Need Help With Holsters

[patches]

If someone can give me some ideas I would sure appreciate it. When making cowboy style holsters I feel the holsters are to sloppy on the belt. Is there a trick or a keeper that is installed to keep the holster tight on the belt?

[camano ridge]

There are several ways of doing it and several ways of making the belt loop. You don't mention the type of holster, mexican loop, slim jim/california etc. Period correct holster are often made with the larger belt loop like the originals so that they could be put on what ever size belt the wearer had. Also often times they were worn on cartridge belts and slid over the cartridges. On mexican loop you can stitch a strip of leather to the holster side of the skirt the appropiate distance form the inside top of the skirt to give enogh space for the belt when the belt is buckled on the belt will snug up against the skirt and sit just above the strip that you sewed on. This will stop any movement of the holster. On slim jim style you can size the loop for the belt. On some of mine I have mounted two pieces of leather one being a spacer the thicknes of the belt and the other a little bigger piece that acts like a flap they are mounted by chicago screw to the inside of the skirt similar to the stitched in strip mentioned above. I will dig up some pictures of some different belt loops for western holsters including the back of Wild Bill Hikocks HHolster on display in the Autry museum it has a different style belt loop then most. Was able to get back and edit before I was locked out here are two pictures the first one is of the Hickok holster the second one is just a standard slim jim style belt loop that can be cut to any size you need then sewn on the holster. I could not find an pictures of the inside of a skirt with the belt stop I will keep looking.

If you are interested in information on western style holsters fo over to cascity.com go to the forums and leather shop. There is a lot of infomation in the FAQ How to, also you will find many examples of western holsters that for the most part is what we do over there. If you post your question over there you will probably get several ideas as well.

Edited December 8, 2013 by camano ridge

[Sylvia]

If someone can give me some ideas I would sure appreciate it. When making cowboy style holsters I feel the holsters are to sloppy on the belt. Is there a trick or a keeper that is installed to keep the holster tight on the belt?

Isn't that why they had tie downs?

[camano ridge]

The reality is that tie downs are a 20th century invention along with buscadero belts and cut down metal re enfoced quick draw holsters or gunslinger rigs. THe belt loops in the 1800's were large so they could be put on what ever belt was available and so the holster could be moved around as needed such when mounting a horse sitting down on a saloon chair etc.

[Dwight]

Some folks doing Western holsters (especially buscadero rigs) will attach a thick piece of leather on the back side of the holster just on the other side of the gun itself. It can't be seen normally, . . . but that piece of leather bumps into the buscadero loop and doesn't allow the holster to be pulled up through that loop.

You can also put a similar piece on a Mexican loop or even a slim Jim, . . . but you have to place it correctly so it lays just under the bottom edge of the belt.

Personally, . . . I make very few buscadero rigs, . . . most use a fold over holster with at loop holding it onto the belt, . . . and I mold them tight enough that the waist pressure keeps the holster from moving.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Red Cent]

If you are making modern type cowboy holsters, there is another way. My holsters are 2 ply. I punch holes in the outer and capture chicago screws between the leather. I use Weldwood Cement to glue the leather together and put a little bit around the screw caps. The back flap is integral with the holster and two holes are punched in it also. The male chicago screw is tightened down. You can see one of the screws on the bottom of the back flap. There is another one just below the belt. That keeps the holster in one place. In cowboy competition, you don't want to keep positioning the holsters.

Some cowboys punch a hole in their belt and in the back flap and attach by a chicago screw.

Hope I explained the process.

The second picture also has the captured chicgo screws. Some holster makers (Kirkpatrick) sew a leather block to the inside of the backflap just below the belt line.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Red Cent

[Red Cent]

It occurs to me that the lined (2 ply) holsters are very stiff and with a 1 3/4 to 3" gunbelt that is also 2 ply, the holster will stay put without a lot of help. Anything less than 8-9 ounce will be soft and pliable and would be a little floppy. Especially without a good stiff gunbelt.

[MadMorbius]

When I build my holsters I plan for the keeper loop to ride right below the belt, effectively locking in place. Works well enough on the high ride model, but for the drop holsters I use t nuts to lock the holster onto the belt and prevent climb.

[patches]

Thank you to everyone for you input. I have a person who has requested a longer drop on his holster (he does not want to go buscadero style). I used the suggestions and placed a piece of thick harness leather with a 1" tab so the belt feeds behind that tab. Then I opened up the liner and placed a hidden Chicago screw and glued it down. Worked great!