gunfighter48

Can you imagine what that would cost in todays dollars!!!!!!!!!

One thing you will notice is that the top holster makers use the very best veg tanned leather. Many of them swear by Herman Oak leather. I made my first IWB with leather I bought from Tandy; while it molded fairly well, it didn't have the stiffness needed to keep it open for reholstering. While I haven't ordered Herman Oak, I now get the best leather that I can afford from other suppliers, it makes a difference.

Where do you buy your sewing needles? I am looking specifically for system 328 leather point needles in sizes 24, 25, and 26. Is any one brand better than the others? I have been using Groz-Beckert and Organ and one brand seems to work as good as the other. Thanks for your help. John

Another vote for the new page, looks great to me. I have done computer support for a number of years and I appreciate the effort that it takes to change anything to something different. Usually involves much head scratching and some choice words!!!!!!!

Jordan, I just bought a Neil's Saddlery Model 5 machine. It's $899.00 plus $150 shipping. It's not a walking foot machine but it is a cylinder bed drop feed and sews up to 1/2" leather. I got mine last Monday and am having a blast practicing with it. I have sewed by hand for the last 8 years but a skin disease and arthritis make that impossible now days, had to go with a machine. Like you I had very limited funds and the Model 5 was the best I could afford. It's a knock off of the Ferdco 440 (and many others I suspect) and uses the same parts as the Ferdco. Sews great and goes thru 16 oz of strap leather like it's going thru butter. It will do until I can afford the big $$$ for something better. Look in the marketplace here on Leatherworker.net (link below). There is one for sale for $600 plus shipping from one of out members, esantoro (Ed). I just bought some bobbins from him for my machine and we've corresponded over the net a number of times. He's a good guy and gave me good advice on the Model 5. http://www.leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2014 John

I faxed him a 600 dpi image of my stamp (I used Publisher and cut and paste to make the image) and we got together on the phone. I told him what font and size I was wanting to use and he said he could do it up in Corel in a few minutes. He faxed me a completed image, it looked great so I called him and said do it done deal. He really is great to work with. I used the stamp tonight on some cased leather and it makes a great impression. I was concerned the small A's might not show well but everything shows up great. Tomorrow business cards and rubber stamp, the next day the WORLD!!!! Well a guy can dream can't he!! John

I ordered my maker stamp from Grey Ghost Graphics on the morning of 10/4 and it came by priority mail today 10/6!!!!!! Now that's great service and the stamp is first rate. Makes a great impresion in leather. Mine was $55 plus postage and Jeff is great to deal with.

Has anyone used Zack White Leather Company. Are they a decent company to deal with? Ship orders in reasonable time frame? Any problems with them? Just found their site the other night and they have decent prices on hardware and some leather strap materials. http://www.eleatherworks.com/home.php?cat=259 Thanks for you help. John

I bought one of Harbor Freights $89.00 drill presses for doing the edges of belts and holsters. It's one of the table top versions that is belt driven and you can change the belt position on the drive pulley to alter the speed. Bought a set of 2" drum sanding disks to use with it. Works great and doesn't take up much room. I only use my Dremel for very tight places now. Even at low speed it's easy to burn the leather.

Hi Jordan, I would get molds for the 1911s in full size( 5" ) and commander size ( 4.25" ). This will give you a very large customer base to work with; as these are the most popular handguns in the last 75 years. The S&W M&P and the Spingfield XD series handguns are also very popular now days. You will also want some Glock molds but I'm not a Glock guy so can't give you any specific models to look for. I have been very happy with Rings blue guns, have two 1911 molds that are great. Do a Google search on Rings blue guns and you will turn up pages of places to buy them. Drop in to you local gun shops and find out what's popular in your area. Also let them know you are making holsters and see if there is any interest from them on stocking some that you make!! John

I am doing belts and will be doing concealed carry holsters. I need to get a machine and have a buget limit of about $1,400. What machine, if any, will work for these projects and stay around my budget? I have looked at so many machines my head is spinning. Is the Ferdco 440R a decent machine for this application, it's in my price range. I have also talked to Neels Saddlery about their Model 5 machine; anybody using one of those? Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the info folks. Yes they are pull-the-dot snaps, sorry for the confusion. They are supposed to be more secure than regular line 24 snaps. I have a commercially made holster with them but so far my experience has been that there are no more secure than the regular line 24 snaps. I'll have to get some and do some testing with them to see which ones hold the best.

Where can I get one way snaps for holsters? I am not in business so I need a supplier that I can purchase from. Is there any other snaps that work better? I have used line 24 snaps with good results but everyone seems to be going to the one way snaps. Thanks for your help.

The commercial holster makers us 20 - 40 ton presses to do the initial boning then do the fine boning by hand. They use 1-2" gum rubber mats under and over the holster then use the press to get the rough shape. They use aluminum or blue gun molds in the holster while in the press. Pressing time runs from 30 sec to several minutes depending on the holster and leather. I don't have a press so just bone mine by hand. Listed below is a great web site, look for the Holster & Belt section. Some of the top holster makers in the country post in the holster section. Read through all the pages as there is several life times of information in the posts. http://www.pistolsmith.com/index.php

I am making belts and concealed carry holster and wanted to find out what size and type of thread would be best for use on machines. Also where are you buying your thread. Thanks for your help.