HandyDave

I most times carve my letters now days atleast 3/4 inch and up I do. I still use my smaller letter stamps. What I did to fix getting that straight edge around letters from the stamp edge was very slightly rounded the edges over with a fine grit metal file. Just enough to get rid of that hard edge. Hope this helps. As for the op question about names on the dog lead he posted I would try like Chuck said and make the handle have a flatter face for putting names on. Without burning or lasering I doubt you'll ever tool in letters and get them to stay or look nice on such a small rounded surface.

These are some super great tips here. Specially the lighting. I went with the 4 foot 2 bulb shop lights in led with the pull cords. I bought a 12 pack of the 15 year led fixtures cheap on the Amazon. I wanted to have zones of light where I'm workin at each moment instead of having every light on all the time. I also have a few desk lamps I can move around and headlamps hanging next to carving/tooling bench. Plenty of light. I started to build my shop at 12x12 and ended up with 20x24 and still feel like I need more space at times. I've got a 4x8 main work table on heavy locking casters in center of one side that can move around if need be. And stationary built in benches down 2 walls where my sanders and other bench top stuff sets. The other side of shop is racks and shelves and hooks for storing everything used in leatherwork.

Beautiful work on the scabbards. Suede can hold moisture it also is terrible to collect dust and grit from everything turning it into sandpaper with time. Same with sherling and anything fibery. It looks good but something smooth like a thinner vegtan is best option. The smooth is also alot easier to wipe out to keep the dust and grit from collecting.

Call it abstract and live with it. If you don't have a dye accident from time to time your not leatherworking. its like holes and cuts on the digits its just gonna happen

I allways enjoy seeing your builds. It's never boring that's for sure. I've said it before on here that you sir don't think just outside the box you smash the damn box toss the instructions and blaze your own trail. Keep it up.

Another vote here for leatherstampmaker I've got several custom stamps made by them for some businesses I do merchandise for regularly. The stamps I've got from them have been top notch and work great. They send discounts and have sales pretty regular if your on there email list. There stamps also can be used with a mallet or press or attached to heating iron and used for branding thinner or softer leathers.

First off nice work as usual sir. I bought a case of these same pistol cases several years back and did hydrographic finishes on most of them and sold them off. But after seeing your work it gives me something to do with the last few I have laying around.

I use freezer paper. Not the waxed kind. But the one with a shiny side and a paper side. If I draw my pattern on the paper side then put the shiney side on the cased leather the freezer paper doesn't get all wet like regular paper. And i can get a couple uses out of the pattern using a stylus. And I prefer the green frog tape for holding smaller patterns down doesn't leave any residue. For larger patterns I use weights most times.

The work you posted looks really nice. And on alot of the "cowboy" style gear you don't have a tight form fit like more modern gear. But you mentioned a 1911 and glock 19 something like these pistols are way different and my opinion you could never get a very good holster that would fit 2 guns that are that different. You don't necessarily have to buy a new prop pistol for every holster though. Like with 1911 style pistols you could probably get by with just having a full size prop and could allways make the holster shorter for commander or officer size pistols and mold it with the barrel stuck out from the full size prop. And that's because the main workings of that style pistol are all the same size generally speaking. Same with glock alot of them will snap into the same holsters because the main areas are similar. If your wanting to get into custom holster work you will eventually have to just buy more and more prop pistols.

I like it. As much as I do enjoy doing crazy carving and tooling jobs it is hard to go wrong with a simple classic look. Another beautiful job sir.

Like has been said usmc black needs alot of buffing to reduce the amount of rub off. Also if your looking for a dark black usmc want give it to you. It's more of a super dark blue. Use fiebings pro dye black with a couple coats. Less rub off and a much darker pure black finished project.

If you scroll down on the homepage you'll find an adult section. Tons of info on every freaky leather item you can think about and maybe some items you didn't even know about. There will probably be a mod come along and move this to that section anyway.

It really depends on the hide. I usually take a new side and cut me a few belt blanks from the back section. And by doing this with every new side I get I keep a good storage of belt blanks on hand. Then I just work from the back down toward belly cutting out as many good projects as I can get then whatever is left that I don't want to use for my main projects gets used for smaller pieces or test pieces. Specially if I have some new techniques or something I want to try out I reach for a piece from scrap bin.

Thank you sir. Having that strip around it ads for decoration and acts as a stiffner. I enjoy doing alot of wild carving and tooling projects but it's hard to go wrong with a good classic look.

Thanks guys. It don't ever take much of a reason for me to make another holster. And I honestly have the most fun when I'm making pieces as gifts. If I was a filthy rich billionaire I'd make every piece I do for free. But unfortunately I do have to charge for pieces as well from time to time. As for the little skully guy stamped on back. It was one of first stamps I made myself with a bolt and a dremel tool. And I put it on a few pieces years ago and it pretty much became my makers mark. The USA goes on everything I make along with my little skully guy.