Warren

55Truck, good to see another firefighter here! I wish I could help you more with your question but I've never made a helmet shield. My department won't let us add anything to the outside of our helmets, so if it wasn't put on at the factory we're out of luck. There is another firefighter here on the forum who does make tooled shields. His user name is Cha-Chi and he also has a website: www.leatherworxbychachi.com . There are some examples of his work on his site. You might give him a pm and see if he can help you out! Good luck brother! Warren

Matt, 8/9 oz. is about right for the holster, even if you line it. I use veg tan pigskin for lining, smooth side against the gun. Don't go any lighter or it won't hold it's shape with the gun in it. I've never made a belt from suede but I have made some out of 3/4 oz. veg tan and it seems about right once it's folded over. I think the billets should be made from the same weight leather as the holster. The heavier the leather the harder it will be to work with but the better it will stand up to use and wear. Warren

Romey got that right! Chucks stuff is the best!

Matt the rear side of the holster comes up and over the belt to form a flap. Then the loop can either be sewn or riveted to the flap to make the circle that the holster body slips through. This in turn forms the loop for the belt to go through. There needs to be enough slack in the top of the holster(flap) to allow the toe of the holster to be placed in the riveted or sewn on loop. It can also be put through with the holster body wet which makes it more flexible, therefore easier. This is really just a variation of a mexican loop holster, the difference being slots aren't cut in the back flap to form the loop but made from another piece of leather and attached to the flap to do so. As for the hammer thong most I have seen and made started by simply punching a hole in the holster close to the lip and in line with the hammer. Then a thong is threaded through the hole to form a loop on the outside of the holster. Both ends of the thong are put through the loop and pulled tight. Then the two ends are tied together in an overhand knot leaving enough slack to fit over the hammer. If none of this makes sense let me know and I'll try to post some pictures. Warren

Hey Brent! There's some of the leather I got from you on there. The billets on this belt and the other one I have posted on the forum are made from what I got from you. That box of scraps I got from you was money well spent! Do you have a picture of what your talking about? I would be really interested in seeing it if you do. Again thanks to all for compliments! Warren

Thanks for the compliments guys, I really appreciate all the kind words. Glad you like em! Warren

No need to apologize Steve. I don't always remember to take the pictures I want of my work, much less what anybody else wants to see. I have just started trying my hand at possibles bags and shooting pouches, so I am curious how everybody else lays things out. Hope mine look as good as yours some day. Hope to see more of your work in the future! Warren

Looks very nice! I think all bags are a bugger, at least the one I've finished and the one cut out on the bench right now waiting to be sewn together. Do you have any pics of the inside pf the bag or with the flap up? Would love to see them. Warren

Again thanks for the compliments guys! Makes it worth while to have people who know leather like what you do! Luke, we put about 10 or 12 silver dollars that my mom had in it the night I gave it to my brother and along with the cartridges (even if they are just .22 mags) it made the thing pretty hefty in your hand. Surprisingly it was very pleasant to wear. The weight settles on your hips and isn't bad at all. Might be different if you wore it day and night though. Richard, the flare between the loops was fairly common on holsters from the 1870's on and was put there just for the reason you said. You can make a two loop holster without the flair and it will work fine if the leather is stiff enough. I'm working on a single loop holster right now with an oval loop instead of a straight one. It's for a short barreled gun so only one loop but I still put in some flare below the loop. I get most of my ideas/patterns from the book "Packing Iron" and pictures of antique holsters that I've found on the web and other places. Same thing for the belts. Tom, Tankote over Fiebings antique stain and lots of hand rubbing. Thanks again, Warren.

Yes, it is one piece folded over. It is a recreation of a money belt that would have been popular in the 1870's. Most people carried gold and silver coins of various denominations in them. If you look at the close up picture of the buckle you will see a slot cut through both layers of the belt. This lets the billet come through and close off the open end on the belt so that your money can't fall out. It was one of the best ways to keep the pickpockets at bay, just not a very convenient to carry all of your money. Would have been hard to get to each time you needed it. Thanks for the comments guys! Glad you like them. Warren

Thanks! Warren

Really cool pocket holster for the NAA! I had one of those little guns once but I let a friend talk me out of it. Wish now that I still had it. Warren

I'm a firefighter with 20 years on the job. I also have my own yard maintenance business that my son and I run. Warren