fredk

or a blue plastic gun, but the holster still needs to be sewn up tight firstly

I think the bit you are missing is that its usual to sew closed a gun holster then wet mould it for a tight fit

Do it your normal way, but use a waste/slave* thread, then after its dyed, undo the thread and restitch with a better thread of the colour you want * in the vintage car world when we use something for temporary and its to be changed for a permanent item its called a 'slave' eg, we use spare wheels with bad tyres on them for moving the car around or when spray painting the car, those are 'slave' wheels, to be replaced with the better ones later

I noticed that the unusually strong sun light we have had here recently was bleaching my favourite black hat. Its my favourite hat right now because its the only wearable one I have right now. Also, with it getting soaked in the rain down pours we have had and its fast drying in the sun it was getting drying stains. So what to do? What any leather crafter would do. I got out a bottle of thinned black resolene and sponge applied that over all. Result! My hat be black again And to celebrate; remember its the LAW that your turn this up to 11! One of the greatest pieces of all time by one of the greatest bands of all time!!

I'm interested in some of the skins, but maybe not all. I need to workout a price to offer you. I want to give you a fair price for them (this my 4.444 recorded posting! )

I'll look into that

Skive first. If the edge is still too thick for your liking, very lightly skive the lining leather a wee bit. Goes against the 'rules' but that skived edge will be hidden by the sewing

I meant, if you go through a metal detector at a government building or an airport the lead will block and the security staff there will want to know what the lead is hiding

you can buy sheets of extremely thin self-adhesive lead. Its meant for fly-making for fly fishing*. But, 1. its expensive for all you get 2. its much heavier than the aluminium tape, 3. if you go through a metal detector / scanner it will block that and you'll be pulled and searched * who fishes for flies?

There has been a great increase in 'creeper' car thefts in the UK. N.I. is seeing the biggest increase. Several expensive cars just last week. It targets 'key-less' cars. In a 'creeper' theft the thief uses a special scanner reader to read the details of your electronic car 'key'. They can do it from up to 30ft from your key. Then they transfer the information to another device with which they can open your car and start it and drive away. All this inside about 3 minutes. The technology these thieves use is the same as used for reading debit or credit cards, oe even bus passes

People still get eaten by snakes in those regions

The aluminium tape works, why look for an alternative? Why should it not work long term? There is no 'wear & tear' on its blocking I made a simple card case as tester. The case held four cards. I put a piece of the adhesive aluminium tape on the inside side of each outer cover. Each piece was slightly larger than the cards. I covered that with thin cloth and sewed it up. No card reader could read any of the cards in the case.

Of course. They can come from almost anywhere. I was just thinking of the most likely places within the British Empire they might be brought in from. Back then the British did buy a lot of corned beef from South America I was just thinking; the snake skins could be brought in fresh; Capture your snake, starve it until just before shipping, then feed it a goat. The snake will become docile and the goat will last it for a few weeks, long enough to ship it in a crate from India, South America or wherever.

Good photo, thanks Can any of our experts perhaps identify the species? I recon these would have come from either India or Africa. India most likely

I use plumbers' aluminium tape. A roll of about 45mm x 45m costs, generally, under £/$5, Wider widths and longer rolls are available but I find 45mm wide suitable. I've tested it and it works well, it blocks even sensitive card readers from reading cards right up to touching them. And a roll will last you a lot of card holders or wallets. Its very thin and self-adhesive. Just stick it on one or both pieces of leather forming the card pocket and cover with a thin piece of cloth lining material

My turn; the holster is partly sewn to the back piece, just about where it will be folded over, then after the holster is folded over and shaped it is sewn to the back piece at the same time it is sewn closed Is there a prize for the best guess?

@Handstitched as far as I know Newcastle Brown is still available. I think I saw some in the alcohol beverage section of a supermarket. Its not one I buy. I'll check for it tomorrow

Slightly OT, but anyone remember this? A summer-time challenge; make one and see how far you can launch a small pebble

Thats the one. I miss remembered the style of holster in the tute I have no need to make holsters, but I might try to make a couple for my Denix replicas. I have a length of very stout cardboard tubing and a couple of empty spray cans for wrapping leather around. Instead of putting empty/used up spray cans straight into the recycling I'm measuring them for possible use. I've already, a few years ago, covered one can with wood strips for use in making dice cups

I'm seeing the pics ok

I must check my stock

My father did the same. I still have lots of it. But, he actually crated it all up and shipped it over when we moved here. There was enough to open a small hardware store. It all came in useful when I had my Caddy and Olds. No problems finding bolts to fit. And my son and I bought another mans 'junk'. His father had been the same type of squirrel but had gathered nuts, and bolts and bits from British cars of the 1930s thru the 1950s. 'Junk' to his son but to us a gold mine, to help us keep our 1930 Austin on the road

and 'internet influencers' My fav cook book is an American/Canadian (two writers, one from each country) book from about 1955. I can look up and try to cook or make foods I was brung up on

Looks very nicey indeedy. I think the art work is extremely good

Actually somebody did. Canon. Nearly 30 years ago. But it cost about £30,000, just for the main body