Holster Experiment

[katsass]

Actually it's a 'two-fer' experiment. I make a few 'range' holsters every so often , you know, ones that you just use to get your shooter(s) to and from the range...not to wear....no belt loop. Well, I had a little time available and decided that I 'needed' one for an old Ruger .22 auto "Standard Model" (the first one, prior to the Mk I... I bought it NIB for $48.50.....back then...inflation sucks) The first of the experiments was an idea I've had for some time about doing an inlay of snake skin on a holster that appears to be a snake winding around the body of the holster.... diving under the welt area...... coming out the opposite side, then up over the top. After doing a bit of holster design, I went to town on the inlay pattern and came up with (what I thought was) a fairly good inlay design. It looked good on paper. My second experiment was that I would use some home made stain (that I had cooked up from green walnut hulls) for the color on the outer shell of the holster.

Well in execution, I find that I like the color of the stain, but think I must intensify it a bit more. It does contrast nicely however, with the dark brown Fiebing's oil dye on the inner shell and welts. As to the inlay....I think I got it bassakwards (but it did look good on paper). I think (now) that the pattern should have been reversed so as to make the 'snake' appear to dive into the fold of the holster....not the welt. That way, with a little judicious 'tooling', I believe that the effect I want would be more pronounced That, along with maybe the padding a bit more firm in the 'snake'. All said and done.....I kind of like it.......but the next one will be better. Mike

[RWP]

even though it didnt come out like you envisioned it i still think its a GREAT looking holster how exactly did you make a dye by using the walnut shells by the way? thats something that sounds interesting lol

[gregintenn]

I like it. Very original.

[katsass]

even though it didnt come out like you envisioned it i still think its a GREAT looking holster how exactly did you make a dye by using the walnut shells by the way? thats something that sounds interesting lol

RWP, I didn't use the shells at all.........I think that I'll have to though. What I used was the outer 'husk' of the not-quite-ripe walnuts. I peeled off this green husk, (from maybe 5 or 6 pounds of green walnuts) chopped that up pretty well, dumped it in a stock pot and added about a gallon and a half of water. I put it on the stove to simmer......and simmer ......and ....simmmmmer. (it actually has a very fruity odor...my wife thought I was starting to make some kind of jam...a little early this year.) I got it down to a nasty, almost black, quart or so of liquid. I let it sit and then filtered it thru a couple of layers of cheesecloth....three times. Ended up with about a quart of stuff. I'm going to take about 5 pounds of ground walnut shell, put it in an old milk jug, add water to fill and let it sit behind the wood-pellet stove most of the winter to steep, like sun-tea.........then I'll mix the two and see what happens. Mike

Edited November 10, 2010 by katsass

[dustin29]

That is a cool looking holster!!

[Fredo]

I like it, I agree ont the firmmer padding on the inlay.

If you ever want to double your money on that old rugger.........

[katsass]

I like it, I agree ont the firmmer padding on the inlay.

If you ever want to double your money on that old rugger.........

Well Fredo, I'll probably keep the old thing........it's been heavily modified.........with a Volquartsen extractor. Mike

[Bronson]

I like it...I don't care what you say

Bronson

[Big O]

Nice!

Where'd you get the hardware that holds the flap closed? Looks like the same kind of setup the military used for the old leather flap holsters.

[RWP]

5 or 6 pounds....i dont have that patience lol let me know how the next batch comes out!

[tonyc1]

Looks great! I like it.

Tony.

[druid]

that's a sharp looking transport holster there, bud. I'd rock that anytime.

[katsass]

To all: Thanks for the kind words.........If anyone has a suggestion or has cast a critical eye on my work, please speak up. Anything that makes my work better, or opens my old eyes to a new ideas is something I'm up for, Thanks again.

BogO: The studs I used here came from Springfield Leather. They come in two-piece sets and are very similar to those used on older military equipment and LEO Sam Browne belts. Mike