New On Duty Holster

[Randyc]

I made this holster for daily on duty use to carry my Glock Model 23. As you can probably tell, I'm a lefty. Sometimes it's pretty tough finding good left hand leather gear. The holster is made out of 8-9 ounce cow hide and machine stitched. The holster rides high and close in to my body.

[Randyc]

Hi Guys,

Thus far over 60 of you have viewed this holster. This is my first pancake holster. Because it's my first holster of this design, I used scrap leather. This is also my first attempt at using a molding press. My other holsters have been pocket style holsters. The leather I used for this project had a few dings and dents to start with. Being left handed, I tend to ding up my holsters just getting in and out of a squad car. This one just started out pre-dinged :D . Let me know what you guys think. I've got broad shoulders, so please critique

Randy

[wolvenstien]

Looking at it, looks like it would sit on my right side and sit forward instead of on my left it would sit back....

Other than that... Looks good. I dont really know much about holsters, never used one really. Most important thing is it feeling comfortable to you and you being able to remove the tool from it with ease.

[Beaverslayer]

As Wolvie says, I don't know much about holsters, other than they hold guns. One thing I do see is the belt loop holes.

What I'd do with these is to use a large round punch to make the top and bottom of the slot, the using a sharp knife and steel ruler, cut the sides of the slots. This will give you are cleaner looking slot. Also the strap could be burnished.

Ken

[Jordan]

I like it, could you show the strap and snap detail in another photo? I hear that they are mandatory for most police departments for safety? How did you cut the belt slots? It could be the photo or the fact that you are wearing it alot so they look a bit wide in the middle. I really have to concentrate when I cut mine I usually use a hole punch, a straight edge and a real sharp x-acto knife always have to remined myself to start cutting from the hole to halfway the point then turn the holster 180 and finish the. That way I don't cut all the way through a hole into the holster. Most of my slot punches are not quite the right size. You probably already read this method in a thread prior to the big crash of 08. Zippo case I made last year as an example. Keep up the good work I want to see more. Jordan

[Randyc]

Wolvie, Ken, and Jordan,

Thanks for your critiques guys.

Wolvie, looking at the holster from a right handers perspective would leave you to believe that I had my belt slot angle reversed. The butt of the weapon does cant forward when worn on the left side. Ken and Jordan, I used the largest bag punch I own. The problem lies with the 1.5" belt I always wear. It's a western style belt with a western buckle and almost 1/4" thick belt tip.

After I used my bag punch, I used a round punch at each end to lengthen the belt slot. Lastly, I use the bag punch again to widen the lelt slots on each side.

If I choose to wear a standard non-tipped belt, I wouldn't have such funky looking belt slots. I wore that holster for a few days before photographing and posting the photo.

Removing the holster from my belt sure didn't help the looks of the belt slot either nor does routinely banging the holster off of the door jam while getting in and out of my squad car help the overall looks. I need to start photographing my stuff before I destroy it

Randy

[Beaverslayer]

I need to start photographing my stuff before I destroy it LOL, thats' always a good thing to do Randy. And at least it's only a belt and door jam that's doing the damage.

Ken

[fishguy]

You can make a bit neater slot by using a circular punch the width of the slot at each end of the place where you want the slot, then using a straight edge and craft knife (or other thin, sharp knife) cut lines between the holes to make the slots. Do not try to cut all the way to the far hole on the first cut as it is easy to over run the hole and end up with cut marks outside of the slot. Rather, cut almost all the way to the far hole and then start that hole and cut back to join up with the existing cut. Cut slowly and carefully and you can pull it off pretty easy.

[WaG35]

Other than the slots looking a little rough, it looks good. I think my next holster build is going to be a flat back pancake with a retention strap like that one. I read on another forum, that you were concerned about pressing and your glock, 40 bucks for a blue gun might be a good investment. I am glad I did. I bought one for my 23 and 35. It would also eliminate some safety concerns. But I like the design.

[Randyc]

Thanks for the crtique guys, I photographed the holster after I already wore the holster for a few days. I wear western belts on duty with large/thick belt tips. I don't have a round punch large enough for the 2 hole method of making belt slots. I use the largest belt punch made then have to widen both sides from there. When I used to wear regular belts, my belt slots were clean. I will possibly have a custom belt punch made in the future.

Randy

[Drac]

use a very fine toothed jeweler's saw. draw your belt slot shape, punch a hole, then run the blade through the hole and start cutting the shape. if you aren't gluing the leather together along with stitching, you may need to squeeze the area beside the blade with your fingers or with a clamp. I've never used this method, but I've known of others who did for cutting out internal shapes and it worked/looked great for them. and yes, a blue gun is great for molding from what I hear. blueguns.com for finding a nearby dealer. ASP and blackhawk are 2 other companies that make similar training weapons.

[Randyc]

Drac,

Thanks for the jewelers saw idea. I'm familer with Blueguns. I have one for a Colt 1911. I'm not familer with Blackhawk training weapons. Blueguns are the closest in specs. to the real thing. Other holster makers have concluded that ASP Redguns are bigger then the actual weapon, making it difficult for an accurate holster mold.

Randy

[Drac]

thanks for the heads up about the ASP ones. had been comparing prices between the 3 to decide if I wanted to use one or not and now those are out of the running.

[WaG35]

I'm not farmiliar with the blackhawk either, but you are right about the blue guns. THe 2 holsters that I have made so far with the blue gun were right on with the real thing.

[fishguy]

Thanks for the crtique guys, I photographed the holster after I already wore the holster for a few days. I wear western belts on duty with large/thick belt tips. I don't have a round punch large enough for the 2 hole method of making belt slots. I use the largest belt punch made then have to widen both sides from there. When I used to wear regular belts, my belt slots were clean. I will possibly have a custom belt punch made in the future.

Randy

You can also use a sharp twist drill or Forstner bit to make the hole (stay away from spade bits)

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Hi, RandyC.

I think your off to a decent start with your holster design. The one thing that stands out the most to me is the sharp corner above the rear loop. Leaving sharp corners can flare the leather out and possibly cause it to sepparate over time. Try to design your pattern so there is nothing that will catch on your surroundings or rub you raw. Another step you might consider is using an adjustable creaser to make a line along the unsewn edges to give the holster a more finished look. Did you stitch the holster before or after you molded it? Stitching the holster dry before you wet and mold it can help minimize tooling marks. Running a flat bone folder along the edges of the gun's profile will leave a distinct line that also makes the holster look more professional. You might also consider making the retention strap just a little thinner - if the edges stick out they will eventually bend and cause ugly wrinkles in the leather. Finally, I would suggest you get some spray on acrylic finish from tandy's (or somewhere similar) to protect the holster and give it a professional finished appearance. Anyhow, have fun building more holsters!

[Randyc]

Hey Jeff,

I was hopeing for a critique from you. I first glued, then molded then stitched this holster. After building the holster, I realized that I should have stitched before molding. I don't plan on making that mistake again. I wasn't happy with the leather developing a wave after wetting the leather down and molding it. I made that one out of cheap scrap leather because I needed a duty holster quickly. I just built another holster that I designed myself. That one I designed to ride between my belt and waistband verses inside the waistband. I've never been comfortable carrying inside my waistband. I will be designing an inside the waistband holster because of their popularity, along with an avenger type of belt holster. I've also built several pocket holsters which have sold well. Lastly, I will start creasing my unstitched edges. Thanks for your help!

Randy