DCKNIVES

I have been getting quite a few all black oders and here are three ready to ship to their new homes.Dave All are lined with vegtan and laced. The two on the left are for Glock 19's and inlayed in Shark and Alligator.The right one is for a 1911 and inlayed in Stingray.

Looks great Corey.Love the color, and design.Dave

I have 110/18 needles for mine.Dave

I use an awl for some stuff, but for most of my work I use my drill press. I sharpen the shank end of various sizes of drill bits( depending on the lace or thread sizes) and chuck them upside down and with the press running I punch the holes.I use pieces of 1"x 4" with a notch cut for the belt loops to keep the holes straight and even.I also made a small table out of aluminum and covered it with UHMW plastic to help move the piece around easier.Dave

Great advice Jeff, and I so agree.I am a knifemaker/ sheathmaker who did a couple of holsters for myself.A few local customers saw them and I was off making holsters as well.Several years later and I am still at it.I did like Jeff suggested, I specialized in a couple of models and only a couple of styles.I have one 1911 Blue gun, my own Glock 19 and a Ruger Mark II.I also pretty much do only custom work, which has its good and bad points, but it does pay better.As to Blueguns, I can't see buying the whole lot till you know what your customer base is.I worked across the street from Ring's Mfg. and talked with the owner about a distributorship, hell even applied for a job thier, but I decided to only buy after I knew what was selling.Good luck.Dave

The "diamonds " or "stripe" depending on which species you get is from sanding off the top of the nodules or bumps.Certainly not "natural" from Mother Nature but the way they are usually sold.I have done some myself that way.I use quite a bit of stingray.Dave

Bob, you know my fondness for exotics and you did a splendid job.Dave

I got a big batch of both, tack buttons(dungaree buttons) and line 24 snaps. The tack buttons have a 3/16 standoff and are 5/8" in dia. The snap tops have a short reach, only about 3/16" but will work on 4 oz, maybe thicker with some skiving.Dave I use the tack buttons on some items in place of Sam Brown studs, will work for frog style sheaths and boot sheaths I have both the tack buttons and snaps for 10 for $ 5.00, or 50 for $20.00 and $3.00 shipping CONUS, payment by check or money order of course all the other parts ,Tacks, and the other parts of the snaps are included

They look really good, but I would have not used the rivets and would have run my lacing up farther.With very few exceptions rivets are not used on custom sheaths.Dave

The first thing to do would be to remove your lacing and put in a welt, then relace.A welt is another piece of leather 3/8"-1/2" wide that goes between the front and back that protects the stitching or lacing.This is a standard on all sheaths Welt thickness can be adjusted to the thickness of the blade to aid in retention, or do like most and just use the same leather that you just did the main body with.Dave

If you are purchasing your rattler hide it should come tanned and ready for use.If it is an old dried hide you can bring some life back to it by using a mixture of Glycerin and water(Usually about 4 water to 1 glycerin)and applying it liberally.Now as far as the scales go, its a mixed bag on those that remove them and those that keep them.I normally like to keep the scales on because I like the texture, and I only do inlays to protect the skin.After it is inlayed I put 4-5 coats of Fiebing's Leather Sheen over it.I have had great sucess with doing this.I also agree that I would never do it on a belt as an overlay,the skin is just to fragile for that.I would do an inlay, besides I think inlay's look better.Dave

I do sheaths and holsters for a living and I have to say those are beautifully done.Very clean work.Dave

Dan, yes it is normal especially for the belly skin.Most makers prefer to use it as accents, or do an overlay and glue it to the outside.I prefer to do inlay's and glue the hide to the inner liner.Dave Here's one I did with an Alligator back piece.

Ostrich Market I get all my exotics here. Dave

Stingray is some neat stuff.I use quite alot of it.The hardest thing about IMO is cutting it, as it is very tough.In my case I found scissors and my bandsaw worked best.It will inlay like any other skin.Under "Knife Info" on my website is a tutorial on doing inlays.Dave two stingray projects

I agree with the others, use shorter pieces and then backstitch.It's not really that bad, just going to take some time.Dave

Corey, those look great, really nice carving.Where did you get your neoprene? Dave

That's very cool Troy.I am very interested in seeing the finished project.Dave

This is my version.The extra long cylinder makes for a wider holster.Dave

Nice looking holster.I just did one for the Judge as well, and we had the same thoughts in design.I will post mine. Dick, main thing is just to make it wider towards the bottom of the holster, and it's a very thick gun as well.Dave

I agree with Mike.I do one off customs as well, so I usually need the gun as replicas aren't available.I have never any issues with customers leaving thier guns, and its only for a couple of days anyway.Dave

That's very cool. Nice work Troy.Dave

Here's two styles I just made for a customer.It's simply sewn across the top and I used two snaps at the bottom.Hope this helps.Dave

David, those are really superbly done.Fine job by you and your son.Dave

Just finished this one.It's for twin 1911's, and the holsters are lined with veg-tan.The belt is lined with suede.Thanks to my friend and fellow maker Josh Dabney for doing the artwork for me to carve.Quite a bit different than my normal inlayed holsters but still alot of fun.Dave