First attempt at leather holster making

[drifter0069]

Figured id post up a few pics of my first leather holster creation. It is built to be similar to the galco pancake. Slightly different. I wanted a nice looking piece of leather to go with my 1911. I have always liked to expand my creative knowledge. This was built with cowhide measuring roughly 1\8" thick. Picked up a decent size piece, 3'x2' at peddlers mall in hillview for $40. Bought a 4 prong stitching chisel, waxed thread, harness needles and British tan leather dye from Tandy Leather for $25. This will give me 2-3 holsters and 2-3 mag carriers. Plus a few other do-dads. I used a lock stitch or saddle stitch for all the sewing. OK, enough rambling, here come the pics.

This was during the design process. Used a file folder for the template.







Here is the leather rough cut



Here is the stitching completed. Leather was soaked. Boning is complete. (heh heh he said boning...)



Here is the finished product and how it rides on my belt. Nevermind the gut.....









I wore this all day today. Soooo much better than the springfield factory holster. Rides nice and tight on my side. Retention is great. Overall, im happy with my first holster creation.

[son of liberty]

looks good.

[drifter0069]

Thanks. It has me thinking of all the other cool stuff I want to make.


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[ssracer]

You call that a gut? Amateur

Nice holster though.

[drifter0069]

I was holding most of the gut back. This is the excess lmaooo


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[ssracer]

I found my first and only leather holster at my parent's house. It was a knife holster that I made at jamboree when I was a Cub Scout

[drifter0069]

I am going to teach my daughters to work with leather. Gonna have them make sheathes for their mora knives. They will like that. I already have the leather cut for my dual mag carrier for the 1911. Plus I'm making a debit card/id sleeve. I don't like wallets, this should work nice.


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[1fastmach1]

Well done. Nice holster.


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[icehouse1]

What can you make me one for? $$

[drifter0069]

Hadn't really thought about selling them. Let me figure what I have in one materials wise, and I'll let you know.


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[adayton]

Does the stitching have to be done by hand? ... I have (or my wife has) a Consew industrial walking foot sewing machine the we (she) used to do upholstery work on boats and I know it has the integrity of going through many many layers of Sunbrella without a problem... never tried it on leather, but was thinking it may work...
Thoughts?

[adayton]

Very nice job... BTW

[son of liberty]

Does the stitching have to be done by hand? ... I have (or my wife has) a Consew industrial walking foot sewing machine the we (she) used to do upholstery work on boats and I know it has the integrity of going through many many layers of Sunbrella without a problem... never tried it on leather, but was thinking it may work...
Thoughts?

For leather like Holsters making , it may work, but they generally use a tippman type sewing machine. Leather as well dose a whole lot better hand sewn , no machine can get a good saddle stitch.

The Machine you have is a tactical gear makers dream, and if I had it thats just what I would do. Chest rigs , leg rigs, bad ass back packs, Pimp ass weapons cases, ya thats a heck of a sewing machine.

[guncrank1]

Does the stitching have to be done by hand? ... I have (or my wife has) a Consew industrial walking foot sewing machine the we (she) used to do upholstery work on boats and I know it has the integrity of going through many many layers of Sunbrella without a problem... never tried it on leather, but was thinking it may work...
Thoughts?

I have a heavy duty Singer
It is not industrail but can sew leather
On mine it will sew but you need a groover or a over stitch wheel.
And the leather should be booked.

[drifter0069]

I have never tried anything other than the saddle stitch I did by hand on this holster lol. I'm sure there are faster production ways, but I don't have the means to acquire such tools lol.


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[drifter0069]

What can you make me one for? $$

Let me wear mine for at least a month. Id at least like to make it run its paces, treat it rough, then do review. If i sell any of these, i want to be sure its a quality product that will last. I'll post up periodic reviews and pics of how it is wearing.

[drifter0069]

completed the dual mag carrier and a credit card/ID sleeve. now i have a matching set.
He's fancy huh





Now to order a new brown belt from crossbreed. Thought i would like black, but this brown has way more character.