katsass

Skippy, first cut your stitching groove, moisten leather....slightly, run the wheel in the groove. Use other hand unless you're a southpaw. Mike

Rayban, although I don't do it too often, I use a piece of brass channel that I picked up from a well stocked hobby supply house. I tape the channel over the front sight and all the way back to the rear sight. Being gentle and careful, I ease the gun into the wet holster then mold to it. It works well for me. Take a look at one of those places that cater to the large R/C airplane makers, they should have a number of different sizes of the brass channel in stock. Mike

Ferg, just a question......when chucked up does the finial run true? ie. is the threaded portion actually centered? I tried to do something similar a while ago and found that when chucked up, the fool thing bounced pretty badly. I messed with it some then gave up on it, figuring that if I purchased more they'd all be somewhat off-center. Went back to my old hand burnisher that I cut and sanded to shape from a piece of oak from an old desk drawer lots of years ago. Thanks...Mike

VERY nice combination of a skirt holster and a California Slim Jim style, and very well executed. As said, the hammer thong came in around the 50's, IIRC, when the fast draw craze hit, and the movie westerns became a bit more than the black-and-white "B" grade kiddy shows. I see none with a hammer thong in my go-to referance book for historically accurate holster work "Packing Iron" until about then. Mike

Steve....is this a range bag? made to carry ammo, glasses, and all the little junk trap and skeet shooters take to the range with them, or is it a soft-side gun case or scabbard? Mike

Very nicely done! Mike

Thank you all for the kind words. Mike

Welcome, and it's good to see a 'newbie' interested in the craft. For heavy hardware you might try a good feed store that caters to the equine trade. They usually have snaffles, D rings, etc. in brass and nickle. NOW, might I suggest that you purchase Al Stohlman's book on how to sew leather......then throw that nasty sewing awl kit thing from Tandy just as far as you can! I don't believe that there is a more disappointing, infuriating, useless piece of equipment for sewing leather in the world. Learn to saddle stitch, practice, and you will be well satisfied with your results, contrary to the outcome with the Tandy "THING". Just an opinion and a suggestion from a grumpy old man. Mike P.S. I do nothing but hand stitch all of my goods. If you wish to see a sample of hand stitching, look in the holsters section. Many of the craftsmen there hand stitch all of their goods.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This sort of thing is not new. Back in the 50's (I'm old, I can remember this) there was a big tiff going on about a number of small inexpensive items being sold around the nation clearly marked with "MADE IN USA". Everyone thought that they were actually American made....poorly made, but American. It was determined that they were marked correctly....for Usa, Japan! Big stink and regulations being enforced as to marking products with the COUNTRY of origin. Mike

Thanks for the very kind comments. The holster is saddle stitched around the entire perimeter........two layers of leather are bonded together rough side to rough side, basically a lined holster. Inside and belt loop are dyed walnut, the outside is saddle tan.Here is a pic of the back side. Mike

This is the first 'avenger' style holster I have been requested to make. It's for a Glock-17 Mike

As always Dave, your work is exemplary!! BUT!....... Inlaying that stone has got me thinking again. Thanks for showing your fine work. Mike

It sure does greg, I did one for a gentleman with a 60" waist a while ago. Your holster design reminds me of the "Slim Jim holsters for early single action Colt's like the 1851. Good work.

Nice work! Would like to see a pic of the little rig with the gun inserted though. Mike

BearMan: I like it........a beautiful knife. The knife I consider my 'dedicated' leather knife is this old 'Murphy' Knife. By old I mean that I know it's at least 70 years old, as it's been around since I first saw it at about 4-5 yrs of age. I remember reaching out to pick it up once, then, my grandfather's very firm grip on my wrist before I got hold of it. He told me that it cut three ways.....long, deep, and continuous. It ain't pretty, but it holds a great edge. I've used it for over 30 years just for leather holster work now. Mike '

Re: your question on neatsfoot oil, listen to Lobo. I make almost all of my holsters from two opposed layers of veg. tanned leather and dry the formed holster in the outside heat. (Where I am at, it is 78 degrees F. at 6:40 this morning........will get to 95 - 100 degrees with a humidity of 20 - 25% pretty damn soon) When done my holsters are very rigid and thoroughly dry. I then shoot them inside and out with a shot of neatsfoot through my airbrush, and allow them to sit and 'mellow out' for a day. I then apply my finish. Just as Lobo says, this replenishes necessary oils lost in the parging and molding processes, and is an important step IMO. I've been making holsters for over 30 years also.........but on a smaller scale than Lobo. Being retired and (some say) a grumpy old man, I work on what I want, when I want. That said, there are quite a few of my pieces out there 20 to 30 years old, still firm, solid pieces of working leather, and in use today. Just my 2 cent's worth. Mike

Stormy, I put mine on the back side of the item made. It's my autograph, signature, etc..... it is there if you look for it...not out as a sign staring you in the face. JMHO Mike

I generally use the alcohol molding method in the winter to allow my holsters to take a good firm set. Most of the year I use warm water and the sun to firm things up well, but I live in an area where the summer temps are in the 90's (at least) and the ground temp is well over 100. The humidity level rarely exceeds the low 20% area. You could say that I live in a large, natural drying box. As Lobo says, these are the only two ways I know of to really firm up your holsters, as both ways remove moisture from the leather. It's just possible that a container of a commercial desiccant could be made to work in a humid atmosphere..........never tried it........but logic says it might work. The main objective is to remove moisture without removing too much of the oils in the leather. JMHO Mike

Here I am again...right behind Dwight. I gotta agree with him again (and some say I'm not an agreeable old man!) That's how all of my holsters are made... except historically accurate ones. Bond the flesh sides together, smooth and burnish all edges except the main welt, stitch these edges, assemble as normally done, stitch the welt and VOILA!...a lined holster. Smooth inside and out. Mike

I'll jump on the band wagon also......I'm certainly interested. Since I make almost all of my holsters from a double layer of leather it would be interesting to see if a matching belt would retain it's firmness better than a single thickness belt. I do know that any belt will take a 'set' from constant wear by the individual wearing it, however, will a single thickness retain the rigidity where the holster is worn, as well, or better than, a double layer belt? This is the question. How long do you plan to test? Mike

AMEN brother!! In the late 60's, when I started in law enforcement, it was very startling to find that a BG, standing 7 yards from me, could arm himself with a toad sticker, get to me and get that sticker into me before my reaction time and subsequent response with a firearm, could succesfully deter him. The uninitiated may believe that this is BS, however, all of the law enforcement agencies I am aware of teach this, show practical examples of this, and reenforce the fact through periodic training. A person may be quick a lightening and slicker that snot with his shooter when on the range and ready, but on the street, when it gets down and dirty....instantly..... it's a whole different game! JMHO Mike

LIKE PIRATE GOLD!!!!

For what it's worth, I'd do it on something else, wait a week and see how the two substances work together, and if nothing starts to do strange things, like grow hair or something, have at it! Mike