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Glad to have an old friend come by the shop today....and a famous one at that!

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:58:29 +0100

Ryan Bater came by the shop today. Full on carrysmith, he is. Ryan picked up another Anvil Gun Holster. Ryan says he would know what he would do without Anvil's Leather Holsters. Ryan prefers carrying his gun inside the waist of his pants, but this trip to the shop, he picked up a classic PANCAKE holster to wear right behind the crest of his hip.

Anvil Pancake Holsters are truly the BEST pancake holsters on the market. Don't be fooled by the incredible simplistic design of them. Anvil chooses a particular weight (thickness) of leather to construct his holsters with and when built right a Pancake holster should provide a friction fit for your chosen gun. When an Anvil Pancake Holster is worn, it conforms to the bend of your hip, all the while SQUEEZING your gun nice and snug in the holster. You can hang like a oppossum from a tree limb and your gun will stay intact, just where you want it.

Anyways, thank you Ryan for stopping by and picking up another holster. I hope you enjoy it thoroughly!

Anvil's NEW Pancake Holster is here!!

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:08:07 +0100

Finally here! Anvil's NEW Pancake Holster designed for FASTER ENTRY/EXIT of gun will surely make you smile! Very comfortable to wear, easy to access. FITS just about any 1911 and any semi-auto on the market. From small/medium frames to large frames, this holster is EXTREMELY versatile and will coordinate with just about any gun in your collection.

Available in Black, Dirty Brown, and Genuine ALLIGATOR!

NEW Pancake Holster coming SOON from Anvil Customs...

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:58:47 +0100

Our NEWLY redesigned Pancake Holster will be available VERY SOON. It will feature slightly wider stitch pattern to accept even MORE semi-automatic models and we have taken away the ThumbBreak all together so access to your gun is easier and faster.

As always, we only use TOP GRADE, Full Grain leather exterior and North American Pigskin interior lining for easy & smooth gun entry/exit. Heavy #277 sized nylon stitching will hold everything together.....FOREVER. And, don't forget our FREE SHIPPING policy!!

LIFETIME GUARANTEE on all HOLSTERS!!!

Which Concealed Carry Gun?

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:33:28 +0100

Making the right choice, as if your life depended on it.

By Clair Rees

Earlier this year a friend was astonished to learn I didn't have a concealed carry permit. I live in a "must issue" state, where permits are available by simply attending a three-hour class, being photographed and fingerprinted, and paying a fee.

Why not own a concealed carry permit? Frankly, it never occurred to me. I'm not a policeman, and I live in a "safe" middle-class neighborhood. But I've recently had second thoughts. Everywhere you look, the safety of ordinary citizens is being gradually eroded by car jackings, home-invasion robberies and formerly rare drive-by shootings. Crackheads and teenaged gangs are arming themselves. Maybe I should take the hint?

I've been writing about guns and hunting far longer than I care to admit. During that time, I've accumulated a sizeable collection of firearms, including I don't know how many pistols and revolvers. I spend a lot of time in desert and mountain country, where my bigbore handguns are carried holstered in plain sight.

I admit to sometimes tucking a small pocket pistol into--where else?--a pocket when hiking wilderness trails. I've also kept a handgun quietly out of sight on family camping trips. I didn't advertise its presence to my children--these were camping, not shooting weekends. Those occasional lapses into lawlessness didn't worry me (although they probably should have). I was simply applying the Scout motto, "Be Prepared," for possible encounters with two-legged predators.

I didn't take concealed carry seriously at first because it's still perfectly legal to walk the streets of most Utah cities with a holstered handgun at your hip. Provided the gun is safely unloaded, you're theoretically within your legal rights. Notice I said "theoretically." Stroll through downtown Provo or Salt Lake City so armed, and I guarantee you won't escape the notice of the local constabulary.

As a bonus, a concealed carry permit also offers financial incentive. Manufacturers regularly loan me guns to test and report on. Each time a gun arrives at my FFL holder, the required background search costs me a small fee--and those fees soon mount up. The search is waived for concealed carry permit holders. I did the math and quickly discovering how foolish I'd been to ignore this money-saving bonanza.

Waiting for my permit to arrive in the mail, I suddenly realized something. Nearly all the handguns I owned were designed primarily for hunting. Precious few were suited to concealed carry. My Thompson/Center single-shots obviously didn't qualify, while the revolvers in my collection were mostly chambered for bigbore deer and bear rounds like the .44 Magnum, .454 Casull and .475 Linebaugh. These heavy, large-framed guns with their 6- and 8-inch barrels weren't something I wanted to tote on my hip every day. Concealing them would present serious problems.

