My First Attempts At Holsters - Sa Colt, 1911

[Billy Hell]

You know when your in the Tandy store and the man says, "what is it you will be making?" it seems odd to just outright say, "holsters." I had never made a holster and at the time really had no idea how to make one, much less carve one. So to say, "I'm going to make holsters" felt the same as if I had said, "I'm going to carve a pocket watch out of aluminum." Could it happen? Maybe. WIll it happen? Hard to say!!

I'm happy to report that I can say with confidence now, "I make holsters." I grew up on ranch in Texas surrounded by land, Herford cattle and guns. My dad was ex Marine, so we had 1911's, M1 Garands and ultimately single action Colts. I love tooled leather. I used to google just to see what was out there. Actually figuring out how to make something was one thing, tooling a whole other and finally the thing that stopped me every time was stitching.

This year I decided to take the advice I give many folks and I googled it. That's how I found Leatherworker.com. This is my go-to site for just about every question I have had. I started buying tools (with help from members here) around June. Just a little while later I have some holsters to show for my time.

Thanks to all of y'all that have helped. I'm excited to keep learning, making and having fun!

Edited July 24, 2015 by Billy Hell

[Toney]

Very nice work!!!

[Josh Ashman]

Very nice Billy! That's some fine work and really quite amazing considering you started in June!

[OLDNSLOW]

wow nice stuff, I am just up the road a bit in Clarksville and waiting for my sewing machine to come in, would like to be able to see all what you have put together and maybe pick your brain.

Again nice stuff

O n S

[Billy Hell]

Thanks y'all! I have to say I'm pretty excited to make these holsters. Next is gun belts...I have to have something to hang these on!

[Jon P]

Great work!! Your tooling looks awesome!

[Billy Hell]

My latest for a 22 magnum. I didn't put the antique on this one but I might add it. After doing a few I can really see the flaws...which is a good thing and a bad thing. I posted this on Facebook and immediately sold it - now to buy more leather!

Edited July 28, 2015 by Billy Hell

[Billy Hell]

I sold the one above. Making this one on request for a compact double stack 1911. Looking good so far!

[Toney]

Very nice!!!

[Billy Hell]

This works with my Rock Island compact Ultra (Officer) or the Para P10...

[Toney]

Sweet

[Billy Hell]

Here is one for a .38 snubby...

[malabar]

Billy,

Your workmanship is exquisite!

Do you mind my asking how you charge for such work? Is it based on an hourly figure?

One thought: It's no longer considered a good idea to leave the trigger exposed on a carry holster for a revolver.

tk

[Billy Hell]

That is a modified Stohlman holster but great point!

I got $100 for my 1880s paddle holster. Met Joe from the Nashville Leather Guild and he said I asked too little.

I'm just learning so each holster is taking less time BUT $100 doesn't really cover my time, it is nice to stick $100 in your pocket though!

A good friend of ours is also a singer songwriter (Kevin Welch). He is having a birthday party next Sunday so this week I'm tackling a fully tooled 2 1/2 inch guitar strap.

Kevin's music (alt country/Texas Country):

http://www.kevinwelch.com/

We have some original art from one of his albums so I took that and worked it into the strap. This proved harder to execute that I expected - 6 of these later I got this (included is the original art)...

I'll antique it in the morning. Then I'll tackle tooling the strap. The tooling I'm not afraid of, it's the backgrounding I'm not looking forward too.

Edited August 11, 2015 by Billy Hell