Dan28

I think for my design, it will need to be longer. I'm using a slide adjuster on one side that looks like a center bar buckle except without the actual buckle tongue so that you can easily adjust the length of the strap quickly. I found a website that powder coats them for you for about 50 cents extra. Anyway, I think I need to make mine longer so that it has enough length to be adjustable. I just knocked out the original strap last night in about an hour or so, it won't have stitching so it won't be that bad. If I had put a stitching line around it I may just have changed the design and left it at its current length. Strap length is starting to become my biggest issue on my bags. On my messenger bag, I made it way too long (and did stitch that one). So I must have over compensated on this one and made it too short. Oh well, learning through trial and error.

Good job, I'm currently making my first purse, though a different style. I'm waiting on a zipper I bought online to arrive before moving forward. However seeing yours, I think I may need to make a new strap, as the one I made may be too short at 44 inches. Luckily I haven't attached any hardware to the strap yet.

That's good info. I haven't yet purposely tried to keep a clean side but noticed this weekend when I was dying my first purse on one side that I did get a few spots of dye on the flesh side. Now my intention was to line the flesh side with pig skin so it wasn't a problem for me, but it did get me to thinking that if I had wanted it just unfinished leather I would have screwed it up. Now I will employ your method when a project comes up that I only want one side dyed Thanks.

I'm a fan of the bags too. You should teach those boys to do their best Paul Hogan (aka Crocodile Dundee) impression when taking out those practice knives and say "Now that's a knife."

I've got a roll of Bontex from Springfield Leather. Seems pretty good though I have not used it yet. Will be using it in the next few weeks though. It is almost four feet square for about $8. http://springfieldleather.com/30158/Bontex%2CBag-Stiffener/

I know I didn't want to trust my Colt 1911 finish to Kydex. I had a couple sample pieces and I considered trying to mold it, but I still would have tried to glue a pigskin liner in it. I ended up scrapping that idea though, and just wet molding some leather.

I put the rivets in because I had them. I guess it is a little overkill along with the stitching but I'm very much still a beginner. The clips are held on with Chicago screws with blue Loc-Tite helping to keep it from backing out as I wanted to be able to adjust if necessary.

I modeled this off of the crossbreed style that mix leather and Kydex. I wet molded the leather around my 1911 (that was wrapped in a lot of saran wrap). The inside of the gun compartment is lined with pig skin that also provides a little border at the top. This will be for me as I have applied for my Concealed carry permit. The magazine pouch in the picture is one of my very first projects before I had stitching chisels or knew anything about stitching.

I got some calf skin from Springfield Leather Co that is pretty thin. Not sure if you could tool it though.