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What tool do you prefer to make your stitch line ?

I bought an Osborne from a seller on ebay,will sharpen it like katsass sharpened his. Thanks

Thanks Appreciate the info about the needle sizing

Thanks for the information I want to use as many natural Materials as I can to make the holster,thats the main reason for using the Linen. I am thinking I can Rewax the linen thread a couple of times a year with beeswax and maybe get around the worry of the linen rotting ? And as far as snapping I could just restitch ?

Yesterday I went to Tandy Leather website ,I downloaded 3 of the free e-book downloads by Al Stohlman . I am wanting to use Linen Thread Do the Tandy Harness needles break easily? Do you use a Tandy awl, if so what are your observations about the tool and its use? Thanks

I am going to hand sew a Pancake holster I am going to make for myself. Which size and brand of harness needles do tyall use for doing this ? I am also going to be using Linen thread ,what size and brand ? I am thinking about using an awl as well What would be a decent Awl to use that does not cost an arm and a leg ? For use with 8 Oz veg tanned leaher and lesser weights. Thanks And thanks to all who shared their Ideas and Pics and Knowledge with me concerning making Pancake holsters. I really appreciate it.

Concealed carry prevents them from seeing the handgun and therefore thy are not likely to try and take something they cant see. The statement about the wallet is almost absurd.. First if they are trying to steal your wallet then they are taking from you and your families wellbeing and survival. Second is there is all kinds of information typically in a wallet that can be used to financially and physically harm you and your family. And third how do you know they wont try to harm you or kill you once you hand over a wallet? How close is too close Depends on the situation In a crowded store where there is no aggressive behavior that I have observed people would be allowed to get closer to me than they would be allowed to get closer than if they were Brandishing a gun or a knife. If someone is threating me or my family with a knife At 50 yards obviously that is a different threat level than the same scenario at 10 to 15 yards. Personally ,If I could stop the threat at 15 yards or more I would because of reaction time. My secondary concerns to the a potential situation that I have to try and stop a thug from harming myself or family are just that,secondary. My FIRST responsibility is to protect myself and My Family from being Hurt,Maimed or Killed. The old cliché is"I would rather be Judged by 12 than carried by six" I have said there are too many variables and IFS to cover every scenario. Then you ask if I actually know practicing speed loading a weapon is great but you have to get to that point first with a person trying to keep you from it Do you actually know what the terminology New York Reload refers to ? For educational purpose https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/New_York_reload Do you actually know what a speed Rock is ,why it is used and how to do it? For educational Purposes

What size and brand of Harness needles and thread would be good for Hand sewing these holsters ?

When I asked about the difference between the flat backed pancake and curved back pancake part of the question asked about retention but I was referring to any difference between the two holsters and not whether a pancake holster with a strap was better than a pancake holster without a strap. Seeing how this thread has drifted from its original intent I will play along. I have carried for over 40 years and have used a variety of pistols and revolvers along with a variety of holsters(Strongside owb,strong side iwb,crossdraw,shoulder ,pocket Holster,in the pocket with no holster and stuck in the waistband at about 4 oclock. For instance out on a tractor or 3 or 4 wheeler or horse I want a holster with a retaining strap and the holster mostly being some type of owb with a retaining strap as I don't want to the handgun to come out of the holster . When carrying concealed (and I do everyday whether at home or out)I just want a holster that when going about my normal activity(Getting in and out of my pickup,sitting on the couch,mowing the yard,going to the grocery store etc)keeps my handgun secure . I also carry a New York Reload. The Military using a retaining strap or a tension adjuster on their holsters do so because of anticipated vigorous activity much as an outdoors man or someone working on a farm might. Law enforcement might do the same because they might have someone try to take their handgun.And if they have someone try to take their handgun (which more than likely will be visible and that is why they are trying to take it)a retaining strap or a pure retention holster would be a good idea. Also if they are trained to do so they can take your handgun right off your belt ,holster and all . I do not carry in the open ever and therefore am not worried about someone trying to take my handgun. I have been shooting handguns since I was 10 years old and have never heard the term Full Draw used concerning anything other than Archery. I was practicing the Speed Rock 45 years ago John Wayne was a very good actor and don't know what he might have recommended as far as shooting goes but that has no importance. To say that a cop nor anyone else should try and outdraw anyone who is too close means what? What is too close? What does outdraw mean? Is too close 3 ft,5 ft,10ft or 30ft? Does outdraw mean drawing your gun while someone is pointing a gun at you?if so ,would you not want to at least try to survive instead of just standing there and getting shot? Do you mean they have told you that they are going to kill you and you believe they actually are going to try ?then do your best to stop them whatever the means. Does outdraw mean that they are reaching for a gun ? if so then draw yours first if you can and start shooting. The what ifs are never ending. Also keep in mind that although nobody wants to be shot ,in real life being shot does not mean that you are dead or stopped. And the same goes for a thug that you might have to shoot. People do not get blown across a room or flung through a window or even fall down by a gunshot ,only in the movies. Either have or develop a survivors mindset and let no thug take your life from you or your Family.

