Prototype Ruger P95

[rdb]

Back in the old days, I made quite a few western style holsters, mostly Tandy, Stohlman type. But being originally from Massachusetts, the firearms laws kept ownership down, therefore the trade too. Collectibles and such were still around, so they wanted those type of holster.

Now I'm in NC, and IS IT DIFFERENT!.

Like the cobbler with no shoes, I don't have a carry holster for my P95, so.......

I made this prototype just to see. I'm a scrawny old man, and anything above derringer shows on me. I figgered the semipancake was what I might try. I wanted a slight cant to try and keep the butt more in line with my body, and thought riding a bit high might fit it into my waist. A slight curl to the mold also brings the butt end in closer. I think that part works so far.

I used 35 year old belt leather that cracks when you bend it...but it was just a TEST. The stitching is awful, I just whipped past that part, intent on making a pattern piece..I even went off the edge ! But this is meant to be broken back down...so it's all good.

On the "pancake" side, I have to redesign that a bit more, slim it down a bit, reposition the slot more inside.

I made a welt, but I should have made it one more layer thick, and skived it better in both directions. I stitched down the middle of the welt, but next time, I'll stitch closer to the inside edge to keep the holster tighter to the welt.

Before I rip it apart, I thought all of you might chime in. Tell me the wrongs and the wherefores...what you do , and so forth. SUGGESTIONS DESIRED!

It's a beautiful day here, so I'll be outside with the shop door open, and enjoying. I'll check in everytime I get coffee (about every half hour...lol).

[TwinOaks]

not bad looking at all!

And you ain't kiddin' about the scrawny part

[rdb]

Hey, Hey!, I resemble that remark...lol

Thanx for the complement, but we'll see how the prototype moves into beta. Hopefully we'll get a few remarks here to help improve it.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Hi RDB. I think you're off to a pretty good start. Here are the things I would change and the reasons why:

First, you might consider rasing the position of the loops in relation to the holster. I know that can make the holster hang down a little lower, but it will hold it closer to your body and minimize the tendancy for the top of the pistol to lean out away from your side. You can accomplish this by making the throat support and tunnel loop out of a single piece of leather, and by matching the angle of the holster where the rear loop is to the angle of the pistol's handle so you have room to raise the rear loop. You will still have the room you need to get a full grip on the pistol, so don't worry about that.

Also, you might think about moving the rear loop closer to the trigger guard. The more space you leave between the pistol and the rear loop, the more give you will have in the holster. This give lets the holster bend more, which allows the butt of the pistol to stick out away from your body. If there is less distance between the loop and the pistol, the holster will pull the butt in tight to your body and the gun won't stick out so much.

I tried to draw a sketch of what I am talking about (now it's obvious why I make holsters for a living instead of working as a graphic design artist, huh?). The blue represents the edges of the leather and the read marks the stitches. The loops aren't to scale, but you get the basic idea

[rdb]

Thanks boomstick...that's good advice, and that drawing is exactly what I need to see the problems. Most if not all of this goes into Beta1

[Srigs]

Thanks boomstick...that's good advice, and that drawing is exactly what I need to see the problems. Most if not all of this goes into Beta1

You can add a new belt loop about half way to the trigger guard and see if that makes a difference (which it should like boomstick said). Let us know how it works. Keep making holsters.

Edited March 30, 2008 by Srigs