This is my first pancake holster for my xdM, third total. There really aren't that many holsters on the market for this gun so it was one of my inspirations, also my Kimber Solo which has no holsters, to try my hand at leatherwork. I started out with kydex, which has its place, but I prefer the look and feel Leather. I have made two IWBs, one for Solo and one for my 1911, from some of the tooling leather pieces from hobby lobby (4-5oz) just to see if it was something that I wanted to look more in too, an man do I love it.
This holster is made from 6-7oz from zack white. I Dyed it first dark brown, then black using fieblings oil dye and resolene finish. I used bees wax and a combination of a wooden dowel and a burnishing wheel for the edges.
What I need to improve on:
grooving: it is hard to get the groove perfect when going around curved edges.
stitch holes: i lay them out with the tool, use the awl to mark them, and then hand drill them, i just got a drill press mount for my drill so the holes should be better on the next few. since the drill will be perfectly perpendicular. the holes on the front are fine but the rear ones arent perftectly in line since the drill bit wasnt going through at the same angle every time.
stitching: i am hand stitching and my consistance is getting better each time.
belt slots: i used a 3/8" hole punch and 1 1/2" chisel which worked well, but the holes needed to be just a little further apart for the 1 1/2" chisel.
burnishing: this is definitely an art form in its self. and i really need practice. i used bees wax on the edge and then after dying i used the wood dowel in a drill and also a burnishing wheel that just looks like a nylon pully. this one is better than my two previous.
DESIGN QUESTION:
I would like to make a pancake holster that is flat on the back and molded on the front. i have one of these for my 1911 from one of the "retail" leather holster companies. this design snugs closer to the body for me and is more concealable. i was attempting this first but i couldnt really figure out the best way to go about cutting, molding and stitching one like this.
Any input is greatly appreciated,
Nick
