This is a wildly local and one-of-a-kind experience. I got a custom made leather hat band from the proprietor of 30 years, whose name is Bear. Bear is cranky. Bear is curt. Bear doesn't want to talk to you. Bear was asleep and hooked up to oxygen when I entered the shop. But you know what? Bear is a craftsman who gets the job done - in his time and his terms. My custom hatband has 10 nickels from the 1930s and is made from Mexican calf leather. He measured my hat and custom cut it just for my head. How much? A wildly fair $35 for a one-of-a-kind piece I'll always wear and enjoy. If you're looking for a hatband, you have to come wake up Bear. read more

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Left a bracelet that was missing a stone. Never heard from Jane. Called her twice, she said she couldn't find a similar stone but was looking. Now phone is disconnected. Send a letter with return info, nothing. So now I have no bracelet. read more

Bear always did prompt and quality work for me. Once, upon wearing through a solder on a ring after several year of wear and tear, he repaired the ring a second time for no charge. read more

Home made belt - skip this place - Belt was crude - Jane sa

I bought a ring that was too big and the craftsman told me I should take it to Bear to be resized. He broke the stone and when I pointed it out he seemed to think it wasn't such a big deal. He also refused to give me a refund for the resizing after breaking my ring. Heartbroken. read more

Guns For Hire Leatherworks - There is a crack right in the middle of the stone after it was resized. Heartbroken. - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Unfortunately I brought the silversmith "Bear" a 73 year old silver ring to solder. He indicated that it would be a simple job. The ring is ruined. The band is crooked and at least a size smaller. Tool marks and silver solder now obscure what was a pristine coin. When I questioned the work he became belligerent. This ring survived the Pacific theater of WW ll, but was no match for "Bear". read more

A Santa Fe jeweler recommended Guns for Hire to shop for belts. We stopped by the shop where we were entertained by Jane's pug and Bear's kitten. I bought a beautiful full-hide, hand-stitched belt with snaps to change buckles. Most belts are split- leather/glued. but this was the real deal. We couldn't wait around for Bear to make a "stick" which is a wood-burned dowel fixed to a single-point deer antler used to grab things you can't reach. So, we agreed to place the order and send a check when we returned home. We did that and I ordered another belt as well for a total of $60.00 for the two pieces including shipping. Jane was concerned about mailing over the holidays, but I told her we were in no hurry. Indeed, it took a very long time, but we were delighted when both pieces arrived. Amazingly, they had spent $3.99 on a mailing tube and $9.75 for priority mailing fees. That means they spent $8.74 of their own money beyond the five bucks for shipping that was included in the check. The second belt was of the same highest quality cowhide, and the stick was done to perfection. Good people, great goods! C Davis Chicago read more

I was looking for someone to make a belt for me and Guns for Hire was recommended by several people in town. I also ran into one of Jane's (the Owner) nephews selling beautiful silverwork in front of the Governor's Palace. He also recommended that I talk to Jane. I couldn't be more disappointed. I had my original belt which was a simple strap with a leather tip guard that wrapped over the end of the belt and reduced to a narrow band sewn over the belt holes. The holes were punched through the two layers of leather. It is a simple but elegant design which I thought would be relatively easy to reproduce. Jane took my old belt and promised to make a facsimile using my old buckle and the belt as a pattern. We discussed and sketched the detail so it was clear that she understood the design. I paid her in advance since I was out of town and the belt would not be finished while I was in Santa Fe. I had to call and call to get my belt made and when it arrived, it was made from very poor quality leather. The leather was very stiff and uneven such that it would naturally bend across weaknesses in the material. The stitching was uneven and the tip guard and leather detail was sewn on to the wrong side of the belt, a wholly unacceptable job. My old belt strap was not returned. I called Jane and began to describe my dissatisfaction to which she quickly replied that she would refund my money and my old belt strap. This was in July. It is now the end of September and I have not received a thing. If you are buying something off the shelf from this store, you might do well but I would not trust them to make or ship anything. If you can't see it, feel it and take it with you, I would avoid this place at all costs. In any case, do not pay in advance! read more

Unfortunately I had a similar experience to Peter D. I wanted two links removed from a silver bracelet and Bear at Guns for Hire was recommended by a jewelry store in town. When I went to the shop Bear was nice and even offered to make earrings from the two links he was removing. I was in town on business and needed the jewelry shipped back to me. He said to expect it in about ten days. I thought his $35 price was reasonable. When I didn't receive anything after two weeks I called him. He said the bracelet was done but he was having trouble with one of the earrings and needed to order parts. He offered to send the bracelet but I told him it was OK to wait until he was finished with the earrings to save on shipping. After another week I called again and got the same story. This time I asked him to send the bracelet. Still nothing came. I called every week for two months before I finally received the bracelet. It looked good but the pin he put in fell out when I opened the package, so the bracelet is unwearable. Today I asked Bear to return the two links asap. Apparently one is broken. I am out $35, the links, and almost 3 months. I have a broken bracelet and need to find another jeweler. read more