TISCo

Thanks Mattsh. All three were stained with the same stain, but the third one was airbrushed on the front and that is how they will all be done from now on. I'm not sure why the airbruch made such a drastic change in color, but I like it. Your are right about the stitching being too far away from the trigger guard. I have already moved the stitches closer in my pattern. I think I remember the stitch I am using reffered to as a saddle stitch (one thread with a needle on each end), and the thread is waxed Nyltex (brown on #1&2 and white on #3)from Springfield Leather. As for the edges, I need a lot of practice. I have one question. What is gum-backed leather? I am new to leather and that is a term that I have not heard yet.

Here are the last two pics. Next time I will size them a little smaller. This forum stuff is all new to me.

Please tell me what you think of my first three attempts at holster making. All three were cut for a Kahr PM9 at a 40 degree cant. However, on the first one, the stitch lines were too tight there was no way I was going to get that gun in there. This one became a true practice piece: through it away (disappointment); added an extra stitch line (wife's idea to fit it to a smaller gun to practice the rest of the process); wet formed twice. The second turned out much better and was worn continuously for a couple of weeks before taking the pics. The third is my take on a DM Bullard Bodyguard holster, and was made to find out how the angle of the belt slots affect the holster's performance. I think this one is the best looking, but I have not worn it yet so I do not know how it carries. As far as finishing goes, I have learned that an airbrush is a beautiful thing. BTW Particle, if you're reading this, your video is what really pushed me to give holster making a shot. You truly do make it look easy, and I would like to see more.

Deanimator, I am in the same boat you are. I am not a freehand artist by any stretch of the imagination. I also use Corel Draw. I am new to holster making, but have been using Corel for several years now. What I do to get the two sides of a holster as close to symetrical as the gun allows is as follows: 1. Draw the outline of the holster with the B-Spline tool. I have found this tool to be the easiest to modify a completed drawing. 2. Then stretch and adjust one side (Shape tool) to the shape I want. Lets say that I am ajusting the left side. 3. Copy, Paste, Mirror (verticle axis) and change the color of the outline. I change the color so I can tell which is the original and which is the mirrored copy. 4. Now I can adjust the right side of the original drawing to match the mirrored left side. By the way, I have Corel Draw X5 at home and X3 at work. The B-Spline tool is not on the X3, but the Polyline tool can be used in its place if you do not have the B-Spline tool. The Polyline is just harder to stretch and re-shape.