A Problem ..and A Solution

[katsass]

Last Sunday an good customer called and asked if I could do him a big favor and make a holster for him by Friday (today). He said that his brother was bringing it from 'home' (wherever the hell that was) and wouldn't be here 'till mid-week....BUT, it was a Taurus 92 ........and was EXACTLY the same as a Beretta 92F. Not being familiar with this Taurus model, I took him at his word. MISTAKE! I did have an outline of a 92F in my junk .... somewhere...... and said that I could work up a pattern from that, but that he needed to get the gun to me ASAP when it got here. I drew up a pattern, got with him for acceptance, made a couple of minor adjustments and started in. By Wednesday I had the thing cut out, the two layers bonded together and sanded to conform, dyed, and the belt loop and mouth of the thing stitched. Then he showed up with the gun (first pic)....and yes, that's gold plate. This obviously is NOT exactly the same as a Beretta 92F. That huge rail under the barrel looked to be my downfall, and on top of that I damned near had to put on sunglasses to work with the damned thing! It was obvious that my holster, as cut, was not going to fit, and there just wasn't time to start over. I finally figured that the only thing to do was insert a welt .... a big one. 3/4" big (second pic) I finished it up this afternoon (Friday) at 2:00 PM (third & fourth pics) .......... he picked it up at 3:00 PM. He's happy as a clam, and said they were heading out at 6:00 AM for a day at the range. I figure that if he doesn't hit anything he can blame it on reflected sunlight from his 'new' shooter. Mike

[Dwight]

A wise old carpenter friend of mine explained one time the difference between a craftsman and a successful craftsman.

A craftsman will know how to do 99% of what is required for his trade.

A successful craftsman will also know how to do 99% of what is required for his trade, . . . PLUS, . . . he'll know how to get by on the other 1%.

You, . . . are a successful craftsman.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Lobo]

There are welts, and then there are welts! Nicely done solution to a problem that ambushed you rather abruptly. I don't think my burnishing wheels would handle that edge. I'm not sure if my Cobra Class 4 machine would stitch that seam!

Is that the pistol that Chuck Norris carried on his "Walker Texas Ranger" TV show? My mother-in-law loves that show. She frequently asks me about some scene or another with old Walker kicking butt right and left, shooting bad guys by the dozen, etc. I've tried to explain that in the real world old Walker would be on permanent leave of absence, pending all the grand jury inquiries and lawsuits, but she continues to love that show.

Pretty fancy stuff, indeed. Nicely done.

[Haystacker]

That is one serious welt. I like the way you solve problems. Good job.

[Big O]

Brilliant!

[Shooter McGavin]

Nice save!

[katsass]

Thanks all, I'm fairly happy that I got it done, however there are a couple of spots I'm not totally happy with. On the toe of the welt my awl scored the edge it, leaving a line that popped right out when the dye hit it, and the stitching varied a little right there. As you can see, it's a little more obvious on the back side.There are a couple of spots on the welt that didn't show until I started burnishing, and again, really showed up with the dye. But hand stitching that welt is something I don't want to do again for a while. It's nothing fancy as a holster goes, but I kinda wanted to show off that guy's shiny shooter. Mike

LOBO, I don't know what Chuck carried in that show .......... I have never seen it. Someone more familiar may want to chime in on that.

Edited April 30, 2011 by katsass

[Big O]

I think you're harder on yourself than you are on anyone else......Grumpy.

As for "nothing fancy", that's what I like the most about your work - its simple elegance. No frills designs, but with great attention to detail. It's not just the lack of deep, detailed molding that makes them "smooth". On the highly detailed, "fancy", end of the spectrum, there are Pinnacle, Lobo and Shorts.

Seriously, I would not have noticed the "flaws" unless you pointed them out, and would not have been able to locate them without you telling me exactly where to find them.

[Reaper]

There is allot to say about Minimalism when it comes to everything. Fancy is nice and has it's place for those who like it and bare bone functional. Personally I think of a holster as nothing more than a pocket for a handgun. It should not allow the weapon to fall out and it should be easy to put in and take out. Concealing it is a consideration where needed, but beyond that I want something that is going to last a life time and then some is possible...

[DCKNIVES]

Another great job,Mike.I never have any worries that you'll figure stuff like that out, your too good brother.Dave

[katsass]

Thank you all for such kind words...hell, your comments damned near made this old man's ears turn red! Although my designs are primarily without frills, I have two holsters in the works destined for the 'live auction' at the local 'Friends of the NRA' get-together later this year. Each is a departure from my normal stuff. They are in the design stage at this time (meaning I mull them over in my mind on those nites that sleep fails to come, and, after having consumed a proper amount of adult beverages). My mind has a good view of each, however, sometimes the old fingers don't produce what my mind sees.....I have time to produce these, and plenty of time to work them out in my mind....maybe too much, but I'll show them when complete. Mike