Hardware For Vertical Shoulder Holster

[zookeper]

i posted this in another part of the forums but maybe started in the wrong place. i'm trying to make a vertical rig and coming to the conclusion that good retension and draw may not be possible without the spring steel closure that i see many fashioned with. i haven't had any luck searching for this hardware and hoping someone can point me in the right direction. thanks!

[Lobo]

Steel springs must be configured to the exact dimensions required, then heat-tempered to perform as required. Any attempts to change the shape after tempering will adversely stress the metal and create a weak point subject to failure over time. In short form, looking for a standard production product is highly unlikely to produce what you want, and having what you want made to your specifications is likely to cost many times what you can charge for the holster project.

Unless you are ready to mass produce shoulder holsters with spring-steel closures there is little point in going any further. You will need to order in quantities of hundreds, or thousands, of identical items to achieve any economy that will allow for holster production. And every holster for every handgun will require a different spring configuration (sure, several 4" DA revolvers may be served with the same spring, and a few similar profile semi-auto pistols may be served with the same spring, but realistically you are looking at dozens of different springs to fill any segment of the market).

One-of-a-kind orders might be filled starting with a supply of good high-carbon steel in various gauges, cut to the specific shape required, then heated with a forge and bellows to bright cherry-red-to-glowing-white and quenched in water or oil. Shouldn't take more than a few dozen attempts to get something that might work. While you are working on that part of your project I'll be completing a couple of dozen other orders.

Now, of course, someone will come along and tell you about their source for springs that can be cut and bent to any shape and work just fine for your purpose. You may want to speak with a metallurgist about the science involved before spending the money.

A few years ago I spent over 1-1/2 years trying to get some simple belt clips made to my specifications (spring steel, specific opening size and contours, etc). I finally found a manufacturer, but it took a lot of my time and quite a bit of my money to make it happen. Even then the initial order was for 1,000 pieces, paid for in advance of production. Fortunately, that holster design took off well and I'm making several hundred per year; but it might have gone the other way.

Best regards.

[Dwight]

Lobo laid it out pretty good there.

One thing he didn't mention, . . . and I've been successful at least once, . . . Ebay.

Go looking on there for something similar to what you want. I bought a Hunter shoulder rig on there for $9 (I think ????) several years ago. I disassembled the thing, . . . got my steel clip, . . . used it, . . . and also salvaged the elastic strap, . . . pitched the rest.

As long as you are not in a hurry, . . . and it is a "one of a kind" product for you, . . . you may get lucky as I did.

May God bless,

Dwight