Vikefan

Just joking... Can I possibly meet the woman that the Peace sign buckle is modeled by?

I think you did and excellent job in your design for your knife sheath. I make all my own patterns for everything (by scratch or pics) and yours is well laid out and planed and fits to your knife. Great job! The only thing I would recommend is to look at your stitching and stitching location in relation to the edge of your knife and placement of your retaining strap. I believe you did a great job overall. Congrats!

Thank you for your advice... I will try to incorporate it in future projects. Vikefan

I think you've done a marvelous job! I am a pool player myself and own two "old" George cue cases, one single and one double. I love your craftsmanship on this one! Keep up the "Great" work!! Vikefan

I am interested in finding a way to keep my snaps from sliding. I've seen tools from Osborne (Campbell Leather tools website), and they seem as they should work. I set the bottom of a snap 3 times as carefully as I could and it still slid on me. Tandy has a snap setting tool going on sale in the future and that would work but it is very expensive, because you have to pay extra for each size snap you want to use, etc. Can anyone tell me if they've used these tools from Osborne? Thank you, Vikefan

I've had one critiqe so far, maybe I'll get more here? Vikefan

TOTALLY AWESOME WORK!!!! Wish I had one.

What is the best way to utilize Snake or Stingray skins into knife/holster projects? Is it better to use a stronger leather backing? How are these projects completed? Thanks,

How does one remove dye from a belt or some other object they are dying? I recently made a belt and started to put the wrong (darker) brown on it, I need to remove that dye to be able to dye it the proper color. Help

I have been interested in Vinagroon as a way to blacken some of my projects. I made a batch of Vinegroon about six months ago and used it once and had pretty good results with it. Now after six months, it did not seem to work as well. My stamped/tooled belt came out a greyish brown/tan color. Now what can I do? By the way; what is the best way to make vinegroon (what type vinegar to use) and what is the correct ratio for the Baking soda/water rince after dipping the project in the vinagroon mixture? Thanks, Greg

Thank you for your input, I will probably try that on my next holster designed similarly for a .45 1911 style firearm. Thanks.

Please critique a holster project I completed during a Holster Class at Tandy Leather (Anchorage, AK) store. Not sure if it was a one day class or two. See what you think and let me know.

Ever since I've seen them in the Cowboy Chronicle and other places I've wanted to attempt one of these. I did go to campmore but they are unavailable now. I have a stainless steel one I found online somewhere (re-enactment site) and will have to use it I suppose. GREAT tutorial - THE BEST!! Can I ask you; what kind of stamping tools do you use and how do you keep your Awls blades sharp for going thru two thicknesses of leather? Thanks,

Here are a few pictures of my latest project. A holster that fits a Ruger .22 LR Super Single Six with a 6 1/2" barrel. I have been having trouble with my stitching, been trying an awl, and small drill bit with a dremel and cannot get my hand-stitching the way I would like them (consistent and professional looking. Please take a look and critique my work. Thanks,

I think it is "AWESOME"; great design! It puts one I started to shame right now. I think it goes well with the knife. Great knife too!

NoahL, How did you get your distressed look to that Knife sheath? I really like it and would like to hear or read how you accomplished that look. Nice knife too! Vikefan

Please have a looksie and tell me what you think of it. I have since adjusted the strap lengths, then dyed, edged and conditioned them to match holster in color. Thanks,

I for one absolutely "love" it. Great design and everything "fits".

Years ago, before I myself started any sort of leatherwork I purchased a single Spring steel Spring clip for Antique Shoulder Holster rigs. I am not sure of the proper name for these clips but will try to describe them the best I can. These shoulder holsters (1800's) basically have a cup in the lower portion of the holster to hold the barrel, and have a spring steel clip that holds the Cylinder portion of the gun in place in the holster. The spring steel Clips are generally leather encased as to not mar the surface of the guns cylinder. Check out the book "Packing Iron". There are pictures of the holsters there. I hope this helps. Please let me know where I can purchase a few of these, so I can make my own shoulder rig like some of the Antiques.

Close but not quite; it is built for a Ruger "Old" Vaquaro or Ruger Blackhawk - .44 Mag/.45 Colt. Left hand draw. Thank you... I still need to perfect my stitching.

Please have a looksie and critique my work. Just a few strap adjustments to make, dying the back side of the straps, doing some strap edge work and then a water resistant finish and she's done. What do you all think of it?

I am currently working on a shoulder holster and put a stitch groove on one side of my leather, but not the front side on part of the project. I used a diamond shaped awl blade (usually I use a dremel with the smallest bit I can find). I used a stitching wheel to space the holes and poked the awl blade thru the leather on my workbench (straight down - I thought). When I stitched my project the stitching looked great (best I've done) on the side I put the stitching groove into, but the other side looks ok (not very pretty) and kind of uneven. How can one side look great and the other not so good? Please let me know how to correct this problem I am having, so both sides look good. Thanks,

Here is my first attempt working with stingray. This is what I've done so far, it is the front portion of a boot knife sheath, decided not to use the white part of the skin as I did feel it went with the design (curvature) of the sheath itself.