Holster making part uno...

[AndyC]

I have never really wanted to get into making leather holsters but since meeting up with a custom leather-maker 2 months ago and hearing silence since then, I have little choice.

I want an OWB holster for my AutoMag so I guess I'd better do it myself. To that end, I found a picture of sorta-kinda the style that would suit me and looked at a Sam Andrews video on how he traces a handgun to make a pattern for a holster and how to use a leather strip to make sure the thickness of the leather is accounted-for. Interesting stuff and I'm sure I'll mess it up, but I have plenty of leather left and can always start again:



I'll add to this as I progress; it'll likely be slow as I'm doing this all manually with no machines.

[Boxerrider]

That's a great attitude, and pretty much the way I approached my first holster.

Enjoy!

[Charles L. Cotton]

This video is excellent.


Chas.

[AndyC]

Thank you, Charles - that was a lot more detailed than the video I watched.

[bobby]

Check with www.Bitterrootgunleather.com he does some of the best leather work Ive ever seen. I did send him a ? on the automag so... oh and Im so I want one...

[AndyC]

Cut out and dyed; I like the marbled texture:

[AndyC]

First-ever saddle-stitches done holding the belt-loop in place (more to come for strengthening, but this will do for tonight). Edge holes added - I had to count that there were the same number on each side...



Adding an edit here; I don't want a new post to push this thread to the top of the list, I'm sure most people aren't wanting to read about my holster misadventures all the time. So, here we go - dunked in warm water for 5 seconds to make it pliable, then folded over the pistol like a taco. It'll dry overnight (without the pistol for now) then get stitched:



Dried overnight - back home during lunch to stitch the bottom, check for fit then form the holster to the pistol:

[AndyC]

Done:

[chasfm11]

It looked great in person, too. Congratulations

[AndyC]

Thank you, Chas - glad to have it finally done :)

[Pawpaw]

Nice job!

[Boxerrider]

Nice! I'm betting that you already have plans for the next one. . . right?

[AndyC]

Thank you, thank you.

Yes, I might - it's not as pretty as I would have liked (but much better than I'd feared) so I may make another couple just to try different things eg. add a welt to the stitch-line this time, perhaps a sweat-shield...

[Boxerrider]

[joe817]

Nicely done leather forming Andy! Well done!