About Will Ghormley

Pull up a chair! I'm glad you stopped to take a look at my goods.

I'm Will Ghormley and I make everything myself. No apprentice, no machines. It's all hand-crafted to my customers' specifications.

I started making leather goods in 1971 in my 12th year. I bought my first muzzle-loading Hawken Rifle and needed accoutrements. Then I picked up a new Colt 1873 SAA from Sears for $92 and needed a gun rig. When I started working ranches in northern New Mexico and southwest Colorado, I repaired tack and made gun leather for my fellow cowboys. H.T. Hoover was a foreman on one of the ranches where I worked. He was a Paratrooper who served in Vietnam. It was only a matter of time before I followed his example and enlisted.

When I left the Service in 1993 I wasn't fit for much in the civilian world. I fell back on my leather-working skills and by 1994 I was making authentic reproduction old west cowboy gear full time. I made everything from period correct late-1800s saddles, to classic cowboy gun leather. Working from home I became the stay-at-home dad as our family grew to eight kids. I didn't get out much and mingle in the leather or shooting industry. But my kids are the best investment of my life.

In 2003 I began designing and printing patterns of my gear for sale to fellow leather crafters. Providence handed me some Hollywood work beginning in 2004 that helped with name recognition. I'm best known for the iconic "Hand of God Rig" I made for Russell Crowe in 3:10 to Yuma. But my reputation and five bucks won't get you a foofy coffee at Starbucks! My bread & butter are the regular folks who buy my gun leather and pattern packs.

I'm still in business but I'm winding down. One man can only make so many gun rigs in his lifetime and mine are numbered. I'm trying to concentrate on making patterns that will continue to be productive after I'm not. At this point a man starts to think about his legacy. I'm leaving behind the best I've had to offer and I can live with that. But I've still got more to give.

So see ya' on the trail!
Will