Protecting Your Investment With an Investment
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James Foster - Oct 24, 2014
- 7 min read
James Foster
When I was at a recent pipe show I noticed a guy walking around with a messenger bag that looked really nice. I asked him if it carried pipes, and he opened it. The front pocket had room for a tablet and the back pocket had 8 pipes tucked away in individual pouches and all his accessories. I was so impressed that I asked where he got it and he gladly gave me the information and website.
I feel as many of you may feel, when you spend a lot of money on a pipe you worry about how you can protect your pipe when you take it out and about. And when you take it out you may want to bring its friends along for the ride as well. This is where Smokin’ Holsters comes in.
I reached out to Neil at http://www.smokinholsters.com/ and had him make me a custom bag which he delivered quickly and I’ve enjoyed greatly. Now that I’ve done product testing so to speak, I’d like to share with everyone a little about him and his process for making the bags so I’ve interviewed him to shed some light on his custom work.
What got you into making pipe bags?
In 2002 I started looking to get a nice leather pipe bag. I had a great toiletries bag I used but it didn’t seem to suit my aesthetic. I have been working with leather since college but at the time I wasn’t set up nor did I have the time to make a pipe bag. Though I hadn’t seen anything at the local shows or on-line I figured there would be someone at Chicago that had a hand made pipe
bag to sell. Well there wasn’t. I spoke with a bunch of retailers I knew at the show and they all basically said that what I was looking for wasn’t available. Keith Toney who is now with Cornell and Diehl worked for Knoxville Cigar at the time said “Neil, you’re going to have to make your own”. The first bag I made was sound and actually quite nice but when I was done I didn’t like it and couldn’t see myself using it so I posted to ASP (alt.smokers.pipes) that it was for sale and posted a few pics. It actually sold in 2 minutes. Short answer, I saw a niche and filled it.
This of course isn’t your day job, what do you do when you’re not making bags?
Actually nowadays it is.
What are the various leathers you use?
Well for exteriors bison and cowhide. The interiors are almost always deerskin.
Could you elaborate on why you use different leather for inside vs outside?
Well the exterior requires water and weather resistance as well as being strong enough to provide some impact protection. In order to do this I mostly use chrome-tanned cowhide and bison in a specific range of thickness that provides for these factors. Also, these leathers, by virtue of their natural tendencies and the tanning process have less malleability and stretch that provides for the structure of the bag. The interior of bags requires a more malleable and soft skin with stretch. Water resistance in the bags interior is paramount. Deerskin is perfect for this purpose in both feel and physical characteristics.
About how long does it take you to do a bag?
In actual working time, it takes anywhere from about 4 hours to as many as 18 hours depending on the bag.
Could you describe your process on how you make a bag and the type of tools you use?
Well, I start with a side or a full hide (a side is usually about 18 – 24 sq ft, full is double) and a list of bags I’m making and I measure and cut the skin.I then trim the edges to for each specific bag. Then the individual pieces are edge dyed. Zippers are then made and the hardware is made ready. I then cut the deerskin to make all the interior pockets and the lining. The entire liner is made and glued to the inside of the bag. For hand laced or stitched bags I then punch the leather for lace or thread and when all the parts are ready I sew the bag together. For machine-sewn bags, once the parts are ready I use the machine to sew the bags together. The interior bag stiffeners are then glued in, the bag is signed and numbered and done. The one exception to the above is when I use English Bridle leather. When I use this, the skin I get is natural and I finish and oil the skin myself.
As to tools, for cutting my primary tool is a rotary cutter followed by a scissor and a straight edge. I use assorted leather tools like punches, skivers, gougers and a bunch that would make no sense if I named them. I have a triple feed commercial leather sewing machine and a commercial edge skiver. For sharpening I have a paper wheel-sharpening set-up, a buffer
and assorted sharpening stones and files. I have a branding machine for debossing logos and several bench machines that set snaps, rivets and stuff like that. I have lots of rulers in different shapes. Glues, dyes, oils and that kind of stuff.
What’s the most unique custom bag you’ve done?
For a pipe bag I’d say the most unique design was a bag with a Moose hide exterior fitted with an exterior pocket that had a clip so that the customer could snap his .38 in the pocket and have access to it if needed.
Do you see yourself making anything else besides bags?
