Latest Holster - Crossdraw For 1858

[BConklin]

Just finished this one last night. I made it for my Uberti target model 1858 Remington with 8" barrel. It's 8 oz - lined with calfskin. I like the effects I'm getting with the contrasting edges but I admit it looks better in person than it does in these photos. Without that mirror sheen you get from the dark leather behind the gloss it looks as if it's been dented and chopped up - when in fact it's quite smooth - but the color is mottled as it's just the raw leather.

I like the color I got mixing tan and oxblood on the outside - and contrasting it with the diluted tan of the liner. I'm not crazy, however, about the single line of stitches in the back to hold the hammer strap - it looks like a repair or something. My reasoning behind it was that I didn't want a larger piece of leather inside the holster which might interfere with the gun coming out or going back in. Next time I think I'll make the hidden end of the strap into a paddle shape.

[rdb]

I'm a big fan of clean and simple. Nice job.

[BConklin]

I'm a big fan of clean and simple. Nice job.

Thanks - I'm trying to get a good feel for the basics: design, dying, stitching, finishing.. etc.

I'm just now starting to take my first tentative steps into tooling and carving on scraps. Not sure I'll be doing any holsters that way for a while though, it looks to me like a great way to mess up a decent piece of holster leather pretty quickly

[TimberWolf]

BC, I like it, good job. Interesting take on the hammer thong. Your design? I am a big fan of the C&B revolvers....the 1858 is the next one on my "want" list! BTW, do you think the target model is more accurate than the standard '58 ?

Timber

[BConklin]

BC, I like it, good job. Interesting take on the hammer thong. Your design? I am a big fan of the C&B revolvers....the 1858 is the next one on my "want" list! BTW, do you think the target model is more accurate than the standard '58 ?

Timber

Yes - my design all the way around. The hammer strap posed a problem for me as to where I wanted to anchor it - inside the holster..and if so,, where? or inside the crease of the belt flap? I kind of like what I came up with. Of course the proof will be how it works out in the field. Which brings me to your next question - is the target model more accurate? I don't know - where I shoot has been under snow since I got the gun :/

[TwoWalks]

I really, really wanted to point out all the flaws I could find in your holster. I only wanted to do this, because I am working on my first holster and see so many flaws in it, so I thought it would be nice to find a few in yours. Oh well, it's not too be.

I love the simplicity and the color is fantastic. The burnish on the edges look great and the stitching is great. Beautiful job.

Now to go back too the beginning, I will just be content to find a few more flaws in my holster.

TwoWalks

[TexasJack]

Nice job!

[BConklin]

I really, really wanted to point out all the flaws I could find in your holster. I only wanted to do this, because I am working on my first holster and see so many flaws in it, so I thought it would be nice to find a few in yours. Oh well, it's not too be.

I love the simplicity and the color is fantastic. The burnish on the edges look great and the stitching is great. Beautiful job.

Now to go back too the beginning, I will just be content to find a few more flaws in my holster.

TwoWalks

Oh there are some flaws, for sure - but although this is my fourth holster, it's the first holster I've made that I didn't have to undo something and go back and redo it correctly.

I try to think of mistakes as opportunities - like the time I made the mistake of doing my edge bevelling AFTER I dyed the piece. But hey - I liked the results and I built that look into this holster as well.

and then there are the times when they're just mistakes - like my second holster...I had to pull all that hand stitching from the main seam and re stitch it FOUR TIMES before I got the holster right.

Thanks for the compliments.

[TwoWalks]

Oh there are some flaws, for sure - but although this is my fourth holster, it's the first holster I've made that I didn't have to undo something and go back and redo it correctly.

I try to think of mistakes as opportunities - like the time I made the mistake of doing my edge bevelling AFTER I dyed the piece. But hey - I liked the results and I built that look into this holster as well.

and then there are the times when they're just mistakes - like my second holster...I had to pull all that hand stitching from the main seam and re stitch it FOUR TIMES before I got the holster right.

Thanks for the compliments.

I feel the same way. My first holster and second holster are actually getting finished at the same time. I figure, I was not born making Holsters, belts and carving leather, so each piece is an opportunity to learn a little and get a little bit better. If it was not a challenge, it would be boring. When you mixed the tan and oxblood, did you mix 50/50?

[BConklin]

When you mixed the tan and oxblood, did you mix 50/50?

No - the tan was thinned probably 25% with denatured alchohol already. I shot the liner with that using a Preval sprayer, then, to 2- 3 ounces of the thinned tan I added a little more alchohol and then maybe a little more than 1/2 tsp of oxblood then I sprayed the outside.

I like using thinned dye in the sprayer - it gives me good control over the amount of color. Just shoot a coat, let it soak in, then add more coats until you get it where you want it.

[TwoWalks]

No - the tan was thinned probably 25% with denatured alchohol already. I shot the liner with that using a Preval sprayer, then, to 2- 3 ounces of the thinned tan I added a little more alchohol and then maybe a little more than 1/2 tsp of oxblood then I sprayed the outside.

I like using thinned dye in the sprayer - it gives me good control over the amount of color. Just shoot a coat, let it soak in, then add more coats until you get it where you want it.

Thanks, will put that into my notes. I have a airbrush but have not tried it yet.