First Project Complete...IWB Holster Cougar 40 cal.

[claybuster101]

Well, I don't know which takes more courage. Diving into a new project or posting the results of your first born here on the LW.N

I first want to thank Keith and Jay at Tandy in Detroit....lots of encouragement.....and Chris from Horse and Mule Gear, the leather pieces I aquired from you were outstanding!

The IWB holster is made for a Stoeger (Beretta clone) Cougar in 40 cal. For the last 3 years I was using an off the shelf OWB holster that while it works, I wasn't 100% satisfied with it. Instead of going broke trying this leather and that leather, I chose to make my own. What I am discovering is that with minor modifications to the main outline pattern, the stiching pattern, etc. similar firearms can be made from the same basic outline. Sure, they may be some waste (using a larger semi-auto pattern to fit a smaller frame semi-auto firearm) but there is a lot of cross over. The intermediate steps of determining a glue line and subsequent stitching line play key roles in properly fitting the firearm to the holster. Customer likes and dislike I am sure will also play into a proper fit and finish. While I am not sure I am ready to make a holster for someone else, my neighbor saw this one from start to finish and now he is willing to pay me to make him a similar holster for his Springfield XDm...as he says there are just not a good selection of holsters designed specifially for that gun. Wow, I thought this is neat. I have spent quite a few hours going over old posts on this board in an effort to learn from everyone's wisdom. It has been a pleasant journey so far! My real life specialty is dealing with Inflatable Boats (Zodiacs and the like) from garden variety yacht tenders to more advanced military assualt vessels. If anyone ever needs that type of help or advice...please, please feel free to contact me and I will do whatever I can to help.

Dennis

[Willbert]

Nice work. I share your sentiments about posting the first born. I didn't. Going to post the third born once I take pics.

Anyways, you should be proud.

[dbusarow]

That's a lot more ambitious than my first one. I started with a simple western style pouch.

It looks like your sweat shield contacts the mag release button, you may want to trim that back a bit.

And just my personal taste, I'd want to bring the outside edge in closer to the stitch line.

Great start though!

Dan

[claybuster101]

Hello Dan...

Thanks for taking a good close look at the holster, I really appreciate it. The mag release button is actually on the opposite side, what appears to be a mag button is non functional. I beleive they may have made a model or had an option to have mag release's on both sides. I put some notes in the holster folder regarding providing relief for the mag button as a reminder. The left side is kinda fat I know. Originally I was going to do an OWB style and just left it chunky during construction. It certainly can get a shave to bring the profile inline with the rest of the holster. What margin tolerance is most appropriate? I am thinking 3/16", but if I were to ask 12 holster makers, I would get 6 different answers. Also, the margin tolerance probably varies depending on the holster type/style to some degree. Please share your thoughts on that.

This pattern will fit the XDm by moving the rear (trigger guard) stitch line back 3/16" and feathering to the rear an additional (1/16") the starting hole for that stitchline. While the picture really doesn't show it, I like how the finish turned out. Fiebings USMC black pro dye (2 coats), then a liberal amount of Neatsfoot oil, while the oil was still a bit damp, I put the holster on the buffing wheel. Using a light touch it produced a pleasing finish. Kinda like "worn" leather. I didn't want it all shiny like patent leather. I would change the snaps to black on the next one.

Dennis

Edited March 30, 2009 by claybuster101

[Lui]

Good job and good observation, I like the straps on IWB a lot more then the simple clips.

A good thing to keep in mind is that these kind of rigs are great for large size guns. On the smaller/shorter guns they need to be sunk in the waist a little more to avoid them tilting over the belt and falling out.

On your stitch line observation I make a holster now that I call "one size fits most" and I sell them flat then I instruct people on how to set it for their gun by spraying the inside with water and inserting their UNLOADED Saran Wrapped gun in it and letting it dry.

I have sold probably like 70 of them already. I am now experimenting making them with different cants and a cross draw with the same pattern.