Capt3513

Real nice field holster, good job!

Quite some time ago I posted a photo of some Brillalikes I had made. Since then I've done a lot of reaearch and learned a lot more about them. Some information came from some gun forums (Colt and S&W in particular), some from Google and some from Will ghormley"s Lone Star holster patterns. Those are outstanding and helped with my pattern making as well as picking up some good tips. This is the latest one (my pattern), with a photo of an original I based it on. It's for a S&W M-69 .44 mag. I had noticed that there were a few different sized basket stamps on the originals and some were very small. I found a pretty small pre-1963 vintage one from Professional Leather Carvers and wanted to try it out, so I went with this snubby for the test. Using one that small was a challenge. I'm glad I didn't try a 7 1/2 SAA first. Most revolver Brills had the trigger above the scabbard, except for snubbies. They had the trigger guards covered like on the semi-autos and often had the strap added as well. Some were over the hammers and some over the trigger guards from what I've found. It doesn't hinder the draw to sweep it off in the draw srtoke, either. This is the welt stack. 2 1/2 welts and it butts up against the frame for retention. This one is made using the Lone Star pattern. The welt stack gives good retention without needing the safety strap. This one is also a Lone Star pattern. One of our Deputies wanted a roughout version (to better match his nylon belt). There's a thunb break on the end of this safety strap and front part swings 180 degrees down and out of the way when the break is unsnapped. There is good retention from the welt against the frame, too. Thanks for looking. Sorry about the lack of clarity, I took the photos with my phone and they lost detail in the resizing (old guy, computer illiterate...)

Per request-the backside of an old one for a P-239

This is a quote from an article regarding Rhodesian holsters by Ken Hackathorn " Due to the embargo imposed upon Rhodesia concerning arms and related equipment, many items were produced locally in country. Vidar Nakling of Norway handmade holsters, belts and magazine pouches for his buddies in the Rhodesian forces. Using Kudu hide, he carefully produced very functional rigs that were highly favored by not only the troops, but his IPSC shooting buddies in Rhodesia. The holster design used by Vidar Nakling was very much like the popular Sickinger brand combat holster made in West Germany that used two pieces of leather sewn together to form a weld in both the front and back. Vidar made his holster with much less belt loop drop versus the Sickinger design. I remember Andy Langley using his Vitar Nakling " Rhodesian" rig with great success on the range. It was a favorite of many of the 'Selous Scouts' that made-up Rhodesia's most elite counter terror unit" I started looking into this type as I had an old Safarailand duty holsterwith the fold on the triggerguard side and a sight channel seam opposite. I've also nrun into references to this coming from a "speed scabbard" design. I make it deeper than the originals and so it rides higher. A Sig P-239 in one is pretty much my daily wear. "Do to the embargo imposed upon Rhodesia concerning arms and related equipment, many items were produced locally in country. Vidar Nakling of Norway handmade holsters, belts and magazine pouches for his buddies in the Rhodesian forces. Using Kudu hide, he carefully produced very functional rigs that were highly favored by not only the troops, but his IPSC shooting buddies in Rhodesia. The holster design used by Vidar Nakling was very much like the popular Sickinger brand combat holster made in West Germany that used two pieces of leather sewn together to form a weld in both the front and back. Vidar made his holster with much less belt loop drop versus the Sickinger design. I remember Andy Langley using his Vitar Nakling " Rhodesian" rig with great success on the range. It was a favorite of many of the 'Selous Scouts' that made-up Rhodesia's most elite counter terror unit

It's been quite a while since I put up pics though I lurk here a lot and enjoy seeing other people's work. So these are some I've worked on: A version of a speed scabbard/Rhodesian for a Sig P-220 with a triple mag carrier. I've come to really like this style and have made a bunch for other guys now, too. It carries well and I changed the belt loop from the folded down and stitched type on originals to a separate sewed on one so it carries higher. Thin Blue Line with agency badge for retiring deputies. Sig P-320 Full Size. These are fully lined. Pancake for a Browning High Power, The thumbreak has a plastic reinforcement on the back piece and a white liner on the back to prevent dye transfer.

I've lurked here for over a year and found information and inspiration, so I figured it was time to register and put up a post or two. I favor the holster styles from the 19th and early 20th centuries and after learning the history of "Brills" from "Holstory-Gunleather of the Twentieth Century" I was determined to try some for myself. All except for the Hi-Power are lined and all are in my daily use rotation except for the small black one that I made for a neighbor. The three or three-and-a-half welt layers make these tricky to construct and the cuffs are also tricky as they are set for the specific belt width. I have considerable respect for the makers of the original Texas Ranger "Sunday holsters". Thanks for looking... t