Denster

You might want to consider reducing significantly the thickness of the metal you are using for a reinforcement.

More trouble than it is worth. If you are using bonded nylon or poly it is just not necessary.

That is where the top thread gets pulled through and show on the bottom.

Looks pretty darn good Josh. Nice work with the shark overlays. The stitching looks good except for a couple of dead soldiers on the back and that just takes a little practice to only noodge when the needle is down and pressor foot up. Over all though really nice.

Yes you are going to regret it. Going from Hermann Oak to Tandy bargain leather you will not be happy with the results.

I agree 100% with Malabar on the foredom tools. They are top of the line if you can find one reasonable get it. $25 at a yard sale I'm really jealous.

When you purchase from them you get a 90day warranty just keep the sales receipt. They will offer to sell you a longer warranty but in my experience if it works for 90 days it will continue to work.

Harbor freight sells a motor with foot control and flex shaft with handpiece that is much more convenient to use than a dremel tool. The regular cost is around $50 or about $40 when on sale or with a cupon. I know wht everyone says about HF but some of their tools are really good and this is one of them. The small jacobs chuck on the handpiece also does not limit you to shaft size as does the dremel. http://www.harborfreight.com/flexible-shaft-grinder-and-carver-40432.html

Overall pretty darn nice. Just a couple of suggestions. I would resist the urge to put on a throat reinforcement. They don't really have much use on a pancake design and to my eye clutter up the clean look you've achieved. I would also mold less at the accessory rail. Other than that you did a fine job.

Man talk about a barbecue rig. That is really pretty Josh.

Actually what is shown is not really a leather punch although it will make holses in leather. It is better for punching holes in thin metal and kydex. You can get a really good rotary hole punch from Springfield for around $39 that looks identical to the $85 Osborne and even takes the Osborne tubes. I have two and they are absolutely top flight even though they are imports. You can find the same punch on eBay sometimes for about $32 after shipping.

I've made more than a hundred holsters for the BG380. No problem with activating the laser just resist the urge to bone directly over that area. Souldn't be a problem it's hard enough to get the laser to turn on when you want it to.

+1 on being a satisfied customer. I used to order direct from Rings but Rob is quicker and cheaper.

Springfield leather is a good place to do business. I'd suggest Hermann Oak leather. They will cut the amount you wish to purchase.

Be sure to show us how it turns out.

Josh makes some good points although with that pistol the front sight is not very high and the pancake design will accomodate it without molding in a separate sight channel. I would also bring the ends of the wings in a bit. I find that 3/8 to no more than 1/2in between the perifery and the outer edge of the belt slot is more than enough.

The basic design is OK. The sweat shield, as drawn, will interfere with getting a firing grip on the draw. You need to trim the back edge some. To judge where your belt slots will go you need to draw on an accurate stitchline. This would be one half of the weapon thickness + one thickness of leather from the profile of the weapon. Once that is established you can locate the belt slots. I find that 5/8 of an inch from the closest part of the stitchline works well for most handguns.

Good job. Interesting pistol also.

Either bag kote or tan kote will work and give you a satiny finish. Looks really nice on western gear.

I use heavy posterboard that I buy at the local print shop. I make a master pattern then a using pattern. The use pattern will last for 50 or 60 holsters before it gets a bit raggy at which time I use my master pattern to make another use pattern.

Nice solution. I'll bet a six pack at least.

Looks pretty nice. I'm not a big fan of tuckable holsters but if you must have one that looks like it's as good as it gets.

FNX and SOLO I have the others.

Pretty nice. Reminiscent of the old speed scabbard with some innovation. I particularly like the belt attachment method.

I would do the coat of neetsfoot oil first and that will blaken it nicely. A top coat will really bring out the sheen afterwards.