Josh Ashman

I make a pattern just like the Al Stohlman holster book says and it works well every time. In case you don't have the book a very rough idea is to place the pistol upside down centered on a paper fold and "roll" it to the side then mark a line 3/4" away from the pistol. That line would be the edge of your pattern and you'd stitch 1/8" in from it. On larger pistols I always use a welt but I also put my stitch line around 3/16 off the edge, maybe a little more. If you're making a pancake type holster the fold is the "top" stich line, for an avenger type holster mark 5/8 away from the gun for the stitch line and flare the edge out for the belt slot/tunnel. When you "roll" the gun over you account for the width of the cylinder. Good luck, Josh

Thanks RFrampton and Double Adobe!

Thanks Haystacker & DoubleAdobe! I really like the look of horsehide too!

Thanks! I do not have a picture of these being worn or one of them with a gun or mags but I do have this picture of a previous one with the gun and mags. Nothing with them being worn though, sorry. I have got all my horsehide from SLC in the past and I think they just get it from Horweens. This was some I'd had sitting around since last fall, I haven't bought any recently. Best regards, Josh

I knocked out these two horsehide shoulder holsters this week. I'm pretty happy with how they both turned out. 6/7 horse butt from SLC, 277 thread, a coat of NF oil and 50/50 M&G followed by a wipe down with glycerin saddle soap. The top straps are made of some oil tan chap leather scrap I had. Let me know what you think, thanks for looking. Josh

Nice job!

Dakotawolf, That's a nice, clean little holster. Your own comments along with Marine MP's above noted everything I saw. Good job! Josh

Jack, it's a little hard to say yet. It's super tight now but I've only got the blue gun so I'm not sure how a loaded pistol will feel in it, especially after a few months of summer heat and sweat. It's should be fine since it's a smaller pistol with a single stack mag but with it being a first run pattern I don't know for sure. I'll let you know if I get any feed back on it. Thanks, Josh

Thanks everybody! I've been picking both of these holsters apart in my own mind so it's good to hear something positive about them. I do think that if you're selling your work you ought to send out the best product possible but if you learn and get better on every holster you could never sell anything. The little SOB is definitely a learning holster for me, but it is tiny and cute! Thanks again, best regards Josh PS if you want to pick them apart, feel free there's plenty on them that can be done better. Hearing the constructive criticism is how we get better

This was my first try at this type of holster and my first try at a P938. I think these little guns might be more difficult than larger ones. The pancake for the 1911 OM is something I'm more familiar with and a holster I'm much happier with. 6/7 oz on the SOB, 8 on the pancake, both HO. Thanks for looking, Josh

Very nice Robert! that is a great color, did you dye it or is it drum dyed? Best regards, Josh

George, I don't know that you'd want to but you could sub out your clicker work. I picked up a sewing machine from SLC a few months back and their machine sales man wasn't in so they had me talk to one of their guys in the back. I was surprised to find several sewing stations and a large clicking machine that run non-stop. They make parts as well as finished products for various "makers" all day everyday. I know Weaver will also clicker cut parts. Good luck whichever way you go, it's good to be busy! Best regards, Josh

Thanks Jack! Bobby, Regarding the retention, I've worn the lighter colored one quite and bit and it seems like it will be fine. That is one of the things I modified on the 2nd one though, I tightened the fit up. I've built a few of these for 1911's in the past and put straps on them and they just didn't really seem necessary. I'll put a hammer loop on the one I'm keeping if it gets too loose over time. Right not it won't fall out if you hold it upside down and gently shake it, if you shake it with a little force it will loosen up but still not fall free so maybe it will be OK. I'm confident the other will hold up as it's quite a bit tighter and "pops" in and out. Thanks for offering up your feedback. I spent a lot of time looking at your website before I built my first chest holster. I agree they are the greatest for outdoor use! Best regards, Josh

Very nice! I've been thinking about making something like this too. No fair cropping your head out of your modeling pics after shaming me!

good idea, I need to be on the lookout for a punching dummy!

Thanks Haystacker! I wasn't up to snapping "selfies" this morning with one of these on. I looked through my computer and came up with this pic of one these being worn. I really like these chest holsters for open carrying around the place. Best regards, Josh

Here are some pictures of two 1911 chest holsters I just finished up. I built the lighter colored one first as a bit of a prototype for me then modified a few things I thought could be better and built the darker one. I've built several of these for 1911's in the past and use one for my Ruger Blackhawk. I did the hardware different on these two as well as fudging the holster shape around a little. All in all I'm pretty happy with them. 8oz HO and Fiebings dye for the veg tan and some chap leather scraps for the top strap. Thanks for looking, Josh

Those are both good points, thanks for bringing them Chris. Best regards, Josh

Thanks Frank and doubleh! Getting a good pattern is one of the hardest parts for me too.

Nice job Shooter!

Thanks Robert, having the Cobra made a big difference on my replies to lined belts! I'd do them by hand, but I really tried not to. With the machine it isn't that big of a deal. I've definitely been doing more of them. That is white thread but I sewed it after the antique had already been applied. The M&G and saddle soap lifted the dye a little and muddied up the stitching but the result was good, if it weren't for that the white may have been a little "loud". Best regards, Josh

Thanks Jack, 4Wheeler and Camano! I'm glad you like it, it should deliver today, hopefully the folks that ordered it like it as well! Best regards, Josh

Nice work Red, the Bearcats may be cute, but the rig is cool!

Thanks WyomingSlick & Cobra Steve. FYI - all sewn on my Cobra Class 4! It's my first machine and I've only had it since October so I'm still getting used to it but it sure does a nice job!

Thanks Haystacker and St8line. I agree with the skulls, I'm not really into them and I wouldn't be sad if they were the first and last I tried to carve, although I was happy enough with how they turned out. I do plan on using those roses again though, they weren't too bad to carve and I really liked how they turned out. Best regards, Josh