My First Holster

[badasp118]

I thought Id finally post a picture of my first holster, this was taken right after I made it and took it on an extended two week hunting / camping trip in which I wore it strongside and crossdraw. In the pictures you can't see it but there is another slot close in that allows for crossdraw carry. It worked awesome. I made it over a year ago and Im still learning and welcome critisism. I will give kudos to Bob Mernickle as I borrowed the idea from him. But I made my own pattern, etc. One thing I did like was the pistol was secure even with the retention strap off of it............... It was a lot of firsts for me, I only made knife sheaths bvefore this, never stamped anything before this, never skived leather before this, never cut belt loops before this, etc...........I made the matching small knife sheath too, but wasnt happy with it, although it worked well. Ive also included pics of a bowie sheath I made (I made the knife as well) and a pic of a buttstock shell carrier.

Feedback please, its the only way im gonna get better. Im gonna leave stamping to the experts though, it kills my arthrites something fierce!

Badasp118

Edited January 28, 2010 by badasp118

[dirtclod]

On your holster i would bring the front up to the sight or close to it and then round it off flowing back back to the trigger guard, Plus i would come up behind and cover a little bit of the trigger guard. I think it makes for a more secure holster. That's the way i make my holsters. That doesn't mean it's the rigyht way or the only way just the way i do it.

The times i have made one they turned out to be a PITA to get right. Nice job on yours.

[badasp118]

I had the front of the holster cut down on purpose to be able to clear leather faster. I know this sounds rediculous, but I was hunting in heavy rattlesnake country, and was loaded with snakeloads. It proved to be very fast. Plus as a Uniformed officer that carries everyday I wasn't to concerned with the safety aspect as I carry with the hammer on a empty chamber when I carry a single-action. I also made the retention strap to where it could swivil out of the way. I shot three rattlers that trip that went over 40+ inches. They were delicous by the way, first time I ever ate rattlesnake.

badasp118

[Jim]

I see your point about the "fast draw" design, especially from Bob's point of view. But then again Bob is a World Fast Draw competitor - not a snake charmer. (I know Bob so I get to poke fun at him.)

As for safety, well THAT should be first and formost in ANY holster design. It's possible to have a fast draw holster that is not only safe but allows easy and fast extraction of the side arm. The idea is for the holster to be able to keep the pistol IN the holster while the wearer goes through a normal mode of movement without a retention strap. The holster shown here is of such a design. Note the Hammer Loop: this was added because most competion sports such as SASS require them on the holster. This design allows a time of .4 seconds to draw, shoot, and re-holster - Adios rattler! But at the same time the pistol remains holstered even in a sitting position.

So consider what might happen if you were to drop your pistol - even with an empty chamber behind the hammer. It's just plain unprofessional.

My two cents worth,

Jim

[dirtclod]

On your holster i would bring the front up to the sight or close to it and then round it off flowing back back to the trigger guard, Plus i would come up behind and cover a little bit of the trigger guard. I think it makes for a more secure holster. That's the way i make my holsters. That doesn't mean it's the rigyht way or the only way just the way i do it.

( What i ment to write was ) The times i have made shell holders they turned out to be a PITA to get right. Nice job on yours.