ayoob files: dueling rifles - Jeffersonian's Home Page

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thing about American Handgunner is the fact we’re
not afraid to show you some very cool stuff — and yes,
price-be-damned at times! This is one of those times.
We’re always harping about how important it is to have a
stout belt to go with your carry holster, and we mean it. And
while there’s plenty of makers who offer sturdy, handsome,
rugged belts for holster carry, there’s a much smaller handful
who manage the same thing, but use exotic leathers and/or
offer an even higher degree of craftsmanship.
Sam Andrews has been designing and crafting handmade
holsters and accessories for over 37 years. He’s a
soft-spoken, kind man, with a quick-wit, a twinkle in his
eye and a courtesy you don’t often see these days. He asked
if I’d like to take a look at a couple of his exotic leather
belts and I told him I’d be proud to. Sam sent one in quilled
ostrich (think: Ostrich cowboy boots) and one in, of all
things, elephant trunk. The ostrich shows great color and
texture, and the extra-thick construction makes it a top concealed
carry belt.
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The other, made of elephant trunk, showed a ruggedlooking
pebble-grain and, according to Sam, is virtually
indestructible. “You almost can’t mark it with a nail!” he
said. Since the truck is constantly flexing, the leather shows
a grain-detail constantly changing. Also, Sam’s careful dye
treatment and final finish work made both belts stunning
examples of the leather-crafter’s art. As his website says:
“This is wearable art.”
Sam’s work is 100-percent custom, and while his website
has dozens of examples of his talents, he reminded me, “I
can create just about anything a customer might imagine,
so if they don’t see it, all they have to do is simply ask me
about what they might want. I can likely accommodate their
dream project!”
The belts we looked at start at around $300 and go up from
there depending on leather type and customer wishes. They
are still value-priced if you consider the fact they’ll likely
last decades! For more info: www.americanhandgunner.com/
andrews, (386) 462-0576
WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 113