My First Attempt at a Holster ... added pics of 2nd holster

3857 Views 25 Replies 19 Participants Last post by ranger45, Jun 28, 2008

Shane

Discussion Starter · Jun 18, 2008

3

As I mentioned in my introduction post I am having a hard time finding a good IWB holster for my Sig P250. So I read everything I could find on making a holster and yesterday on the way home from work I hit Tandy Leather in Roy and picked up some tools and leather. I worked on it a couple hours last night and finished it off this evening.

I am happy with the results. It's very comfy and should get even better with wear. I made it with a 20 degree cant which prints less with my build and it's also easier for me to draw. It holds the gun nice and snug but not so tight that it's difficult to draw. Some of ya may not like the looks of the finish but it's exactly what I was after. I love old stuff and I wanted this to look old and used, I think it does. It was fun to make, other than the hand stitching, and I am sure I will get better after some more practice.

Made from 7oz. leather and my own pattern for the P250. Finished with an antique leather finish. Please let me know what ya think .... Good or bad. I have thick skin and I can handle some constructive criticism.

Front side

Back side

Holstered at the 3:00 postition ... Sorry about the pic quality, my 12 year old son snapped the pic for me. Now I need to make me a belt and get rid of that 10 dollar Walmart special.

Thanks for looking,
Shane

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1 - 20 of 26 Posts

GeneticsDave

· #2 · Jun 18, 2008

WOW! Impressive for a first try... much better than I could do. If you keep it up, let me know... I like to support the local guys!

mahanl9

· #3 · Jun 18, 2008

Looks Nice; Dang nice for a first try looks perfect and as far as the belt if it is comfortable and supports the holster who cares!!!! Also + 1 what Dave said

ics:

rdoggsilva

· #4 · Jun 18, 2008

You really did a good job on it, the color is just fine.

GeneticsDave

· #5 · Jun 18, 2008

I just noticed something while admiring the holster once again. I'm not sure how strong the rivets would be. I could be wrong, but if the holster were yanked hard, would the rivets tear out? :raisedbrow:

Outsider

· #6 · Jun 18, 2008

Very nicely done, my friend!

Paul

· #7 · Jun 18, 2008

Very nice. How do you "mold" the leather into the shape of the gun?

Tarzan1888

· #8 · Jun 18, 2008

Shane said:
As I mentioned in my introduction post I am having a hard time finding a good IWB holster for my Sig P250. So I read everything I could find on making a holster and yesterday on the way home from work I hit Tandy Leather in Roy and picked up some tools and leather. I worked on it a couple hours last night and finished it off this evening.

I am happy with the results. It's very comfy and should get even better with wear. I made it with a 20 degree cant which prints less with my build and it's also easier for me to draw. It holds the gun nice and snug but not so tight that it's difficult to draw. Some of ya may not like the looks of the finish but it's exactly what I was after. I love old stuff and I wanted this to look old and used, I think it does. It was fun to make, other than the hand stitching, and I am sure I will get better after some more practice.

Made from 7oz. leather and my own pattern for the P250. Finished with an antique leather finish. Please let me know what ya think .... Good or bad. I have thick skin and I can handle some constructive criticism.

Front side

Back side

Holstered at the 3:00 postition ... Sorry about the pic quality, my 12 year old son snapped the pic for me. Now I need to make me a belt and get rid of that 10 dollar Walmart special.

Thanks for looking,
Shane

Hay Man.....Looks good to me. :shades:

Tarzan

PetersenRD

· #9 · Jun 18, 2008

That's impressive. I know something like that would take me weeks. I like the finish on it, I think it looks great.

ics:

Snoopy

· #10 · Jun 18, 2008

That looks better than any "First Try" I could have ever done.... Great job..

Of course by saying first try you are insinuating that there will be a second and a third and a .... please keep us posted

Ruger Collector

· #11 · Jun 19, 2008

:thumbsup: Great work there! What other leather craft projects have you done? That can't be your first leather project...

MarshallDodge

· #12 · Jun 19, 2008

Very nicely done, especially the stiching. I like the added flap that covers your skin side of the gun.

How much do you think the materials and tools cost to make it?

eddified

· #13 · Jun 20, 2008

Yes, how DO you make the leather mold to the shape of the gun?

