Did you ever wish

[arizonarotors]

that a holster would be available for a tired old pistol that you really want to carry sometimes?

Well, my tired old pistol, bought new, is a mid 1980s Llama Omni. I have carried this weapon, literally, all over the world. It has never let me down. It is not, and never was, popular enough to have a lot of accessories available.

It is one of the most accurate .45s I have had the pleasure to shoot. The SA trigger break is a very crisp 3 pounds. I love this old thing and will never sell it. I have put many thousands of rounds through it and it has never failed to fire. When, over time, the 1911 magazines it uses begin to develop excessively spread lips I replace the mags for a few dollars and march on.

Any way, I ran accross a web site for Old faithful holsters. They sell a tuckable IWB kit for $20.00 that solved my problem. An honest 1 hour of easy labor turned out a serviceable holster. I could have molded the Kydex a little tighter, and will probably call the company for a fresh sheet for 5 bucks and improve what I have. For now though I'll be able to carry the old girl from time to time in comfort.

R/S

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

I have sometimes had the same problem in a different context. I solved it by learning to work leather, decades ago in a friendly Tandy Leather Shop. It is far from difficult to make holsters once you learn the basics of whatever method and material you choose to use. If you have an example, and the whole Internet to explore for ideas, making rigs for oddball handguns is no problem.

 

[arizonarotors]

I agree that a well made leather holster is a thing of functional beauty. I admire the craftsmanship that goes into one.

I feel I was lucky to find Old Faithful. I suspect I'll go on a "creative" binge and start putting Kydex on anything that will hold still. Forming this stuff is fun.

R/S

Jim

 

[ldsgeek]

I used the same kit for my Arcus 98DA. It is very similar to a BHP, but the trigger guard and slide are just different enough to cause a problem. Nice kits and easy to complete. I also made a leather belt slide from Tandy which worked fairly well, but I find myself grabbing the IWB more often.

 

[Nushif]

I wish this was limited to older guns ... I am having a very, very tough time finding an affordable leather holster for a pretty modern gun I love to carry. My PT911.
Cheap generic holster it is, I guess. 8(

 

[Ole Coot]

My left is the strong side and I have had problems finding holsters and I started making my own, not things of beauty but functional and comfort I couldn't seem to find. Leather is fun to work and gives one satisfaction. I can find decent belt holsters but IWB I always make my own.

 

[Old Fuff]

Cheap generic holster it is, I guess.

I take it that you don't want trying to make your own...

In that case see if there is a Tandy Leather retailer in your area. If so go visit them. Since they sell the necessary tools and supplies they may be able to put you in touch with either a professional or hobby leather worker that makes holsters on the side, and will make what you need for a much less then a budget-busting price.

 

[Ronsch]

You may want to give these folks a try....They do really good work, and I have had field holsters made for my SSAs...Good gear, fair prices.

http://www.simplyrugged.com/about/

I am not affiliated with them, nor a spokesperson, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night either...

 

[Blue68f100]

Nice work..

I have made several similar to that. I add a pig skin lining to back (against you) as a moisture barrier. I also pig skin line the Hydex. This cuts down on holster wear and make the holster silent like a leather holster. I've been dripping wet and my holster stays dry. The basic holsters are pretty easy to do once you learn the tricks oc casing. I do have a Big heavy Adler sewing machine capable of sewing 5/8" thick. When I make gun belts you see smoke coming off the needle due to heat. So I end up having to go slow so the heat does not melt the nylon thread I use.

My carry IWB holster Sig 229


And I do a lot of lace work too, which a lot of leather workers hate to do. Lot more work since you have to punch holes/slots for the lace.

6" Colt Python 8 hrs and 16ft of lace on this holster. The Single lace wide required 12" for 1" of length. Took me 4 hrs to figure how to do it with a single lace. This pattern (size/width) is not any any books. Starting and stopping the hardest.

 

[arizonarotors]

Blue68f100 says: Nice work..

Actually, it's your work that is nice. You clearly know what you're doing. My holster is "serviceable." I'll get better with practice.

Jim