First time dealing with using leather as a spacer, forming, and using rivets. I need to work with the rivets more to get my technique down and find a better glue to hold it all together, the edges are a little rougher than I would like but I think it came out fine for my first attempt. I used probably 50 cents worth of material.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302470.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302472.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302471.jpg

I can't see linked pics.
Can you post them?

I have bought leather from e-bay and made lots of small leather crafts with a speedy sticher. I don't have the tools to deal with thick leather (like holster leather).

Looks like a good start to me. :)

i can't see linked pics.
Can you post them?


x2

That looks great. :smokin:

How did you go about forming the leather on the inside? Did you use a tool for that or just sort of mold it around the gun?

looks nice

the edges are a little rougher than I would like but I think it came out fine for my first attempt.

Do some research on burnishing the edges.

I'm impressed, better than I could do for sure.

450298

450299

450300

That looks great. :smokin:

How did you go about forming the leather on the inside? Did you use a tool for that or just sort of mold it around the gun?

I made it where the gun was just barely too tight to fit it in. The way I did this is I took the cylinder out and made it fit the frame nicely. I then held it under some really warm water running water for about 10 seconds (really warm being tap water that I could barely stand to have my hands in.) After that I shoved the gun in it, rolled a towel up on both ends with a flat spot in the middle and threw a c clamp on it. Then put it in the oven, gun and all (without the grips) for an hour at 175 degrees.

I wonder how well a Ring's gun would stand up to those temperatures. That way, you could be sure you weren't fawking with the heat treatment of your piece.

http://www.blueguns.com/

Nice work, looks like it will hold up well :smokin:

I wonder how well a Ring's gun would stand up to those temperatures. That way, you could be sure you weren't fawking with the heat treatment of your piece.

http://www.blueguns.com/

Nice work, looks like it will hold up well :smokin:

150-175 degrees feels like you shot 10 rounds really fast then grabbed the frame. I am not worried about temperatures that low bothering the metal.

150-175 degrees feels like you shot 10 rounds really fast then grabbed the frame. I am not worried about temperatures that low bothering the metal.

You're probably right, but I'm paranoid about such things. Considering that I pop my boots in the oven at that temperature to apply sealant to 'em, that shouldn't hurt a gun, even an aluminum one.

I made it where the gun was just barely too tight to fit it in. The way I did this is I took the cylinder out and made it fit the frame nicely. I then held it under some really warm water running water for about 10 seconds (really warm being tap water that I could barely stand to have my hands in.) After that I shoved the gun in it, rolled a towel up on both ends with a flat spot in the middle and threw a c clamp on it. Then put it in the oven, gun and all (without the grips) for an hour at 175 degrees.

That is great. Thanks for the info. :smokin:

Where did you get the leather?
I never can find any that thick.

Where did you get the leather?
I never can find any that thick.

http://giraffian.com/pictionary-files/r/rhinoceros.png

or maybe a

http://katemckinnon.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/unicorn.jpg

:homer:

Damn the first picture definitly doesnt do the work justice. You see it and thinik, "that aint no galco" then you see the third pic and think "damn thats alot of fawkin work"

Good job man. :grinpimp: Ive never even thought of touching leather work, Id be happy being able to stitch heavy nylon or canvas, let alone something like that.

Where did you get the leather?
I never can find any that thick.

It is not as thick as it looks, the bottom side is 4 pieces thick. It is just a hair under 1/8", I bought 3 lbs of scrap leather for 5 dollars at hobby lobby.

Damn the first picture definitly doesnt do the work justice. You see it and thinik, "that aint no galco" then you see the third pic and think "damn thats alot of fawkin work"

Good job man. :grinpimp: Ive never even thought of touching leather work, Id be happy being able to stitch heavy nylon or canvas, let alone something like that.


Thanks, I really appreciate the complements. I am getting a RH IWB for a 4" XD9 all cut out and stuff right now. I am paying a little more attention to detail and trying to get things a little more professional looking.

OK well I am progressing but I still made some mistakes that I shouldn't have and probably wouldn't have if I would quit being stingy with material and pay attention when using a knife.

