D. Mansfield, Maker

01/06/2025

Happy New Year to all! Things have settled down with my shop up and running again after the move and some health issues Orders are welcome; there is a two to three week lead time befoer the product is ready to ship.

12/07/2024

Wet-molded holster, single mag pouch for G***k 19; heading for a home in Arizona.

12/04/2024

Holster for a R***r Super Redhawk in .454 Casull; heading home to Bull Lake, Montana via Arizona.

11/26/2024

My new "makers" stamp is on the way; I was able to find an American made product at a reasonable price.

11/13/2024

Latest rig for a R***r Vaquero in .357; this one is headed for Arizona.

10/19/2024

Progress on a Vaquero holster going to Arizona - only 8 more feet of saddle stitching to go befoer I start on the Ranger style cartridge belt.

08/29/2024

Just for fun.

9MM (it's a dummy round, hence the color) lined up with three .45 Long C**t cartridges.

Going from top to bottom the first one is a copy of an1880s load of a 250 grain Round Nosed lead bullet of 40 grains of Black Powder. That's pushing the limits of the Black Powder loads and goes out the spout at about 900 fps. The Army later dropped the 40 grain load down to 30 grains to fall in line with .45 S&W Schofield which they also used. (Not recommended for use in anything other than the Old Model Vaquero.)

Second is a modern commercial Cowboy Single Action Shooting load; a 200 grain Round Nose Flat Point with smokeless powder which hits 750 fps. Very popular because of it's much lower felt recoil when it comes to competition

Third is the beast – 250 grain Jacketed Hollow Point with a smokeless load that shoves it out at 1400 fps out of a 5.5 inch revolver barrel. I can guarantee you that the recoil is a bit snappy but whatever you his with it will have second thoughts about going after you (or no thoughts at all). These loads have also been clocked out of a 20” barrel lever rifle at close to 1500 fps.

08/28/2024

Took the Marlin Camp 9 to Murph's Indoor Range here in Duncan yesterday to test fire it for the first time. I had taken it down to component parts for a good cleaning and to replace the Marlin factory recoil buffer with a sturdier one from Power Custom. I also replaced the factory 16.5 pound factory recoil spring with a 21 pound spring. I only fired two 10 round mags (the one I converted from a California 4 rounder) but all seemed to work well. According to what I have read the 21 pound spring helps to reduce felt recoil and what I felt was very acceptable, bolt cycled well and tossed the spent brass out quite nicely. I had red many complaints about this rifle's accuracy but I had no problem at 50 yards, off hand with open sights. I fired Remington/UMC 115 FMJ Round Nose. Would I carry this in Grizz country? No. But for plinking and small game it's a good choice; I have no doubt it could also take deer at close range. And I don't plan on using it to engage human targets at anything other than very close range (and hopefully never!) so accuracy like this at 50 yards is excellent.

08/26/2024

I'm always happy to read things like this: "Dale did a great job on the holster for my C**t Python. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is incredible. Looking forward to carrying it through the Rockies."

Thank you sir, and be safe as you serve our nation!

08/23/2024

Shout out to Mt McCoy Auctions, aka Lock, Stock and Barrel who sold me the Marlin Camp Nine. I let them know that the firearm wasn't functional because the Recoil Buffer has grenaded into fragments. it's an inexpensive, easy fix but I was very pleased when less than an hour after I sent the email their Customer Service Manager replied. He apologized and offered a refund equivalent to the cost of a new buffer and shipping.

That's the kind of good service that is so rare these days!

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08/22/2024

Picked up my “new to me” Marlin Camp Nine rifle; it's already been stripped for a good cleaning and inspection. It was actually in very good shape for one manufactured in 1996; the seller didn't tell me the Recoil Buffer was toast so it wouldn't work properly. That's the bad news. The good news is that I had already ordered a new buffer just in case since the originals had a reputation for disintegrating. The news ones are of far better quality, inexpensive and easy to install. I've liked these rifles for quite some time, they remind me of the M1 Carbine but who can afford one of those nowadays. Having a plethora of 9MM hardball ammo it was the route to go for plinker and an adequate Home Defense rifle. R***r and Henry make a 9MM Carbine at MSRPs just short of a cool grand; I'm sure you could find retailer's selling for a bit less. But this Marlin cost me less than five bills and it will do everything the others will. I could even get a 50 round drum magazine for it...not.

08/18/2024

When you are doing leather there's nothing better for background music than tunes from Steve Riddle and Montana's one and only M2WB (Mission Mountain Wood Band)!

08/09/2024

First job coming out of my Oklahoma shop! What I call a "Field" or "Hunter" type rig for 6" C**t Python. The user spends a great deal of time in the field so needs something rough and ready. This is an outer shell of 7-8 ounce leather with a lining of 2 ounce prime tooling leather; the are no bare metal rivets to rub on the firearm. Holster will be finished inside and out with my own mix of Beeswax, Pine Pitch and quality Mineral Oil.

08/07/2024

I am officially back in business at my new location of Duncan, Oklahoma. The "D. Mansfield, Winslow Arizona" maker stamp has been retired and replaced by "D. Mansfield, Duncan Ok" with crossed six guns in the middle. Happy to say that I am already working on my first order for a 6" Python that will be going to a patriot currently serving in the Army. Unfortunately the prices for tools and materials has gone up like everything else. ON the other hand I've been able to source much from American suppliers right in Oklahoma USA.

Dale Mansfield
1301 S. 7th Street
Duncan, Oklahoma 73533

928-386-5129

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01/30/2024

Still not doing more leather but did get a "bucket list" project done. I never liked the "Thumb-Buster" factory hammer my Vaquero so finally replaced it with a "Bisley-style" hammer. Also changed out the grips to a black checkered retro look. I love that new hammer because it's not a stretch and major change of hold to c**k it. Will be interesting to see how it handles during live firing. Old versus new.