I was looking to have someone make me a custom IWB holster for my Ruger SRH Alaskan. After contacting a few holster makers, I found David’s website and after an email or two, I decided to go check out his stuff. I went out to his shop, he was extremely nice and accomodating.
I went out to his place on April 20th, 2011. I placed an order for a custom “Dual Carry” holster for a Ruger SRH Alaskan. I offered to pay him then, and he said that I could just pay when it was finished. We went over the options that I wanted, and I was made aware of the 16 week wait. We shook hands and the deal was done.
Here was our initial discussion:
Three months later:
And that’s where we stood. I called on August ~20th, and spoke with David. He promised me he would make my holster and have it ready for me the next week… At this point, still no call.
Reply
No response…
… Another week wasted.
3 more weeks… no word yet.
Adam Crain to dmbullardleath.
show details Oct 17
Any update on the SRH alaskan holster?
DMBullard Leather to me
show details Oct 19
I’m sorry, David has well over 1,000 orders and he is doing his best. He said that if you can not wait and want to go somewhere else he completely understands. We will be contacting you when the order is ready to ship, as we haven’t received payment from you for the holster. I’m flooded with e-mails as it is, and David is well aware of your order I assure you. Please let me know if you are willing to wait for the order or if you would like to go else where. And from there let us be the ones to contact you, sorry for any inconvenience and I appreciate your understanding.
Thank You
Maranda Eisen
There it is. 2 months after the original deadline, that’s 6 months or half of a year for a HOLSTER, I’m told that I can go fuck myself if it suits me.
Notice the past tense phrasing? Got it. By the way, when I was at the shop there were 3 people working on holsters while I was talking to David. Stop with the “he is only one man…” bullshit.
That was October 19th, More than 2 months after it was originally slated, and more than a month after David promised it would be ready the week of September the 15th.
That’s the last I’ve heard from DM Bullard leather company.
I do my absolute best to support local craftsmen, artisans, and small businesses, but this is not the way to treat your customers. “Please don’t contact us, we’ll contact you”… well, apparently not when you’re already more than 2 months past your deadline without so much as a phone call.
Spend your money elsewhere guys.
*if anyone has any recommendations for a holster maker who will make an IWB holster for a SRH Alaskan, please let me know.
BT,DT,DHTH… (been there, done that, don’t have the holster)
I went to a nationally recognized leather company that produces a lot of LE leather. I spoke with their custom shop guy about a S&W Model 19 competition holster and speed loader pouches for IDPA use. I brought the gun, drawings, specs, one of my customized speed loaders and a set of dummy rounds along. I explained exactly what I needed and why I needed it that way. He was eager to take on the project and flowed right into my line of thought. I told him when I needed it by due to the upcoming season’s match schedule. He was fine with the timeline. I told him that if it worked out, he’d have a lot more orders. We shake hands and off we go.
Six weeks go by, no contact. At week 7, I call. He’s working on it and it will just be a few more weeks. Week 10, no call. I leave a message. Week 12, I borrow a kydex holster from another shooter so I can start practicing & dry firing from the draw. Week 16 and no stuff, several more messages left. I know he’s still around, but he’s dodging me now. Week 20 and the season starts. I’ve already ordered a kydex holster from a nationally recognized outfit and it’s in the pipeline. At week 23, I finally get the gear I need from the kydex bender. I never hear from the leather guy again and he still has one of my speed loaders and a set of dummy rounds that I never got back. That fall, I win my division at the Nationals, along with several state and regional titles along the way.
The guy who sold me the kydex wants to sponsor me for the next year. So I send him a list of what I need, cause I’m switching to an L Frame. I never see that gear either. I don’t know what it is about holster makers and kydex benders, but more of them will flake on you than any other group I’ve ever seen. I hear horror stories from other competition shooters all the time. As competitors, we always want specific stuff for every advantage we can get. But it’s not like we can postpone a major event because our gear hasn’t arrived as promised.
Nowadays, if it isn’t in stock, I cross it off the list and move on. The lost practice time waiting on the gear outweighs any advantage it might have given.
Long story short, if you have a gear maker that gets you quality custom stuff with a short lead time, never, ever, ever let anyone know about it. Guard them like you’re dating a supermodel and hope they never get famous or ambitious. Once they go big, you’ll likely never get anything else out of them again.
Sorry for your troubles and I hope you eventually find what you need. I certainly empathize with you!
Sounds to me like you outta be damn glad you DIDNT pay for the stuff. You still wouldnt have even so I bet.
Thanks for the heads up, very interesting story.
Sorry for your luck.
That’s too bad. About 3 years ago I ordered a pocket holster from them and had no problems, delivery was quick and quality was excellent. Sounds as if things have changed since then.
That’s unfortunately true, but I’d have paid him a visit for a refund.
His other gear that I have is top notch. Unfortunately, his business practices have not been. Now my poor Alaskan sits in the safe, instead of on my hip.
Resolution!
Update: I bumped into David at the gun show three weeks ago. We discussed my holster, he apologized for the delay and explained that he is no longer giving estimates on custom work. I also inquired about a dual 1911 magazine holder, and he said he’d make me one. He said that he was going to make it top priority to get my stuff to me.
Update: The holster is here, along with a double magazine holder that I asked him about to replace the bulky safariland that I’ve been using.
At this point, I have the holster that I wanted the whole time and when I was able to speak with David directly, he was very apologetic about the delay. He also said that he’s no longer giving customers a specific time frame for custom stuff for this reason.
At this point, I’m elated that I got the holster that I wanted. The leather and construction methods are top notch. I was extremely surprised when David called me to let me know that he was shipping my stuff. He took care of me, and did what he could to make it right.
My recommendation: If you want Bullard leather, then buy his stocked stuff. It’s a lot less heartache.
Welcome to the world of custom leather. Seems like a mojority of custom leather makers do the same thing.
I ordered 2 holsters for a Sig and a 1911 from a top maker. I was told twice it would be a 4 month wait.
It took 13 months to get the order:confused: after several times of being told “two more weeks” and only after politely informing him that if the holsters were not completed in 2 weeks that the order would be cancelled.
I cant belive a business cant give even a semi accurate date of completion.
There are some leather makers that clearly state 12-14 month wait.
No problem with that. Dont state 16 weeks and it then takes double, or triple that time just to get an order.
I didn’t have a custom made one but they did make mine after I ordered it. I got the answer iwb holster leather lined and man this thing is nice. Top notch quality, extremely comfortable even with my full size 1911. I got it in about 2 1/2 weeks. Blows away any other crossbreed style iwb holster I have seen.