Overall my edges look more professional, rivet looks great, stitching looks nice and uniform, my attention to detail was a lot better. I took lots of measurements trying to get the whole thing symmetrical and it paid off. I think the edges will really look good if I ever buy some edge-kote or whatever it is called and the finish will look good after a coating of mink oil or some type of sealer.

Here is my second ever holster and only the fourth thing I have made out of leather (all hand sewn.) The part that looks like it got scrubbed off with sandpaper is because I am using scrap leather and the only other piece I had that was big enough was white leather.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302473.jpg

Here is where the knife got away from me.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302474.jpg

Here is where I was stingy with material.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302475.jpg

Profile shot so you can see the form.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302476.jpg

Even the inside on this one looks decent, well minus all of my Sharpie marks.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302477.jpg

I took the clip off of a derringer holster that I had laying around.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/S7302478.jpg

Edited to add I based this holster loosely off of my Don Hume 715 IWB holster for the Taurus.

Also, just for SilverZuk. The only tools I bought were yarn darners (big needles), a chisel with four teeth like this (except store bought and not homemade.)

http://www.jimbodetools.com/images/may2009/w10204.jpg

A rivet setter thing (came with rivets for 7 dollars.)

http://www.eleathersupply.com/images/8056-8100.jpg

All totaled I have about 16 dollars in tooling. I really would like to get a little more so I could make impressions for my stitching to lay in but I will have to wait for a little while on that.

The first one is a bit crude, but still well made and functional.

That second one is DAMN nice! Well done man!

Looks good.. nice work

After carrying a 4 inch GP100 OWB for the last few days in a Gould and Goodrich OWB I figured I would make an OWB slide type holster for my main carry gun.


http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/IMG_2659.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z288/SturgellatOSU/IMG_2660.jpg

This was bleached leather that I dyed, I didn't clean it before dyeing so there are some white spots that wouldn't take the dye. Overall I am happy with it, I still need to burnish the edges and polish but I will post pics when I get to that.

damn, you better get a yellow star before all the weenies start bitchin... ;)



cause you know your going to have some people wanting these. I know I would love one for my revolver. Great work!

damn, you better get a yellow star before all the weenies start bitchin... ;)



cause you know your going to have some people wanting these. I know I would love one for my revolver. Great work!

Not for sale but I am a barterin' sumbitch I tell ya.

Not for sale but I am a barterin' sumbitch I tell ya.

So trade me sumpin for that Ruger. :D

I wonder how well a Ring's gun would stand up to those temperatures. That way, you could be sure you weren't fawking with the heat treatment of your piece.

http://www.blueguns.com/

Nice work, looks like it will hold up well :smokin:

150-175 degrees feels like you shot 10 rounds really fast then grabbed the frame. I am not worried about temperatures that low bothering the metal.

You're probably right, but I'm paranoid about such things. Considering that I pop my boots in the oven at that temperature to apply sealant to 'em, that shouldn't hurt a gun, even an aluminum one.

I take barrels and locks to 275 degrees for browning with no ill effects. I'm told they can withstand up to 400. YMMV.

So trade me sumpin for that Ruger. :D

No can do. I have wanted a 4 inch GP100 for a long time, I actually intend to go Ruger with all of my handguns. As soon as I find a 2 inch SP101 that is reasonable and a single six with 22lr and 22mag cylinders I will replace my 605 and Colt Trooper MkIII in 22lr. On the 605 another candidate would be a S&W 19 or 66 because I like adjustable sights.

Nice work!

If I might offer one suggestion- What would really finish off those projects is burnished edges. Do you have a burnisher or a piece of smooth antler or bone? Get the edges moist and rub the burnisher over all the edges until the fuzz is pressed down and the tool marks are evened out. Tandy sells "Edge Coat" which is an edge sealer that helps keep the edges sealed and smooth once they are burnished.

The edges of the layered parts of the holster can be burnished and coated before assembly so they look finished too.

