Tac

Very "clean" looking. Great stitching and color. For a simple rig set up, it shouts "attention to detail" and "hand crafted".... I'd like a rig like that for my Ruger Blackhawk. Perfect for when I'm hunting.... Damn.... now I have another project to get around to... -Tac

I love the color and style of the Ruger Single Six holster and belt combo. Beautiful!

Matt hit the nail on the head. A Govt (5 inch), Commander (4.25 inch) and a Officers (3.5 inch) cover the majority of slide sizes for the vast majority of makers.... The next big change is if the frame has a rail or not. Also, keep in mind the Sig series of 1911s have a stylized slide profile and that can cause issue with tightly molded and boned 1911 holsters. With the three standard size blue guns (govt, commander, officers), I have not ran into a 1911 I haven't been able to pattern a holster for. Hope that helps with your question. -Tac

I've never made a paddle holster, mostly because I've never been asked to build one and I don't use them much myself anymore. Before I retired, when I worked a plain clothes assignment that didn't require concealing my duty pistol, I tried a Blackhawk Serpa paddle holster for a while. Like others have previously stated, I did not like the belt movement and lack of stability that the holster provided and it wasn't long before I swapped the back plate paddle attachement to the belt slide version. I never looked at a paddle design as a "CCW" holster, but more as an open carry option for folks who frequently need to remove their holstered handgun. I know a lot of detectives that wear paddle holsters for that reason. They are often in and out of court and the jail, where they can't carry a gun, so the paddle makes it easier to take on and off. Most of these same folk are not "Gun People", and some of them only carry a gun because they have to, not because they think they will ever need it...(sadly). -Tac

Wow! Just as I expected, fantastic! The belt/holster combo is beautiful. Very professionally constructed and detailed. I'd be proud to call that rig my own. I really like the draw angle. Muzzle forward for fast draw just looks fast, lol. -Tac

Renegade... Can I ask where you get your belt clips from? I like the style of those. -Tac

It's a shame that that beautiful work is going to be covered up by the wearer's pants....

Wow! Can't wait to see it on a belt! Great job! -Tac

Chris, that holster is down right gorgeous! I LOVE the tan color. I wish I could get my tan to come out that even and glowing. -Tac

This may go without saying, because it is so obvious, but it really pays to make sure your tools are very sharp. A dull beveler will pull and drag on the leather, causing the leather to "bunch up", rather than cut. I am constantly sharpening my beveler to help make sure it cuts cleanly. -Tac

Wow! Shooter, that is gorgeous! I've never been a big fan of Ostrich quill, but that is beautiful and my have just changed my mind... Now I'm going to have to try a version of that on one of my pancakes... -Tac

Does anyone know why Rings doesn't just cast these type pistols with the safety in the "correct" position and save us all the trouble? Between the 1911, the Browning Hi Power, the other various "cocked and locked" guns, you would think this would be the norm, rather than the exception...

I picked up a "Dealer Sample" Artisan/Toro 3000 a few years back at the Wickenburg leather expo, and since the dealer didn't want to tote it back to California, I got it for a very decent price, all set up. He even helped me load it into my truck! LOL. I am now retired (23 years in Law Enforcement) and holstermaking was my hobby, but it is becoming more of a business now. I avarage about 5-6 holsters a month on it right now, and have really only used it for holsters. I think in the last 4 years, I've maybe made one belt on it. It has been a great machine so far. I have only broken one needle in the last 4 years and haven't had to adjust it since it was set up. Just a little oil every now and then and make sure the bobbin is loaded before I start and off I go... I could not believe how much faster it made my production routine, and how much more "professional" looking my peices came out, after I got the machine. It was definately worth every penny. -Tac

WOW!!! That is a great looking holster considering it's purpose.. I have not yet had the desire to frustrate myself by attempting a light mounted holster... Very Nice Eric. Thanks for sharing. -Tac

Big River... You need to keep that guys number handy! He did a fantastic job from what I can see from the pictures. Having someone around who can make you molds like that should seriously improve your ability to keep pace with the firearms market. That's and advantage that few custom holster maker shops have. Good on you! -Tac

I gotta ask... has nothing to do with the holster, which I think looks very practical, considering the gun... Have you actually pulled the trigger on that beast yet? I am wondering what the recoil, short, round grip frame and spur hammer would feel like with a "000-buck" load of .410.... Or a 255 grain .45 Colt load... either one brings to mind images of pain and less than accurate shot placement... But, I might be wrong... Wouldn't be the first time... -Tac

We all learn by doing... good start. Have fun. Ultimately, thats what a hobby is for, to have fun.... being able to build a useful product and enjoy it with others is all icing on the cake. If every holster I ever made turned out perfect the first time around, I probably wouldn't have continued with the hobby, as it would have gotten boring. Making mistakes, figuring out how to solve them and trying again, is what makes this interesting. Now you have a reference point and some things to work on... Have fun making your next holster EVEN BETTER. -Tac

That is one of the prettiest and most functional looking shoulder holsters I have seen on here to date. Well Done! I love the color and detail molding. -Tac

Deacon is on the mark with his comment, but I believe the Beretta 92 is also just slightly thinker in the slide, and the trigger guard has a forward hook on the outside, versus the rounded version of the 1951. Of the molding and detailing aren't too tight, they should be close enough to work. -Tac

I used one many years ago when I first started out tinkering with leather... it worked ok, and created a decent lock stitch, but I never liked the way the stitches layed and once I got practiced at a saddle stitch, I stopped using the speedy awl. I keep mine around as a tool for emergency repairs on thinner leather items that my sewing machine won't work on, or a saddle stitch isn't the best for, like my motorcycle chaps or jacket.... I also used it once to repair a felt cowboy hat..If you use it to repair a felt hat, use unwaxed thread... trust me on that one... -Tac

Love the color! matches the grips well. Over all, looks like a pretty good job! Oh, and a wife that buys guns as gift is a rare as chicken lips! you better keep her around... and happy!

The .45 XDm is larger in size. If you pattern and mold the holster for a .40 version, it will be a VERY tight fit, if you can get the .45 in to begin with... Most of the difference between the two is in thickness of the frame and slide... Not a huge difference, but considerable enough, if you sew tight lines and wet mold with detail. -Good luck. Let us know which direction you go and how it turns out. -Tac

+1 for what Dwight said... My preference is for a tightly molded pancake or Askins style holster with no retention strap. The molding and tight sew line works perfect for retention in most every circumstance short of an L.E. Duty holster set up. With that said, I have made a couple of thumb break OWB holsters, at the customer's request , making sure that I mold the thumb break between the hammer and the slide, for cocked and locked carry. (making sure to mold the holster with the thumb safety in the UP position.) -my dos centavos... -Tac

Well Done! no one would ever guess that was a first project... I love the look of the braided edge with the brands... Keep it up, you will have a great hobbie to share with your grandpa.. you can never have too many shared hobbies like those in my book. -Tac

Fantastic take on the old "push up" holsters! Well done and very professional.