1961Mike

Hi, I'll second dirtclod and Lokirk's recommendation. Page 2 has the directions for making a pattern. Yes you will have to do things differently with a scope on there, but probably not as much as you think. If you want a tooled leather scope for your Contender, I'd consider making one out of plain leather, get the holster fitted etc, and finished in every way. Then cut the thread and use THAT for a pattern. Heck of a lot of work though. Hope that helps.

Hi Forester, Looks great, can't use the Buscadero in NCOWS, but I plan on making a fancy black rig like that without the dropped Holster position. I haven't seen the Lone Ranger in years, so he probably didn't have a different color thread, but if you're going to go FANCY, go all out. I have enough red thread to do a whole 2 gun rig and belt in all red with Vinegaroon dyed leather. It will be a while so don't wait up. Later

Hi If memory serves, Neat-lac is no longer made. It's 2020, what should I seal the skins with? A lady I work with raises hunting dogs and is therefore somewhat anti-copperhead. I can have all I want. Thanks

Hi Is that fitted to a laptop? I'd sort of like to have one like that, but I'm building other things right now. If you do carry a laptop in there, where to you put the cords etc? The Resolene seems to be holding up well, I've just started back up after making a few things back in the 80's and 90's. Thanks Mike

Hi, which weight of Rawhide mallet did you get? I have a decent sized poly that is worn such that there are no weight marking on it. I'd like a heavier mallet for 3D stamps, belt end cutters, and hole punching. Thanks Mike

Hi, that's a great idea and you did a great job in making it. I had to go back and look, getting the "front" and "back" to match looks great. Later

Thanks, I see the difference now. Both look great by the way. I'm learning how to do the Serpentine tooling for a cowboy money belt and possibly for the holster also. I have Will Ghormley's Law Dog holster plans to work from. Later

Hi Both are nice looking rigs. I have a question though. When I first looked at the thread, I "knew" that was a Threeperson's Holster. I don't see much difference between the Threeperson's rig and the Rhodesian rig. What's the difference? Tom Threeperson's designed the one named after him. Later

Hi, While the idea has merit, I wonder if it would call attention to the area and give away your pistol. Most people go to their cell on the order of 100 times a day, and in doing that in front of your pistol, you're continuing to call attention to it. Just my $0.02

Hi, On the sights, I've read that some people sew a couple of strips of leather on each side of the front sights on the inside of the holster for the front sight to slide down? Does that work well? Thanks

HI Forester Chuck would have been proud and Kid Terico would have bought it. Later

Hi, the cavalry holsters had the flap to keep the cylinder and percussion caps covered. Brass cartridges weren't common in the Civil War, and most handguns were still percussion. To state that gunflights portrayed in films were very rare is an understatement. Most shooters seemed to have the gun out and pointed your way when they asked for your money, or to surrender. Hope this helps.

Hi, I would think you'd know this, but having bought a holster with Chicago screws that fell out, I'll be on the safe side. Use the Loctite that's the easiest to get unscrewed. I'd use the blue stuff. I had a holster dump three screws in the grass when I tried it on. Threadlockers Later

Hi Kris, that's called a Keeper. Many modern cowboy action belts have them, but they weren't used back in the Old West. Great looking belt by the way. It's obviously not styled like an Old West cartridge belt and holster, but it's not a buscadero belt at least. You do really good work. Later

Hi I like both Resolene and Tan Kote, I did some experimenting with those and Bag Kote. I don't know about the durability of any of the three, but the Bag Kote looks a little better and isn't shiny like Tan Kote. Resolene is good, but I put on 3-4 light coats before I decided I was done. Later

Hi, well executed and beautifully done. Not my style though. I'd put that on and 30 minutes later there would be 2 oil stains and a ketchup stain. Later

That looks great. I'm curious as to WHY? I've never even thought of wearing a rig that way. Horseback? Later Mike

Hi, I always had a lot of trouble with either Kidney or Appendix carry in the car. I had a 2007 Subaru and I couldn't have shot a car jacker on a bet. With a Kidney Carry, the 1911 was behind the seat belt and between me and the seat. I also have just enough gut to make Appendix carry annoying. I ended up with a Shoulder holster for in the car. I also swapped to a itty bitty Beretta for carrying in a pocket. Just my $0.02

HI, Back in the late 1990's, I made a collar for a 3 year old Husky named Seminole. He got it Xmas day and had digested it by New Years. Not really sure how he got to it. Later Mike in Norman OK

Hi I generally use a layer of 2-3 ounce leather for the liner and one for the outside, using he thicker stuff for the welt. Just my $0.02.

Thanks, that's a pretty good idea. I've also read, but not tried, using rubber cement to glue the leather to a cutting board or other board to do the tooling. Later Mike

Hi again You can't exactly cut a silhouette of the blade because many blades (most I've dealt with) are wider at the point end than at the handle, or curve somewhat. You have to allow room for the curve etc. I can't remember where I found this out, but it works great. AFTER YOU PUT A FINISH ON THE LEATHER, glue everything together with rubber cement. You can try the fit, tear the sheath apart, and cut some off the welt, replace with a bigger one etc. Later Mike

Hi Chief For 1. I died a piece of Veg Tanned Tandy Leather with Light Brown Feiblings die. The die was a little (VERY LITTLE) bit uneven. I spit on the leather and rubbed it. The leather went about 2 shades darker. From then on, I use Distilled water to wet mold anything. 3. I always run the welt up to the top of the sheath because you're drawing the knife all of the way to the top. Later

Hi Speaking from bad experience, keeping the pumch perpendicular is harder than it looks. I used a 3/32 drill in a drill press and at least the wholes are straight now. I was sewing with waxed thread, not lace. Later Mike

Hi I'm making a Native American sheath for a butcher knife like that in Kozlov's book "Plains Indian Knife Sheaths: Materials, Design, and Construction. I actually put a triple layer of welt at the top of the sheath. The sheath covers over half of the knife handle. I'm not done yet so who knows if it will work or not. Later Mike