I actually own some pistols designed for self-defense--a handful of .45 ACP 1911-style guns and a diminutive North American Arms .380 ACP Guardian autoloader. Two of these guns were worth considering. The .380 Guardian got the nod because of its diminutive size and modest 18-ounce heft, while a Kimber Compact Aluminum made the list because I have a fondness for 1911 .45s. At 28 ounces, this gun was pleasingly light compared to the other 1911s I owned. I also liked the serious punch .45 ACP loads delivered. The Kimber Compact Aluminum was a forerunner to Kimber's current Pro Carry series.

With those as my "seed guns," I began looking for other concealed carry candidates to evaluate. The first pistol I requested for testing was a Glock Model 36--a compact, 22.4-ounce double-action autoloader in .45 ACP chambering. That big, battle-proven cartridge was a point in this gun's favor.

Let me make a quick distinction: Some auto pistols (like those made by Glock and Kahr) have no exposed hammer and are fired by simply pulling the trigger. However, these pistols can't discharge until the slide has first been manually cycled to chamber a round and cock the action. Firing follow-up shots has the same effect--as the slide cycles under recoil, it automatically recocks the action. This makes for a relatively light, consistent, easily managed trigger pull. True double-action pistols and revolvers aren't cocked before firing--the action cocks as your finger hauls back the trigger. True double-action triggers have longer, heavier pulls that are more difficult to manage.

My next selection was a Kahr PM9--a 9mm pistol weighing only 16 ounces and compact enough to disappear inside the pocket of my jeans. I liked the idea of simple "pocket carry"--no muss, no fuss and nothing bulky stuffed inside your waistband. To facilitate this kind of carrying, De Santis offers the Nemisis, a soft, ambidextrous holster that fits handily inside a front or rear trouser pocket. In addition to holding the pistol securely, it disguises the Kahr's outline. This wallet-shaped holster remains inside your pocket, so it doesn't slow your draw.

Like the Glock 36, the Kahr PM9 has no side-mounted external safeties; these are strictly point-and-shoot pistols. While the Kahr sports no manual safety of any kind, the Glock has its famous Safe-Action trigger. An insert in the trigger face must be depressed--along with the trigger itself--before the gun will fire.

I've always liked revolvers, so I added Smith & Wesson's Model 340 to the mix. Combining a scandium-alloy frame with a titanium cylinder makes this the lightest .357 Magnum I know of. My sample tipped the scales at a hair over 11 ounces. Lacking an external hammer, this is a true double-action handgun. At 61?4 inches long and 4 1/4 inches tall, it's also extremely compact. The barrel is barely 17?8 inches long. Like the Model 60 that inspired it, the Model 340 sports a five-shot cylinder.

Model Comparison
Model	Caliber	Magazine Capacity	Trigger Action	Barrel Length	Overall Length	Height	Width	Weight
Glock 36	.45 ACP	6	DA	3 5/8 in.	6 3/4 in.	4 1/2 in.	1.10 ins.	22.4 ins.
Kahr PM9	9mm	6	DA	3 in.	5 1/4 in.	4 in.	0.91 in.	16 oz.
NAA Guardian	.380 ACP	6	True DA	2 1/2 in.	4 1/2 in.	3 5/8 in.	0.91 in.	18.4 oz.
Kimber Compact Aluminum*	.45 ACP	7	SA	4 in.	7 5/8 in.	4 3/4 in.	1.26 in.	28 oz.
S&W Model 60	.38 Spl./.357 Mag.	5	SA/DA	2 1/8 in.	6 9/16 in.	4 3/4 in.	1.30 ins.	22.4 oz.
S&W Model 340	.38 Spl./.357 Mag.	5	True DA	1 7/8 in.	6 1/4 in.	4 1/4 in.	1.30 in.	11.2 oz.
*Corresponds to Pro Carry II

Theoretically, an 11-ounce centerfire revolver like this would be the ideal "carry all day" gun. Weighing bare ounces this side of nothing, it hardly makes its presence felt. However, I've fired featherweight magnums before and knew there was a price to pay. I wasn't sure I'd be able to control this gun's recoil with full-house .357 Magnum loads.

With this in mind, I also asked S&W to send me a classic Model 60. This stainless steel revolver weighed exactly twice as much as the Model 340, making it twice as noticeable on your hip. Its 21?8-inch barrel was also slightly longer.

Short barrels mean reduced velocities. With the effects of recoil in mind, I wondered how much punch you'd actually lose by switching from .357 Magnum to .38 Special ammo in these bobbed-barrel revolvers. The chronograph showed 125-grain .38 Special +P loads exiting the Model 60's muzzle at an average velocity of 844 fps. That translated into 198 ft-lbs of energy. Shooting 125-grain .357 Magnum loads through the same gun delivered 1,103 fps and 338 ft-lbs. That's 30 percent greater velocity and a whopping 70 percent more energy. No question--magnums were clearly the way to go.

