Holsters-

Biblethumpncop · May 31, 2020

I just started making holsters for myself this week. I have a friend locally and my Dad out of State that have given me some help.

I always liked the basketweave pattern. 30 years ago my Dad tooled an archery quiver that is heavy duty and beautiful, reminds me of a saddle. He also made me a 2" Ranger belt to wear the quiver on.

My first holster I made a week ago was a rough-out of my own design for my Buckmark. My buddy made one smooth side out using the same pattern for his Buckmark. Mine will be special to me since it is my first, but I new I would improve with practice.

My second holster attempt was for my 431 44spl. I made a basketweave pancake holster, no lining from my own design.

My third and fourth I'm very proud of. I designed it with inspiration from a couple of rigs, most notably the Threepersons design. I lined them both. One holds my 6" Hard chrome Diamondback .22 and the other I finished today for my new to me Single Six Convertible.

Anyone else make their own holsters? Anyone have a holster, regardless of who made it, that they are proud of?

Let's see 'em!

Pat Riot · May 31, 2020

Nice Job!

I have made only one holster. I don’t have a photo and even if I did I would not post it here. It looked terrible :rofl:

Not like yours.

shoebox1.1 · May 31, 2020

I tried to make a couple didn’t turn out good. Bought my first nice holster recently, a Kramer and I’m in love with it. It takes two months though..

1KPerDay · May 31, 2020

Nice job, particularly for a first couple attempts. If you'll accept some well-intentioned constructive criticism I'd work on sewing really consistent, straight lines on the thumb break straps. That's the first thing my untrained eye was drawn to. I love the basketweave pattern. Really cool!

Obturation · May 31, 2020

Those holsters look great! Good work.

Alaskan Ironworker · May 31, 2020

I really like that on the buck mark!

WestKentucky · May 31, 2020

Pat Riot said:
Nice Job!

I have made only one holster. I don’t have a photo and even if I did I would not post it here. It looked terrible
Not like yours.

Sounds like my experience. I have one that I kept, and the rest I have destroyed from shame. The only reason I kept the one is that it works so well that I want the exact same function, but I want it to look better next time.

Obturation · May 31, 2020

WestKentucky said:
the rest I have destroyed from shame.

Sounds like my woodworking...

WestKentucky · May 31, 2020

Obturation said:
Sounds like my woodworking...

I’m getting better with wood. Today’s creation... rocking turkey. It needs a little detail carving and a dowel for handlebars, but my kids already like it and it will be the first thing I have built for my daughter who will be here in less than a month. It could definitely be better, but I’m a man who knows when to say good enough is acceptable.

SteadyD · Jun 1, 2020

Those look really good but I see that the trigger is slightly exposed on the buckmark. If the safety were to slip off something could perhaps pull that light and short trigger fairly easily?

Not trying to be critical just want you to be unharmed so you can keep making more holsters!

bangswitch · Jun 1, 2020

Those are very nice holsters, the basket weave is especially nice. What kind of machine do you have for stitching the leather?

I'd love to try my hand at making holsters, but I don't have a means to stitch leather. I'm certainly not going to try sewing it by hand. Only thing I've made from leather since the moccasins at Boy Scout camp was a cheek riser pad for my scoped M1A, and I laced it with leather thong. I suppose I could do the same for a holster, but I fear it would loosen up too much over time.

Biblethumpncop · Jun 1, 2020

Thanks. I used a stitching fork to punch the holes and stitched them by hand.

BobWright · Jun 1, 2020

I had wanted to use dinosaur skin but I was too late to get any of those as they were on the endangered list even then, so used cowhide to make this one, many, many years ago:

And another attempt:

This the only one of my attempts that I have left:

These more recent, and professionally made:

Bob Wright

BobWright · Jun 1, 2020

Here are two early attempts I made. The photos flatter them tremendously! They were trashable.

Bob Wright

doubleh · Jun 1, 2020

Nice work but I will second 1KperDay’s statement about stitching. Two things make or break a leather project. Edge burnishing and straight stitching. You seem to have the edges down and are close on the stitching. Holsters are thick and tough using a stabbing awl. I lay out my stitches with a stitching wheel of the stitch length I want. Then I drill the holes using a 1/16” drill bit using my drill press Then I follow up using a stabbing awl pushed into a block of beeswax before each stitch. The wax makes the needle go and the drill gives you a nice straight line on both sides. Don’t forget to orient the awl the same on every hole. When done stitching run the stitching wheel back and forth to smooth the stitching.

bangswitch · Jun 1, 2020

doubleh said:
Nice work but I will second 1KperDay’s statement about stitching. Two things make or break a leather project. Edge burnishing and straight stitching. You seem to have the edges down and are close on the stitching. Holsters are thick and tough using a stabbing awl. I lay out my stitches with a stitching wheel of the stitch length I want. Then I drill the holes using a 1/16” drill bit using my drill press Then I follow up using a stabbing awl pushed into a block of beeswax before each stitch. The wax makes the needle go and the drill gives you a nice straight line on both sides. Don’t forget to orient the awl the same on every hole. When done stitching run the stitching wheel back and forth to smooth the stitching.

You got any links to where I can look at some of these tools? Stitching wheel and stabbing awl. Drill and bits I got. And what kind of thread/cord is used? And what is used to burnish the edge? What I'd really like to make is a copy of the M3 holster I have, but make it to hold my N-frame S&W revolver. It is a fairly plain, utilitarian holster, a good first effort to try out.

doubleh · Jun 1, 2020

Try out sdtradingco.com. He has everything Tandy does plus some things they don't and better tooling leather, Herman's Oak. He's located in Lubbock, TX and I usually drive over there and get what I want. It makes for a nice day out and a chance to eat in places we don't have here in Nowhere'sville. I have ordered from him a few times when I only needed a few little things that I couldn't justify a trip for and he has always shipped promptly with reasonable shipping costs. It's just him with his son helping occasionally, not a chain like Tandy and I like that. I used waxed linen thread for a long time but have switched to nylon and wax it myself. Just cut the length you need and pull it across a cake of bee's wax holing it against the wax with your thumb a few times and presto, you have waxed thread. I bought a spool of nylon chalk line cheap that way) which is a good size for holsters. I may never use it up as I don't do a lot of leather work anymore.

By the way that holster looks pretty good.

maxxhavoc · Jun 1, 2020

I have done a few, but I go straight for utilitarian, so yours look a bit better, even starting out.

The Taurus holster on the left was a scrap that was probably going to get tossed, so I played with it.

The next one is a left handed clip style holster I use while driving. Seat belt makes it hard to draw from my right side. The clip makes it so I can take it off quickly if needed. It does not hide under a shirt well.

The other 2 are the same basic design most of mine end up being. Conceal well enough, retain well, nothing fancy.

bangswitch · Jun 2, 2020

doubleh said:
By the way that holster looks pretty good.

It's an original Enger-Kress, I didn't make it. I got it from my stepdad, who was a WWII vet, but he wasn't a tanker Just one of the things he'd brought back from the war. It's in good shape for its age, he'd kept it wrapped in a piece of cloth for many years. The real gem I got from him was his 1943- issued 1903 Colt Pocket Hammerless, and he carried it in that holster, even though it is made for the larger 1911.

herrwalther · Jun 5, 2020

I tried my hand in making kydex holsters for myself. Unless I was willing to dump plenty of money into materials to make my own oops learning mistakes, holster making is not for me. I did learn to appreciate a good holster knowing how hard they can be to make.

Biblethumpncop · Jun 24, 2020

I made a couple of more, learning along the way.

1KPerDay · Jun 24, 2020

very cool!

Holsters-

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