Gluing Rawhide To Leather For Cowboy Holster

[bushpilotmexico]

Just an update on the holster, I have been using the Slickbald Custom Leather holster pack and Chris Andre doesn't use rawhide for a liner just two pieces of 7 oz leather glued together.

I'm at the wet forming stage and will do so once my pistol arrives. I didn't have any 7 oz so used the 8 oz that I use in my knife sheaths and archery quivers. Might be a challenge to wet form but we'll see. It was quite a learning experience making the holster and there will be room for improvement on the next one. No sewing machine so all hand stitched. I doubled stitched the holster because of the forces applied by the forming.

[bushpilotmexico]

Got the retaining strap stamped so now I'm waiting for the pistol I ordered so I can wet form and dye. I have Chris Andre's holster and belt patterns but I find the directions a little confusing at times.

Just started on the belt trying to figure out his sizing instructions and the shrinkage factor he talks about taking into account the belt wrapping around your waist.

Would anyone have some suggestions?

Thanks

[Dwight]

I don't know what you are referring to when you say "shrinkage", . . .

I've never had a belt shrink yet, . . . unless it is literally soaked like overnight and laid out in the noonday sun (or put in a microwave, . . . but that is another story), . . . leather won't shrink enough in a cowboy rig to cause you any grief.

The one thing you really need to do though, . . . take off the belt you are wearing right now, . . . measure from the hole it was latched in, . . . to the edge of the buckle.

Let's say you measured it and you got 42 inches. Make your cowboy rig 46 inches from the edge of the buckle to the center of 5 or 7 holes. Some guys use 5, I give my customers 7 holes. That added 4 inches seems like a lot, . . . but that is John Bianchi's formula, . . . I've used it for over 10 years, . . . it has never failed me, . . . works every time.

For your first belt, . . . let me suggest you do a simple one, . . . 2 1/2 or 3 inches from front pocket around to the other front pocket, . . . and taper the buckle end, and tongue end, just long enough to do the work for the 1 1/2 inch buckle. If you remember Clint Eastwood's rig in the spaghetti westerns, . . . it would be shaped like that.

May God bless,

Dwight

[bushpilotmexico]

I don't know what you are referring to when you say "shrinkage", . . .

I've never had a belt shrink yet, . . . unless it is literally soaked like overnight and laid out in the noonday sun (or put in a microwave, . . . but that is another story), . . . leather won't shrink enough in a cowboy rig to cause you any grief.

The one thing you really need to do though, . . . take off the belt you are wearing right now, . . . measure from the hole it was latched in, . . . to the edge of the buckle.

Let's say you measured it and you got 42 inches. Make your cowboy rig 46 inches from the edge of the buckle to the center of 5 or 7 holes. Some guys use 5, I give my customers 7 holes. That added 4 inches seems like a lot, . . . but that is John Bianchi's formula, . . . I've used it for over 10 years, . . . it has never failed me, . . . works every time.

For your first belt, . . . let me suggest you do a simple one, . . . 2 1/2 or 3 inches from front pocket around to the other front pocket, . . . and taper the buckle end, and tongue end, just long enough to do the work for the 1 1/2 inch buckle. If you remember Clint Eastwood's rig in the spaghetti westerns, . . . it would be shaped like that.

May God bless,

Dwight

Hi Dwight,

I appreciate your comments and support. This is what Chris Andre calls "shrinkage factor" (it's why his directions are confusing) and I quote him:

DETERMINE WAIST SIZE

C. SHRINKAGE FACTOR: Any material will shrink (proportional to it's thickness) as it bends; belts are no exception. I estimate 3/4" to an 1-1/2" up to a 58" waist, assuming a 12/14 oz (.20") total belt thickness. Remember to add it on!

1. You say I should measure from the hole it was latched in to the edge of the buckle. I assume you mean the front edge or is from where the buckle prong swivels on the buckle?

2. 2-1/2" or 3 inches from front pocket around to the other front pocket....what is the front pocket?

Do you line your cowboy belts? Chris Andre does and this may be why he adds the additional measurement for "shrinkage factor".

Thanks,

Cliff

[Dwight]

Bushpilotmexico wrote:

C. SHRINKAGE FACTOR: Any material will shrink (proportional to it's thickness) as it bends; belts are no exception. I estimate 3/4" to an 1-1/2" up to a 58" waist, assuming a 12/14 oz (.20") total belt thickness. Remember to add it on!

Quite honestly, I don't know of anyone else who does this, . . . my "training" came from John Bianchi's videos, . . . and it was never mentioned by THE pro, . . . so I don't really think it is important.

1. You say I should measure from the hole it was latched in to the edge of the buckle. I assume you mean the front edge or is from where the buckle prong swivels on the buckle?

It does not matter which way you measure it (I use the front edge myself) just so you always do it the same way.

2. 2-1/2" or 3 inches from front pocket around to the other front pocket....what is the front pocket?

What I meant is the wide part of the belt will go from the left front pocket to the right front pocket, around the backside. Only the tongue and buckle area will be smaller. I made you up a little diagram showing how I make the tapered belts, . . . it is really easy, . . . just remember to measure twice before you cut once, . . .

Do you line your cowboy belts? Chris Andre does and this may be why he adds the additional measurement for "shrinkage factor".

I line all my cowboy belts unless the buyer specifically says he does not want it lined. I contact cement two pieces of leather together looking for something in the .180 to .220 overall thickness, . . . thinner for the shorter ones, . . . thicker for the longer ones. After cementing them together, . . . I roll them with a rolling pin and leave them flat for about a day, . . . then I treat it as though it was just one piece of leather.

And again, . . . I don't know why, where, or how he came up with the shrinkage, . . . maybe email him and get an answer. It has NEVER been a problem for me.

May God bless,

Dwight

[billybopp]

I don't know about you guys, but my belts have all been shrinking steadily since I was in my mid 20's.

[Dwight]

I don't know about you guys, but my belts have all been shrinking steadily since I was in my mid 20's.

Now you know that wasn't fair,............... .............taking advantage of us just because we like steak, chocolate, spaghetti, chocolate, doughnuts, chocolate, and did I mention chocolate?

May God bless,

Dwight

[bushpilotmexico]

Hi Dwight,

Thanks for all your help you are a real gentleman. The belt that I have the pattern for from Slickbald (Chris Andre) is a ranger style belt with your help I think I have figured out the length.

The photo is one of Chris two gun rigs but it shows the ranger style. I apologize for the skull. As you said it's a learning experience and I'll plug away at it this weekend and keep you updated.

Chris doesn't use either rawhide or metal just relies on the veg tanned leather. I'm going to build myself a drying box. I saw one where the guy used a large plastic garbage pail with a heat bulb inside and kept the drying temperature around 130 degrees.

Thanks,

Cliff

[bushpilotmexico]

Got the belt finished, a learning experience and room for improvement on the next one. When I was hand sewing the liner to the belt I kind of wished I had a sewing machine with over 600 stitches, took about 4 hours by hand. Generally pleased with the way it has worked out. Once my pistol arrives and I wet form the holster I will gate everything dyed.

I appreciate all the help that members gave me.

[bushpilotmexico]

Thanks to all I dyed the belt today.