The two S&W revolvers and the NAA auto pistol sported bare-bones aiming equipment. The Kimber and Glock .45s and the 9mm Kahr wore better sights that were drift-adjustable for windage and far easier to see.

To put these guns through their paces, I met Ken Turner, a lifelong friend and shooting companion, at my improvised desert range. Because the guns were designed for self-defense, we didn't bother with 25-yard targets. Instead we placed Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C combat-style targets seven yards downrange. This is considered the maximum practical distance for close encounters of the defensive kind. Instead of using a sandbagged rest, we simply gripped the guns in a firm, two-hand hold, then stood and shot.

Inside Your Pants Gun Holster

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:55:54 +0100

NEW from Anvil Customs' Concealed Gun Hoslters comes this little & sneaky "In Your Pants Holsters". Slips right behind the waistband of your pants and the BLACK COATED Steel Clip securely clips over your pants and/or belt! Just about ANY gun will fit this holster as there isn't a specific stitch pattern. Holds gun securely as well. Lined with North American Pigskin. Get yours today at Anvil's Reasonable price!

Concealed carry in the United States

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:55:28 +0100

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Concealed weapon" redirects here. For other uses, see Secret weapon.

In the United States, carrying a concealed weapon (CCW, also known as concealed carry) is the legal authorization for private citizens to carry a handgun or other weapons in public in a concealed manner, either on the person or in close proximity to the person. In some states, it is sufficient to be a resident or permanent resident (greencard holder). Under current federal legal precedent, it is considered "constitutional" under the Second Amendment for states to have concealed carry licensing that permits concealed carried weapons, or even not to require any permits for concealed carry weapons; for example, any legal gun owner in the state of Vermont may carry concealed weapons with no permitting required.^[1]^[2] It is likewise "constitutional" under the Second Amendment for states to have laws that prohibit concealed carried weapons, although only two states have done so.^[3]^[4] Laws governing concealed carried weapons vary from state to state. Some states restrict concealed carried weapons to a single handgun, whereas others permit multiple handguns or martial arts weapons to be carried.

Various states give different terms for licenses or permits to carry a concealed firearm, such as a Concealed Handgun License/Permit (CHL/CHP), Concealed (Defensive/Deadly) Weapon Permit/License (CDWL/CWP/CWL), Concealed Carry Permit/License (CCP/CCL), License To Carry (Firearms) (LTC/LTCF), Carry of Concealed Deadly Weapon license (CCDW), and similar. Many states that issue licenses to carry a concealed handgun also allow the practice of open carry by the license holder, and another 31 states allow open carry without any license.

Although the current trend towards adopting concealed carry laws has been met with opposition, no state which has adopted a "Shall-Issue" concealed carry law has reversed its decision. As of February 2008^[update], 48 US states allow some form of concealed carry^[5] (though nine of them have discretionary "may-issue" policies, a few of these being effectively "no-issue" in practice) and all but six provide for some variant on non-concealed "open-carry".^[6] The states of Wisconsin and Illinois, and the District of Columbia do not have any form of concealed-carry licensing; Wisconsin allows for open carry in most situations, while Illinois only allows it in rural areas subject to county restriction.

On March 19, 2009, a federal judge ordered a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of the rule allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms concealed within National Park Service lands within states where their permits are valid, based upon environmental concerns, in response to concerns by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.^[7]^[8] On May 22, 2009 President Obama signed a law (HR 627) that will prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from enacting or enforcing any regulations that restrict possession of firearms in National Parks or Wildlife Refuges, as long as the person complies with laws of the state in which the unit is found

Leather Pancake Holster for your 1911.....and many other pistols

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:06:13 +0100

Introducing the most versatile hoslter that I make here at Anvil Customs. This Leather Pancake Gun Holster is designed to carry nearly every 1911 pistol as well as most semi-automatics. Ranging from 9mm to .45 cal, you can handily fit almost any gun in the holster! Each holster is lined with North American Swine which is durable and tough, yet allows for easy ins & outs of the pistol. Authentic Brass bullet cartridges are cut down on a lathe and built into very cool "Bullet Rivets" for decor only. The tiny allen screws make it look like shot primers! Truly a unique design and appearance. Available in Black, Dirty Brown, and Exotic Leather. Look through our Product Categories to choose your holster today!

Where do you want to wear it?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:13:03 +0100

November 7, 2009
Holsters are great to hold your gun, but don't you want one you appreciate? Of course you do, but you might not want to pay the price. Well, that's understandable. That is why I have designed MY OWN holsters to build in my shop and sell on this website. I only use the best Grade A veg-tanned leather for my holsters. You will not regret buying one of these great holsters.

From PANCAKE Holsters to Swivel-Clip Holsters to Inside Your Pants Holsters!!! You will find the right one here on my site! Thanks for checking it out....