….ever fearless….ever faithful.

7.5 Redhawk Croc tail Klingon Style

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Best way to ruin a holster rub sno-seal into it until it is limp as an over cooked noodle.

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S&W Governor: YES, we have been making holsters for it!
Gunblast Article on S&W Governor

Photo from Gunblast.com

GUNBLAST.COM

My friend Jeff Quinn of Gunblast.com reviews Ruger’s newest compact 40 auto. Made right here in Prescott, AZ.

Gunblast.com has been and is one of my favorite places to get good gun and gear information on the web. Jeff mentioned my holsters in an article 8 years ago and that really helped kick start my holster making business. I enjoyed gunblast before that happened and still like reading Jeff & Boge’s articles. Leroy Thompson, Mike Cumpston, RK Campbell and other interesting authors appear there as well. You might notice a holster of mine mentioned every now again again. To me, that’s just gravy on the french fries.

Boge Quinn, a true artist in many forms, sings and plays bluegrass guitar wonderfully.

Boge recently updated our logo;

One last thing; Boge Quinn is getting married today!

Sheriff’s Tip – Women’s Carry Issues

Simply Rugged Holster’s Facebook page. Look here for new products, links to articles and discount codes.

Jan’s article on women and guns. There is also a discount code for free inside outs with a holster purchase.

Rick Hacker’s article on Single Action Self Defense. Nice pictures of one of my carved Sourdough’s and one of Rick Gettlein’s superior floral carved 120s.

Single Action Self Defense

Gun holster Blog:

Nice blog Mention

Subject: 1911 Cuda

Rob,

This has been a long time in coming but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your Holsters. Prior to deploying to Afghanistan’s Helmand region I received one of your Cuda’s (with the IWB straps). I was immediately impressed with the simple and robust design. The fit was excellent for my 1911 and I wore the holster from the day I departed until the day I was sent home. Not once did I use my very nice drop leg on this deployment as we found ourselves in and out of vehicles and rucking for long distances. Keeping the pistol on my hip was far better than on the thigh and suited our operations. In late October my team and I encountered an I.E.D. which crippled sixty percent of our operators. I took blast frag through my right arm and shoulder, right flank, back and stomach as well as up and down both legs. The hole ripped into my stomach was greatly reduced as my Cuda and Colt Commander took the brunt of the blast. I sent in the holster and you can see the damage to it, but it still works just fine. I wish I still had the pistol to show you photos of that as well. Again Rob I want to thank you for supporting the fighting men and women of this country and for making “Simply Rugged Holsters”!

Semper Fi
Cpl D 0317

Newly re introduced The Yellowstone: An Inside the waist band holster I first made years ago for toting my 44 while carrying my son in a back pack. This will fit most 3-4 inch medium to large frames revolvers reinforced mouth. 75.00

you can follow us on face book now…

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Simply-Rugged-Holsters/142427562455074

http://www.americanhandgunner.com/simply-rugged-holsters-2/

So, my favorite uncle comes up to do the final planning for an elk hunt.

He has an old Mutton Chop shotgun case along. My curiosity is peaked, but I remained polite and let this just happen.

TYerry smiles and says I picked this up it’s old but I think you might like it.

Opon opening the case I see not a shotgun but two haves of a lever action rifle. Turns out it’s a early Marlin 20″ 303-30 with checkered forend & pistol grip stocks. Very nice!

This old Marlin was built around 1902 it’s finish is worn to a nice patina, but the entire gun appeals to me. It is half round to octagon, with the rifle forend and crescent butt. The delicate wave carved under the pistol grip REALLY speaks to me of that era of craftsmanship.

It is on m y special gun rack along with my brother’s Savage 24, and my great grand dad’s shotguns.

A new design from Rick Gittlein’s fertile mind: Northwest Style native  totem carving:  This Eagle pattern fits 2″ J frames 130.00 shipped with the inside the waist band straps.

The Original Comes Home

by Rob Leahy

I purchased a Roy’s Original Hidden Thunder holster for my 4″ 1955 Target and 29-2 in 1982. This was the first holster I owned that allowed me to conceal an N frame in the Arizona heat easily and comfortably.

Several years later, I was temporarily without a 4″ N frame and loaned my Roy Baker holster to a good friend, Elliott.

He mistakenly believed that it was a permanent loan and a few months later he sold it to one of his brother in laws. I had in the meantime discovered another 29-2 4″ and wanted my excellent concealment and field holster back. Elliot was somewhat taken aback, felt terrible, and soon discovered that his scoundrel of a BIL refused to let loose of his new found FAVORITE holster. (I shouldn’t be TOO hard on him: he recognized a good deal when he saw it)

In the intervening years, Mr. Baker passed on to his great reward and being pre-web days, there was no other pancake rigs available to me. Having no recourse, I designed and built my own. Knowing I didn’t have the skill to fashion a thumb break and not really liking them, I covered the hammer to project my side. Having read enough Cooper and Bianchi by then and having used several other types of holsters, I decided that a covered trigger guard was a superior idea. This was around 1991, I have built several other designs, but always end up “coming home” to this simple pancake. I soon found myself building these for my friends and shooting buddies. I was working in several different retail sporting goods shops.  I often found myself building Pancake holsters and Pocket Holsters for my customers when nothing off the shelf or in the current catalog would suffice.

I have been blessed and encouraged by several good people that not only prompted me to start building full time, but placed orders and kept me going. They often asked me to stretch my meager skills to fulfill their desires, along the way I have had some good tips and lessons from other leather artisans. It has grown from a hobby gone wild, to a one man shop, to the current shop of several artisans working with me to meet the demand for our simple, rugged holsters.