Need Advice On Leather, Thread, And Design For First Holster

[Colt Hammerless]

"You can Get HO single shoulders for 4.99 a sqaure foot at Springfield. This is what I use nearly all of the time.."

Renegadelizard,

I just noticed those single shoulders on their site the other day. I'm assuming their around C or D grade (you know what happens when you assume though,) but am curious as to what your experience with them is. Mostly wondering if you get a lot of useable leather, or if there's a lot of scars and fat marks to work around. If it's a good bit of useable material, that's a great price!

Triage1998, what color is on those holsters? The color is really nice. On the top one, I'm guessing Angelus Cordovan, maybe Fiebing's Pro Oil Mahogany though.

Paul

[triage1998]

Triage1998, what color is on those holsters? The color is really nice. On the top one, I'm guessing Angelus Cordovan, maybe Fiebing's Pro Oil Mahogany though.

Paul

Paul that is a custom mix of Angelus cordovan, Fiebings dark brown and Fiebings saddle tan cut with denatured alcohol. Took me forever to get the right mixture. I ended up making 4 gallons after it was all said and done LOL

[Colt Hammerless]

So it's Cordarbrosadtandenalc. That was my other guess.

Thanks!

I made a custom mix of Angelus Brown and Fiebing's Saddle Tan, that wound up a nice dark mahogany, at least on some cheap Tandy Craftsman Oak. Custom mixes can be fun like that.

Paul

[renegadelizard]

"You can Get HO single shoulders for 4.99 a sqaure foot at Springfield. This is what I use nearly all of the time.."

Renegadelizard,

I just noticed those single shoulders on their site the other day. I'm assuming their around C or D grade (you know what happens when you assume though,) but am curious as to what your experience with them is. Mostly wondering if you get a lot of useable leather, or if there's a lot of scars and fat marks to work around. If it's a good bit of useable material, that's a great price!

Triage1998, what color is on those holsters? The color is really nice. On the top one, I'm guessing Angelus Cordovan, maybe Fiebing's Pro Oil Mahogany though.

Paul

Hey Paul,

Its pretty good leather for the most part. I've only had to return on out of the 5 or so I ve ordered so far. I think I am going to have to try Wickett and Craig soon though..i hate trying to get even dye coloring, and they have pre dyed leather...the HO B grade is pretty good too, but you get some belly leather with that...Springfield has the absolute best customer service though...ask anyone here...

[Colt Hammerless]

I hear you on Springfield's customer service. They make it so you almost wish you're about to run out of something just so you can place another order. I'm currently using W&C skirting leather, and love it. Have them "holster" it for you. They put it through their press again and it makes for a firmer hand that makes a very nice rigid holster. I bought a piece of 8-10 oz. and was going to have them split it to an even 8 oz., but they said after "holstering" it, it would wind up about that thickness. Well, it didn't. It's about 9.5 oz. I don't have a splitter, so I have to sand each new project down on an oscillating spindle sander. Next time, I'll definitely have them split it. They have some nice colors, though I wish they had a few more. RJF, which is a sponsor here who carries Thoroughbred leather, has some other nice colors that one could use to fill the gaps not filled by W&C. They have a nice medium brown they call "Walnut" and a nice dark brown called "Havana" as well as Mahogany, Russet and Black. I got some sample swatches from him (Roger at RJF,) but have never used their leather. Don't know how it compares to W&C or Hermann Oak as far as rigidity after wet forming goes. W&C has a brown skiring, that (at least in the sample I got) oils to a light brown. Nice color, and would be useful to use for airbrushing the edges for a sunburst effect, as it's not too dark. And their Chestnut is very nice, especially after oiling. Those single shoulders of HO from Springfield might be a nice option for when you have a project that calls for a much different weight than what you normally have on hand.

Paul

[renegadelizard]

I hear you on Springfield's customer service. They make it so you almost wish you're about to run out of something just so you can place another order. I'm currently using W&C skirting leather, and love it. Have them "holster" it for you. They put it through their press again and it makes for a firmer hand that makes a very nice rigid holster. I bought a piece of 8-10 oz. and was going to have them split it to an even 8 oz., but they said after "holstering" it, it would wind up about that thickness. Well, it didn't. It's about 9.5 oz. I don't have a splitter, so I have to sand each new project down on an oscillating spindle sander. Next time, I'll definitely have them split it. They have some nice colors, though I wish they had a few more. RJF, which is a sponsor here who carries Thoroughbred leather, has some other nice colors that one could use to fill the gaps not filled by W&C. They have a nice medium brown they call "Walnut" and a nice dark brown called "Havana" as well as Mahogany, Russet and Black. I got some sample swatches from him (Roger at RJF,) but have never used their leather. Don't know how it compares to W&C or Hermann Oak as far as rigidity after wet forming goes. W&C has a brown skiring, that (at least in the sample I got) oils to a light brown. Nice color, and would be useful to use for airbrushing the edges for a sunburst effect, as it's not too dark. And their Chestnut is very nice, especially after oiling. Those single shoulders of HO from Springfield might be a nice option for when you have a project that calls for a much different weight than what you normally have on hand.

Paul

I was thinking something along those lines. I was goin to get some wc in 5 oz holstered for doubling up the front for inlay work, and stay with the ho for my hybrids and for the flesh out IWB. Not that the ho isn't goo enough, I just hate to dye.