wizard of tragacanth

Straight drop versus canted... this is an interesting dynamic. I used to make all of my concealed carry holsters with the "traditional FBI 15° forward cant". Then I read something, somewhere, where a guy suggested that a canted holster does not make the draw smoother, nor faster and in fact, puts an unnatural bend in the wrist and slows getting the gun on target. With a straight drop, the wrist is locked and the gun is inline with the arm as it comes out and up, and it is ready for firing. Just try these motions without a gun or holster, mimic the action. I saw very quickly that he was right... well, that was my feeling anyway. Then I put my canted holster on and really became a believer. If you try this experiment, pay attention to where your elbow goes in each instance. From a straight drop holster, the elbow goes straight back, very naturally. From a canted draw, the elbow goes out to the side and puts a strain on the shoulder... or at least in my case. Surely this is more pronounced on a holster worn with the trigger at belt level and less so on a holster worn lower, Western style. Still, it could be a factor. Try it out. The forward cant does have some benefit in concealed carry because it effectively "shortens" a larger gun, allowing one to comfortably sit in a chair or car seat without the barrel pushing into it. Also, when drawing from a seated position, the elbow is often blocked by the chair, so it cannot go straight back anyway, it must go out to the side. nick

Beautiful! Wow! nick

The cases look great. I like them... but I see that you have the same problem with snaps that I have. Even though I use the proper Tandy tool to support the dome, I somehow manage to flatten it a bit. I rarely get it right. Maybe some day, I will learn the secret, but for now, I try to avoid using snaps! Hahaha... nick

Yeah, looks good to me! Maybe you could dog-ear the corners a little bit. Mash them down and bend them inward, like they have been in a pocket many times. nick

Okay, I give up... what is CMC? nick

Yes... use 3/4" spacing for finer adjustment. You may also want to use oblong or oval holes on leather of this thickness. It allows the leather to lay flatter in the buckle. Here is a 2" wide belt that I made many years ago. Seven oval holes with 3/4" spacing, dyed with vinegaroon. BTW, this is the first belt that I ever made for another person. It looks short because it is so wide but the belt is 34" IIRC I learned a great lesson with this one. They told me to make a 34" belt. I said that I wanted to measure them but they refused and said, "Just make me a 34" belt and it will fit". Well -- it didn't. Never take someone's word for it. Belt size, pants size and actual body measurements are not the same. Then you have tucked in shirts or whatever. Also, the thickness of the leather, combined with belt width is a huge factor. So, if someone wears a 1" wide, 34" belt that is made from 1/8" this leather, you cannot get an accurate measurement from it, if you are making a 1.5" wide 3/16" belt. They will likely need another inch or two on the length. nick

6 or 7 spi with 0.8 or 1.0 mm thread works well for holsters but I don't know if that is appropriate for saddles... or not? I would hope to get a saddle maker's thoughts on this, to be sure. nick

Looks good, Frodo! I'm sure your friend will treasure this thoughtful gift. nick

A picture of your results may help us diagnose your problem. nick

That looks really nice, Chuck! I would worry about this rig pulling off the belt loop of your jeans though. I would some how terminate the strap with a loop that your belt would pass through, for a stronger, more secure connection. At this point, you could make a leather belt loop with a D-ring to accept that snap hook. This would maintain the ease of removing the holster without taking off your belt. nick

I love to see efforts like this. I guess we kinda think alike. A couple of months ago, I got this wild idea of making a P365 magazine carrier that looked like tree bark. It didn't come out looking like tree bark but I think I learned something from it and could do much better next time if I wanted to pursue it. Good effort! And that's a beautiful knife! nick

Looks good. nick

Glad you shared that! I think that is funny as heck, actually! nick

Hi Dan, welcome to the forum. Stick around and you will get to know many of us... maybe too well. nick

Nice clean work, Josh. Great pics too! nick

That is a great project idea and in particular, a great gift idea for just about any guy... cause not everybody wears guns or knives! ... which I don't understand... nick

Looks really good from here! Like the ammo loops and everything. Very nice. nick

Which end of the belt are you doing this on? I ask because you are showing the tongue. If possible, I think you want to take it from the buckle end. You might want to put a drop of super glue in the holes that will be near the cut, to keep the stitches from coming out. nick

Man, that's really somethin" nick

Overall, I like it. What brand and color of dye is that? nick

Oh, yeah... nice! Welcome to the forum! nick

You found us! Welcome to the forum! You will find lots of great people and info here. Why don't you post a pic or two of your favorite projects. That's kinda how we get to know who you are. nick

Some thread sources: 1. Tandy 2. Springfield Leather. 3. Amazon

Go to Ian Atkinson's website and see if that is of any help. Start on this page but have a look around... https://www.ianatkinson.net/leather/leatherguide.htm You want blunt needles for hand stitching, don't use the sharp ones.

Flat or round thread is a matter of personal preference. The pic is too small to see what you have. You probably need diamond chisels. You probably need John James 002 needles or Tandy #0 Harness needles. You probably need 0.8 or 1.0mm thread. You probably need to be using a saddle stitch. Again, if you are willing to tell us what part of the World you are in... and what you are making... it could help a lot. Right now, I feel like I am playing "20 Questions"! Perhaps you could make things easier by giving us more information. nick