Matt Alsaker

Thanks Dwight. This processes worked really good.

Silly question with a simple answer I'm sure......I've tried making a couple holsters with some basic designs I carved onto them. When I wet the leather to mold it around the firearm, the tooling gets destroyed. Should I be sealing with an acrylic sealer before I wet the leather to mold it? My carvings aren't great, but the few details I do get carved in I'd like to see on the holster once it's molded. Thanks

4/5 oz. I was considering trying 6/7 oz, the 8/9 oz I've used on some other traditional holsters seems bulky for an Iwb holster.

Here are some new photo's. I've been having trouble getting the files to upload because of their original size. Hopefully this works. I also attached a photo of the newest one I am working on for a Springfield 1911 Operator.

Very nice. I just finished my first IWB holster and posted it also. I have problems with the mouth of the holster collapsing when the gun is drawn. I can still get the gun back into the holster, but I'd be curious if you did anything to reinforce the mouth?

This is my first attempt at an IWB holster. I made it for a friends Mini 1911 Springfield. I was hoping the leather strap around the mouth of the holster and across the sweat shield would provide enough support to keep the holster mouth open when the gun was drawn out. The holster collapses a little making it difficult to re-holster. I have thought about cutting a small piece of metal to wrap between the two pieces of leather around the mouth, but I'm worried about rust and the leather eventually tearing. Any ideas on how to reinforce the opening on IWB holsters? I am going to try machine stitching the next holster, I've never done that before. Am I always going to have to hand stitch the second piece of leather that wraps around the mouth of the holster or is there a secret to machine stitching that on? I can't figure out a way to do it with a machine. Thanks in advance. I've been reading the Forum for years and just recently became a Contributing Member. Matt

I've used gum trag when experiencing similar issues on the flesh side. It has worked for me and I've never had any retention issues. I like the idea of the Aussie Leather Conditioner and am going to give that a try. We have used Aussie Leather Conditioner with great success restoring horse tack and saddles. It's a great product.