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.