Wondering About The Fit

[cleanview]

I have been a little discouraged when people pick up there holster or handle them at gun shows.

The pick them up and act like they cant get them out. I handle them and think they fit as I think they should. I always tell them that they have to break them in. I encourage them to dry fire a few times ever night and within a week it will be perfect. I repeatedly have people tell me that "yep, just like you said....It fits perfect now"...Of course i dont hear from every person and admit that I have only been doing this as a business a little over a year.

The other night I made a 1911 avenger and experimenting.....I wrapped with plastic sheathing and then molded more aggressively on the ejection port and have to admit it was a different feeling to the holster once dried. I typically oil the gun and mold without any wrapping. In my mind it seems like, since they always loosen up as they are broken in, then the 1911 experiment above may get to loose??

any input, experience or opinionas??

[JLSleather]

Depends on how you make em, really. Those "50/50" pancakes are the worst culprit, I think. You know.. the front and back are basically mirror image of each other. Feels okay, mostly, but tighter on the belt than in the hand. And the closer the slots are to the weapon the more pronounced the problem. I see those "pancake" holsters that are bent back around so the slots line up and sometimes wonder if the guy making them has ever USED one. Notorious for binding, especially on the front site.

But hopefully, the gun isn't relying on a pushed-in trigger area or port to retain the firearm. "Retention" isn't about forming a 'catch' somewhere. Or, maybe it is - what do I know

And sometimes it's just a matter of trying to hold it still while pulling the gun. When it's worn, the belt should do that (IF the belt size is the slot size), but in the hand, not so much.

Edited February 13, 2016 by JLSleather

[chiefjason]

I tell my customers leather always loosens. They all start off tight. I don't make any excuses for it. Just the way it is. I also tell them to wear it around the house until they are comfortable wearing it out and about. Of course, I sent one out last week that felt a little looser than others. Guy loved it. So go figure.

The leather you use has a lot to do with it too. I got some really stiff leather a month ago. Made some great holsters. Some of them took about a week to break in. I used the spine area for the backs. It took a long time to break in. Made myself one from it so I had to deal with it too. I make all of mine flat backed, so they tend to break in faster and be less effected by the belt.

[cleanview]

almost all of mine are wrap arounds, like avengers.........ans I learned my lesson (on here) about not digging in to deep on the trigger guard, and I explain to people .....retention does not come from the ejection port or trigger, but from the forming of the holster which provides all the surface contact .....how I understand and explain it.....

My little holster business really ahead of where I thought I would be after a year......so many little things to pick up that I guess only come by experience ....

[George B]

Different strokes for different holster buyers. All of mine are tight with as much contact with the weapon as possible. Unless the buyer wants it different. I have had a few occasions where the weapon was too tight for the customer's satisfaction. A small shipment of KG-9 solved the problem.

I make the so called 50/50 pancakes and that is the only style of pancake that I make. I do not make flat backs. No particular reason, just don't.

I have not had any of the problems discussed by some makers, guess I'm just lucky.

Over the last 6 years I have sold quite a few of them and have a large repeat customer base because of the retention they offer.

Maybe they are not for everyone but they have done just fine by me.

With Avengers I make them tight as all get out figuring that after breaking in they will have less tension across the front and lose some of the retention.

Can't say I'm any kind of expert, its just my humble opinion.

[cleanview]

thanks george

[Modad2010]

I'm with the other guys here, I like them to fit tight when new. One thing that you can tell you customers to do is to put their weapon in a Wal-Mart bag or zip-lock bag and then insert the weapon into the holster and leave it over night. I'm also one of these guys that wrap the front and back ends around and yeah I've worn this type of holster a bunch. I've never had an issue with my front sight hanging up. I do, however mold a sight channel into all of my holsters.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Modad2010

[JLSleather]

You mold a site channel in a "traditional" pancake? uhh.. okay ....

[JLSleather]

I see my site is down this morning. "Should" be back running shortly. Reason I put that here . I'l be uploading a good number of FREE holster patterns over the next 2-3 weeks as I get time.

I'm taking a break from holster making for a while -- truth is I have other skills which pay better

But the patterns should be available... always like to see folks improving their leather skills. NOTE: wrinkles do not belong on leather holsters.. not even on the back side

Nope, site still not fixed. In the mean while, the patterns over at cutesy have been reduced to $2.75 ea.

Edited February 22, 2016 by JLSleather

[Modad2010]

Why wouldn't you mold one into a "traditional" pancake holster? Milt sparks holsters, Matt Delfatti, John Rolston at 5Shot leather, and Kramer all mold sight channels into their pancakes. It's as simple as securing 3/16" - 1/4" dowell rod to the top of the weapon or mold gun and doing your wet mold.