Eaglestroker

I will second this. That is how I was turned onto this forum and it has been an awesome resource and the members I have personally spoken with have no problem going out of their way to help. It's pretty obvious you don't 'owe' them anything so that is personal discretion.

Hey CJ, I recently had the opportunity to play with a J-frame of a friends as well. After a few 'dog toy' holsters I will agree that the pancake just seems to large for such a little gun, I made an avenger styled holster that really fits the pistols style much better in my opinion. On your barrel not being the right length I'm going to bet that you added a whatever length you added to the sides to the tip of the barrel ( I made the same mistake on the first one I designed from scratch). Remember you add length on either side for the 'pocket' of the pistol when you form it and that isn't needed for barrel length Not to jack the thread, but is that a pocket holster or are you just left handed? I like the simplicity of that a lot! Would you happen to have a post with some more pictures/detail?

I think that looks gorgeous! What are you using for your dye?

From everyone I have talked to in this business and in others, it seems that shows are almost like an introduction into the community. It's a scout patch if you will - everyone has at least one! It makes for good stories when surrounded by like minded folks as well Go into it planning to not make any money, then anything over that is gravy.

The rig really looks awesome! That's something to be proud of

That looks exceptional!

Holster hasn't been sealed yet but otherwise it is ready to rock. Have to get the bulk work done before the week starts and I get busy again, any and all criticism welcome! Please don't be gentle guys

Thank you for that tip, I had never heard or read that. My pistol sits on my right side so this is on my left, and it will work out following your rule. Should I make others though I know something to ask about!

Thanks Greg, I found my biggest issue was not the method but the cutting surface itself. Per recommendation I snagged an old plastic cutting board from the goodwill and the results improved ten fold! I won't have pictures of the holster I made to match this until tomorrow but I did this using Mike's burnishing method. My results will only get better, I think I should have been a bit more aggressive with my sanding after seeing the finished product. I will continue to get better though and I think from now on I will be hand burnishing!

I was simply curious why and that answered it, I think it would be a cool option and like it myself!

Your work is extremely good! I am curious, do you leave the back of the pancake like that for aesthetics or is it because of how the black wears?

Hey Mike, The main reason I picked up leather work, besides a family members influence, is for the simple fact I can't afford to buy a lot of good leather pieces. For the price of a few nice holsters I've set myself up in such a way that I can make many many more and have made up my cost in materials do some for friends and family members as well. Did I mention I'm in college as well? Those dead presidents were never so beautiful to me when I do stumble across some. Thank you for the list - I will try to pick some of those things up at a local western store this weekend! -Robert

That's how I have drawn mine out as well, thanks for the visual though. So it is more beneficial to leave the grip of the pistol as exposed as possible? My worry is someone getting there hands on one who isn't using a proper belt, but I guess that shouldn't be my worry. I use a 1 1/4" chisel for the space between the punch as well. The chisel never seems to fall in the same place for me though. Guess practice will make perfect - it is the most frustrating part of the building process for me.

Would you simply scallop some off the top left hand corner? I don't have an issue drawing but I understand where your coming from. What is considered 'standard size' for belt loops? I was told 3/8" and it just seems massive! How would you recommend making the flow better? The chisel still gets the better of me, can never seem to line it up in the same place every time. The dye is Fiebings Professional 'Light Tan' cut 1:1 with alcohol, with a hearty application of neatsfoot oil before an application of acrylic resolene mixed 1:1 with water. This dye has the potential to be my new favorite! My weave isn't perfect, maybe not as bad as you think but I need to slow down. It was a whim to double stitch it and I will adjust the size of the holster to accommodate next time.I was thinking for a cleaner border next time (funny you should mention it) that before I glue the two sides I will sew in between where either side would meet, then back a quarter inch or so off that line for to tool for a nice and less busy look. The reason my stitching is different is I use the same blank for about every semi auto hand gun and simply adjust the stitching layout and length if needed, works out ok. The different slots give it enough to be comfortable wearing at a cant. The very first holster I made I basically did a carbon copy of an original Roy pancake holster which had both. My friends like them so much they wanted ones exactly like them, so that's why they are there. I would rather design a holster at any given cant and leave it where I want it! Thanks for the compliments though, I have some work to go still but I like how the tooling looks on the pancake style holsters. Thanks Mike, I do bevel the backside already. I need a better edge bevel before I do the front side - it always looks butchered using the one I have now. I'd like to get a nice bisonette #2, after using one I think it would vastly improve my overall finish. Thank you for the suggestions it is much appreciated. I have looked time and time again at the edge finishing thread. I've only been doing leather work for about two months and I simply can't afford to spend anymore on it right now. I have gotten some great ideas from that thread to help me as my funds allow though! -Robert

I tried some new thread designs and a new dye this weekend, how can I improve the design?

Looks damn fine to me sir, good work!

Those look great! I wish I could get my black to dye that evenly.

I'll second that, the mag holder is a nicer touch than the normal single belt slot style, I like it!

First of all I need to send a big THANK YOU to Ray Cory @ Lobo Gun Leather, your help has been something that has really saved me so much time and even more money. I attempted this design for my first time tonight and although it is NOT perfect and has more than a few things I'd like to fix, I'm proud of it. I

The 1911 is my favorite to work with and to shoot with! Much appreciated. I searched around and found how he did it, which is the same method that I'm using. I am going to blame skill and tool quality as the culprits and will address them as funds allow! Thanks for the warm welcome as well.

Let me start by saying I'm a college kid with a lot of ideas and not a lot of money to continue on with those ideas. This started out as a Christmas present from my grandfather as an attempt to teach me a little more of what he knows which I gladly and graciously accepted. That being said I was turned on to this forum by Lobo from another 1911 forum that I frequent and this site is really a great resource! My biggest issue right now is getting my belt loops looking respectable - I'm getting better but still not happy with the results. This is my first design, which was quickly followed by an order from Wickett & Craig and a few week wait for my sides to come in. I had a few scraps left and made this little guy: And when my sides came in I made these two, the S&W is much better in fit and finish than the 1911: Thanks for taking the time to look at these and I look forward to a few more critics of my work!

Ray, that looks really awesome and it is quite ingenious in design. I would expect nothing less from you though! I couldn't agree more with your exotic leather statement - I'll stick with plain 'ol cowhide that looks like that any day!