Twosons

Thanks! Amazing work.

I've got to know... How do you do the edges on the reinforcement piece?

Beautiful work.

I've actually taken to this airbrush for simple things like dye and Duracoat. It works surprisingly well. I got suckered into a set and they are junk.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TANDY-LEATHER-AL-STOHL...4QQcmdZViewItem

I've been carrying for quite a few years now and I find the above advice quite sound. Check how LE carries and check your local IDPA/IPSC style competitions. You won't find terribly many folks carrying in that manner.

Please check your private messages.

Thanks!

Do you think that the Blackhawk's are true to spec?

I finished my 1st holster (in this thread). I was not happy with the burnishing that I did. What do you use for burnishing on your holsters?

I used image tags in the 1st try. I'll try the upload this time.

Here it is!

Finished it up today. The dye came out a little darker than I thought it would, and I flubbed the burnishing (looks sloppy), but I am pretty darned happy for my 1st go around. The next one will be better... I used the Tandy burnishing wheel and will replace that as soon as I get a chance. Hopefully some pics when I get a second.

Yes, a new holster without pix... ...yet.

Lobo, Insurance work can be great work. Business will likely only get better the way the economy is looking right now. I took the opposite path. I worked insurance prior to going into LE. Got my AIC and was part of the way into CPCU. I have to admit that I am much happier now in LE and it has treated my quite well. I wish you the best on which way you decide to go.

Thanks, folks. I finished boning my 1st holster last night, a simple pancake. I have learned a ton along the way. 90% of it came from you folks here. What have I learned? Making holsters is easier than I ever thought it would be. Making Holsters is much harder than I ever thought it would be. Even a caveman like me can make a holster. Stitching is way easier than I thought it would be. If you make a mistake, don't panic, you can probably fix it or make it work. My wife will tolerate my crazy habits. I made some learning curve mistakes a long the way. I grooved the stitch line a bit too deep. I am not so great with the free hand groover in the curves. I need to add a bit more space between the gun and the stitching, although not too much. Grooving the backside is a pain. Mine doesn't look so great. I had to trim the sweat guard after boning. Looked great on the pattern and after cutting the leather. After stitching and boning it was off and blocked the draw. Looks OK, but not great. When you are cutting a left handed holster, sometimes you get a right handed holster to practice with when you aren't paying attention to what you are doing. While it's not done yet, it already looks 20X better than I ever thought it would. Now, I need to do the dying and burnishing which both intimidate me a bit. Mostly because I have never done it. I am sure I will make it though after reading what you folks post. She's not ready for photos yet, but I'll get some up when the time is right. Anyway, thanks for all the wisdom and knowledge you have in these pages.

It looks like it has two slots. One on the side and one on the back side of the holster.

Thanks! I have a groover, but saw that on the video and was wondering. I am glad I found this site, I have learned a ton.

I noticed in looking through many of the old posts that you are using groovers to make the stitch channel. In Bianchi's video he uses a creaser. Is there any advantage to one way or the other? Thanks!

Nice! I have always been more partial to the browns.

Allen, I would agree. I have known a lot of warriors in my day. The vast majority of them are not concerned about how their sidearm looks, but rather how it functions. The understand that the sidearm is just a tool and that the real weapon is they themselves. Bruce, The holster is perfect as it is. I would be honored to carry one like it. Good work. While I have never made a holster, I have learned so much from those of you who have. Thanks!

Very nice!

They came through now. Look great!

I don't know if it is just my PC, but the pics didn't come trough.

Nice! How did you do the prints?