Holster Patterns

[JLSleather]

8 hours ago, Steelart999 said:

Was the holster wetted and then formed over a gun mold via pressure or vacuum?

Yup, formed in a vaccuum bag with a "blue" gun.

8 hours ago, Steelart999 said:

I decided to try doing a molding of the leather pattern (oversized) of just the front panel, then sewing to a properly profiled back panel and then sanding/shaping the both pieces of leather

That works also.  I prefer to do it the other way so I can cut like 4 er 6 er 10, glue and sew, form 'em as they are ordered.  Just saves time, and ensures that when a customer comes back for another, or his buddy sees it and wants one, the next one is just like that one (though not identical).

The purpose of that video was actually that "fade" thing SO MANY were on about for YEARS.  LEather workers will take turns claiming the invented it, but Gibson Guitars made that big decades ago, calling it "sunburst".  Guys were taking turns making HOUR LONG videos about it, so I thought somebody might benefit from seeing it done in 3 minutes

That said, I can't find the pic of THAT holster... can't keep em ALL.  But this is a G19 done the SAME WAY, but with a reinforcement panel.  From this you kin prolly tell that it's not "flat", its actually curved BEYOND flat to a natural curve.  This is assembled and sewn before forming.

[Steelart999]

I'm really liking that particular G19 holster (above).  A better, snug fit to my body improves the ability to safely draw a handgun without yanking my pants around      Yeah, that and a well made gun belt ... 

Okay, about gun belts.  Is there a standard for the width, thickness, layer count, layout for gun belts?  I realize that there are always going to differences and variations, but are there any "must-haves" regarding form/function?

[JLSleather]

 

4 hours ago, Steelart999 said:

Okay, about gun belts.  Is there a standard for the width, thickness, layer count, layout for gun belts? 

SOME FOLK (not me) say it should be DOUBLE 8/9 oz, and though I don't care for that, there IS the advantage of being able to use it to pull your truck out the snow if you git stuck

Mine are generally a 'standard' belt is about 12 oz leather - 7/8 lined with 3/4. And 1 1/2" wide. We usedta make 'em 1 3/4" wide, but most jeans makers started making pants loops smaller so that wouldnt' fit most.  In teh end, "standard" is what you decide to make 'em.  Most my holster patterns assume a 1 1/2" wide 12 oz belt.  Biggest one I ever did was a 2" wide belt, about 13/14 oz, for this BIG fella with a 54" waist who wanted to carry TWO Ruger revolvers with 10" barrels. 

Oh, yeah- and I like to use an OVAL punch for the adjustment holes, and I leave 6" past the middle hole to the tip, and I fold the buckle end over and leave 3 1/2" of fold (skived to just under half thickness at the end).

 

Edited February 2, 2024 by JLSleather

[JLSleather]

4 hours ago, Steelart999 said:

I'm really liking that particular G19 holster (above). 

I like makin' that one in exotic stuff too.  Haven't done it in dog yet, but I got one askin' fer it

This some mottled grey elephant and black shark hide.

[Steelart999]

3 hours ago, JLSleather said:

 

SOME FOLK (not me) say it should be DOUBLE 8/9 oz, and though I don't care for that, there IS the advantage of being able to use it to pull your truck out the snow if you git stuck

Mine are generally a 'standard' belt is about 12 oz leather - 7/8 lined with 3/4. And 1 1/2" wide. We usedta make 'em 1 3/4" wide, but most jeans makers started making pants loops smaller so that wouldnt' fit most.  In teh end, "standard" is what you decide to make 'em.  Most my holster patterns assume a 1 1/2" wide 12 oz belt.  Biggest one I ever did was a 2" wide belt, about 13/14 oz, for this BIG fella with a 54" waist who wanted to carry TWO Ruger revolvers with 10" barrels. 

Oh, yeah- and I like to use an OVAL punch for the adjustment holes, and I leave 6" past the middle hole to the tip, and I fold the buckle end over and leave 3 1/2" of fold (skived to just under half thickness at the end).

