Bighearn

Bruce thats a lot of knives. I guess it just comes down to what you feel comfortable with and if you like the final results. I kind of like the roofer blade for now its cheap and makes a nice straight cut. Goes around curves nicely and cuts through 9oz like a hot knife through warm butter. So for now I am going to keep using it. I might try something different for straps (straight edge cuts) and such when I get to that point. Right now I'm just doing stuff for friends and family so if it aint perfect they don't mind.

Thanks I'll do that next time save time and my fingers

You mean just run the groove and not run the stitch? That would look good finished edges but not finished sort of.

Very nice set.

Mind if I ask yall how you cut out your leather? I was using shears and I went down to the local Guns and Leather shop where a kind young man of about 82 years showed me a carpet knife he had equiped with a roofers blade. I tried it "as I roofed for years as a youth" and it was a good deal eaiser than shears. If you get in to big a hurry it goes through pretty quick and you have to watch your line. The trick he said was always pull it to you never push as its to hard to control that way. To my point "I tend to ramble the older I get" any of you doing this or is their an even easier way I've yet to learn?

I just thought it might look better that way no real reason. I wanted to stitch the top too but my fingers did'nt like the idea much so....

I'm trying guys I hope I'm getting better

I look forward to each and every seath you show off. You truly make art work. I have to get a sewing machine my fingers will never be able to produce such fine stitch work. Keep them coming I am a fan of your seaths. Just out of curiosity those knives you are making them for are fine art work as well. Where would a fella go to find such nice knives. The nicest knive I have is a kershaw. Those look far superior in craftsmanship and quality. Are they just for show or do people actually use them I would be scared to mark up such beauitful pieces.

Thank you. I will take that into account with future holsters. I am inviting all and any criticisms I can get. I wont turn down any praises either for that matter. As to the owner of the gun he was extremely pleased (probally because I did it for free just to get one under my belt and because he is my neighbor and best friend). I just wanted to do one using my own idea (in a fashion) and making a pattern from scratch. I think I am heading down a path of no return. $ as well if I give em away.

The rig is very comfortable. The bersa is a light weight pistol and the 3/4" strap at shoulder seems to be more than enough. On that note the original holster that I took ideas from holds my S&W 45 Model 645 and the strap is a little less than a full inch and it is very comfortable even considering the weight of that pistol which is considerable in comparison to modern light weight 45's. Now I carry all of my semi auto's unchambered saftey engaged. Just the way I roll I guess and I am not a police officer or do I need to carry for self defense "at least not yet". With all you said you still did'nt say "or at least I did'nt understand" weather you considered the trigger guard to exposed or not. I really would like to know if it is truly a safety problem I need to address in future builds.

I would think that with a molded holster it would be less safe to push a trigger into a holster in the wrong direction. However I have seen holsters with far more trigger exposed than I have gone with and some with far less. In my humble opinion if you are carrying cocked and locked you’re not very safe to start with. The bersa 380 does have a firing pin safety that if properly engaged is covered by the holster and should be safe from getting disengaged. Just my opinion what do some of the rest of you think? I would like to know if trigger exposure should be or is an issue.

I do not know for sure it was inherited along with the pistol from my father in law. I never knew he had the shoulder holster until after he died so I did not get to ask him. It is aged. That is not an actual picture of the one I have but it is an exact match. The one I have did not fit the S&W 45 that he carried in it and he cut out the trigger guard to make it fit. So it is altered from the original design. It has the US Gov stamp on the back and I searched the Internet and found this photo and went from there.

This is the holster I stole from