Best weight cowhide for lining holsters please?

[Tallbald]

Hello again. I believe I've asked before for information about this but cannot find my old post. I've been asked to begin offering lining on some of my cowhide holsters. I use 7-8 ounce Hermann Oak veg tanned for my holsters, and have to date tried only once to line one, using 2-3 ounce pigskin. My Cowboy 3500 machine thread-cuts the pigskin even though I reduce the upper tension a lot. I will switch to cowhide, but am wondering what weight to purchase for lining leather. Leaning toward 3-4 ounce cowhide, but don't know if this is thick enough to prevent the thread from cutting the lining as it pulls through. I use #277 size nylon thread. Experienced suggestions sure welcomed. As always thank you. Don.

[particle]

I use two layers of 3-4 oz when I line mine. 

[JLSleather]

Not sure what other issues you're having -- but 2/3 will work.  This one for a Ruger Redhawk.

 

And some folks around here seem to like two layers of 4/5, so kind of each his own type thing.  Any of those will work.

 

Edited June 5, 2016 by JLSleather

[Dwight]

Personally I like the two layers of 4/5 or 5/6, . . . bigger guns get heavier leather, . . . smaller guns get lighter stuff.

My reasoning is simple, . . . two different thicknesses came from two different animals, . . . and will almost never dye the same.  I dip dye, . . . so there is a better chance it will turn out, . . . but I just don't want to take that chance.  

Also, . . . earlier on I tried the "one heavy / one light" idea, . . . always seemed to be running out of one or the other.  This way I don't.

Just my way of doing things.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Red Cent]

8-9 outer and 5-6/6-7 liner here. John Bianchi, in his tutorial, suggests using a one ounce lighter weight for the liner. These weights apply to western and field carry holsters.

[JLSleather]

On 6/5/2016 at 4:36 PM, Dwight said:

My reasoning is simple, . . . two different thicknesses came from two different animals, . . . and will almost never dye the same.

That's actually a good point.  I've always liked to see belt keepers made from the same hide as the belt (but split down some) for exactly that reason, so not sure why I missed it with holster liners 

 

[Dwight]

1 hour ago, JLSleather said:

That's actually a good point.  I've always liked to see belt keepers made from the same hide as the belt (but split down some) for exactly that reason, so not sure why I missed it with holster liners 

 

I'm not always successful, . . . but when I start a gun belt, . . . the only thing (if possible) that is not from the same hide, . . . will be the loops for the bullets.  I try to do everything else out of the same hide.

And of course, . . . we've already discussed the reason.

May God bless,

Dwight