Isn't As Easy As It Looks...

[MStarmer]

Well I've been a fan of leather holsters over Kydex for a long time although I own plenty of each. Got to the point I was tired of working on guns, and wanted to try my hand at a holster. After much lurking and reading I ordered some stuff from Springfield Leather and dove in. Made a half dozen templates and even a foam holster to start. Then jumped in and hacked out a piece of leather. At each step of the way so far I have made at least one mistake and found something I will improve on next time. In fact at the last minute I ended up molding this holster to a Glock 19 blue gun in lieu of my Springfield Armory XDm 3.8 compact as they are almost identical in size. Learned what does and doesn't cut leather well, learned there is a lot of waiting involved and that if I get in a hurry I'm going to screw up big time. Anyway feel free to comment as this is dumpster holster most likely but I will dye it and see how that process works. But for now I'm just over joyed that it actually resembles a holster! I'm hoping the next one will actually be something I am proud to wear.

To pro holster guys I can't believe I ever balked at the price of a custom leather (epecially one's with exotic trim). You guys are true artists, me unfortunately can't even draw stick figures very well.

Edited September 6, 2013 by MStarmer

[Warpe]

Well I will let you in on a secret.....we all started at the beginning too.

[papaleather]

Not a bad looking holster. I am getting ready to dive into making my own soon and I plan to take it slow as well and I have no delusions of it looking 'professional'. Reminds me of the joke; Guy is in New York and stops someone on the street and asks, 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Person replies, 'Practice, practice, practice.' Let us know how it looks after you finish it.

One question, What weight leather did you use?

Edited September 6, 2013 by papaleather

[GrampaJoel]

Ok here is how you make that holster look much better.

Take out the rest of the sewing you have so far. Don't damage the holes

Now hand saddle stitch in the already made holes with a sthick thread. So it fills the holes.

Get some dark color you like and color the holster.

Burnish the edges. Apply a top coat a wax or some type of finish. Buff it to a sheen. Not a shine. Step back and see how you turned a pigs ear into a not quite silk purse, but a useful holster.

I truly think that piece of work is very salvageable.

Don't give up yet!

Joel

[Red Cent]

As stated, holster looks good, except..........................what GrampaJoel said. I made something similar. I turned the back part roughside to the body and lined it with thin suede.

The best burnisher, I think, is two circles of 2" pure felt pad screwed together (tight) with a bolt through the center and beeswax. As you burnish, the middle of the felt will crease and leave a brown edge on you leather. Or not.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Red Cent

[MStarmer]

I used 8-9oz Herman Oak from Springfield. I thought it was a good deal for $35, leftover shoulder from making belts. http://springfieldleather.com/30422/Shoulder%2CSingle%2CH-O%2C8-9oz/

Thanks for the encouragement, I never figured the first one would be close to a keeper as I was kind of hurrying thru, and kind getting a feel for it but I may just give it a go.

One question for the vetrans out there. It still feels a little soft, how do you get a holster rigid? It's pretty firm but not like some of my purchased ones.

Thanks for the motivation!

[oltoot]

You can get a compound from Weaver Leather, probably Springfield too, that adds body but I wouldn't worry as long as it isn't plumb raggy. Since it isn't molded to an exact replica of your gun, stiffening could lead to increased holster and gun wear. Grandpa Joel's suggestion was good too, (re restitching with bigger thread) if you want to have the stitching contrast, do the finishing, except for the topcoat, then stitch. Just another look.

[MStarmer]

I've got another delivery enroute from Springfield Leather with two more types of thread, another diamond awl (busted my first one already) and a smaller beveler. I also have some neatsfoot oil and resoluene (sp?) to finish it out after I dye (fiebings oil). So after that I should have everything I need to actually build one start to finish. I may start a second one as I'm working on this one since there is so much down time, it will give me a chance to fix my processes and build a holster for a gun I actually have. I just happened to have a blue gun laying around from when we carried Glocks at work and used them for weapons retention drills. Luckily my pattern will work both for the Glock 19 and my XDM 3.8 other than the stitching around the trigger.

[vaalpens]

I used 8-9oz Herman Oak from Springfield. I thought it was a good deal for $35, leftover shoulder from making belts. http://springfieldle...ngle,H-O,8-9oz/

Thanks for the encouragement, I never figured the first one would be close to a keeper as I was kind of hurrying thru, and kind getting a feel for it but I may just give it a go.

One question for the vetrans out there. It still feels a little soft, how do you get a holster rigid? It's pretty firm but not like some of my purchased ones.

Thanks for the motivation!

I am a novice at this but have two different outcomes regarding stiffness of the leather. My first an only holster was stitched and dyed and then formed with the pistol. It was a tight fit. I just finished it of with some Kiwi clear polish and the holster came out very stiff. I then did a mag pouch that I formed ahead of the stitching. Left it outside in the shade (AZ temperature) for a while, and it came of stiff and hard. I then dyed it with an alcohol based dye and finished it with clear Kiwi again. This one came out stiff again. I then did just the belt loop for my BK-2 knife, which I just put olive oil on and then outside in the sun to get some color. I then formed it for the belt and finished it with clear Kiwi again. This one did not come out stiff or hard.

My feeling is that if you don't oil it a bit and your form it a bit (lot of stretching), in conjunction with the drying will leave it stiff and hard. There are lot more knowledgeable members on this forum that will be able to tell you exactly what to do to get the desired leather softness/hardness.

Good luck.

[chiefjason]

If you are looking to stiffen it, you need to heat it after wet forming. Wet the holster. Form it. Then put it on a shoe rack in your dryer on high for 20-30 minutes. That force dries the leather, gets the water out, and stiffens the collagen in the leather.

FWIW, that holster looks better than some I see on ebay. If I were you I'd finish it. And as suggested, re stitch it with thicker thread.