mattsh

Sweetness! That is one nice looking holster.

Good job on the holsters. I have a couple of opinions/observations. The 1911 holster - I would be careful with the "full length" sight tunnel. My mentor always said that doing that will definitely have the holster getting loose over time. He always told me to make sure the mouth of the holster was against the gun. This makes the mouth fit the trigger guard and slide so it can't get any more "free play". Hope that make sense. On the boning I would use a less blunt object. This will make the lines cleaner. The Bersa holster - It doesn't sound like much but I would be careful of having the 90 degree corner down by the muzzle end. More of a curve will make it ride and wear much more comfortably. I like the stamping on both. It gives the holsters a nice look. Holding my opinion on the stamping going over the belt loop hole. Not sure how I feel about that one yet. But good job I like the overall look.

Man that is sweet! Awesome job. Don't suppose you'd make a tutortial for that?

Very nice. Love the contrast of the white thread.

Was searching for anyone that used RJF leather and found this thread. Guess I somehow missed it when it was originally posted but WOW that is one sweet looking holster. Excellent job on it. Very impressive.

Good job. Very nice.

Looks good for the first holster. Welcome back to the addiction!

Ryan - thanks DBP - I have not forgotten your request - gotta find time to put it all together

Very nice! I love those big ole knives.

Clay - check this thread. It gives contact information. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=33090&hl=lindell#entry205705

It is my experience that most 1911's are fairly standardized in frame overall size and slide width and height. The variance between makers comes in slide length. Colt for instance has a commander length slide with a 4.25" barrel while Kimber has a "commander" length slide but it is just under or right about 4". So when it comes to holster length that quarter inch does not sound like much but in my personal preference the 4.25" holster looked a little long (as to say that the holster was not made for it). So for me I adjusted my pattern for the Kimber and then the holster looked like it was made for that gun and gave it a cleaner look. So for most 1911's the 5" mold will fit 5" guns and 4.25" mold will fit the 4.25" guns and so on. You just have to do your research to see that the slide length, ejection port and etc are lining up like you expect.

I like the rifle cartridge sleeve on the Marlin. Looks good.

Very nice indeed. I like the colors. What is the "burgandy" color?

Very nice. The brown one is my favorite. It has nice depth.

Thanks for the accolades everyone. Merry Christmas.

Not speaking to the "Old West" holsters, but to the more modern IWB and OWB most makers are going to use 7-8 oz leather. One member, Katsass, uses two pieces of 4/5 oz glued flesh to flesh to make his 8oz leather for the holster and it makes the holster very rigid. I can attest to it as for one of the styles I have made I used 4/5 oz glued together and it is very rigid. Even on horse hide which is more dense than cowhide I have used 6/7 oz for IWB and have not had any issues with the mouth of the holster wanting to totally collapse. It all has to do with the right methods and reading in this forum can fill you in on most of it. The rest is the hands on learning curve.

Here are a few I just finished up for Christmas. One comment. The Pull the Dot snaps definitely will need some break in time. Wow are they tight.

For those that use the Mop & Glo finish -- have you ever dipped your holsters in the 50/50 mix ? If not why? Is there a reason not to dip the holster?

Looks like a great start. Nice stamping and stitching!

Chris - that's one mightly fine looking holster. I really love the look. 2 tone is always pleasing to the eye. I really like that tan color.

A friend has asked me to make an IWB holster for the Beretta Bobcat pistol. The first challenge I see is that in order to get a good grip on the pistol most of the pistol is going to be above the belt line. This seems to me to be similar to the challenge with the HK P7. Has anyone built an IWB for this Beretta pistol that you could share some insights and advice? Thanks.

Gorgeous! That is beautiful. So you applied a black antique over the top of the mahogany color? Sorry...didnt follow where the black antique was applied. I see the black edges

Looks good

I utilize a cardboard box. I set it on its side. Its about 15x15x20. I prop up the holster using a large C clamp. I clamp a magazine if using a real gun or I clamp the grip of the dummy gun. So I have the gun or the dummy in the holster while it dries. I place a hair dryer on high heat and on low fan speed just outside the opening of the box and angle it so that the hot air is blown in a circulating pattern thru the box.

That is just beautiful. Nice job!