Do You Mold Ejection Ports?

[malabar]

A couple of radical thoughts....

There's two types of "molding"-- functional and decorative. Most of the molding you see in modern holsters from the big companies is more decorative than functional. In other words, it contributes little or nothing to retention.

I've heard various experts opine that "most of the the retention" comes from the ejector port or the dimple in the trigger guard. In my opinion, if that's true, then you're not making the rest of the holster properly. But it's also true that retention is the affected by different features on different type of holsters. A pancake holster exerts grip on a pistol differently than an Avenger-style holster, which is different still than an Summer-Special style holster.

But I've not seen any well-designed holster in which the ejection port was a key to proper retention. If you do depend on the ejection port, then you will lose your retention as the leather wears.

From my perspective, I typically do mold-in the ejection port lightly, but only for decorative purposes.

tk

[cleanview]

I am sure glad to read all of this. In the back of my head is a little voice "you aint done this long enough to go against the grain".....

I have so many thoughts and differences that have developed over the past 1-2 years, which contradict what so many people tell me. Most of the things are by people that wear holsters and not make them. People I have great respect for. and even greater respect for those that can actually grasp the fact that some one might think differently than them.

On that topic I think it opportune tune to mention. Don't get to caught up in the "praise" of your peers, or customers, but look for it in those that know more than you (applies to more than holsters)

The scary part is that some things that I am convinced of, I later am convinced another way.

long way of sayin......learning as we go

[JLSleather]

I've seen a LOT of holsters over the years. If you're making them in leather, then you should know leather. And if you're making it to use it for a gun, then you should know something about guns. I've seen some beautiful tooling on leather holsters. And I've seen some great looking holsters without any tooling at all. In the end, I certainly think that the best holsters are made by those familiar with firearms. Some holsters, you almost have to wonder if the guy who made that has ever actually used a gun.

Oh, and of course there's always that marketing guy --- doesn't really know leather OR firearms, but thinks he can sell you on his idea anyway

[Shooter McGavin]

I lightly mold the ejection port most of the time, but I use a little chunk of leather to build out the port to prevent me from going too deep.

[GaryNunn]

I lightly mold the ejection port most of the time, but I use a little chunk of leather to build out the port to prevent me from going too deep.

i apologize, i don't mean to deviate from the post topic, but McGavin, I LOVE that finish, how do you do that?

[Shooter McGavin]

The marbled color on the trim panels, or the actual topcoat?

[cleanview]

the marbled color

[Shooter McGavin]

first dyed brown, then black dye dabbed on with a very coarse textured sea sponge. Takes a little practice but looks really cool.

[Red Bear Haraldsson]

Ooh, I'm copying that for sure!