Mexican loop question

[CaptQuirk]

On 6/14/2017 at 8:03 AM, LumpenDoodle2 said:

That's the tricky bit, but if you use one of the Stohlman patterns, you will have to add about 4mm all around thr outside edge of the pattern, and widen the loop cuts.   Otherwise your gun takes to look of a 50 year old man trying to squeeze into his 30 year old wedding suit.

 

You have such a subtle way of putting things

[LumpenDoodle2]

Subtile as a half-brick in a handbag.

Edited June 15, 2017 by LumpenDoodle2

[Josh Ashman]

Good looking holster Bobby! 

Out of curiosity, do you end the liner before you make the loops in the skirt? 

Semper Fi 

[dikman]

Very nice indeed, Treed. That's sort of like I've got in the back of my mind, but without the carving. Your liner is a little thinner than I've used but maybe it works better that way? And yes, does the liner go all the way down the skirt? I'm guessing that the holster pouch itself has to be softened to get it through the loops? Do you have a photo of the back, by any chance? Like I said, more questions.....

I'm also undecided about the colour, as I've made some vinegaroon I'm itching to try, but I tend to like walnut on leather. Decisions, decisions.

[Treed]

17 hours ago, Josh Ashman said:

Good looking holster Bobby! 

Out of curiosity, do you end the liner before you make the loops in the skirt? 

Semper Fi 

cut the base then glue on the liner...... cut the slots in the skirt.....bevel all the edges of the slots and burnish them.....then i sew the liner..... finish the holster and sew it.... not sure what you met by ending the liner.....

Thanks Bobby

[Treed]

12 hours ago, dikman said:

Very nice indeed, Treed. That's sort of like I've got in the back of my mind, but without the carving. Your liner is a little thinner than I've used but maybe it works better that way? And yes, does the liner go all the way down the skirt? I'm guessing that the holster pouch itself has to be softened to get it through the loops? Do you have a photo of the back, by any chance? Like I said, more questions.....

I'm also undecided about the colour, as I've made some vinegaroon I'm itching to try, but I tend to like walnut on leather. Decisions, decisions.

Yes It goes all the way down the back.... I will see if I have any pictures...... The holster when you put it together has to be sloppy wet to make it work and have to be real careful with the tooling..... I don't insert any guns into the holster until after it is inserted into the slots on the skirt. I then use a vacuum bag to mold the holster so as not to distort the tooling......this also allows the slots to shrink up around the gun so the holster fits tight and won't move when drawing the gun.....removes the need for a leg tie......

Bobby

[dikman]

Thanks Bobby, that goes a long way to explaining the process. I have a vacuum tank that I built for stabilising knife handles and fortunately it's big enough to take a holster, I can see where that should remove a lot of the handling in trying to shape it. Looks like I'll have to dust if off. Lots to to think about here.

[dikman]

Anyone have any thoughts/experience on making such a holster from a single piece of 9-10 oz veg, so it is an unlined holster? Pros and cons? I'm guessing this was how old west holsters were made?

[Josh Ashman]

I've made many of this type of holster from a single piece of leather. I generally use 10/11, but 9/10 wouldn't be noticeably different. The pros and cons versus a lined holster with a comparable total thickness are minimal in my opinion. Basically it just comes down to personal preference. Although it is probably fair to say that a veg tan lined holster would be a little more work and would be considered to be better due to the smooth leather against the gun and being more rigid. If you're using good quality leather these will be somewhat minimal as the flesh side will already be fairly smooth and at 10 oz it'll be plenty rigid whether it's one layer or two. Most of the old holsters I've seen are single layer but not all of them. 

One of mine for reference. 

Good luck on your project.

Josh

[fredk]

oh, my Josh, that is really a beautiful bit of work there