Who is Mr. Madhat?

Photos: Jason Smith

You may be interested to know the humble start to who has become one of the finest crafters of handmade leather goods for North American Arms products.

Jason Smith, a.k.a Mr. Madhat, is a self-professed family guy and father of three boys. He blames his involvement in North American Arms on Lisa, his wife of 10 years.

"She is responsible for getting me into NAA altogether," he says. "She decided that her first handgun was going to be an NAA/Talo Buntline in .22 Magnum. She had the choice between the Buntline and a Black Widow, and chose the Buntline."

Upon seeing the gun for the first time, Jason couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

"I have to admit that my first impression of the gun ended with a giggle and an, 'Ahhh how cute," He says. "But after shooting it the first time, I was hooked."

After spending some time looking for a holster for her new gun, Lisa came up short. Because it was a limited edition, and NAA doesn't have a large number of manufacturers making holsters specific to their firearms, Jason decided he'd give it a go himself.

"I had done some leather work in the past," says Jason. "Mostly just belts and little crafty projects when I was a kid. I made a few holsters and Lisa told me to list a couple on eBay."

Jason found the NAA message board and performed some show and tell, which gave him a decent start at selling them. As sales picked up, he tried crafting a few moulded holsters.

"I loved the results," he says. "So I started doing more of them, and began buying more NAA's to expand my gun library in addition to having my own carry pieces."

With seven guns in his possession, he still wants more. "Damn you, NAA," he says with a laugh.

What began as a hobby and something to pass time has turned into a full-time venture.

"The further into the holsters and NAA's I get, the more I love them," he says.

Visit Mad Hat Leather and get your holster ordered today!