ltwguns.com

My friend SKip Ritchie, Lou Alessi's partner for many years has opened up his own shop in Amherst in Lou's old location. He learned under the master and is carrying the entire old Alessi lineup but under different names. Lightning Arms is also stocking his holsters. The website is www.ritchieholsters.com and will be operational by May 1st. Phone # is (716)691-6300, tell him Mike sent you! Here are a few examples of his work:
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Mike did he make the belt also? If so how does it compare to Lou's belts? I've ordered 2 holsters from the new Alessi and while they are quite servicable the color (brown) is streaky.

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

He did but is currently waiting on patterns, dies, horsehide and some exotics before he does belts and shoulder rigs, I agree with you on the "new Alessi" Brown, pretty poor compared to Lou's cordovan which Skip does an exact replica of. Right now he's only making his version of the CQ/QS (CQQR), PCH, ankle rigs and the Alessi/Heinie DOJ with the low cut front ejection port, he calls that the Lightning. I have four items from him and was his first customer and as much as I hate to say this there is no comparison side by side with the "new" in terms of the worksmanship, boning and coloration.

Mike..I stumbled on the Lightening Arms site by mistake the other day myself, and was surprised. I do have one question for you, and am sure that if anyone has the "scoop" on it..it would be you. Are they just taking over the legacy, or will they be in competition with the "new Alessi"? While I would certainly support them in their new business and the high-quality of workmanship..especially since they worked under our buddy Lou, I would be torn if they were competing WITH the "new Alessi" for business! I am going against my usual advice and going to make an assumption here, that since they are working out of Lou's old shop..and with his pattern, that they have some sort of arrangement with Lou's family and I can rest easy and support them whole-heartedly? Thank my friend and best regards to you..give me a shout sometime!--John

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

They are in competition (by virtue of being in the holster business) with Alessi Gun Holsters, which is actually producing holsters using the dies and patterns from Lou's shop in Buffalo.

Ritchie Leather is producing the designs, but is not directly affiliated with the current Alessi shop.

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I will never forget you Lou......February 21, 2009

John Ralston
5 SHOT LEATHER, LLC - Finely Crafted Custom Handgun Leather

http://www.5ShotLeather.com

OK John...thank you very much for that, I was wondering. Although I will also be buying holsters from other makers in the future (including you too I hope!), I may still stick with Lou's family for the most part, just out of loyalty. I was cleaning out my cell phone and e-mail contacts the other day and still cannot bring myself to delete those entries!!--Best regards-John

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee