Revolver Holster Questions

[Red Cent]

There are some "tricks" in providing tension. As a long time competitor in Cowboy Action Shooting, IDPA, IPSC, and others, you can build a holster using certain points to retain the handgun. Would you think this has retention? Sure it does. You can run hell bent for leather and the revolver will not come out. But it does not look it, huh?

[chiefjason]

Retention is not about molding behind the cylinder. Retention is about building a suitably tight holster. And that goes back to getting the stitch lines in tight, and molded to all the right curves. That said, I find revolvers to have slightly less retention than semis. Mainly because I do all flat back holsters and the revolver simply is not flat. Not that it has no retention, just less retention because the main contact on the back side is just the cylinder. If you make a more standard style holster, then there is probably equal contact front and back. I've had no complaints doing them flat on the back though.

This is 4.5 lbs of S&W 500 that had to be pulled out. I put the strap on it because he mentioned riding 4 wheelers with it, but it was plenty snug.

[40Rock2]

I agree about the stitch line being key to retention. I also find that the molding gives the maker additional control of retention. Be careful about molding above the cylinder as it gets tight real fast. I like the trigger gaurd molding to give me the click in and our feel.

[chiefjason]

Another way to think about it is that retention means that there is less volume in the holster initial than that of the gun. You want to be putting a slightly larger object into a slightly smaller space. At that point friction takes over and retains the gun,some of the detailed boning can add to that friction, but most of it should come from a good slightly tight fit. To do that you have to get those stitches in close or the holster will open up too much. It will always open up some, just the nature of leather breaking in, but if the stitch line is too wide it will open up out to the widest point where it is not stitched/glued.

[Red Cent]

Chief, that works to a point. The SASS leather guys never mold (Mernickle, Kirkpatrick, Red Cent ). The flat sided "pocket" will almost always exert pressure on the cylinder (just on the edge) and, to some degree, on the tip of the barrel. Most of us never store the gun in the holster. Some will place a tennis ball in the mouth of the holster to retain the big hole for re-holstering on the move. But that's another story.

[Lobo]

Mike Craw's post above is outstanding advice that should be read and read again until it is completely understood.

So many of the things that people obsess about are so far down the list of priorities that they are essentially meaningless. A large part of the holster making business is providing sound advice to customers and, when necessary, injecting a dose of reality.

By the way, about 60% of my holster orders are for revolvers. Those makers who believe that revolvers are outdated, or otherwise unworthy of consideration, are just helping to build a market niche for other makers.

[cleanview]

Have not been able to post as i have not gotten internet at our new place yet and i just dont like surfing on the phone. Another week or so before i get internet.

Several outstanding comments. I am just getting to where i can know whether or not to be confident in my more regular holsters. Seems like new uncertainties withe the revolver. Will see if i cAn get a pi. Of a revol er i have been working on.

[cleanview]

Finally back to having internet.

Was not happy with the above pic, so made some changes to it and it was a pair that was ordered.

Happier with these revolver holsters than any so far, only done 3 I think though.

[JLSleather]

That photographs well. Is that tool chest drawer liner, maybe?

[Dwight]

Finally back to having internet.

Was not happy with the above pic, so made some changes to it and it was a pair that was ordered.

Happier with these revolver holsters than any so far, only done 3 I think though.

Quite honestly, . . . constructive notes, . . . if you wear either of these daily for 2 months, . . . the gun will probably fall out of either of them when you lean back in your recliner.

The artwork is good, . . . stitches are definitely passable, . . . and while the molding is more than I prefer, . . . it's good.

Where you missed it is the single most important part, . . . your stitch lines are in Mississippi, . . . the gun is in Alabama. Tighten those stitches all the way up to the edge of the molding.

If you don't, . . . because the holsters are outside the waist band, . . . there is nothing to "hold them steady", . . . the butt of the gun will rock back and forth as you walk, turn, sit, or otherwise move. It will waller out the excess you left and make it more of a bag than a holster.

But, . . . this is the fun of learning a new craft. You are on your way, . . . looking good so far, . . . just tighten em up.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited March 5, 2015 by Dwight