SooperJake

I grew up in a machine shop, and know a thing or two about tools and tool making. This piece of **** they sold is is pure junk. I just spent more than an hour working on that piece of crap and the edge keeps folding in. The slot is miss-shaped. At the intersection of the ends with the sides the metal is so thin it can't possibly take an edge. There isn't enough metal there to support a bevel. I am so f'ing pissed right now I'm taking my blood pressure medicine early. I'll never spend another dime with Weaver Leather. I'll call TCD tomorrow, see if they are any better at tool making.

Don't get one from Weavers. Mine just came back from "sharpening" ( another $14 for shipping and a week's wait) and it is nearly as crappy as when it left. I did manage to pierce a piece of 8-9 oz leather after 10 blows with the maul. And, I'm really pissed off , so I was hitting it pretty @#$% hard.

How many maul strikes would be considered a reasonable amount of force needed to put a 3/8 x 1.6" custom belt punch through a piece of 8-9 oz veg tan leather? My standard Osborne 1 1/2" takes two hits with a 4 lb wood maul. I just got back ( second time) my custom Weaver punch, which I spent nearly $120 for with shipping, and had to send back for another $14, and the #$@%$# thing took 10 whacks to get through the same piece of leather. The resulting slot is jagged also, where as the Osborne is clean as a whistle. Am I asking too much to get a tool sent to me sharp? Especially the second time around? What's your opinion?

Is that rit dye color #508?

Chris, Could you elaberate a little on your dye and finish process, please? For instance, are you cutting the dye with solvent and, if so, to what ratio? Is the 600 straight from the bottle or cut with water or ? Do you pre-clean the leather before dyeing it? Do you just toss the holster in and pull it out or leave it in for some seconds or minutes? What do you buff with? Thanks! Jake

Mike, what is the perimeter dye color on this rig, if you please?

Well, that looks sharper than the one Weaver's just made for me. They sent me a dull tool, ( 8 whacks with a 4 lb maul barely managed a dent in the leather) . And, get this, I get to send it back on my dime, plus they charged me $8 more than the price I was quoted on the phone in the first place! This is my first order ever with Weaver Leather, and probably my last. Jake

The picture is enough I'd say. Looks pretty straight forward in design. The back piece of the holster appears to be a triangle and the belts form 3 points of "suspension" .Make the shoulder loop adjustable like a rifle sling, with the buckle in front. I'm not crazy about the retention strap design. Also, I think I'd move the belt loop to the other side of the muzzle, and make it wider. Leave a little tab of leather there for the loop to attach. But to answer your original question: I haven't seen a pattern.

Nice! +1

I just paid for my Weaver custom made 3/8" x 1.6" with a handle ( in shipping transit as we speak). With shipping it was a smidge over $108. The guy in the shop at Weaver's said he's already suggested to management that they make a larger belt slot punch, especially for holster makers. I gathered he was going to suggest it again. That said, I think there is definately a market for sizes other than standard. I'd poll some holster makers before settling on a specific size. What about making a series of over-sized, or a set? Jake

Prototype Holster. I think I'm going to add in a stitch line for looks ( a continuation of the trigger guard line ) but rely on a few rivets for the attachment.

Carry the stitching across the openings on the belt slide holster. That's one design that will benefit visually from the extra work, I think. Contrasting thread looks good too, and is an easy dress-up for an otherwise plain holster. The Wild bunch holster's tooling gives me a feeling of cactus-like...I like that, and the ML holster is cool, too. have to agree with CT on the loop/snap comment though. One negates the other, but a belt clip /loop might work in its place? Nice work!

Wiz, can I sew through the drilled holes with the machine then?

Is the Cowboy CB4500 capable of sewing through the white cutting board material or similar uhmw type plastic..say 3/8" thick? In other words, I'd have a 3/8" thick piece of plastic trapped between two pieces of 7/8 ounce leather. I seem to recall reading somewhere that it could sew through some plastics.

I did like the snap on the Blackhawk.

I was at our local Fleet Farm store today and they had two new holster displays up in the sporting goods area. The displays had a variety of Galco and Blackhawk holsters, most of them made of leather. It was an opportunity to study how they make their products, including leather thicknesses, stitch lines, molding, etc. Needless to say I wasn't impressed, over all, but I did find interesting the Galco Stow n Go suede holsters for their stiff upper lip. I assume they have some sort of insert in there to retain the shape? Possible a wire in there? The lip of the holster opening is folded over and sewn also. The belt clip was some kind of Kydex-tupe material, and ended with a a double hook to hang on to the bottom of the belt. An interesting design. The Blackhawks where quite flimsy, with very narrow belt slots. It was an educational way to spend an hour waiting to get to the gun counter, only to find that the pistol model I was after was out of stock.

I like it, and I'm more inclined to semi or satin sheens normally. How hard is the belly cut vs. a back?

I would prefer more contrast at the termination of the leg leather with the cow hide. The airbrushing at that point detracts from an otherwise handsome looking design.

By "molding the front to the back panel" , Dwight, you are refering to pre-molding the firearm with the gun/dummy and then stitching? Or, did I miss something in translation? Jake

There's another holster making board on the net?

Looks good, Fredo. Interesting design. How well does it stay put with the belt hooks upsidedown? Looks like they might gouge the body some, especially when sitting.Do you have to thread the belt through the clips to put it on? Jake

Placed an order with Rob this evening. Thanks guys!

Mike, I picked up the grab bag of brown ostrich from Springfield's. Some really nice looking and quite large pieces in the bag. Perfect for 6-8 trial holsters at least..plus some key fobs, knife sheaths, etc.. Jake

And get lines as clean as the aforementioned holster?

Nice work! Jake