Making a holster without having a reference gun

[Go2Tex]

I don't know why she would want to store a gun in a holster of any type in her purse, unless it was attached to the purse. Otherwise, she'll play hell trying to get it out in a hurry,.... take 2 hands and too much time. You don't carry a gun in your purse unless you really feel like you might need it. Think about it.

And just get the blue gun. You'll pay for it with this order and then have it for the next one after all her friends see what a fine job you did on it.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Go2Tex

[bennadatto]

Twin Oaks, the revolver is a S&W 442. The cylindar measures 1 3/8 inches so I was going to adjust my pattern to incorporate a 1 inch cylindar to ensure a snug fit, and yes, a pouch type holster is all I am comfortable making given the circumstances. I am also planning to include a retention strap, actually I told the customer I won't do this job without a retention strap. Good idea about the clip. I will add that to the plan.

Go2Tex, hopefully adding a clip will help with locating the gun in a pinch (God forbid). As for buying a blue gun, I'm still not sure if making holsters for modern guns is my bag. I have been making holsters for black powder and cowboy action revolvers for a while, and I find that to be my true enjoyment. Although, I would increase my customer base exponentially if I did modernize my inventory...food for thought.

Thanks again everyone for all your advice. I will let you guys know how everything pans out.

[Art]

Oui,

Maybe you should make a very loose fitting holster (kinda defeats the purpose) as when she tries to get the piece out she doesn't want a holster hanging on. I sew them into the bottom of the purse but the way that women load up a purse, you might get away with a large flap that goes in the bottom and a little up the other side so that all the crap in the purse will hold it in, although I have barged them to the bottom (you might have to cut the lining).

That covered, you need to get a 2" j-frame blue gun as a model, hell, if it isn't made to fit the gun or something similar then she would be better off going down to the local gun shop and getting something that works.

There is a whole etiquette to packing in a purse, a whole lot of competence by the gun and holster (purse) maker, and a whole lot of practice by the user.

Art

I have a customer who wants a holster to store a snubnose revolver in their purse. I don't have the model of the gun available, so i have asked the customer for a few measurements. I have enough information from them to make out a profile of the gun and holster, but I am not sure how much space I should allow between the actual holster profile and the mirror image to make a good pattern.

For clarity.

|

|____ (mirror of gun profile)

{How much space goes here?}

_____ (holster profile)

|

|

Since I don't have the pistol available to wet mold, in addition to adding a retention strap, I want to ensure the holster fits pretty snug. I was going to have the profile and mirror image flush for the pattern, but I figured I would see if anyone has had previous experience.

Thanks in advance!

[Tac]

Bennadatto... The S&W model 442 is a "J-Frame" revolver... 5 shot, 2 inch barrel. Any j-frame S&W revolver will work as a mold, as long as the barrel length is the same (Some j-frames are offered with longer barrels). The Ring's Blue gun for a j-frame will also work, if a real gun isn't available. If you can't get ahold of a S&W, a Taurus model 85 with the same length barrel will also work, as the two guns are almost identical in demention.

Hope this helps.

-Tac

[Monk]

S&W model 442 is the same as model 642, just a different frame material. If you have access to a fax machine I can trace it for you and fax a copy. Shoot me a PM if interested...

[TwinOaks]

also the same as the Rossi pistols.

Just curious about something here, but I've always recommended that weapons be carried on the body, not in a purse. This is because if the purse is ever snatched.....well, there goes your protection. Have you mentioned this to the customer? I know that men and women are shaped differently, and that can cause problems in holster design, but I really think it's the best way to go. It just takes a little more creativity when designing the holster.

As an alternate, have you considered a gun pocket in the purse? There's several models of purses made with a side opening pocket with a closure device. They put the pistols in a 'gun only' location, where it's not likely to be assaulted by receipts, pens, coins, lipstick, Jimmy Hoffa, and who knows what else finds its way into a purse.

[Shorts]

also the same as the Rossi pistols.

Just curious about something here, but I've always recommended that weapons be carried on the body, not in a purse. This is because if the purse is ever snatched.....well, there goes your protection. Have you mentioned this to the customer? I know that men and women are shaped differently, and that can cause problems in holster design, but I really think it's the best way to go. It just takes a little more creativity when designing the holster.

As an alternate, have you considered a gun pocket in the purse? There's several models of purses made with a side opening pocket with a closure device. They put the pistols in a 'gun only' location, where it's not likely to be assaulted by receipts, pens, coins, lipstick, Jimmy Hoffa, and who knows what else finds its way into a purse.

Oh you so don't want to know!

[TwinOaks]

You are CORRECT!, ma'am. What gets me is that I've been told "get _____ from my purse", while we were in the car and my wife was driving. I looked for several miles, then declared the purse devoid of the item. Then, while never looking away from the road, my wife reaches straight into the purse and grabs the item (gum I think) in less than a second, shows it to me, and tells me to put her purse back where it was.

Now, if I'm told "get _____ from my purse", I just bring the purse.

[Shorts]

One of life's great mysteries

[tonyc1]

Yes, sometimes my wife is like a possum going through a garbage can!!

Tony.