Reaction time Action beats reaction That's why we all keep our eyes and ears open and stay on alert as much as possible. Additionally if a person is being rushed it is sometimes faster to step to the side while you Are drawing. Train to move as you are drawing as well and get off the X Also keep in mind that the idea that a person can never defend themselves because of reaction time might lead some to not carry on a daily basis. And that might lead to going unarmed completely and that only leads to being almost completely vulnerable to an attack . I would much rather have a pistol and not need it than need a pistol and not have it.

Sure jimi Thanks for your input as well

jimi post got me to thinking about the temps for Beeswax as I never measured the actual temperature for beeswax. I searched on the internet and found that Beeswax starts to get a Putty like consistency at 90 degrees F or so.

I have gotten hot beeswax on my fingers before when making mustache wax and as the beeswax first starts to turn into liquid and it did not hurt . I would not want to dip my fingers in extremely hot liquid beeswax The melting point of Beeswax is about 145 F but when it just starts to get soft it is much cooler.and quickly cools off. Then buffing it by hand will cause it to get warm again and help it penetrate. Not a ton of difference than when you get a little melted candle wax on your finger. But thanks for the concern though . Probably best not to dip fingers in even warm wax

I will just heat the beeswax until it is liquid then dip either a cloth or my fingers in it and apply directly to the leather. I will have to heat it repeatedly to do this but the time and trouble it takes to do this will be part of the fun of making a holster. Production time means nothing to me as I will be making the holster/holsters for my own use. Sorta like when years ago I used to enjoy making my own Indian style flatbows from trees I cut myself and arrows that I made myself from the same wood that I split out from the wood,gluing turkey feathers on without using a jig,making Flemish twist bowstrings . I enjoy doing things myself and I am thinking that making pistol holster will be a fun hobby !

I wonder how much better the new products are than natures products or if for the most part the Large companies developments are merely a way to market a new product to generate cash flow.

I am going to use the Straight Beeswax,non perishable and from what I have read there have been finds of beeswax several thousand years old that the beeswax was still fine . Out of curiosity how often do you reapply ? Thanks to all for your sharing of your information.

Yes ,It sounds like you are happy using it. I like the idea of using a non perishable natural material . Thanks for your information ,I appreciate it

Thanks for the information,appreciate it

Nick, I really do understand the difference between usage and meaning of the word can't and the word cant but thanks for pointing out this all important issue regarding holster design.

The more I have investigated the matter the more I have become convinced that using quality beeswax by itself is the route I will take. Mink oil Neatsfoot oil Lard ,tallow are all Perishable and will become Rank .Beeswax with nothing added is non perishable and will never become rank. Any oil added to beeswax will soften the Leather and introduce bacterial breakdown to the leather to the degree that the oil penetrates the leather and then starts to go bad(perish ,go rank etc) I do not want to add a perishable ingredient to a non perishable . It seems as though anything added to Quality Beeswax works in spite of itself and not because it was added to the Beeswax . The downsides I see to using beeswax are that it can be considered expensive,not easy to get quality filtered beeswax that has not had something added to it. More difficult to apply to leather than just using liquid oil or a paste. If leather is totally saturated in beeswax and extremely hot temperature that would approach the melting point of beeswax then obviously the leather would be less stiff until the temp was lowered again. For my use of protecting the stitching,and helping to preventing bacteria from getting inside the leather and to provide a high degree of water resistance plus (in my opinion)a pleasant smell,the Beeswax with nothing added to it will get my use.

What is the best natural thing to add to beeswax to protect a holster I have experience using store bought olive oil and beeswax as I have made my own mustache wax and poured it into lip balm plastic containers . After about 6 months it starts to have a sorta rank smell to it,it’s easy to tell when you have a good sense of smell and it’s on your upper lip ! The smell on a holster would not bother me but I don’t want it to rot my holster ! Suggestions for a natural product ? I believe that I am just going to use the beeswax by itself,non perishable ,won’t go rank . I am going to melt it then when it starts to go solid again dip my fingers in it and apply to the leather. Thanks

I have seen references to flatback pancake holsters,what is the difference between a Flat back pancake holster and a curved back pancake holster ? assuming all else is equal(gun,can’t,leather weight,holster design etc)which is better for comfort and retention when worn somewhere between 3-4 o’clock strongside ? Thanks

Thanks for the information ,I appreciate it

Thanks for the info Nick Bout how much does a single shoulder cost and best place to buy ? Craig

Thanks for the Pics Chief