Simulating exotics

[Peterk]

Hello all,

Being a novice and looking to make holsters more as a hobby, I can't really afford the cost, and R&D to work with exotic leather such as shark, ostrich, elephant, etc. So I was wondering, has anyone attempted to simulate exotics? For example, using carving and beveling to simulate the texture of shark skin... Any ideas and tips would be greatly appreciated... I would love to sew an accent piece to my holsters and color it different to simulate an exotic.

Thanks.

[MADMAX22]

I know of one person that used a mules foot style stamp and made a snake skin that looked really good. Somewhere in the section here, it was a knife sheath.

You can also get imprinted cowhide that looks pretty good and is relativley cheap compared to exotics.

[Peterk]

I know of one person that used a mules foot style stamp and made a snake skin that looked really good. Somewhere in the section here, it was a knife sheath.

You can also get imprinted cowhide that looks pretty good and is relativley cheap compared to exotics.

Thank you! Do you know of a source for the imprinted cowhide?

[Tac]

Pete,

I have seen the imprinted cow hide at Tandy.... Most of it I have seen is reletively thin, but would work well for an accent piece.

-Tac

[DCKNIVES]

Peterk, I may be the one Max was talking about.I use a stamp similar to a mulesfoot for doing my faux snakeskin patterns.After doing my pattern I dye using different color dyes.My friend and mentor Sandy Morrissey use a tool similar to a seeder to do faux rayskin.Just atkes a little effort and some imagination.The big majority of my work involves using the real stuff, but I like to play around some.If I can be of help let me know.Dave

Faux Snakeskin by me

Faux Rayskin by Sandy Morrissey

for whole hide or scraps contact these folks

http://ostrichmarket.com/

[MADMAX22]

Thanks Dave, yep thats the one I was thinking of.

As far as where to get printed leather just about everyplace that sells leather has some offerings for the most part.

I still gotta try some of ostrichmarket stuff one of these days. Maybe after christmas.

[DCKNIVES]

Max, I just got off the phone with the owner as I was in need of some more Caimen or Crocodile. He told me they got in a lot more skins, all kinds.Since he is a distributor he gets in huge amounts.Dave

[Peterk]

Peterk, I may be the one Max was talking about.I use a stamp similar to a mulesfoot for doing my faux snakeskin patterns.After doing my pattern I dye using different color dyes.My friend and mentor Sandy Morrissey use a tool similar to a seeder to do faux rayskin.Just atkes a little effort and some imagination.The big majority of my work involves using the real stuff, but I like to play around some.If I can be of help let me know.Dave

Thank you Dave for your help and comments. Those are some beautiful knife sheaths... I am just getting into holster-making and already thinking about the possibility of inlays in places where the molding may not be affected. I have yet to play with stamps but was thinking that may be possible way to do faux exotic. I will also check the link you gave to see if I can get some exotic to try with. I will certainly need your help on how some exotics will behave in the future. Thanks again.

Peter

[DCKNIVES]

Peter, you can still mold and do a full inlay.You just have to mold the innner liner first then apply the skin, then wrap the outside.Dave

like this

[Peterk]

Peter, you can still mold and do a full inlay.You just have to mold the innner liner first then apply the skin, then wrap the outside.Dave

like this

That looks great! Thanks for the tip.

[Shorts]

Dave, beautiful work. Thanks for the tips. I wondered how that process was done.