Help With Getting Started

[CodeJockey]

I'm new to leatherworking but have been practicing my stitching and such, and I think I have that down pretty well. I'd like to try my hand at a holster, but the issue I'm unsure of is how to know how big a pocket to make before wet forming. I'm unsure of how to design a pattern for my gun that I can stitch up, and then wet form. If I make it too big, the gun will not be properly retained, but if I make it too small, it won't work. Any advice on how to do this?

If it matters, the first gun I'm trying to do this for is a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum with 2" Barrel

[rccolt45]

Basicly its trial an error. More error than you will be happy with. Take the gun and lay it down on a pice of graph paper. The trace the gun on the paper. Next lay out your belt line on the graph paper so you can tell where on the belt it will ride. Next draw your holster around the picture of the gun you just drew. When you are happy with what you have cut out the holster your just drew. Now take that first patter and transfer it to a piece of card board. Cut out the card board. Next take a hammer and break down the honey combs inside the card board and tape the whole thing together. This will be close to the thickness of the leather you will be using. If the gun first your card board holster then use the card board holster pattern to cut your leather. If not try again but leave alittle more room when you are drawing out your holster.

[Bronson]

I usually move my stitchlines 1/2 the thickness of the part of the gun that is nearest the stitch line ....does that make sense? So the stitch line at the top of the slide will be farther away than the stitch line at the trigger guard, because the slide is thicker.

Here's the last one I did using this method http://www.flickr.com/photos/29310638@N07/4288287785/ I've been wearing it since I made it and for the last week while crawling around doing plumbing work on my house and it is nice and secure.

Bronson

[gregintenn]

http://www.jdlawhon.com/tutorial.html

This tutorial helped me immensly.

[CodeJockey]

Thanks for the advice guys! I really appreciate it, and that tutorial is great. I'm definitely going to get started this weekend! Worse that can happen is that I waste some leather but gain some experience / knowledge.

[gregintenn]

Keep us updated. I did this about six weeks ago, and now I'm selling 4-5 per week. It's really fun, and I'm about to get all my tools and supplies paid for, as well as the holsters i originally wanted.