Pricing Holsters

[J Hayes]

I like the Mop n glo myself, 50/50 kept in an ice cream pail, one quick dunk and hang to dry, easy as it gets.

[humperdingle]

I just tried the 50/50 neatsfoot and beeswax mix... Melted nicely in the microwave.

Tried it on a piece of scrap belly and wasn't too impressed until I put the heat gun over it as suggested... Wow... Really brings out all of the natural leather grain. I poured the mixture into long silicone icecube trays to set so it'll be easier to use.

[chiefjason]

Chiefjason, . . . next time you make a batch, . . . get some real beeswax, . . .

Dwight

Dwight, thanks. I'll give that a shot too. The first one went well, but I had some left and the second batch was not quite the same. Still works well though. But a firmer past would be easier to apply and you don't get much extra on the leather. It's not the first time I've been told to quit being a cheapskate and buy the real thing. lol

I just tried the 50/50 neatsfoot and beeswax mix... Melted nicely in the microwave.

Tried it on a piece of scrap belly and wasn't too impressed until I put the heat gun over it as suggested... Wow... Really brings out all of the natural leather grain. I poured the mixture into long silicone icecube trays to set so it'll be easier to use.

I use a small crock pot to melt them together. I do a very cool brown dye on a lot of holsters. It really deepens that dye nicely and improves the look of it. The other's it's hard to tell a difference other than I really like the end result better.

[katsass]

Charles, something has continually bugged me about your holster design, and I think I finally figured it out. (being old I guess - things seem to take a while to ease into my consciousness) After I took a good long look at your rig, I think that you have tried to modify a revolver holster pattern into a holster for an auto pistol. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. Also, you are using an old Stohlman carving pattern that is adaptable to a pot-load of wheelgun holsters, but not so much for an autopistol rig. JMHO. Mike

Edited October 25, 2013 by katsass

[charlescrawford]

Charles, something has continually bugged me about your holster design, and I think I finally figured it out. (being old I guess - things seem to take a while to ease into my consciousness) After I took a good long look at your rig, I think that you have tried to modify a revolver holster pattern into a holster for an auto pistol. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. Also, you are using an old Stohlman carving pattern that is adaptable to a pot-load of wheelgun holsters, but not so much for an autopistol rig. JMHO. Mike

Mike - Yes and no is the short answer. It is one of the patterns in the Holster book by Stohlman. I have found that for me anyway you have to expand his patterns by 1/4" sometimes even more. The guy this was for wanted 2 separate belt loops options in different orientations to except a 1 1/2" western belts. So to accommodate all of this I had to make some adjustments here and there. The pattern I used was originally for a Colt 1911 Gov Issue which is the 5" rather then the normal 4". So you are totally correct I did have to expand the pattern slightly.

Now the pattern pack from Tandy the 4418 has like 16 different patterns. Most are fold over western style but each one pattern list what specific guns its for which is good. Most I think are older ones. There are a couple patterns for SW M&P but its very similar fold over patterns for both autos and revolvers From what I can tell. Do you By any chance have this pack? I think I got it leathercraft library. Your comment just brought this to mind.

[katsass]

Charles, I'm afraid that the only books no leather work I have are "Packing Iron" and "How to Make Holsters" I have no patterns or pattern packs -- I bought Stohlman's book way back in the early '60s, subsequently I was taught how to stitch, (properly, according to the old WWI cavalry soldier that taught me)and how to draw my own patterns. I still draw a separate pattern for each client and/or each firearm he wants a holster for, even if they are the same model. Sometimes I do kick myself, but I just toss them after I complete a rig. I just do not want to rig up an alphabetical file and mess with it for all the patterns that there would/could have been over the years. Mike

Edited October 25, 2013 by katsass

[Red Cent]

Hey Charles, just FYI. The "full" size (Colt) 1911 has a 5" barrel. The Commander has a 4 1/2" barrel and the Officer's model has a 3 1/2" barrel. The full size is much more prevalant.

[charlescrawford]

Charles, I'm afraid that the only books no leather work I have are "Packing Iron" and "How to Make Holsters" I have no patterns or pattern packs -- I bought Stohlman's book way back in the early '60s, subsequently I was taught how to stitch, (properly, according to the old WWI cavalry soldier that taught me)and how to draw my own patterns. I still draw a separate pattern for each client and/or each firearm he wants a holster for, even if they are the same model. Sometimes I do kick myself, but I just toss them after I complete a rig. I just do not want to rig up an alphabetical file and mess with it for all the patterns that there would/could have been over the years. Mike

Mike I might have to look more closely on youtube on how to do just that. Some of what throws me about doing what you do is doing avengers. I have a Adams leatherworking pattern for a M&P 9/40 that I can sometimes jerry rig to fit like Glock 22 stuff thats close size wise.

Hey Charles, just FYI. The "full" size (Colt) 1911 has a 5" barrel. The Commander has a 4 1/2" barrel and the Officer's model has a 3 1/2" barrel. The full size is much more prevalant.

Ya red thats what I am finding out. That's my next BG purchase.

[katsass]

Charles, hereis the result of the very first avenger style holster pattern I drew. Go for making your own - just takes a bit of effort. Mike

[charlescrawford]

Charles, hereis the result of the very first avenger style holster pattern I drew. Go for making your own - just takes a bit of effort. Mike

Mike You seem like a good one to ask this to. What makes an avenger an avenger holster? Is it the narrow height? I always use to think it was the large tooled reinforcement piece but yours throws everything I thought I knew from my adams patterns right on its proverbial arse....lol So now what I am starting to learn please correct me I am wrong here avenger patterns are low height holsters that technically the reinforcement piece can be of any size and can or can not have tooling done and the main frame of the holsters are fold over. Is this correct?