A Simply Rugged—and Beautiful—Holster

by
posted on March 14, 2014

I met Rob Leahy a couple of years ago at the annual Shootist’s Holiday at the Whittington Center in Raton, N.M. His fledgling company—Simply Rugged Holsters—was aptly named. The holsters he had on display were simple in design and execution but clearly very rugged because of the thick, tough cowhide they were made from. His work was honest, yet plebian. The heavy and rugged linen stitching looked like it would never wear out, but close inspection revealed a stitch here and there that wasn’t perfectly straight. They were, in fact, simply rugged holsters.

There are a lot of holster makers out there—and by holster makers I am referring to those who make their products from real leather. Most of them are excellent, so it is a very competitive market. The larger companies have evolved into regular production makers, capable of turning out dozens of holsters each day. But their products, while excellent and very serviceable, lack the subtle refinements that can only hand-made holsters can provide.

Rob, however, is a gun guy, first and foremost. Like me, he is an aficionado of .44 Special revolvers. He is also a dedicated man with a passion toward improving his craft and his products. During these past two years he has concentrated on refining his work to become noted as one of the best hand-made holster makers, and he has succeeded.

I was on my way to visit with him at the SHOT Show when my little interruption occurred. We got together on the phone a few weeks ago, and I asked him to build me a Sourdough Pancake holster for my 3-inch barreled Smith & Wesson .44 Special. Because I really like good leatherwork I asked him to add some floral carving to the rig. It arrived yesterday, along with a matching Most Versatile Ammo Pouch and a set of Quick Strips.

Old guys—like me—are often difficult to impress. We’ve seen a lot, done a lot, and most of us figure there’s really nothing new under the sun. However, this old guy really gets a kick out of seeing younger folks improve and mature. Rob’s work may be simple and rugged as his company name implies, but it has also made great strides forward in terms of its quality and sophistication. For those of us who still truly appreciate leather holsters, Rob Leahy has earned himself a place as a master leatherworker and holster maker. Congrats to Rob, and welcome to the fold!

Latest

Early Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips Lead
Early Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips Lead

Early-Season Mule Deer Hunting Tips

Shorten your mule deer learning curve with five tips learned over years of trial and error.

First Look: Lucid Optics E7 Reflex Sight

Lucid Optics has announced the launch of its E7 reflex sight, with an unusual blue reticle.

Review: J.P. Sauer & Sohn SL5 Waterfowl

The semi-automatic J.P. Sauer & Sohn SL5 Waterfowl is an excellent step outside the rifle maker’s proverbial box, and one that waterfowl hunters will surely appreciate.

First Look: B&P Upland Game Classic

Baschieri & Pellagri USA (B&P), has announced the latest addition to its Upland Game line: Upland Game Classic. This product is designed to optimize the performance of bespoke and vintage shotguns.

First Look: Riton 5 Primal 15-45x60 Spotting Scope

The Riton 5 Primal 15-45x60mm spotting scope has been thoughtfully designed with premium features packed into a compact, lightweight package, which provides hunters with unmatched versatility in the field.

Nosler Raises Over $30,000 in Support of NWTF

Nosler Inc. has announced the success of its recent fundraising effort for the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Habitat for the Hatch Initiative.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.