Steve75

I like the design of your stitching horse. Have been able to get the plans published as an e-document? If you have could please let us know, as I would like to get a copy of the plans.

Nice rig! Continuing the gunfighter stitching on the holster completes the rig nicely.

Thanks for the explanation. I am looking forward to seeing the complete rig.

Excellent work! The detail on the flowers is awesome.

Nicely executed.

How to Make Holsters is a very good investment. I would make it top on your priority list of things to buy if you plan on making any number of holsters. It is the best advice I have gotten from being on this forum. Rather subtle hint St8Line. LOL!

Very nice work!

I too make my own patterns. I have made a holster from Al Stohlman's How to Make Holsters. My Dad ended up with the holster. I have made much more fun making patterns for my holsters and producing the holster from that pattern. I still look back at the How to Make Holsters book but merely for inspiration. Search the internet. Find a style you like and try to emulate, or put your own spin on it. It is much more fun and rewarding in my opinion.

None of my books ever addressed anything more than holding the mallet. No mention of resting the elbow or "chicken wing method." I had to double check just to be sure I had not overlooked it. I have the Craftool Tech Tips, and How to Carve Leather by Al Stohlman. In fact all the stuff I have learned from books has come from books written by Al Stohlman. If I did not learn from those books I learned it from reading posts on this website. I have used the "chicken wing method" only by accident. I just kinda went with what seemed to work for me. I do, however, believe that it is time to consider buying a better instrument for striking the stamps with. The mallet I have came with a Tandy kit. It works ok, but I would like to see better impressions. I think I will start with replacing the mallet. I am thinking that a 16 ounce should suffice. Still not sure whether I should get the mallet or the maul.

Learn something new everyday. I have many of Stohlman's books on leather working. This is the first time I have seen an illustration showing an individual resting his elbow on the tooling surface. I looked back through the books and only found mention of how to hold the mallet no mention of resting your arm as you strike the stamp.

Wow! All of the holsters are nicely executed.

Nicely executed. I also like the inlay work.

Thanks you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing this information with us.

The first holster I made was from a pattern in the Stohlman How To Make Holsters Book. I made the holster on page 18 for the Colt Police Positive with a 4" barrel. The holster ended up fitting my a J-Frame .32 S&W my Dad had so it found a home with him. No filler was needed. From that great book comes the following: "The filler keeps the holster spread open and helps in preventing the leather from rubbing constantly on the gun and wearing off the bluing. It prevents the holster from binding on the trigger guard which is important in the quick draw and snub-nosed holsters." The best advice I ever got from anyone on this forum was to acquire a copy of this book in my efforts to learn how to make holsters. Thanks Mike (katsass).

Nice rig.

Nice work Josh.

Huskysibe, that is the great thing about this forum. It allows us newbies an opportunity to get the advice of seasoned craftsman on how to better create our holsters. I see the improvement with each holster I make through applying the advice that has been offered to me or fellow newbies. By the way that is an awesome holster Olds Cool.

Well done.

Thanks Chief. I watched the first video and tried it just based on what I had saw and found it to be fairly easy once I got going. I posted my attempt in Critique My Work section. Then I found that you had posted the proper method for use starting and stopping the lacing without completing the circuit. Will have to try again as I plan on using this style lacing on a holster in the near future.

The elephant provides an interesting contrast for the holster and magazine carrier. The contrasts make the set up. What make of pistol?

Very nice holster.

Nice rig!

It looks like they might have added a "dog ear" similar to the Texas Ranger "Dog Ear" Double Action Holster. The flap was meant to protect the liner of the jacket or coat from snagging on the hammer or adjustable rear sight. There is an example of it on Chisholm Leather's website. The Milt Sparks 200AW holster also incorporating a shroud to protect the jacket liner.

Very nicely done. What weight leather did you use?