Holstermaker Profile: G. Wm. DAVIS

American Handgunner, July, 2001 by Barrett Tillman

Gordon Davis Returns To His Roots As A Craftsman Of Cowboy Leather.

Practical, tactical, concealed and cowboy: if it holds a gun, master leathersmith Gordon Davis has made it. Best known for his IPSC and western holsters, Davis is justifiably proud of his versatility. He's made everything from mag pouches to saddles, but after 30 years in the business he insists that he's still learning.

Starting in the Los Angeles area at age 11, some 45 years ago, Davis began playing with leather as a serious hobby. Eventually he went to work for Bianchi where he taught the basics to another interested youngster named Bruce Nelson.

Other stints with Monrovia And Blazer Holster Company expanded Gordon's experience, but he was still eager to learn. "I realized pretty early that I wanted to learn the leather business," he says, "But I also realized that I needed to learn the business end of leather, too."

Toward that end, Davis spent a lot of time with the late Alfonso Pineda-- literally a busman's holiday. As if that weren't enough, the eager youngster got another job with Santa Anita Raceway, repairing tack and equipment for thoroughbred horses, "That's where I really learned leatherwork," he recalls, expanding into Western and English saddles as well as bridles and assorted gear.

The variety of equipment and techniques reinforced his already solid background. By 1977 Davis was an established leatherworker, already interested in the burgeoning sport of practical pistol competition. He attended the first U.S. IPSC Nationals in Golden, Colo., with an assortment of Andy Anderson type rigs.

"I left with pockets full of cash and checks," he grins, "And after that I was on my way."

G. Wm. Davis Leather became a staple of the early IPSC era, and his California Challenger was a landmark design. A low-cut, front stitched rig with forward muzzle rake, it was just the thing for the new comp guns that were coming on the scene.

But Davis also saw the benefit of expanding his market. He bid on police duty leather, eventually providing belts, holsters, and accessories to a variety of departments and agencies in the western states. "For some reason, most of the ski resorts in Colorado and Utah seemed to select my gear for their patrolmen, Davis reflected.

Addressing entry-level leatherworkers, Gordon says, "There's quite a few talented guys out there who produce beautiful work. But the most common error they make is to overextend themselves. They say, 'How can I be in debt when I have all these orders?' If they don't charge enough for their work, and if they don't keep the quality high enough, they go under."

With increasing acceptance of ballistic nylon and plastic holsters, the law enforcement market has declined for traditional leathersmiths. Davis saw the trend in the late '80s and that, combined with the L.A. rat race, convinced him it was time for a change.

With his children grown, he moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1997, returning to saddle making with the Hamley company in Pendleton, Ore. When the company went out of business, Gordon fell back on his own resources by concentrating on concealed carry and cowboy leather in his new shop in Arizona.

Gone Cowboy

Old West gun leather was no novelty to Davis. As "Diamond Jim," one of the three original founders of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), he was in on the ground floor of the cowboy shooting genre.

Consequently, more and more of his work in the 1990s drew upon his knowledge of genuine Old West leather.

Describing himself as "a leather history nut," Davis eagerly sought information on authentic cowboy belts and holsters of the 1870-1900 era. His shelves are crammed with reference material, permitting him to reproduce almost any gunleather item of the post Civil War period.

One of Davis' cowboy staples is the authentic and functional "Slim Jim" design for toting long-barreled revolvers. Various regions tended to produce their own leather, varying from one to two-loop holsters, strong side or crossdraw. A knowledgeable observer can tell you whether a cowboy's gear originated in the Southwest or in Montana Territory, and Davis is capable of recreating most of the identifiable types.

Davis also enjoys occasional forays into the B-western category, with elaborately stitched or studded holsters made to the customer's specifications. Perhaps the most impressive product is the Ranger Belt with matching holsters: a 4" wide belt with two rows of cartridge loops as well as room for rifle rounds.

Davis offers other cowboy accessories including six-round "shotgun slides" for packing scattergun fodder. Rifle scabbards, slings, and cartridge or shell pouches also are part of his stock in trade.

One of Davis' most innovative designs is his shoulder holster. The holster itself is of conventional origin, but Davis' method of securing the holster to the belt, and his flexible strap arrangement, ensures that the pistol stays put.

"After a lot of trial and error, I found that a shoulder holster works better if the gun's grip lays against the chest. That way it's always in the same place, and doesn't move around," Davis comments. It also makes the gun more concealable, with a lower signature beneath a jacket or blazer.