Starting on the holster and knife sheath

[Brokenolmarine]

To match the gunbelt I just completed.

I had finished watching a series of YouTube videos on western holsters, and was ready to start on a pattern.  I started by tracing the Uberti the holster would carry.  This would give me my reference to design the pattern around.  I have made a few holsters in the past but it has been a good while.  I laid the belt across the silhouette so I wouldn't have the gun ride too high or too low.

 

I played with the design back and forth for about an hour, making sure the holster laid correctly on the skirt.  I took extra care on the retention loop that would lock the holster to the skirt to insure the shape was pleasing and it would accommodate the concho that would tie the holster to the gunbelt design.  In the end, it was "Okay" and would work.  I wasn't going to cut leather based on the pattern.

I was done for the day, and went back in and RE-Watched the three part Springfield Leather Series... I'll give 'er another shot.  Learn from the failures. LOL.

I'll cut it out and get started when the pattern says "Cut it," to me.  Worked too hard on the belt to "Settle" on the holster and sheath.  No rush....

[Hags]

I'm going to have to build a western rig at some point. Looks very nice so far.

[Brokenolmarine]

That first try at the pattern didn't work out so well.  It would not have fit the gun and I tossed it.  I went back out this afternoon after Miss T came back from town with a roll of heavy paper from Home Depot.  The much thicker paper was easier to work with and I started again.  Second try was closer, but no cigar.  Third try was a charm.  Made another welt of course, but the retention loop was still golden.

 

I'll try and get back out this evening and start cutting the leather, but it's been cold and raining hard since last night.  NOT a good combination for an old Marine with Arthritis.     The ears hear the shop calling but the body says no... mainly the hands... 

Note the little extra width on the main part of the holster, advised by the old geezer at Springfield.   Better to be over than short, you trim that away after glue up.  Easy to trim away, not so easy to add leather after you misalign.  

[Brokenolmarine]

[HandyDave]

One tip I'll lend for the welt on holsters like this and even knife sheathes. I notice you cut your template for the welt in the shape of the holster. When you have gentle curves like on your holster template you don't need to cut a welt to shape. You can use a straight piece cut to width. Glue it and you can curve the straight piece right along your edge without the extra work of making a special welt. 

[Brokenolmarine]

1 hour ago, HandyDave said:

One tip I'll lend for the welt on holsters like this and even knife sheathes. I notice you cut your template for the welt in the shape of the holster. When you have gentle curves like on your holster template you don't need to cut a welt to shape. You can use a straight piece cut to width. Glue it and you can curve the straight piece right along your edge without the extra work of making a special welt. 

I'll give it a try, thanks....

[Brokenolmarine]

Had family up for Christmas, so not able to get out and work on the holster for a few days.  But, they left yesterday morning and I was able to get out in the afternoon and finally pull the 10 ounce leather out and cut out the pattern.  I was pretty happy so far, and laid out the tooling and got 'er knocked out.

Here is a closer look at the accent tooling on the holster body.  Once the leather is dyed, any small errors won't be so visible, I hope. 

After coffee and toast this morning, I hope to get out and get the retention loop and welt cut out and tooled and dyed, so we will be ready to move forward.  So far so good.

[Brokenolmarine]

Got out in the shop, using the pattern, I made the retention loop and welts and got the tooling done on the loop.  I laid the concho on the loop to see what it might look like.  I liked the look.  Will look even better when the leather is dyed a rich brown to match the belt.  

Laid it all out and dyed the pieces.  I only dyed the edges of the welt.  I cut out two thicknesses of the welt in case I needed them.  Hopefully I'll get away with just the one. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Went back out to work and treated the pieces with the Mink Oil.  Really returned the flexibility and deepened the color.  Especially the Retention Loop which had gotten VERY stiff after dying.  Once that was done, I went to work prepping the holster for glue up, roughing the welts and marking the inside edges of the holster for alignment.  Got 'er done and then glued up and clamped.  It will cure overnight, then I can trim the edges flush and sew it in the morning.

After that was done, I went to work on the Loop, buffing it out, waxing it, and mounting the Concho, as I wanted that in place when I went to mount it on the skirt.

I think it looks good against that dark brown dye.

 

I hear the project calling but I like to let the contact cement cure overnight.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Brokenolmarine

[dikman]

Your clamp covers look cute.

[Brokenolmarine]

Don't have to be pretty, just have to keep the clamps from marking the project.  First tooled sheath, worked hard, I thought it looked pretty good. (It didn't). Clamped it.  Plastic teeth left grooves in the leather.  Made covers from the scraps.  Been using them ever since. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Back out for a couple hours today.  I antiqued the loop after correcting some small issues with the tooling that likely only I noticed... then recoated the finish.  I set that aside to dry, and with my tongue held just right, I marked the holster for sewing, and drilled the holes.  The front went where I wanted.  I used a saddle stitch and sewed it up tight to insure we stayed together.  Using dark brown dye, I dyed the edges of the holster and the thread and the tooling, and set 'er aside.  While THAT dried I went back to the loop and buffed it out.  The holster was folded over and I marked the location of the slots for the retention loop and punched those with a slot cutter.  Then I could measure the loop and cut it.  I punched the holes I'll need to sew that together tomorrow once everything is done.

One last task before stopping for the day, I burnished the edge of the holster where the welts are, and they cleaned up very nice.  Looking good.  Tomorrow?  Burnish the edge of the skirt, the top of the holster body, (Which I should have done before assembly... duh.  :roll: ) ... and install and sew the retention loop.  I'll also drill holes at the bottom of the holster and in the skirt for a tiedown, which will keep the holster from moving up and down in the loop.  I WON'T be tying down the holster for quick draw.  :twisted: 

I need to address that rough side to get rid of the ragged look.  A little sanding and some burnishing there as well should help.

Miss Tina suggests taking the square edges off in a few small places and otherwise it's good.

[Gezzer]

It will look very nice once you knock that flesh side down !

[Brokenolmarine]

Out this morning after a nice breakfast.  I made a Western Omelet.  Fitting don't you think? 

I trimmed those curves I wanted, including the bottom of the skirt.  Smoother look there as well.  Then I burnished the skirt edges and reburnished the holster body.  I have picked up tips and experience along the way, and am getting better, still NOT perfect, but looking much better.

There might be some touch up later.    I did sand the entire rough out to about 400 grit, then burnished and dyed the area that will show.  Big improvement.  When I do the next one, I'll line it, avoid this issue entirely.   Next up, I waxed all the bits and pieces again and buffed them to a high sheen, then carefully sewed the loop into position after installing the concho, with blue loctite.

The piece is mostly finished, all that is left is to add a hammer retention strap at the top and the tie down lace at the bottom.  I likely won't use either, but they will give it the authentic look and the tie down lace will insure the holster doesn't shift in the retention loop.  Not bad for a first try at the western belt.

Next up is the knife sheath for the off side.  Waiting for the matching concho's to come in from Tandy.  They are due to start shipping on Thursday after the year end inventory finishes.  I ordered back before Christmas.  Maybe end of next week?

I can build the sheath and use a stand in Concho of the same size.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

I forgot to add, I learned a lot along the way.  In my next build, I will know what to do and how to do it.  More importantly, I will know what NOT to do.

  I made a number of mistakes along the way that were costly.  Duh.

 

[DieselTech]

Nice work. It really looks nice. I think the Concho's really accent the whole rig. 

[DwightT]

Looks great.  And thanks for the detailed description of the process.  I often learn something new from your posts.

    /dwight