Great job on the wheelgun holster (a bit of cant and some burnished edges, and I'd buy one if I carried a GP). :beer: :beer:

However, on the XD holster, remember to cut the corner forward some under the trigger guard. Right now, you can't get your ring finger up against the bottom of the guard (firing grip) until you partially draw the gun. Leave 3/4" or so of exposed area from now on, so that there's no holster in the way of a proper grip. ;)

Great job on the wheelgun holster (a bit of cant and some burnished edges, and I'd buy one if I carried a GP). :beer: :beer:

However, on the XD holster, remember to cut the corner forward some under the trigger guard. Right now, you can't get your ring finger up against the bottom of the guard (firing grip) until you partially draw the gun. Leave 3/4" or so of exposed area from now on, so that there's no holster in the way of a proper grip. ;)

That was my second holster I ever built, I did it this last summer. I have been doing them mostly to learn for myself but the way the XD holster fit wasn't exactly my favorite but it gave me something to do and learn from.

I actually didn't burnish the edges on any of them but they came out nice with the belt sander on my last one.

Nice job on the holster. A couple of tips if you are interested.
Try double stitching the hoster. It looks a little cleaner and should be stronger.
I glue my holsters together with contact cement before stitching them.

I have a lay out wheel I run across the leather to make the stiches evenly spaced. Then I drill holes the size of my needle to make it easier to sew.

I form my holsters pretty much the same way you do, however I saturate the leather and then insert the pistol. I use an oak dowell rounded off to form the leather to fit tightly around the gun. I especially hit inside the trigger guard because this is what holds the pistol in.

Here is one of my favorites I made for my 686

I think I am going to pick up some Kydex and make a few sheaths and possibly a holster or two with it.

Nice job on the holster. A couple of tips if you are interested.
Try double stitching the hoster. It looks a little cleaner and should be stronger.
I glue my holsters together with contact cement before stitching them.

I have a lay out wheel I run across the leather to make the stiches evenly spaced. Then I drill holes the size of my needle to make it easier to sew.

I form my holsters pretty much the same way you do, however I saturate the leather and then insert the pistol. I use an oak dowell rounded off to form the leather to fit tightly around the gun. I especially hit inside the trigger guard because this is what holds the pistol in.

Here is one of my favorites I made for my 686

I am going to use the dowel idea. I hand stitch the leather the way it is shown in the picture but I use a stitching chisel thing to get everything set up, however using a layout wheel and an awl looks like a good solution as well. I glue them together before stitching with quick grip glue.

http://www.handsewnleather.com/assets/images/extras/stitch_sketch.gif

I used to use an awl, However I found that drilling a small hole's slightly larger than my needle is a lot easier. When you soak it down to form it, the holes seem to shrink up around the thread.

I used to use an awl, However I found that drilling a small hole's slightly larger than my needle is a lot easier. When you soak it down to form it, the holes seem to shrink up around the thread.

Do you build yours undersize? I just trace around the pistol and move all of my lines 1/8 to 1/4 inch then use water to stretch the leather to fit the gun.

Do you build yours undersize? I just trace around the pistol and move all of my lines 1/8 to 1/4 inch then use water to stretch the leather to fit the gun.


I cut a pattern out of a paper sack and make it fit tight. When I sew the leather up, it fits pretty tight. Wetting the leather does allow it to stretch fit.

I cut a pattern out of a paper sack and make it fit tight. When I sew the leather up, it fits pretty tight. Wetting the leather does allow it to stretch fit.

That is a good idea too, lol. I just trace the gun and sew on those lines plus a little then stretch the hell out of the leather, but it does hold guns tight like that.

When you work the wet leather, work it in extra good in the trigger gaurd. This will help to hold the gun in the holster. When I first make one, I can hold the holster with the gun in it upside down and it wont fall out.

Do some research on burnishing the edges.

I'm impressed, better than I could do for sure.

I took a wooden spool used to hold thread and ran a bolt through the center of it for a spindle and then chucked it up in my drill press. I use Gum tragacanth on the edges and then run the spool up against the edge of the leather to burnish it.