ComputerDoctor

Thanks Bikermutt! It is a fun hobby. It is really amazing however, how long it takes to make something from inspiration to finish project:) I'm a 'Biker' too and I am on my 85th bike with over 55 years of legal street riding. Built dyno winning Harley big twin engines and was a member of many HD affiliated clubs:) I am going to start on a handlebar carrier, large enough to carry my 'piece' and a carrying bag for the rear luggage rack of my 2014 Honda CTX1300D. Sam

Final dye coat but still not completely finished:) Sam

A little more tooling finished. Sam:)

https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/this-lab-grown-leather-could-hit-retailers-next-year Sam

The wallet isn't finished but it's getting there Sam

It's probably a 'Masterlink,' available at any motorcycle store. Sam:)

What in the world is 'vinegroon?' Just for the fun of it, what does a 'Laser' machine cost? Beautiful work:) Sam

Yin, the Holster is one he bought a few years ago and is very expensive and beautiful so I won't modify anything until I see him in person and I 'FIT' the outfit to him and his body. I agree that a couple of studs will replace the noisy grommet strap. The 'CLAM' design is very stiff and holds the pistol very tightly so much so that it probably doesn't need anything to hold it in place. I can probably loosen the leathers grip by liberal amounts of Mink oil but not without the customers permission. The pistol is so long and heavy, a traditional holster probably wouldn't work well but I may end up designing something better in the future. Sam:)

Nice work! Sam:)

Below is my completed project: A harness, modified holster, retaining straps and ammunition belt. The pistol is for hunting wild Boar, Deer and Elk. It is the most powerful readily available firearm, in 460 S&W Magnum and the pistol is the long, almost 9 inch trice compensated, stainless steel beauty! Problem is, the weapon alone weighs 72 + ounces, not counting the weighty ammo and holster and my customer is small in stature so the typical 'right hip' holster location is out of the question. Sam:)

For sure! Your sheath is very nice looking and rugged: Sam

Very nice and practical too! Anyone that has ever had the bow string hit them HARD on the forearm will understand the importance of having the arm guard:) Sam:)

Another small project: Ammunition belt. Sam:)

Very nice! The stitching looks very professional, like mine never does:( I have never seen a 1911 45 acp in blue but it looks good:) I too appreciate the concern for safety and accidental discharges of firearms but there are numerous safety features on the 1911 series of pistols: 1. Carry with no round in the chamber. 2. Don't carry with the trigger cocked on a live round seated in the chamber. 3. Given number 2, there is still the 'safety lever' trigger lock. 4. given 2 and 3 above, the 'Beaver tail' safety right below the trigger must be pushed forward with the web between the thumb and index finger for the weapon to fire. I sometimes carry my M1911 Gold Cup National Match, in 45 acp in Stainless steel. I would suggest a strap of some kind to hold the pistol within the holster--just in case. Nice work! Sam:)

Beautiful bag!

Bikermutt is giving very good advice, mainly EXPERIMENT ! I take pieces of scrap and try different glues and then clamp them and time the drying process and write the results on the scrap:) I use a lot of 'Gorilla' Superglue to hold pieces together before I hand sew. I do the same thing with dyes because they sure look different wet than when they dry. I try different ways to burnish edges and different media. The typical wood hand burnisher for instance works 99% as well for me as a burnisher head on the end of a Dremel. Some leathers tool very well and others are terrible. Light weight hides to me at least are almost impossible to tool. I hardly ever throw away even a small piece of scrap because I will eventually use it for something. YouTube is your friend for learning leather work and I go there often. Have fun! Sam:)

Dye of any kind dries the leather out and causes it to split when bent. You can rub in Mink oil or a similar softener after the dye is dry and let the softener sink in for a while and then 'bend it' as little as possible. A little dye on the end of a Q tip will take care of the splits that show the hide. If I want a real flat bend, I bend it while it is wet and sometimes hit the edge with a mallet--gently. Sam:)

Not to sound elitist but a new Dremel, with different size coletts and a bunch of cool stuff is under $30 or so. Amazon has many different kinds and features with different prices. Get one with 'ball bearings' as they last longer. Sam:)

Hiram, I thought you were dead The square and compasses look real good! My suggestion is to make a paper template and construct a new holster instead of modifying the old one. It's fun and easy really but it is time consuming, especially the tooling. I'm by far no expert at Leathercraft but please check out my work in the "Show off" section as I show holsters at various stages of construction. Sam

Another new Holster I made to comfort my new Sig Sauer P320, 9mm Military pistol: Sam:)

Some Wallets: Still experimenting with finishes, tooling and antiquing. Sam:)

HERE'S A FEW OTHER LITTLE RECENT PROJECTS: Sam:)

Nice work! We are our biggest critic and maybe that will lead us towards perfection Sam

Here are a few more pictures of my "Briefcase project," completed now. A few pictures are attached of a prototype Cartridge or Bandoleer; which is a broad belt worn over the shoulder by soldiers, Hunters and target shooters having a number of small loops or pockets, for holding a cartridge or cartridges. I have, at least to me, a big project starting up to produce a 'heavy duty' weight supporting 'tool belt' type dual shoulder harness that will carry the weight of the Smith and Wesson, 460 MAG pistol, shown above, along with the weight of loaded and extra bullets, etc, that would be too heavy for any holster that I have ever seen! The pistol is HUGE and HEAVY---sort of like me:) Sam:)

Second coat of dye applied and the 'antique' look is coming through. There will be more tooling and a few pouches added. Sam:)