1St Holster - Feedback Much Appreciated!

[hobbihorse]

Here is a pic of the gun in the holster. Your feedback about how it fits would be greatly appreciated, as I now have 2 requests ftom ftiends who have seen the finished product! In my opinion I could have covered the cylinder with more leather. The fellow I made it for has not tried it out and reholstered yet. However, anything your trained eye can tell me about the angle, fit, etc from the pic would be great.

Thanks!!

Hobbihorse

[snubbyfan]

Now that the gun's in it. It looks pretty good.

But.

Just a couple of personal things about fit and cut.

It looks like the rear sight's resting on the holster, I try to cut 'em so they're a little bit clear of the rear sight.

The cut of the upper resembles a traditional Mexican Loop holster.

This isn't one of mine, it was made by a member of a gun forum I frequent. He's also on this forum but hasn't posted much. He did a beautiful job on this holster but had to reduce the price way below what it's worth to get it to sell.

Notice that the cylinder's covered but it's cut down exposing the trigger. It's a traditional design for the Mexican Loop.

Personally, I prefer to keep the trigger completely covered.

This is one of mine.

I just figure it'll help to keep a persons finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. Guns can be deadly and I take great care in my holster designs with safety, secure retention and end use in mind.

But they still gotta look good.

Edited January 3, 2015 by snubbyfan

[byggyns]

I'll agree with covering the trigger on a double action revolver. That's a safety issue in my opinion.

On a single action, expose it as much as you want since it's quite hard to accidentally cock the hammer and then catch the trigger on something without noticing.

With the rear sight, You can cover it or not, your choice. I've made holsters both ways. I prefer the uncovered sight, but some people like that leather wrapped around it. The way the sight is kind of running into the edge on yours isn't what I would prefer.

It doesn't appear you have the issue here, but something to think about in future designs is the position of the grip vs. the belt. You don't want the grip in a location where you may accidentally grab the belt with it as part of the draw stroke. That's more of an issue for low-slung holsters. I figured that one out while making a pattern for a Mexican loop style for my Ruger Blackhawk.

[hobbihorse]

Great Advice. Thank you so much for the insights. I had no idea there was so much to consider in making a holster. I don't think this is something I will make for anyone other than family members or friends...there is just too much that can go wrong. LOL.

[Wild Bill46]

These experts, (IMHO) are giving valuable expertise, for sure !

But don't let your ovedrthinking deter your opinion to make another holster.

My advise is to make for another for a family member, to be sure,

---------------------- "But do it now " -----------------------------

And experience the advancements and pride you would gather from thier advise

and the great feeling you will most definately experience from not having a henderence from now on.

Just my take - Wild Bill46

[byggyns]

I agree. Make more. You learn so much more by making more holsters and making some mistakes for yourself. Even if you make the mistakes that others have warned you about, you can see exactly why they gave you that advice, how you made that error & ways to avoid it in the future. Of course, it's much easier on the ego to make those mistakes when they are holsters for your own weapons. Carrying pistols in your own holsters will also give you a feel for the way a certain design feels, so you can make changes to your holster design for different carrying conditions.

One mistake that I made that I had never been advised against is regarding decorative stitching around a single layer at the opening. If I ever do it again, I will have to space the stitching farther away from the edge and / or use a larger stitch size. The way I did it made the leather roll over when I burnished the edge.

ETA: I also wouldn't call myself an expert. I've only made a few holsters so far, but you really do learn so much more by doing it.

Edited January 9, 2015 by byggyns

[hobbihorse]

Thanks Wild Bill and Byggyns!

you've given me the courage to try it again! A friend wants a holster for his glock. But this time I'll have both a glock paper pattern AND a "blue gun" to fit as a go.

[camano ridge]

When you do your next holster if you have the glock rely on it more then the blue gun for fitting. Glocks are one area where the blue gun has been frequently under sized (depending on the model) and has caused firt problems. We will be looking forward to seeing the next one.

[hobbihorse]

Thanks Camano, that's great advice! Unfortunately (again) I will not have access to the gun while making the holster. But my friend has like 100 handguns, and said the holster will likely fit at least one of them!! haha!! hopefully between the blue gun, the glock pattern (it's a pull-out from a Leatherworkers and Saddlers Journal 2011 back issue), and your advice about fit, I SHOULD be in good shape...

[camano ridge]

Her is another tid bit of advice. WHen he gets the completed holster if it does fit a little snug. Have him put the gun in a Freezer zip loc bag then insert the gun and bag into the holster fullly seating it and leaving it in the holster overnight. Then remove the gun from the bag and re insert the gun into the holster. The fit should be better. Looking forward to seeing it when your done.