Finally finished my first holster

[JDFred]

Back in March I asked for help with patterns for a holster for a Colt Anaconda, I finally got it finished.  It’s made out of two layers of Herman Oak 5-6 oz skirting and hand stitched together.  Then topped with neatsfoot oil.  The guy I built it for wanted a cross draw with cartridge loops on the holster instead of a cartridge belt.  I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out especially for my first time building a holster. I ended up making my own pattern for it.  I really appreciate all the input everyone gave me in my pattern search.  There are a few things that could have been better but that’s every project.  I think this has the best edges I’ve ever done.  Let me know what you think and what I could do better on the next one. Thanks.

[AlZilla]

I love that edge. It's honest. Shows exactly what it is, yet polished and slick.

I so hate over finished edges that just just look like some plasticine crap puked out of a factory in some unpronounceable province in China.

Very nicely done.

[Dwight]

Very neat . . . good design

May God bless,

Dwight

[chuck123wapati]

I like it!! Maybe skive down or use thinner leather for the bullet loops, and match the top curve around the cylinder with the bottom curve of the toe, and or grip on the gun above it.  Those suggestions are just another way of doing it, and only because you asked, it looks great as is. 

[JDFred]

@AlZilla thank you. I spent a little extra time sanding the edges and with the grain.  I also used some beeswax after the saddle soap and water treatment.  I’ll have to remember the method.

Thank you @Dwight.

Thank you @chuck123wapati  it’s funny you suggested thinner leather for the loops because I split 5-6 oz in half and decided it was to thin and sewed it back together that’s why there is stitches on the loops.  Contouring the top would look better and not as blocky, but for my first I was trying to keep it pretty simple.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[dikman]

Looks good, the only thing I would do is like Chuck suggested, reshape the piece over the cylinder to a smooth curve rather than the squarish shape it has, to me it's a little bit jarring aesthetically. You got a nice finish on it, overall it's a pretty good first effort.

[tsunkasapa]

Good solid work. Any suggestions I would make have already been made.

[JDFred]

@dikman and @tsunkasapa thank you guys.

 

Just so I’m understanding what everyone is saying, since I do better with visual and tactile learning, reshape the holster top kinda along the red line?  Maybe not as aggressively as I’ve drawn but more or less that kind of shape or am I misunderstanding completely?

[dikman]

Yep, just take off the square corner, smooth curves seem to look better on holsters. Do a google search on holsters and look at how they're shaped, it should give you some ideas. Functionally there's nothing wrong with how you made it but hey, looks are important too.

[TonyV]

Nice rig. that will work nicely, and good edge work. I like the meander treatment, too.

Personally, for a double action revolver I like to make sure the trigger is covered for safety, to prevent accidental trigger pull while drawing the revolver.  A single action holster can leave the trigger open because the trigger doesn't do anything until manually cocked.  So with that thought, the only change I would make would be to smooth out that square like others suggest, but continue it in a soft 'S' curve that includes covering the trigger and holding the trigger guard (which unfortunately isn't held by the leather).