My First Holster Ever

[NoahL]

Hello everyone,

I was commissioned to make a holster for the very first time, and he wanted it in my Apocalyptic Survivor style, so I did what I could. It is for a 9mm Browning Hi Power handgun and is made of 7-9oz horsehide leather with a molded sight channel, an integral reinforcing panel/belt slot wing, and hand stitching done with artificial sinew. The molding is as detailed as I was able to get out of the horsehide--it's just too dense to get much more definition than that, I'm afraid--but hopefully I get a few points for trying.

Thanks for looking!

~Noah

Edited May 24, 2010 by NoahL

[BigRiverLeather]

I love that look! How did you get that? I presume you beat the horshide with a chain or something while the leather was cased, then used an antique finish?

[NoahL]

I love that look! How did you get that? I presume you beat the horshide with a chain or something while the leather was cased, then used an antique finish?

Thanks! You're on the right track, but not quite--I don't use a chain, but yes, I find something with the texture I want and use it to imprint the leather, and I don't use an antique finish of any kind

[MADMAX22]

That turned out killer looking.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

I like it! The design is functional and the finish is gnarly. Good job.

In the past, I have had better luck boning horsehide if I brushed the surface with alcohol before dipping the holster in hot water for several seconds. A boot maker told me that the alcohol opens up the pores which helps the water absorb into the leather better, which in turn makes the horsehide easier to bone. I don't know if he is right or not about why it works, but it does make working with horsehide a little easier. You can also try adding a drop or two of dish soap into your water, as that helps it penetrate the leather better too.

BTW, I really like the design and I would be hesitant to change it much, but you might consider reinforcing the front belt slot with some sort of backing; I have found that horsehide is more prone to drying out over time and tends to crack under certain circumstances.

[NoahL]

I like it! The design is functional and the finish is gnarly. Good job.

In the past, I have had better luck boning horsehide if I brushed the surface with alcohol before dipping the holster in hot water for several seconds. A boot maker told me that the alcohol opens up the pores which helps the water absorb into the leather better, which in turn makes the horsehide easier to bone. I don't know if he is right or not about why it works, but it does make working with horsehide a little easier. You can also try adding a drop or two of dish soap into your water, as that helps it penetrate the leather better too.

BTW, I really like the design and I would be hesitant to change it much, but you might consider reinforcing the front belt slot with some sort of backing; I have found that horsehide is more prone to drying out over time and tends to crack under certain circumstances.

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely try the alcohol trick next time! I have done dish soap before but didn't notice any real difference.

I'm glad you like the design--as far as reinforcing the belt slot, I thought about that after I finished the holster but I couldn't think of any effective, good-looking way to do it at that point. I will be sure that the guy who asked me to make it knows to oil that flap in particular, although I have not had the drying out/cracking problem with any of the horsehide items I made for myself. Thanks!

[gregintenn]

I don't care for your maker's mark being visible while being worn, but I love the holster!

[NoahL]

I don't care for your maker's mark being visible while being worn, but I love the holster!

Thanks! Yeah, I wanted to find a different place for it, but the back is molded too much for the stamp to be readable, and there is not any room on the belt slot wing because I misjudged how big it needed to be.

[horsewreck]

Great first effort, I like the overall design and you bring new meaning to the term destressed leather. Noahl made a good point about reinforcing the belt slot. As far as putting your stamp on the front I think it works well on this design, however you said the back was to molded to have a place to put it. It has been my experience that if I mold the back of some of these styles to the same degree as the front, the comfort level of the wearer goes down. Just a thought. But overall I give thumbs up........