That is some beautiful work. I like the way you give visual interest to the seam edge profile of your holsters, and the stitching around the flap. I began teaching myself to make holsters last year. I buy leather one county over from an importer who I believe sells to the tool belt manufacturers here in the U.S.. The rough (flesh?) side is rougher than what I would find at a chain store leather supply shop,but much cheaper and I can pick through pallets full of skins until I find what my wife and I think is handsome. I like the skins that let me use the portion from along the spine of the steer. The wavyness adds something I think. The one trouble is that they do not sell 2 ounce hides that I would like to try using for lined holsters.
I hand stitch my holsters as it appears you do too. Using a saddle stitch and a stitching horse I designed and built myself (I'm a woodworker and tool and die maker) it can take hours to do this as you probably know.
I think that unless somebody has made a holster from scratch, they don't know just how long it can take to get a cutting pattern just right, that fits the gun to suit our desires. A seam allowance or distance from an edge variance of just an quarter of an inch can prevent a gun from seating in the bucket fully. Acquaintances who see the holsters I make have no hesitation to ask me to make them a holster, but treat it as if one can be whipped out in an evening. That's why I only make them for my family and myself, although I will admit that my local gun pusher has asked if I could make them to sell for $150 or so retail, which would mean me selling them to him for $75. That could come out to a couple bucks an hour on a flap style holster, and these days it seems most are not interested in spending that much on a holster when an import made by folks making 50 cents an hour is cheap and easy to find. Thanks but I believe I must pass.
I'd really be interested in hearing about your finishing methods. I so far use vinegaroon or just neatsfoot oil with a wax topcoat and buff.
Great and inspiring to see your work. Thank you for posting the photographs. PM me some time. I have some photos of my horse, some holsters (nothing as handsome as yours though), an arbor press I have modified to stamp and drill, and a cheap and easy holster display rack made from salvaged privacy fence boards I could send you if you want. Thank you again for sharing. Don in Kentucky.
