Pistol Case for my 1911

[DoogMeister]

Made this as a project for myself.  The Factory case is severely worn, and no longer provides adequate protection.

I got he pattern in a Tandy holster pack, and had to adapt the shape for the 1911 (shorter and wider).  First time using a gusset and a zipper, so that along with a pattern error cased some extra work.  The pattern shows both ends of the gusset as a radius the same width as the gusset.  However, the 'notch' in the body at the grip end is quite narrow, maybe 1/2".  I did temp stitch the gusset in place (after installing the zipper) and found this out, so made a pattern that reflected the true shape and a 2nd gusset.  Needed some practice doing zippers anyway. LOL

Had some 1/2" hi-density foam that I used for padding, and some suede laying around from another project for the liner.  Used some leather protector spray on the suede, so hopefully that will help.  Drew a center line on the body, and another guide line for the side with the basket weave and stamped  to that line.  The visual that the basket weave is not straight puzzles me.  It has its share of imperfections, but IMO is a pretty decent case. 

[AlZilla]

I quite like that. If I used such things, I might make one myself.

You're being way too critical of the basket stamp. I wouldn't have thought anything of it, had you not mentioned it. At least it doesn't look like it puked out the back of some factory in an unpronounceable Asian city, along with 9,999 others just like it.

[LiftPig]

Check Makers Leather Supply on YouTube.  Aaron Heizer has a video there on how to make his pistol case design (he sells the template).  It'll give you some tips on how to negotiate that gusset without losing your sanity.

[dikman]

Looks great, I don't see anything wrong. The "visual" you're talking about is likely a trick of the eye due to a relatively complex pattern, which is straight, next to the outer curved edge, causing some confusion between the eye and the brain. (It sounds good to me ).

[srtolly]

3 hours ago, LiftPig said:

Check Makers Leather Supply on YouTube.  Aaron Heizer has a video there on how to make his pistol case design (he sells the template).  It'll give you some tips on how to negotiate that gusset without losing your sanity.

I have this template set. It makes a nice case, there are two templates, one pistol shaped and the other is rectangular which I believe will work for a bible, I'm working on that one now.

[AEBL]

Basket stamping looks great to me. If you would like to feel better about your stamping, I can post some pictures of the basket stamp I did last week.
I'm going to blame the stamp, that stamp was no good, couldn't have had anything to do with how I was using it ...

[DoogMeister]

On 4/17/2025 at 3:59 PM, LiftPig said:

Check Makers Leather Supply on YouTube.  Aaron Heizer has a video there on how to make his pistol case design (he sells the template).  It'll give you some tips on how to negotiate that gusset without losing your sanity.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out.

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

That's sweet.