Randyc

Hey Guys, I've been using DOT Durable Duty Line 24 sanps on my holsters for the past few years. I use a snap press and 4 die set to mount the Line 24's. Some customers have requested that I use Dot (Pull The Dot) snaps on their holsters. Will my Line 24 die set work for setting the Pull The Dot snaps, or do I need to purchase a whole new die set for the Pull The Dot's? Thanks, Randy

Like alot of folks, I started down the leathersmithing road making wallets, checkbook covers, key fobs ect. along time ago. All were hand stitched including my holsters. For the past 3 or so years, I only build gun leather. As business picked up, I first went to a Tippman Boss stitcher then an Aritsan Toro 3000.

Great topic and Shorts your preaching to the choir. I live, work, and build holsters in Illinois, a bastion of liberalism. It's big fun informing people I build holsters and see them get that "deer in the headlights look" on their faces. They often ask, why I build holsters and they often can't fanthom the fact that not everything is purchased off the shelf at a Walmart Super Center. I'm also a police officer assigned to a middle school. (another bastion of liberalism) Holster making and firearms make for some interesting conversation in the teachers lounge, People sometimes get up and leave and I think some fear my pistol jumping out of it's holster and going on it's own shooting spree. A few, can't see the reason for me being armed in the first place. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I announce my plans for starting a school rifle team. That should get them fleeing the teachers lounge in mass Randy

Hey Guys, While learning to work with Angelus acryllic finishes, I have a few holsters that didn't make the final cut finish wise. Is there any way to remove an acryllic finish, refinish, and end up with a product that can be refinished and sold? Thanks, Randy

I had a request for a pocket holster for a Glock 19 with a laser site/light. I didn't have the actual laser so I frabricated one out of wood . The customer loved the holster. I quess he had some good sized pockets.

I order directly from John Ring at Ring's Manufactoring. I just call him on the phone, he has my credit card info on file and it get shipped out the same day. I've also had great service from Duncan's. I've made quite a few holsters for the Kahr PM45. I was able to find a mold at Duncan's. No more placing my personal Kahr PM45 in my holster press and holding my breath hopeing I didn't crack the frame Randy

Jeff, Nice job on your holster. I built a pocket holster for a customer's G19 with a light. He liked the holster, I hated it, go figure. I then built a OWB for another customers Beretta PX4 and laser light combo. Once again I hated it and swore I'd never make another one. He liked it. I even threw the pattern away after completion. He recently wrote me asking if I can build that holster for a couple of his buddies with the same pistol/laser light setup? Since, I no longer had the pattern, I asked him to take some photos of his holster. The photos are not real clear, I think he used his cell pphone camera but everyone can get the idea. Randy

Thanks for the advise guys. And Jeff thanks for your offer to let me borrow your cocked and locked Commander mold gun. I found out one of my LEO partners has a Colt Commander and will let me use his. Randy

I suggest you contact Rings Manufactoring. They make the Blue Guns. You will pay around $55.00 plus shipping, but you will have your mold gun in short order. Most of the suppliers of Blue Guns don't keep all models in stock. You may place your order believing it's in stock and wait several weeks or months for the Blue Gun to arrive. Randy

This one has me stumped. I need to modify a 1911 Colt Commander BlueGun so the thumb safety is in the up position, the way it would be for cocked and locked condition one carry.. I believe I will have to remove the existing thumb safety that is molded in the down position. How would I rebuild the Bluegun so the thumb safety is in the up position? What material could I use to rebuild the thumb safety and would it be possible for the modification to withstand the pressure of my holster press? Thanks, Randy

I don't use clips on any of my IWB holsters. I use belt straps instead. I make a very similer holster to yours. I use T-nuts on the underside of the throat band and attach the beltstrap to the throat band with screws. If you go that route, you should consider using Dot Durable Duty or Pull The Dop Snaps. Below is a photo of my personal Kahr PM45 and holster. You built a beautiful holster, that deserves quality belt straps. Randy

