JLSleather

No way I'd sit there trying to line up all the holes in multiple layers. Better to use your punch to mark the holes, then sew with an awl. You can still "prepunch" the holes - if you want - with the awl instead of with the punch. Something also been done... mark your holes, then punch with a sewing machine needle chucked in a drill press.

Your girl is half kiwi She is indeed. No kayaking just yet ...

You would NOT want a "soft" hammer. Don't want to hit steel tools with a steel hammer - not good for the steel or particularly any plating on them. Jillion years ago, somebody "invented" the rawhide mallet, which works really really well. Been done for a long time. But I actually like your idea for a brass hammer ... should be just fine! I already have rawhide mallets that I'm used to , so I stick with that. But I've used brass hammers on a lot of things with good results - enough force delivered to do the job without damage to the stamp/punch/etc. If you're comfortable with the weight and the way it swings, carry on!

I don't know what the "count" is, but I got better part of a hunnert of 'em here, and there are a bunch I haven't picked up as yet.

Yup. Less up front money if you don't want to buy sides, long enough for belts (generally), less waste (percentage) than single shoulders, good cut for holsters and other small goods. Yup, I like the idea of a dbl shoulder. Maybe not like "git on my knees in front of it in the parking lot" like it, but like it mostly. Still, give that Darnell fella an attaboy for always in teachin' mode ...

Thanks fellas -- we'll see how well python holds up against 10 year old girls

Couple times I wondered why they don't sell double shoulders... maybe not cost effective to booger the process, or maybe just part of not being like "everybody else". Holster makers might well be interested in something like this.

A bit of left-over python skin from something .. can't remember. Daughter found it in a drawer and decided that should be bracelets for her and her friend. Hounded me for over a week.. when ya gonna.. when ya gonna .... I didn't even get a picture of the finished goods with snaps.. when it was done that little girl was GONE with the goods

What did you do to keep the snake from flaking?

Yeah, see that's what I'm talkin' bout. Wanna make the 3.5" and the gun too far away? Chop off a bit of a commander mold. Or, if somebody make a mold that's correct, then buy and use that. But you have to have some way of knowing it's correct. And if you buy a mold, turns out to be OVERSIZE, then maybe you don't use that one and you let others know that the mold is OVERSIZE. Some will care, some won't ANybody make those holsters that stitch 1/4"-1/2" away from the gun and rely on the (temporary) stiffness of the leather and the customer not knowing better, then a "close-ish" mold is prolly "good enuf". But I don't do "good enuf" - and I thought I'd mention that the only 3.5" mold I've seen is OVERSIZE. If that isn't something that matters to you, just disregard what I said - no problem on my end. The same thing happens when purchasing leather. Or sewing machines. Or hand tools. You'll have some folks recommending this or that -- and best you can say is the recommendation may or may not be worth the time to hear it. Some folks lie. Others are sincere enough, but don't really know what they're talking about. And of course, some just like to comment in a thread whether they have any actual information or not. So in the end, I have to check for myself. Good reason to get some calipers

Already well beyond the 7-day processing time, so.. no pressure.

No? Well, at least we know how to end an endless discussion

I don't "fix" molds (though I have been known to add .020" build up to make one fit less snug). So, then -- anybody got one of these they aren't currently using? I wanna BORROW it, check it. No desire to spend $60, $60, $60 ..... only to find out that none of them measures correctly. https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/cooks-molds-holster-molding-prop-for-sig-sauer-1911-42in-rail-natural-p-13500.html Loan me the gun, get back the gun and the pattern ... Trying to give Cook's a bit of optimism here ... benefit of doubt as they say. Hoping they aren't another one that sells you a piece of steel, calls it a "knife", but says YOU should sharpen it (the nature of being a "knife", it should arrive ready to cut what it is meant to cut). If they're all oversize, I'd like to know that.

Haven't made one o them in a good while, but here's sorta how I do zippers (with a gusset).

"with a flower" is exactly right -- exactly ONE flower on that little pistol Looks good - as usual. "Lefty" or "inny"?

I miss those days when tools arrived sharp enough to cut ... (sigh)...

that's not perceived value, that's getting suckered I fell for that before .." look Jeffy, this one is shiny" .. though in my defense I was about 5 years old. WAIT... there that really cute girl ... but turns out that was largely just marketing too (they're like swivel knives, set aside the best one and the worst one, and the rest are pretty much the same). you are correct. this is why i always say compare the items and learn to distinguish between quality vs hype theres certainly some truth to that. Folks ask "what is THE BEST lure for catching walleyes?" And the answer -- the one you will USE. AGAIN: Had that knife been notably better than others I've used, I would have SAID that. And while sissies and marketing people (often the same people) tell you it's not "nice" , had it been notably worse than others, I would have SAID THAT too. True is of more value to me than "nice" (and will continue to be until somebody can explain how lying and deceit is "nice"). So in a word, my opinion of that particular knife? It's "okay".

I once saw a video of a guy carving leather effortlessly with a metal spatula from the grill. Smooth, clean cuts. I'll leave it to him if he wants to share his video or not. But it was never about knives. The whole point was - and is - when you start dropping names as if that would influence the quality of the tool in any way, you have diminished respect for yourself and not added any for the names you drop. These people who created these "must have" tools... HOW did they become skilled carvers BEFORE THE TOOL existed? They didn't need it, but want to push the idea that YOU need it. Videos of course the same principle.. those pushing videos, HOW did they gain their own skill/experience BEFORE the video existed? Some small man will be along directly, inordinately defensive, to act as though I'm trying to talk people OUT of buying these things. Not the case at all --- I'm a firm believer that what a guy does with HIS money is none of my business, nor my concern. And I don't sell them, so I have no dog in that fight .. no interest one way or the other. What I actually said was short and clear - I got a knife, didn't know it was coming, viewed it as no better or worse than other knives I already own, which caused me to see it as an unnecessary expense. I don't "collect" tools just to have them, nor do I keep tools based on who made them (in fact, I don't know of anyone so important that their name on a tool would cause me any concern at all). Wasn't about money, since I didn't need to spend ANY to have the knife - could have just kept it free and clear. But if I wouldn't spend MY money on it, then I certainly wouldn't spend YOUR money on it. Sadly, that's become the exception rather than the rule these days -- I am aware that most have no trouble spending OTHERS' money ...

Actually, I had forgotten all about this. Now that it's brought up, let's try this other approach. EVERYBODY go pick up one of these knives. Then post a pic of your work "before" teh knife, and the same carving "after" the knife. Then we'll know it's the knife, eh?

Nice. Lots o' learnin' in that one.. inside and out! Stitchin' perfect for the color shade, really does "tie it all together" in more ways than one.

Me, neither-- and I didn't take it that way. Actually just posted to point out that there was a video that some would find useful without all the "fluff" and hype.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Gun-Multimolds-And-Other-Mold-For-Holster-Making-Plus-Extras-For-Holsters/173680703645?hash=item28702d389d:g:N-QAAOSwf1xcCt0N

I have old-focals, but what you're describing sounds worse than mine. I've tried "line" bifocals and "no-line" bifocals, and I don't care for either. Near sighted, but only time I wear em is driving, and usually only at night - it's the distant stuff I don't see well. Don't like to use 'em for close work - including typing this -- since either you have the line causing everything to be duplicated (driving causes two speedos, two radio dials, etc) or you have the no line causing you to move your head like a chicken trying to keep the right focal point. When I took my last driver station test for license renewal, the girl said read the top line, and I said "there's lines?@!"