Shane

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 20, 2008

Thanks everyone for all the great comments. They are very much appreciated!

GeneticsDave said:
I just noticed something while admiring the holster once again. I'm not sure how strong the rivets would be. I could be wrong, but if the holster were yanked hard, would the rivets tear out? :raisedbrow:

Thanks Dave, I think what you are seeing are actually post screws and not rivets. They are basically a nut and bolt and should last a long time. I used them instead of rivets to make it easier to adjust the cant if I wanted.

PW said:
Very nice. How do you "mold" the leather into the shape of the gun?

Thanks PW, Here's a couple of links that I found very helpful in making the holster. They have some good info about shaping the leather and they do a lot better job of explaining it than I can.
http://www.jdlawhon.com/beltslide.html
http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Holsters/BH01/bh01.html

Snoopy said:
That looks better than any "First Try" I could have ever done.... Great job..
Of course by saying first try you are insinuating that there will be a second and a third and a .... please keep us posted

Thanks Snoopy, Yupp

Gonna see if I can get another one done this weekend.

Ruger Collector said:
:thumbsup: Great work there! What other leather craft projects have you done? That can't be your first leather project...

Thank you, Yes this is the first time I have tried anything like this. I remember making something out of leather in the boy scouts, I think it was key chains or something like that, but that was over 30 years ago .. lol.

MarshallDodge said:
Very nicely done, especially the stitching. I like the added flap that covers your skin side of the gun.

How much do you think the materials and tools cost to make it?

Marshall including the few tools I bought, the leather and supplies it all cost me just under a 100 bucks.

Thanks again,
Shane

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mchlwise

· #15 · Jun 20, 2008

Wow! That looks great!

I haven't found a holster for my Kahr MK9 that I really like yet... and now I might have to try to make one myself! :wink:

MarshallDodge

· #16 · Jun 21, 2008

Shane said:
MarshallDodge said:

Very nicely done, especially the stitching. I like the added flap that covers your skin side of the gun.

How much do you think the materials and tools cost to make it?

Click to expand...

Marshall including the few tools I bought, the leather and supplies it all cost me just under a 100 bucks.

Thanks again,
Shane

Shane,

Would you mind making a list of the tools and materials?

My boys and I have been thinking of making some holsters in the future and I was wondering what we would need to get started.

Shane

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 21, 2008

MarshallDodge said:
Shane,

Would you mind making a list of the tools and materials?

My boys and I have been thinking of making some holsters in the future and I was wondering what we would need to get started.

Here's what's on my receipt:

Belt punch - Size 2
Dot and Rivet Anvil
Line Durrable Dot Setter
Line 24 Snaps - 5/16 inch Post -10 pack -Black
Stitching Needles - 10 pack
Edge Beveler Size 4
Waxed Thread (not sure of the size, its not on the receipt)
Overstitcher Size 5 per inch
Adjustable Goover (not sure of the size of this one eitherr but I am pretty sure its the smallest that Tandy sells)
Screw Posts - 3/8 inch - Heavy Duty - Nickel Plated
Double Shoulder Leather 6/7 ounce

Stuff that I already had that ya will probably need:
Razor knife
Awl or punch for sewing (I drilled my holes with a small bit in the drill press instead of punching them)
stain and clear coat
burnishing disc
sandpaper -various grits

Good luck,
Shane

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HERMIT

· #18 · Jun 21, 2008

That looks like a very nice holster to me. Nice job!

Shane

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 22, 2008

4

Saturday I made another holster ... Looks the same as the first but this time it took me about half the time to make it.
The piece of leather I used was a little beat up, scratches, cracks and some wrinkles, but I still like the way it looks.
I can see that I need to make the grooves for the thread not quite so deep. When I wet the leather and shape it the leather kinda folds over the thread hiding it.

I still like the rustic look of the leather but I think I will see if I can get a good piece of leather and make a pretty one.

Thanks for looking,
Shane

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MarshallDodge

· #20 · Jun 22, 2008

That looks even better!

A friend of mine that does leather work said that if you buy the leather already dyed the dye is deeper and has a better finish. He moved away so I don't get to use his skills anymore. :crying:

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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