I assume you mean pipe bags and I do. Besides accessories like pipe stands and racks, I have made tamper stands and racks, accessory pipe and accessory carriers for a bunch of different purposes from hanging off a briefcase to in a car or for use in a tree stand. The name of my company, Smokin’ Holsters is in itself the name of a product I make, a Smokin’ Holster slides on your belt and typically holds a lighter and tamper providing easy access. I have also always made non pipe related items like briefcases, portfolios and sack and carriers for everything from knives to flutes to music stands and tents.
What pipe shows do you usually attend?
When I started out I went to a lot of pipe shows like NY, Chicago, Richmond, DC and Columbus. I’ve also been to a Vegas show. These days it seems that I only go to Chicago regularly but that could change. The problem I have is that getting bags to a show is a lot harder than say getting pipes to a show. To fly to a show requires shipping bags packed in boxes and then having arrangements set up to return the bags home if they don’t sell. Too, getting enough bags together for a pipe show is actually not the easiest thing as my demand for orders gets in the way. My bags are usually represented at most shows through intermediaries. Recently I had a dozen or so bags displayed for sale by a friend at the Tokyo Pipe Show.
Do you smoke when making your bags?
Nope, one mistake and the leather is ruined. I’ll smoke if I’m drawing or at the desk for a bit but not when I’m actually working on leather.
How long have you been a pipe smoker?
I smoked a pipe for a bit in college but cigars were more my thing. I think I started up the pipe again in about 2000.
What’s your favorite tobacco?
All time I have two: Balkan Sobranie Virginia #10 and Three Nuns.
You can find out more about Neil’s bags by going to http://www.smokinholsters.com/.
And that wraps up the interview. So I’ll leave you with this question. How many of you already have a bag and what do you think about it?
 James Foster goes by the online handle of Pylorns in the forums, and he is the creator of an app for keeping track of your tobacco cellar inventory called The Pipe Tool. |
Written by James Foster
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Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 633. Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. JD is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. We’ll have JD and Brian talking about what’s new at the store and in the business in general. At the top of the show, Brian will discuss tobacco growing, what happens to the leaf, and provide updated information on where tobacco is being gown today. Tobacco production originated in the United States and we were once the #1 producer. It’s quite different now.
Beautiful work. For the right life situation, these are ideal, moving from one home
to another (for folks with more than one). I’d be a little hesitant to attract attention
with such a luxury case, rather than disguise the pipes in a Walmart nylon toilet kit,
but that’s always a matter for strategizing. The leatherwork here is exquisite.
I have the Urban bag, it easily holds up to 12 pipes and gear. It is my show/club bag. Access is a bit limited, but nothing is going to fall out.
I also have the Necessities bag. This one has some design flaws I had a local shoe repair shop fix. There was no catch for the bag flap and the straps were sewn a few inches down from the top of the bag. It pitched forward and the flap hung open, which was scary. I picked it up used and I suspect it was sold for those issues. A Mennonite shoe shop added a magnetic catch on the flap (I called it a man-clasp) and they sewed the straps to the top of the bag. Now it hangs straight down and the flap is secure. I think that on new bags, an inner strap has been added to add security.
These bags looked beautiful. I don’t have a big enough collection yet to warrant such a purchase, but I love the idea of being able to carry everything in one bag.
Nice article James.
Great article. I have dealt with Neil a few times and have nothing but good things to report about my experience. He cuts a fine piece of leather.
Very nice looking bags, I especially like the tall triangular one in the photo. Thanks for the interview.
Great interview…love those bags…gonna have to look into one as a Christmas gift to myself
After searching out pipe carry bags for nearly a year, I fnally came across Neil’s work in an article, if memory serves, by Neil archer Rohan describing this bag as the finest bag there is.
I called Neil and we discussed my needs and the type of bag I would like. I really appreciated the fact that he did not try to ‘sell’ me; rather he made suggestions and took my order
I chose the English saddle leather, the best bag he makes, and the hardest one to manufacture.
Because I frequently travel from one place to another I can’t imagine a finer and easier bag to trust my pipes safety
I can heartedly recommend his fine work
Smokin’ Holsters bags are the best I’ve seen anytime, anywhere.
Terrific article. I just ordered my first two items from Mr. Flancbaum of Smokin’ Holsters.com. I purchased two leather pipe socks one in black the other in tan. I read a bunch of older threads here talking about the socks he manufactures and I am now eagerly awaiting delivery. I haven’t see any of his work in person yet but the feedback this gentleman’s work gets is phenomenal.