Hags

I like making holsters, knife sheaths, and axe covers. But, mainly, I like holsters. That's my thing. I run an add on Craigslist, locally, with pics of my work. I get many calls, and a lot of I'll call you when I'm ready. I dont put them on my list. This a busy hobby for me. I'm retired, and just love leatherworking. I do not try to compete with master carvers or big time, big box holster makers. But, H.O. leather is not cheap. If people want a garage sale deal, go to a garage sale and find a brand new custom holster. It doesn't take a lot of sales to cover my costs, but this ain't cheap! I'm doing a show locally this summer. I'll probably pass out a lot of business cards. We'll see.

Very nice.

Very nice,, it will only get better with time and more leather! Of course the tools will become an addiction!

Other than being wrong sided, I really like the colors.

Very nice Chuck.

Very nice Chuck.

I would start by cleaning the bobbin area very well. Also take a good look at the hook. No real good ideas here. I use superior 277 white as well and have been very happy with it.

Pretty cool!

Very nice!

Very nice, well done.

IMHO, Saddle stitch by all means Thinner thread will be fine, your not towing a truck here. The holes on back look smaller because of the machine stitching, mine always do. Double the start and stop stitch and burn/melt the ends on the back. You can tie off if you like. You would have to separate the two pieces and let contact cement set up before it would be effective so I think not. Maybe some other glue a Goop or something similar you could put in with a stick and clamp till dry? Just about any leather treatment would be an improvement. Nice find and well worth the effort to save the original. Most of the ones I get are crumbling ruins. It looks very much like the sheath for my Father in laws Mora that he had in north Africa in WW2.

Very, very nice. Love the color.

Very sweet! Not judging here, but, 2 45s?

Weldwood and a fan.. Trying to keep what few brain cells I have alive..

Happy to have you and WELCOME! Lots of good info here.

Nicely done! You'll get better as you learn your machine.

How about using a drill press or punch to do a "pilot hole" so it would be straight, then using the awl to angle the hole as desired?

I like the bottom one as well. Cant wait to see the finished product.

To the contrary, yes, I have. And it came out fine. I actually used a finish nail (think it was a 4 penny) that I put in the drill press and used a file to smooth out the head and put a fine point on it. That way it parts the leather more than drilling It. In hindsight, I'm not sure I needed the drill part of it as much as the press part. 3 to 4 layers of 7/8 is is doable I suppose, but not with my arthritis. Just be sure to have something backing the piece.

Thanks folks. Yeah, I dont wear it to dye stuff. Kind of cool to wear when guys come over to see my shop or when I do a local show.

Very nice Chuck.

Agree with the rotary cutter. I use one almost exclusively for lighter leathers, even up to 7/8 oz I use for holsters. It will cause issues at the corners, but you can use an exacto knife for that. I also have a quilter wife and have discovered plastic rules that do not slide. They are called Creative grids. Look online for them, they are worth the $.

This is why I buy Hermann Oak. Consistency. What you have there could be from different makers and heck, even different countries. However, dyed leather and not dyed leather can be a factor too.

I like the thought process that went into this . Square cornered, hard sided, briefcases form the 70s that I remember, were double sided, or lined, with a hard material in the middle. This may be relevant or not. But I feel a firm layer between the leather will add a lot. I'm sure you have seen this already.

Very different Frodo. I'm a big fan of tooling. Outside the box!