Herknav

Thanks, N-Frame. I haven't said a word to them other than sending them a letter once I found out they were still open. My letter said that I was glad they were back in business and that I was looking forward to my order when they got around to it.

I know they make stuff in batches, so maybe that explains why one guy had only a 6-week wait. I don't intend to call and yell at them. I'll wait patiently and see what happens.

__________________
I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on Earth.--Steve McQueen

kayakersteve

Ordered around 2 months ago, if I recall correctly.

Sig Man

Jerry,

I knew Lou Alessi for about 30 years. Because I knew him all those years I've also know his partners and workers over the years.
Unfortunately there is only one man left alive that Lou himself trained extensively in the fine art of holster making and that is one of his
partners from about 13 years ago, Skip Ritchie.

When Lou was sick Skip and a couple of Lou's other close friends came back to the "shop" to help Lou out.

Although I'm sure Tom has the best intentions to help Lou's widow and daughter and yes it's true he and Lou were friends, but he was not Lou's protege. That said, the quality of his product is what it is.

I'm told that Skip will be starting his own holster business in the very near future producing only the very best holsters in the Alessi tradition.

I'll keep you posted as info becomes avilable.

JerryM

Hi Sig Man,

I appreciate your post. It is in line with what I have been told by several knowledgeable people. I suspect that Skip's work will be of very high quality.

Tom and the folks there are very nice, and I wish them well. But I do believe that we here have a responsibility to each other to give an honest assessment as to the quality of work we personally know about. Tom said he is working on a replacement holster for me, and I am eager to see how it compares. But when it gets down to it some people are more skilled than others, and some of us could never be top notch leather workers. I sure could not, no matter how good my intentions were.
Thanks, again.

Regards,
Jerry

kayakersteve

I called to ask them to identify an Alessi holster I have because I plan on selling it and wanted to know the model name of it. Nobody there, including Tom or Jeff could positively identify it. They think it may be an ?APH? which I haven't heard of. That makes me think they are working with a narrower line than Lou did or as someone else mentioned, are not long time Alessi workers. This saddens me as I own around 7 different Alessi pieces of fine leather that were all made when Lou was running the show.
I also asked how they are able to quote 3-4 weeks for new holsters at present and was not given a clear answer, especially if people still have long standing backorders placed when Lou was alive. I sure hope Skip does follow through with his intentions.
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY THIS ALESSI HOLSTER?

viceroy

Looks like a Dane Burns line of holsters that Lou made. Notice the sight track. Are there any markings on back, such as DB initals?

JerryM

A week or so ago I received the replacement CQC/S for a 1911 SA Compact. Tom said that the holster that I had received was the wrong holster for my gun. He made another, and it fits fine.

I have an Alessi CQC/S made for the G26, and had a friend, who is well versed in leather working, compare the new with the old. His assessment is that they are essentially equal. I agree.
Tom kept me updated, and I appreciate that.

Regards,
Jerry

kayakersteve

No DB marks, just the normal Alessi stamp. I did check burns website and the holster is identicle to their GWH except for different belt loops. Still a mystery, but it does look like some kind of Burns Alessi combo - Thanks for the lead.

torrejon224

Nope, not the GWH which was the Alessi/Burns design as that was known for a sewn loop. I believe that this was called the PCI, I had one and it's one of those things that are right on the tip of the tongue but won't come out. Lou was a very close friend and he and I talked about this and his PCH often. I was and still am a big fan of the PCH due to the larger flange or "leading edge" it features to spread the guns weight out. On another note I received a CQC/S from the "new" Alessi last week for my HK P7s and overall I'd give it an 8 out of 10. The boning/molding was not as detailed as Lou's and the mouth drops straight vs being molded to the slide as Lou did. Also noticed they went back to the "old" one size fits all double mag pouch with a single snap vs the double snap with loops made for a specific belt size. Lou had told me that these were a real pain to make. Overall, he'd be proud and I'll keep giving them business! Just wish they come up with my close to two year old order!!

shamster

Actually, I'm pretty sure that holster above is a CQC-I. I had one just like it for a SIG P220, which I recently sold only because I never use that gun for any form of carry, even at the range. It's a very nice holster though.

I also have a GWH for my 1911, so I can make a fair comparison between the two. They are very similar in the body, but attach to the belt differently. Lou told me himself that the only real difference between the two is that the GWH uses a single tunnel loop, while the CQC-I uses a snap loops with an open slot.

Here is the CQC-I that I recently sold...