The Bull Speaks!

Sometime back I finally acquired the revolver that I’ve wanted since I first heard Ruger was planning the project. A Ruger New Vaquero. There is something almost magical about a working single-action revolver, especially one chambered in the grand old cartridge herself, the .45 Colt. Since getting my hands on this firearm I’ve come to appreciate it more each day. So much so that I desired to make it my everyday carry piece. Single-action or not, if you can’t get the job done with this one then you need a 12 gauge shotgun at the bare minimum!

The problem was getting a holster that would allow for secure carry and still be ‘concealable’ under normal clothes. This last bit is made even more of an issue by the size and shape of the weapon and the fact that since I live on the Gulf Coast my clothing is thin and light the year around. In the nearly five years I’ve lived here I’ve had perhaps five days that I’ve worn long pants of any type.

Holsters I have, including a ‘Tombstone Speed Rig’ shoulder holster from El Paso Saddlery that I had to pull teeth to get, and a most excellent half-flap from Our Bandit Leather Crafters as seen in this post. Neither of these, nor the nylon holster they replaced, are exactly what I’d call ‘concealable’.

Fortunately for The Bull, while reading through the various forums on the web for us ‘gun nuts’, I had ran across the name Rob Leahy and his Alaskan enterprise, Simply Rugged Holsters. Every single word I found written about Rob pegged him as one really stand-up guy and his workmanship as first rate. So, after saving my pennies for a spell I fired off an email asking Rob to quote me a price on one of his ‘Sourdough Pancake’ holsters for my wee hog leg. The response from Alaska was quick, the cost was far better than reasonable, and after a couple more emails working out the color and details, payment was made and I sat back to wait out the thirty day turn-around. That kind of time frame wasn’t bad at all considering I had waited until darn-near hunting season to place my order! In the meantime I requested a few photos from Rob so I could see how things look in his workshop way up there in America’s Final Frontier for a future article on the craftsmen in the shooting sports. The emails began to arrive soon after, some containing nerve-tingling remarks concerning my order like:

Checked with my night shift production manager, Your holster is still on the side of a cow in a feedlot in Missouri…

Well, I suppose having a sense of humor helps make Life more worth living…

Turns out that the thirty day estimate was off a bit. My much-anticipated package arrived with a week to spare! I was literally shaking as I whipped out the old Case knife and gently sliced the tape open, eager to see what artistry the Leahy’s had wrought for me. One of my final request at the time of order - along with the cross-draw option - was to have leather with a range mark or two. You know, to add a little character…

I reached in and pulled out the first paper-wrapped item I felt. A handwritten note on the wrapping said “With scars, as requested“. I unwrapped it, and there it was - my Sourdough Pancake - complete with range marks. And a couple of quarter-sized holes in the backside!

For a second I just sat there in my chair, wrapper in one hand and the holster in the other. My son, Jake, said something along the lines of “Seems well made, and you did say you wanted scars…“. I stared at him. Then he said the magic words: “Looks like an awfully big box for that one holster, Dad.” Yes, it was a rather large box! I dove back inside and sure enough, another firm item was in there wrapped in the same white paper. This on had a note on it as well. It said, “Thought you’d like this better”. I tore off the wrapper and there was indeed a work of art! Joy of joys! Not just the ‘Sourdough Pancake’ holster I’d hoped for, but this one also sported Simply Rugged’s ‘Inside-Out Straps’ that would allow the holster to ride inside the waistband for even better concealment! Seems that Rob Leahy’s humor knows no bounds.

Now that the shock had worn off I settled in with my Ruger and both holsters to check out the workmanship, fit, and finish. Both the holed and scarred version and the clean top grade version show superior stitching and fine, even dye work. The fit on my New Vaquero was better than excellent. I even gave it a test by first unloading the weapon, placing it in the holster, turning the entire unit upside down, and then giving it a firm ‘bounce’ - over a thick cushion. I repeated the test in the second version. The revolver was retained both times! Given time on the belt I expected that fit to get even better.

There are no words to state just how happy I am with the leather Rob sent South to me. It is now mid-November and I’ve worn one or the other of these holsters every single day since they arrived on September 25. The vast majority of the wear has gone to the holster with the ‘Inside-Out straps simply because I am out and about town fairly often. To date not one person - not even the local constabulary - have noticed the big single-action .45 Colt riding comfortably under my shirt. Not even when it is just a tee shirt. That, Dear Readers, is concealment! (And for the record, The Bull does have and maintain an active pistol permit that allows for concealed carry.) I should note that the revolver is indeed held just a securely as I had thought it would be, even without any retention straps, and is still very accessible. The color, (a rich oxblood), is even and has never bled - not even on white clothing in the oppressive heat of Mobile, AL in late Summer. Note in the attached photos that outside of a few scratches on the black snaps there is no wear to the leather or finish what-so-ever. The holster places the stocks right where I need them for a quick draw either from the strong side or from cross-draw. I’ve only had need to draw once, on a Pit Bull making a charge on me in my own yard. The Ruger just seemed to materialize in my hand without thought. The dog, thinking better of her charge or having seen a gun before, left for home at warp speed and no shots were fired.

Rob is simply a genius. He has given us single action guys a means of carrying our preferred handguns comfortably, variably, securely, and with style. All for an extremely reasonable price. The Simply Rugged line is not limited to single action lovers, either! Rob can whip up a holster for you to fit anything from a small “snubby” all the way up to one of the huge ‘X-Frame’ monsters from Smith & Wesson. Also manufactured is a wide range of products from belts to ammo carriers along with several models of holsters other than the ‘Sourdough’ mentioned here. There is even a belt buckle The Bull finds very interesting.A quick check of the website this morning shows that they are now offering sharkskin as an option and may soon expand into other leathers as well.

If you are in the market for fine leather, do yourself a favor and contact Rob and the folks up at Simply Rugged. Do it soon. I can promise you that it will be the best money ever spent and the product will come from real American craftsmen building with real American Pride. Also, be sure to check back here often as The Bull will soon bring you a look inside the workings of the Alaskan workshop of Rob Leahy. You can contact Rob at:

Simply Rugged
P.O. Box 872676
Wasilla, AK 99687-2676
(907) 357-6521
Business hours 7AM 6 PM Alaska Standard Time
(1 hour behind Pacific standard time)
Customer Service is closed on Sundays.

NOTE: Larger versions of the photos can be seen here. I recommend you take a look!

One happy shooter,
Bull, out