Business Spotlight on Gilded Holster

Born and raised in Salado, TX, John Pegues served eight years in the US Navy before returning to Bell County to open his own business. Gilded Holster is a mobile gun cleaning and engraving service that provides on-site servicing for firearms. To start his business, John reached out to Texell’s commercial team for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

“I met with Jessica (Business Officer), and she was honestly one of the first people from a bank that even wanted to meet,” said John. “She seemed very interested in the idea and was excited about it. That really led me to lean towards Texell solely because of her honesty.” John was also thankful for help from Camille, Commercial Support Specialist, who he said was very good at working with him and helping him understand the process.

Gilded Holster uses a trailer stocked with ultrasonic gun cleaners, an air compressor, and laser engraver. Customers can relax in their homes or other preferred location while Gilded Holster cleans or engraves their firearms within hours and delivers them back the same day. He can complete most gun cleaning in less than an hour, and laser engraving takes anywhere from five minutes to two hours depending on the complexity of the design.

“I use a 3D fiber optic laser that swivels to get around the barrels and all the curves,” said John. “It can engrave anything from a handgun up to an AR style rifle.” 

Besides engraving designs on a firearm, the machine also applies stippling to create patterns on the grip. The stippling designs serve ergonomic or aesthetic purposes.

While Gilded Holster serves all firearm customers, John intends to leverage his military background to cater to the needs of active-duty military, veterans, contractors, and their families.

“My dad was in the Army. My grandfather was in the Marines, and my brother ended up going into the Army,” said John. “I was always familiar with guns. It’s lifelong knowledge and skills.”

John plans to take the Gilded Holster trailer on the road to area gun shows and events in Bell County. Monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly subscription services are also available. Follow Gilded Holster on Facebook or call 254.760.2122 for a free quote.

If you’re looking to start or expand your business, Texell’s Business Loan experts are ready to help. Contact BusinessLoans@Texell.org or call 254.774.5161 to get started.

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