 

Excellent summary of "standard" parameters; thank you.  I have done very little leather tooling as you've done (okay ...almost none), but have always wanted to make a set of gun belts with exotic overlays of elephant trunk, hippo, cape buffalo, rhino, shark, croc, stingray and possibly a big cat (yeah, right).  You know, something along the lines of the "Big Five" for hunters, plus more.  Obviously legal hides.  I tend to have a bit of an unusual (and sometimes frowned upon) taste in materials.  BUT ... I have a ways to go before I'll feel that my creations might be up to par for doing that.

[Steelart999]

3 hours ago, JLSleather said:

I like makin' that one in exotic stuff too.  Haven't done it in dog yet, but I got one askin' fer it

This some mottled grey elephant and black shark hide.

Sweet !!! Very much my preferred style.  I haven't felt the need to explore decorative "Dog" embellishments, but we had a cat once ...   And we had some racoons that totally trashed our corn harvest two years in a row ... but then those I'd just feed to the dogs.

[remotelarry]

On 2/1/2024 at 2:10 PM, JLSleather said:

Yup, formed in a vaccuum bag with a "blue" gun.

That works also.  I prefer to do it the other way so I can cut like 4 er 6 er 10, glue and sew, form 'em as they are ordered.  Just saves time, and ensures that when a customer comes back for another, or his buddy sees it and wants one, the next one is just like that one (though not identical).

The purpose of that video was actually that "fade" thing SO MANY were on about for YEARS.  LEather workers will take turns claiming the invented it, but Gibson Guitars made that big decades ago, calling it "sunburst".  Guys were taking turns making HOUR LONG videos about it, so I thought somebody might benefit from seeing it done in 3 minutes

That said, I can't find the pic of THAT holster... can't keep em ALL.  But this is a G19 done the SAME WAY, but with a reinforcement panel.  From this you kin prolly tell that it's not "flat", its actually curved BEYOND flat to a natural curve.  This is assembled and sewn before forming.

Jeff, is the Glock 17/19 pattern on your etsy site this style or 50/50? There is nothing in the descriptions of your patterns to indicate which. 

Thanks

Larry

[JLSleather]

4 hours ago, remotelarry said:

Jeff, is the Glock 17/19 pattern on your etsy site this style or 50/50?

yup - the etsy shop is 5050.  Look like this if you use brown dye and brown caiman hide

those have been BIG for years.  Personally prefer the "curved pancake" style myself.  Those 5050 builds are simple to make, and you could cut front and back from the same cutting die, so they're popular as all.

Issue was, as a rule the tighter you cinch the belt, the more friction on the pistol - which I don't like.  Folks talk about "breakin em in", but they just mean stretchin' em, mostly.  At some point, the holster no longer retains the pistol when you take it off, and the holster gets replaced (maybe thats why holster makers like em?).  You can make a 5050 KYDEX holster without that issue, cept it's gonna protrude more and be less likely to conceal.

And forming the front over the gun on a table or bench, allowing to dry, then sewing, DOES work, and works WELL.  But the TIME involved in that doesn't lend itself to getting the numbers out, unless maybe you have thousands of square feet of bench.  Robert, while he was with us, did this well as ANYBODY, and made some genuinely beautiful pocket holsters in teh process (Sig Sauer sent him their logo stamp to use on the holsters they ordered).  I should find that picture of what I think is probably the BEST looking leather holster I've ever seen - designed and made by Robert, who taught me a good bit.

BACK to the point....

These "curved panel" holsters have the same retention in your hand as they do on your belt.  Tightening the belt doesn't tighten the holster (well, I suppose if you sucked the belly in and HAULED on your belt, maybe a little?).

 

[wayner]

Another big problem with the 50/50 holster is if you get someone real skinny they will not be able to draw the gun out of the holster because there will be too much tension on it. 

[JLSleather]

2 hours ago, wayner said:

too much tension on it. 

yup.  the tighter you bend it, the tighter you bind it.

Seem like somebody around here once posted some pdf's about howta makeyer own, in different ways, including comparing '5050' and "flat back" pattern makin'.  Dummy even gav it away free...