Made my first leather holster

[Dirthawking]

Made this up for my Sig P250c. First holster I have ever made. Messed up on one of the belt loops with the stitching grover. Over all I am happy with it. Retention at this point is very tight, but will loosen up some as all leather holsters do.

Decided to go with black, as the current belt I use is also black.

Thought I would show the step by step in pictures.

Cut out my patern:



Glued before hole punch and stitching:



Once it was glued, I used a dremel to sand all the edges down to where I wanted them.
Stitching hole patern layed and punched:





Stitched:



Belt loop holes cut, stitched. You can see where my grooving tool slipped and cut off patern:



Dyed it black and burnished all edges:



Short jump later. Wet molding:







And finally a finished molded holster. In this picture I had not buffed and sealed it yet. Did not get all the definition I was really wanting. But it is for EDC of my concealed carry so not line anybody sees it.

[WildBill]

Very nice work! Especially for a first try.

[jwine]

That's a good looking holster, especially for your first try. Keep it up

[Oldgringo]

Very nice work! Especially for a first try.

Good Job!

[Big Bronze Rim]

Well done! I have made a ton of all kydex and kydex leather hybrids, but never an all leather one like this. I may have to give it a go.

[RoyGBiv]

No way that was your first time... That looks GREAT.!

Well done, you!

[goose]

Very well done!

[Paul's Shield]

I don't know anything about leatherworks, but how did you wet mold the holster? with a replica pistol or the real thing? I just have no clue, but he11, you did a great job.

[WildBill]

I don't know anything about leatherworks, but how did you wet mold the holster? with a replica pistol or the real thing? I just have no clue, but he11, you did a great job.

I was wondering the same.

[MoJo]

Excellent work. First time out? Either you've made other leather goods or, you are a quick study. I have seen people pay good money for holsters that didn't look that good. Keep it up, this may be the start of a cottage industry for you.

[Dirthawking]

Thanks guys. It was fun to make, and I am sure I will make a few more just for myself as time passes. Already planning on making one for my Brother-in-laws Glock.

Lets just say my Google-fu was strong. Lots of research.

I don't know anything about leatherworks, but how did you wet mold the holster? with a replica pistol or the real thing? I just have no clue, but he11, you did a great job.

I used the real thing. Just gave it a good coat of gun oil before, and a good wipe down and oil after. Some makers do use a blue gun to do it. Just did not feel like buying one to make one or two holsters.

[XinTX]

VERY nice. Especially for a first effort.

[Abraham]

Your holster is a beauty.

It also looks like it took a lot of work to make.

Any idea how many hours went into making it?

[Mahzik]

I don't know anything about leatherworks, but how did you wet mold the holster? with a replica pistol or the real thing? I just have no clue, but he11, you did a great job.

I was wondering the same.

I've done some leather work over the years but I'm not claiming to be an expert. I took a holster making class at Tandy Leather a year or so ago. Their suggestion was to wet mold to the gun in the Ziplock freezer type bag. I tried it and it seemed to work well, but YMMV. I would think using an "well oiled" gun would allow excess gun oil to soak into the fibers of the wet leather leather and soften it to some extent. Most of the leather holster/belt makers' web sites that I've looked at strongly discourage using most type of leather conditioners and treatments for this very reason.

[Dirthawking]

Your holster is a beauty.

It also looks like it took a lot of work to make.

Any idea how many hours went into making it?

If I had to guess as I worked on it off and on for a few days. I would say around 10-15 hours. But some of that is drawing and measuring for patterns.