Regis

Met today with my quickdraw customer and am left almost speachless. Looked at several newer and older holsters for both revolver and auto. Learned the difference between the "bucket" style and those with slight and adjustable retention. Modeling this one after one that has retension adjustment screws. Also got to see flaws (broken) holsters & speedloaders. Some of the commercial ones are really crap. He even epoxied (uck) the inside of one because it wasn't lined and the flesh was rough (not even burnished). We're going to work together to make his new holster(s). Great project and I'll be sure to take photo's as I go along. Regis

If you are looking for lots of business, then near a large city. If you are looking for the friendship and appreciation of leather then your Sheridan idea is probably good. Best of luck and great question.

Very nice. Good integration of carving, tooling, and stamps. What weight did you use? Regis

Look great. do you always make belt with holster?

That's funny but....true. I'm going to meet with him again tomorrow. He has 2 fastdraw holsters that are just as you describe (like leather softdrink cup straped to leg/hip). He said he wants this one flatter for CCW but, absolutely no retention or interference with grip. And no strap (or anythng to keep gun out of the "mud"). He's going to be doing some kind of demo 's with it. I'll know more tomorrow. Thanks, Regis

Clay, Your lines are SO CLEAN. That is beautiful work. Regis

Congrad's John. Nice belts! Regis

You'd be supprised how many left handed holsters I'm accumulating ......!

One very good thing about ebay is that it is not mandatory. It is also not some kind of government handout. I don't need to buy there and I don't need to sell there. If "I" choose to use it as buy/sell resource then it is because it has (with all its flaws) some benefit for "me". Otherwise, I simply don't participate. I don't own or manage it nor do I think they need to change to meet my needs. If it is not properly serving "people" then it will deminish and fail or correct itself. my 2c too

Three nice holsters. I think you may have problem catching the front sight on the black one but, it may ride up the ramp ok. Neat work

Mike, No, I hadn't thought of putting a spring/stiffener between the leather & liner. I'll have to experiment with some scrap to get a feel for how well it bends without kinking. This is really going to be a great education piece.

I'll have to ask to be sure but, I understood it to be for personal CCW & demonstrations. Mike, Thanks for the tip and splitting/lowering the top makes sense.

Today, I got an order for a OWB but concealed (under jacket or shirt) holster. The order is for a S&W 627 and came from a competition quick draw guy. He does want it quick draw but, quite flat against the body. We worked out shape, size, height, a little tooling, and cant. My main question is about the inside. His competition holsters look like back-to-back 8/9 oz leather that are immovable. I have to make this one a lot narrower and high through the belt. I'm thinking 7 oz lined with 5 oz and molded much closer & flatter??? On this one, I will not mind re-doing it a time or 2 because I'll be learning a lot. But, I want to get off to good start with right leather and any hints you might have. Thanks, Regis

It is good here now because there is no one else making custom holsters at all. There were hundreds of the web, camo, canvas, plastic/rubber, etc holsters there. Those folks are competing with walmart, sports acadmy, etc. I learned a lot from the questions people were asking. I also was able to make friends with a few local gun dealers. Met a lot of fine folks and aquantences I haven't see for years. AND, I managed to come away without spending more than I made. I'm going to start another thread about the "quick draw" order I got today. I may go in the hole on this one but, It will be worth learning. Thanks to Kevin, Luke and many others here, I made sound holsters and the looks are improving a LOT lately.

Randy, I like it. Is that a German or Russian Makarov? Looks a little different than my German one. 9X19 right? Regis

Dave, That's interesting because there was not a knife maker at the show. A knife maker stopped by my table. He said he was glad to see sheaths because the guy that was making sheaths for his knives no longer lives here. Something may work out with that as I had the best sheath I ever made on display, and it sold.

Well, I did my first gun show and I'm glad that you all are tooo far away and could not attend,,,,,,, soooo, that made me hands-down, the best leatherworker there . I layed out 14 holsters (some are actually destined for my sons & friends). I sold 2 plus a sheath and got orders for 3 more holsters (paid in advance ). I put a lot of my carvings around the table and tooled a fleur on a new holster during the day. ClayB will recall the cat figure carving I did for the Feb challange and well, I fixed the oversize tooth problem and it was the most popular thing on the table. If everone that took a card and said "I'll call you" actually does,,,,,,I won't ever have time to get on leatherworker.net again. [lol] It was a good day and met some fine folk. The guy next to me was from Michigan and he is doing gun shows along the Gulf coast through the winter. And, only one person told me they could get that on ebay for $6!

Good list. I mostly dye mine at step 10 & 1/2 and I do use thin plastic bag for weapon. But, I must admit that 10 & 1/2 is about how many months I've been making holsters.

Welcome John. You may be new to this forum but, it is obvious that you are not new to leatherwork.

This used to be on youtube. From Leno show a few years ago Arkadelphia Chicken

I never realized there were sooo many solutions to keep me from making a mess....again! Thanks all

Kate, Thanks for the refresher. I've used it some since the 1st time you posted it. Took me a couple times before I applied thick enough (2-3 coats) especially if putting dye on with brush. I'll have to try it now that I have an airbrush working.

I really like the look I got from Leather balm with atom wax. I have been using Super Sheen or Resolene and tried Leather balm with atom wax for the 1st time a couple days ago. It did marvolus job on a holster. Alex, thanks for the heads-up on that. Regis

Thanks Art. I didn't know about ordering like that. Just got a W&C side in too. Next time!

Thanks Russ & Russ, Good idea and I will do that (have Wave). Would still like to do few longer knives because of more area to show. Regis