My First Avenger Style Holster

[St8LineGunsmith]

Ran

do you have a local Tandy store if so see if they have Saturday

leather working classes. The local TLF has free leatherworking

classes every Saturday Morning at 9:30. You can also go to youtube

and type in leather working or leather crafts and it will have tutorials

how to tool leather.

It is really not all that hard just time consuming.

there will be a learning curve with the swivel knife.

[Ran]

Thanks St8line....Here in the Northwoods of WI no such Leather Store. I was at a Tandy in the Milwaukee area last week, but that's 250 miles south of me. Guess I'll keep watching YouTube vids. Watching videos fits my personality better anyways. That's how I learned what I know so far.

[immiketoo]

Ran, there is a process for tooling, and most of what I've found online doesn't really show much, so I'll describe my process for you. First, I choose a pattern based on the design that I want. Sometimes it's a custom drawn design, other times I copy something just for the practice. Once I have a design ready, I copy it to the leather with a modeling tool. Then I cut the pattern with a swivel knife. Then it's beveling, shading, backgrounding and decorative cuts. Tandy has some basic videos you can watch by clicking this link:

http://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/t-instructional-videos.aspx

Also, I found this video and it's pretty good.

Here's something I did last night from a Chan Geer pattern book as a practice exercise.

[immiketoo]

Oh yeah,

Check here too:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=214

[Ran]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the referrals. So, after creating and doing the tooling, you then 'painted' the floral pattern? I assume using tiny brushes?? Very nice, BTW...

[immiketoo]

You're welcome! It's tough to get started all by yourself, especially if you aren't familiar with the basics. I used my airbrush to do the colors, then I antiqued the whole thing. Last, I buffed it with sheep's wool. I do have a variety of small brushes for detail work as well, like the flower centers, and for other techniques like dry brushing. If you can't get your hands on patterns, pick a design you like and carve that. The process is the same. Here are a few holsters I have done.

Alas, I have only been doing this for two months, so I am by no means an expert, but I am recently familiar with your dilemma, so take my advice with a grain of salt

Mike

[immiketoo]

BTW, did you make the grips for your 1911? They are amazing! What kind of wood is that?

[Ran]

Thanks Mike. Yes, I make pistol grips. I've been a cabinet-making, furniture builder, woodworker for a very long time. The leather work is just a natural progression for me as well as a distraction from woodworking for a while. I make grips out of all sorts of wood. The ones on that 1911 Officers are made from stabilized spalted Taramind. Its a wood that I believe is native to southest Asia..

[immiketoo]

I have had an interest in woodworking for years and I have just never been brave enough to start, probably due to the expense, and space. My dad had a wood shop and it took up a lot of space in the basement. I think I need a set of grips like that! I have a new 1911 coming, and I think those would look great. Do you sell them? Horse trade? Let me know.

Mike

[Ran]

Yes Mike, I've sent grips all over the Country. Depending of the species of wood and whether its been stabilized, I sell 1911 grips for anywhere from $45 to $80 shipped. I have some beautiful stabilized Box Elder Burl in both Officers and fullsize 1911 in stock right now. I also have some curly Walnut and Curly Maple.

I have several others too, but this gives you an idea. I can also cut them for a magwell and/or cover the MSH post, OR cut the relief per traditional grips.

Oh....and I make those pistol stands too. PM me if you're interested. I don't want to break any rules on this forum..

Edited October 21, 2012 by Ran