Horse Hide, Starting A New Holster And Mag Pouch

[Colt Hammerless]

It certainly doesn't look bad. I had to look at this thread about 3 or 4 times to come up with my guess. Kept wondering, "What's here that he doesn't like?" We're our own worst critics. I don't have a 4.25 inch 1911 (sad face) so I didn't realize there was much difference in the dust cover length. I'm about to start my first project with horse hide. I've got a piece from Springfield that's got some figure to it like yours. I'm debating weather to dye it something light like saddle tan, or just oil it. Deffinitely don't want to cover up that grain, it's like walnut with tiger stripes or curly maple or something.

Colt Hammerless

[mrfixit]

It certainly doesn't look bad. I had to look at this thread about 3 or 4 times to come up with my guess. Kept wondering, "What's here that he doesn't like?" We're our own worst critics. I don't have a 4.25 inch 1911 (sad face) so I didn't realize there was much difference in the dust cover length. I'm about to start my first project with horse hide. I've got a piece from Springfield that's got some figure to it like yours. I'm debating weather to dye it something light like saddle tan, or just oil it. Deffinitely don't want to cover up that grain, it's like walnut with tiger stripes or curly maple or something.

Colt Hammerless

I've only just started with horse hide, but you might want to hold off on dyeing it.

These i did dip dye in brown Fiebings cut like 8:1 denatured alcohol to dye, it is a very light color that I might even call tan. But, I think the dye evened out the striping. The mag pouch I finished first. Cut, dip dye, dry, glue, sand edges, sew, wet, form, dry, oil, dry, finish. The mag pouch I finished with Tan Kote, and the stripes barely show. So the holster I did all the same, but the finish was Resolene. Same thing, the stripes barely show.

On another thought, I also tried the resolene on some undyed horse hide, and the stripes showed up fairly well. But I just thought that that piece was also un-oiled.

I wonder if the dye or oil is what made a difference in the stripes. By the way, the holser, mag pouch, and undyed piece all were within inches of each other on the butt strip of leather.

[Haystacker]

I think you can fix the holster. You may be able to see where you fixed it but only you will know. You will have to pull your stitching and run a new stitch line. You will only have to cut the bottom of the holster. So your new stitch line will go from the original outside stitch line to the original inside stitch line.

I think it will work and give you a holster you will like.

Good luck.

Jeff

[Colt Hammerless]

Very interesting. I'll probably try just oiling it first and see what happens before I put a finish on. If it evens out the figure, I may dye it, then finish. Funny that you and I are worrying about the dye jobs on our projects turning out too even!