Anyone making their own leather holsters?

[Cowhide Cliff]

Thanks.
No, I didn't think about that. It's just bare leather inside.

You did just fine, all these guys that think lining protects their gun are badly mistaken. If you actually use it a lot the suede or felt lining will collect dirt and grit and actually can be worse by acting as a sandpaper against your guns finish. Plus much of this suede leather that many push is chrome tanned which can be very corrosive to the finish. Many holster makers will taught lined holsters so they can sell using cheap import leather with nasty looking flesh sides and line it with even cheaper leather.

You made a fine looking holster. You're off to a great start.

 

[doubleh]

No it doesn't do either one compared to nice quality flesh side leather. Been doing leather work for most of my 51 years and done plenty of testing myself. To quote well known John Bianci himself "if you want to protect the finish, leave it in the box"

I guess old John changed his mind about lined holsters somewhere along the way. I bough a very nice Bianci holster for a Super BlackHawk many years ago when I simply didn't have time to make my own and it's lined with suede leather. After thinking about it for a time I decided it was going to be a dirt magnet and have never used it. It's still new and unused in a box laying around somewhere..

 

[quaid]

When you make your holsters, how do you decide what size spacing punches to use for spacing the stitches for your holster?

The larger ones look like less hand sewing to me...

 

[CraigC]

I wrote a tutorial a couple years ago.

http://www.sixgunner.org/holstertutorialp1.html

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

Outstanding tutorial both in it's narrative and photos!. Thanks for posting it!

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I guess old John changed his mind about lined holsters somewhere along the way. I bough a very nice Bianci holster for a Super BlackHawk many years ago when I simply didn't have time to make my own and it's lined with suede leather. After thinking about it for a time I decided it was going to be a dirt magnet and have never used it. It's still new and unused in a box laying around somewhere..

I'm sure he never changed his mind, just like the rest of us we will sell the customer what they want.

It seems you decided yourself the suede was going to be a dirt magnet, had you been my customer I would have told you that up front.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

When you make your holsters, how do you decide what size spacing punches to use for spacing the stitches for your holster?

The larger ones look like less hand sewing to me...

for most modern holsters I use 6 tpi, for authentic 19th century styles and reproductions usually 7-8 tpi.

 

[doubleh]

I'm sure he never changed his mind, just like the rest of us we will sell the customer what they want.

It seems you decided yourself the suede was going to be a dirt magnet, had you been my customer I would have told you that up front.

Since I was and am perfectly able to make my own I would have never come to you or anyone else to have one made. I picked it up in a gunshop as I was in a hurry and working long hours at the time. I suppose he had them available as it certainly wasn't a custom order. It was just what the gunshop had in stock.

 

[aarondhgraham]

On another note,,,
Toss that stitching awl and learn to saddle-stitch.

Using two needles and one thread is a much stronger stitch,,,
And when you get good at it,,,
It's much prettier.

Aarond

.

 

[el indio]

This is the running stitch that I use.View attachment 803033 View attachment 803033 View attachment 803033 View attachment 803033

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Since I was and am perfectly able to make my own I would have never come to you or anyone else to have one made. I picked it up in a gunshop as I was in a hurry and working long hours at the time. I suppose he had them available as it certainly wasn't a custom order. It was just what the gunshop had in stock.

The fact you can make one has no bearing on my point.

My point was Bianci offers them different ways, I have some of his holsters with and without lining that I have picked up along the way with gun trades or in auction boxes.

I too along with most custom makers will have some IN STOCK as you say for sale at shows and yes some of them are lined because there are those people that are absolutely convinced that soft suede is going to protect the finish of their gun.

 

[CraigC]

I make it real simple and don't even offer linings.

I make my own but that doesn't keep me from procuring the work of others.

 

[doubleh]

The fact you can make one has no bearing on my point.

My point was Bianci offers them different ways, I have some of his holsters with and without lining that I have picked up along the way with gun trades or in auction boxes.

I too along with most custom makers will have some IN STOCK as you say for sale at shows and yes some of them are lined because there are those people that are absolutely convinced that soft suede is going to protect the finish of their gun.

My point was that you would never have been able to tell me about suede linings being a dirt magnet as I would have never needed your services.

 

[doubleh]

I make it real simple and don't even offer linings.

I make my own but that doesn't keep me from procuring the work of others.

View attachment 803071

View attachment 803072

I really enjoy looking at the work of others and appreciate their talent but I have no interest it procuring their work and not much in making my own anymore. Shaky hands has really put a crimp in my artistic abilities. The last belt I made myself required some help. My wife had to dye the background for me as I would have wound up having to dye the whole thing after I messed it up. I need a new belt. I may just buy something at Walmart, something I would never have considered fifteen years ago.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

My point was that you would never have been able to tell me about suede linings being a dirt magnet as I would have never needed your services.

LOL and mine was HAD YOU BEEN a customer of mine I would have. LOL DUH You say you don't need services because you can make a holster but you went out and bought a holster that you don't use because it doesn't fit your needs. Now you insist you wouldn't have bought an already made holster from someone yet you did.

The gun shop owner certainly wasn't going to they sold you what you thought you wanted and what he had in stock. That is the advantage of buying from a custom maker that can advise you on your purchase.

 

[doubleh]

LOL and mine was HAD YOU BEEN a customer of mine I would have. LOL DUH You say you don't need services because you can make a holster but you went out and bought a holster that you don't use because it doesn't fit your needs. Now you insist you wouldn't have bought an already made holster from someone yet you did.

The gun shop owner certainly wasn't going to they sold you what you thought you wanted and what he had in stock. That is the advantage of buying from a custom maker that can advise you on your purchase.

I explained---twice---why I bought one instead of making my own. Again---I was working long hours, running my own business and had no time to build a holster.

I'm going to let this lie now.

 

[Armored farmer]

RIP

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I explained---twice---why I bought one instead of making my own. Again---I was working long hours, running my own business and had no time to build a holster.

I'm going to let this lie now.

I understand, you said you would never need to buy from someone else but yet you did, I completely understand. I was merely explaining why I would advise any customer including you had you been one about the negative side of having suede lining in a holster, your comment was and is still irrelevant to that. Good day