Rayban

My "field tester" has agreed to wear the belt daily for a year......I'll check it, take pictures at 3 month intervals or so. We should be able to get an idea how it's gonna hold up by then. Makes sense to me that a user wears any belt as long as it's in good enough shape to effectively serve it's intended purpose (?). Hold the pants up, or haul a rig around. Rg

Here's one I whipped up pretty quick to serve as a range holster......with a little stamping/bling it could be made into a Western style......it has a simple belt loop....

That's a nice rig......that would have to qualify as a BBQ rig, no??

Yes, in theory I will not argue with your belief...although "the long term" as you say, is of course, relative. We'll see.....I've been wrong before......

I've read on another forum a discussion concerning thickness of gun belts, meaning concealed carry types. "They say" that two thicknesses of leather is stronger than one layer of leather that's equal to the same thickness. In other words, two layers of 1/8", glued and stitched together is stronger than a single layer 1/4" thick. My opinion is that, while in theory "they" may be right, it's splitting hairs in regards to a gun belt. I can't believe a single layer will cave-in with the weight of a holster/gun hanging on it, any sooner than two layers will. Especially when we're talking 1/4" thick. I have an "experiment" going on now with a fella that carries everyday....pictures to follow. Meanwhile, I would like to hear/read what ya'llz think. Thanks, Rg

Yeah but.....it you can't follow a Al Stohlman pattern, I'm sure you can't follow mine.

We all have a scrap bin...sounds like you'll be the exception.

I would say that if you're not willing to "invest the time" for trial and error, you've picked the wrong craft.

I noticed something today....Two holsters I've made recently, one dyed on the inside, the other not....the one dyed inside is MUCH harder/stiffer than the one not dyed on the inside. I'm not sure if that in it's self did it...or maybe two hits of dye did it, or both......but it's very hard, it would bounce if I dropped it........ On the one I'm doing now, I want the same hardness, so we shall see.

Great looking set...where's the belt and boots to match??

Looks very nice Kring, personally, I don't find the thread being the same color as the dye all that objectionable. Helps camouflage any misaligned stitching (?) You have more patience than you think to have your boning look like that.....again, good looking job.

Looking good to me Russell....keep at it!

Max, here's my latest v-roon attempt...came out pretty good this time.

+2...this process takes time huh??

It was my first show of it's kind and I was very impressed. Had a great time. Dawn's work is just too much....remember your home town Dawn.

Roger on the curved molded part.....but please explain to me why the cocked/locked gun would be any different than the one I use, since that part of the gun is clear of any leather. Please understand, I'm not being argumentative, but I'm just learning about holsters and I simply don't know a lot. Thanks, Rg

MAX....don't go away...have another question for ya......on the scraps I did with the baking soda treatment, I put them out to suntan till they were dry....but still smelled the vinegar. Is there anything wrong with giving it another baking soda bath?

Thanks Max....oh, and I'm starting on the black one tonight too.

Thanks to you that helped me get past the hardware issues I was having...It turned out alright. It was a bit of an adventure at Lowe's picking out the right tee-nuts and screws that fit But I managed to get it right with one trip....very unlike my plumbing repair projects.

I looked, but could not find anything to criticize....I say very well done for your first effort.! The belt slot looks just a tad wide, but I'm really splittin hairs now.... Good job.

The baking soda dip seems to have worked, it's all I've done differently from yesterday....I now have a pretty nice black...blacker than yesterday, but not Fiebings USMC black....I'll do the coffee thing in the morning. R

Thanks Max....I use Whickett and Craig, so maybe this is their way to get me to use their pre-dyed black stuff:blahblahblah: I will give your suggestions a try today on some scrap. Thanks again. R

Yep, I applied my regular finishing oil, and it did turn darker, but still not black black.....

My vinageroon makes my leather look more like dark grey, almost a bluish tint to it.....but it's not black black.....any help??