emr454 Report post Posted January 10, 2013 So here is what I've made from the cheap horse butt strips from Springfield Leather. The first is a pancake for my S&W 6904. This was made from the nicest of the horse butts I received. I love the color of the drum dyed leather! So far, this is my best effort. I'm really getting better with measuring and marking my stitch lines. I just recently got a stitch spacing wheel so that also helps with it's appearance. Next is my first hybrid holster. This was my first experience using kydex as well. The kydex was one of the free samples I got from Springfield Leather and the leather is another piece of the cheap horse butts. This one is sort of a convertible IWB/OWB holster, but since my kydex forming skills are lacking, it works better and has better retention as an IWB holster. Feel free to offer your thoughts and critiques! Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haystacker Report post Posted January 11, 2013 I don't do kydex so no comments there. But I do leather holsters and I feel qualified to say something about your leather holster. Good Job!. Looks very good. I think you have some talent there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emr454 Report post Posted January 11, 2013 Thanks for the kind words! It amazes me just how much cleaner it looks with uniform stitching. Still not sure how I feel about horsehide, but I can tell these are bottom of the barrel strips, so to speak, and the better Horween hide should be head and shoulders above these. Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shooter McGavin Report post Posted January 11, 2013 That kydex got WAY too hot. 360°-370° is where I do mine. And thats pushing the envelope. Use a non contact thermometer to measure the temp. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emr454 Report post Posted January 11, 2013 That kydex got WAY too hot. 360°-370° is where I do mine. And thats pushing the envelope. Use a non contact thermometer to measure the temp. I had it in the oven at 300 for a couple minutes and then did some fine tuning with a hair dryer, so I'm not sure why it looks shiny in the pic. An IR thermometer may be my next purchase though... I just built a holster press today so my next attempt should yield better definition and retention This could turn itself into a new hobby/obsession! Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