Hey Guys, thanks for the replys. Looks like I may be buying myself a convection oven for Christmas. Randy

Hey Guys, I'm to the point in the holster business where I'm considering purchasing a convection oven. After wet molding and boning. How long would I leave a holster in the oven and at what temprature? Could I dry more then one holster at the same time ie. 1 or 2 on each shelf? Can I use the oven after I apply an acryiic finish to speed up the drying process, and at what temprature and for how long? Thanks Guys! Randy

Larry, Your holster look good. The boning and stitching are real good. I may have to send you my orders, so you can do the stitching! I'm glad that my 2 cents helped you out. Randy

You guys have really given some great advise for new and future holster makers. I started out in this business trying to be everything to everybody. Like Jeff indicated, it just doesn't work. I've taken on a few custom jobs just for the challange. I sure didn't make any money with them. I started in the business making pocket holsters then advanced to one model of IWB and one model of OWB. By luck I was able to buy out another makers clicker dies, blue guns and was able to add 2 more IWB styles to my product line. My origional IWB design is still holding it's own and my 2 newer styles are selling well. Besides a couple of minor design changes, my product line is established. I was able to come up with my basic designs based on my own experience as a police officer for the past 34 years. Bottom line, I've packed a gun for a really long time. With the current surge in concealed carry permit holders, we don't just build holsters, we have to educate the carrying public too. We not only build holsters were also educators of sorts. Jeff, Tac, Ray (Lobo) Bruce Gibson, Monica (Shorts) and a few others that hang out on this forum have the knowledge and experiance and are not afraid to share it. That's one of the great things about this forum Now back to the topic at hand. I think it was Blue Guns. After a few bad experiences with discount police suppliers, I order directly from Rings. If a customer requests a holster for a model I don't have, I can pickup up the phone and speak directly to John Ring. If he has it in stock, I will have it in a few days. Randy

Larry, For stability purposses, I would go with one wide loop. More then likly, the throat band at the opening of the holster and the belt loop are one piece. Hope this helps. Randy

Ray, I've done the same exact thing twice over the past few months. Both of my mistakes were not discovered until the customer received their holster. My 3-4 week normal build time was expidited to 3 days. Both customers were happy and I was able to resell both holsters. I can appreciate the mirror images. A few years ago, I studied western boot making under Carl Chappell. He taught me if you made a mistake on one boot, make the same mistake on the other boot so it looks like you planned it that way. Randy

Eugene, Nice looking gun leather. You have the talent. Now get busy and build some more holsters! Randy

Ray, Very impressive holster. Ol' Tom would have been proud to wear that one to a Sunday BBQ. Randy

Tandy makes a nice little belt pouch kit. The leathers pre-cut, the stitching holes are pre-punched and includes thread and snap hardware. I've built several over the years. I hope this helps. Randy

Great holsters. You should be proud! Randy

Last month I built a holster for a customer's Glock with a laser/lite. On line I kound a photo of this set up. I made a dummy laser/lite out of wood and taped it to the rail of my Blue Gun Mold. It worked out well. Another customer is shipping me his laser tactical light combination. I will mount the light to a Beretta Storm Compact Blue Gun and do my design work. I will carve a piece of wood to duplicate the light and mount it to the Blue Gun. I will do my initial press and final molding with the "dummy" tactical light mounted on the Blue Gun. Randy

Great looking holster. What color and dye did you use? Randy

Carl, I agree with Woolfe's method. I use a good contact cement (Barge) on all my holsters. When glueing your Shark Skin down to the leather, make sure you cover the entire piece of shark and mating service. If you miss a spot on the edge, the shark will curl up and it will be tough to get a clean burnished edge. Don't be scared "grasshopper", go for it! Randy

Thanks, I knew I could count on you guys! Does anyone have a link to the complete size specs on the Colt Government model 45. I have the specs for the Safari Match Master and by looks it appears to be built on a government frame. I only want to take the customers order, if I can use my government 45 Blue Gun for the design and molding. Randy