New Holsters From This Weekend

[Imapeopleperson]

Just posting some new holsters, and getting used to using my Champion stitcher. A couple are for the Govt 45 and a few extra that don't have a designation yet. Got to fix that.

[renegadelizard]

that is some incredibly thick leather youre working with there...any specific reason?

[c2369zulu]

Based on the stitching, It appears he has lined a lot of the holsters. I wish I had time to do that many at once. Looking good.

[Imapeopleperson]

The leather is 7-8 oz, i don't think its way to thick for holsters, It gives a good protection on the firearms, and the new/old Champion sewing machine makes fast work of stitching, I used to do them all by hand, but i never would have stitched all the way around by hand, it would have taken a long time, but ya'll know that. The stitcher works great and i usually get the patterns cut out one day, dye them, and then take them out to get sewed up the day after there good and dry, Getting the leather formed before stitching helps a great deal. Thank you for the comments.

[dickf]

that is some incredibly thick leather youre working with there...any specific reason?

I agree with the lizard - that's not 8 oz leather, more like 12. Way too heavy for your application.

[RWP]

I agree with the lizard - that's not 8 oz leather, more like 12. Way too heavy for your application.

Apparently it's working just fine for the application if he's working on 5 holsters at once?

[dickf]

Apparently it's working just fine for the application if he's working on 5 holsters at once?

Surely you're not suggesting that making several items at once dictates proper construction?

Those holsters aren't tightly molded to the gun (nor were they designed to fit a specific weapon). The leather is too heavy. If they were western or period holsters, I'd say it would matter less. Other than quantity, what else in those photos makes you think it's the appropriate weight?

[St8LineGunsmith]

if it were a period accurate western holster the leather would actually be around 6-7 oz but I like to make all my holsters out of 8-9 oz leather

and pancake and paddle holsters are 8-9 oz leather

the holsters in the pics certainly look like they were made from 12 oz.

heavier than I would use for those types of holsters however the OP might like using thicker leather for whatever reason.

I would not go as far as to say the leather is too heavy for the application if it was for personal use and the thick stuff can be molded just as easy as the lighter weight leather just need to be soaked a few minutes longer however you don't see holsters on the market made from leather as thick as these.

most holsters and belts I make are cut from the same thickness leather which is 8-9 oz

I saddle stitch and lace my holsters and I sure would not want to stitch up leather that thick by hand.

awfully difficult pushing an awl through 12 oz leather when it gets that thick it is time to bring out the drill press and a round awl blade to make the stitching holes.

even when installing a welt i sometimes push my stitching holes through with a press

Edited February 20, 2013 by St8LineGunsmith

[Imapeopleperson]

I just can not figure how you all with the measurement eyesight can tell the leather is way to thick. I'm telling you all that it is 7-8 oz, now whatever you used to gauge the material, i would truly like to know so i can look at a picture and think i know all the aspects of whether the leather is way too heavy or inappropriately weight for the types of holsters i build, I think they work out just fine and if i were building your design on a holster i could consider your critique on the weight of leather i am using, but since i am not building your holsters i think that they are fine. Anyway thanks for the leather thickness class.

if it were a period accurate western holster the leather would actually be around 6-7 oz but I like to make all my holsters out of 8-9 oz leather

and pancake and paddle holsters are 8-9 oz leather

the holsters in the pics certainly look like they were made from 12 oz.

heavier than I would use for those types of holsters however the OP might like using thicker leather for whatever reason.

I would not go as far as to say the leather is too heavy for the application if it was for personal use and the thick stuff can be molded just as easy as the lighter weight leather just need to be soaked a few minutes longer however you don't see holsters on the market made from leather as thick as these.

most holsters and belts I make are cut from the same thickness leather which is 8-9 oz

I saddle stitch and lace my holsters and I sure would not want to stitch up leather that thick by hand.

awfully difficult pushing an awl through 12 oz leather when it gets that thick it is time to bring out the drill press and a round awl blade to make the stitching holes.

even when installing a welt i sometimes push my stitching holes through with a press

Agreed.

[St8LineGunsmith]

It is sometimes difficult to judge by a picture but the leather does look to be thicker than 8-9 oz just judging by the pic.

12 oz leather measures aproximately 6 Mil or 1/4" IIRC and 8-9 oz is in the ballpark of 5/32" to 7/32" just under 3/16"

3/16" to 9/32" would be 10-11 oz leather IIRC