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wharvey wrote:JacksBack - good looking. For what its worth, I usually dye my leather before assembly. Easier to get a nice even coat, specially where the pieces overlap.

alpmc wrote:giga04 - Very nice!!! Your stitching and the boning look fantastic! I like this style of holster as well and I have seen it's style in many other holster designs, but how did you come up with the design? (how or where does the piece on the top come from, is it part of the back?)

I looked at a Milt Sparks VMII and tailored it slightly to be my own. It is it's own part and covers about the same amount on the back as the front. Reinforces the mouth for reholstering.

alpmc wrote:I can tell from the first shot that the holster does not seem to be formed yet. Did you stitch the outer edges, form the gun, then stitch the rest? In my feeble mind I was picturing forming the gun first then stitching.

Most of the online videos show stiching, then forming. My problem was that I'm not sharp enough to guestimate the stitch groves where they will follow the contours of the gun. Some holster makers, a la Tucker HF1, just do an arc that doesn't follow the gun (I'm sure it is a very capable, accurate, and strong stitch though...). The holster is MUCH easier to stitch when it is flat, and unformed. Thus, I do the outer seams after the glue dries. Then I wetform, and grove out the lines I want to stitch. Give it a day to dry and then stitch the lines. I'm sure to the experienced this is blasphemy, but it works.

alpmc wrote:What color did you dye this one with? What are the steps? I really must try an all leather holster. (sorry for all the questions)

The main body is Fiebings Pro Oil light brown. The straps and trip is done in Fiebings Pro Oil black. I used daubers (have yet to figure out affordable air supply for the airbursh I got in off of Amazon).

alpmc wrote:Please post a final photo of the complete holster, I would love to see how it turns out!

Will do, hopefully early next week as work, school, engagement, puppy training, time with Kido, training, and working out allow!

I'm on my iPhone at the barber shop but I'll get you the answers and some photos tonight. Thanks for the kind words!

Here are some in progress pics of a IWB holster for a Colt Commander. The final photo is close to the finished product. Tomorrow, time permitting, I will sand/burnish the edges, rivet the straps and snaps on, and seal it.

Thanks! As my stitching improves I may make a video or something. Particle's vids on YouTube are nice but he uses an industrial seeing machine. Hand double saddle stitching is stronger but more tedious (I think most machines are using a lock stitch at best). I really should have used darker thread on the lower one.

Shot of finished HK P7 holster, all black, OWB. The scuffs on the left side are from sloppy cutting, measuring, and grooving. I had less of these blunders on the second one below (G30), but the stitching got worse (and incidentally more complicated):


Here is one of an IWB for a G30SF for one of my partners. The stitching is a little sloppy because I experiment with pre-drilling holes with 1/16th bit in a dremmel...dislike. I'm going to go with Al Stohlman's method for my next holster (awl, stitching pony, and needles). Should be much better. I also got a stitchwheel which should help even out my stitches for that polished look. My edges got much better on this one, which puzzled me as to why my stitches didn't go in as straight but I think I got sloppy with the dremmel. I don't think I'll be pre-drilling holes like that.

The lighting doesn't show the color great, but it is a dark brown holster body, with the trim pieces done in flat black.


Next up is light brown/dark/brown/blk IWB for a Colt Commander. Hopefully get going on it this coming weekend....

Depends on materials. I mostly use Tandy for leatherworking supplies because they are a great value added distributor. And ship fast too.