View Full Version : The making of my new holster.
So, since I can't find a decent holster for my USP, tac light combo, I decided to make one. I'm using 10 oz leather, the crap is stiff as hell, and hard to get to bend tightly. I should have taken more pictures, but spaced it till I was pretty much done with the top side other than some little details seen in the second pic. I was just doing it for the fit today. I'm triming it down and making it so it can be drawn and holstered later. Today's bit was like I said, just for getting the fit and some details.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1689.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1690.jpg
Are you running into issues drawing your firearm? The light seams to be thicker then the top part of the holster..
Are you running into issues drawing your firearm? The light seams to be thicker then the top part of the holster..
not done with it yet, i'm doing more details and cutting on the leather. the thing is still in two pieces.
I like your clamp setup!
That's the Alice and Wonderland and Soul Asylum combo.
Here is the bottom part of the holster as I'm forming it. I have to hold it in place to get a good mold...
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1691s.jpg
When they were both formed up the way I wanted and very dry, I glued them together.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1710s.jpg
You can see how much extra leather I have between the top, and bottom shots here.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1709s.jpg
I marked out where I was going to stitch it up at, and the basic outline of the holster.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1708s.jpg
I took a dremel and drilled out the marked holes to make it really easy to stitch together.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1711s.jpg
Then, the stitching begins...
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1712s.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1713s.jpg
I kinda cut out more sequences, but I went on to stitch up the rest, and make sure it fit properly.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1715s.jpg
After I check to make sure it fits in, I still have to trim it up and put in the belt holes.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1724s.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1725s.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN1726s.jpg
At this point, I need to buy some black dye, and whatever I am going to coat it with, last two steps. The gun fits nicely, no movement. It is not as easy as my normal holster to take out, but I kinda figured that was going to happen seeing how I wanted a fitted holster with a tac light on the end of it, and still wanted the trigger indent. I'm really getting used to this "if you don't have it, make it" mentality. I think I'm going to get my FFL so I can make a few prototypes...
Is that double stitched? In the first photo it looked like you just weaved it through and I was going to suggest that you use a back stitch. All the other photos of the stitching look good though. What kind of thread did you use?
Fentonite
05-27-2012, 17:08
Nice work! How many hours would you estimate you have in it?
Is that double stitched? In the first photo it looked like you just weaved it through and I was going to suggest that you use a back stitch. All the other photos of the stitching look good though. What kind of thread did you use?
For the first bit of the stitching, all I could find was one needle, so I had to go over it, and back again. I found my second needle shortly after finishing the first side and used two from then out. It is some kind of nylon thread with wax on it. The leather place in Pueblo gave it to me.
Nice work! How many hours would you estimate you have in it?
Honestly... 6 or 7, what took me so long was the wait time for the leather to dry completely, and the fact that I just didn't want to work on it for a bit... lol
argonstrom
05-27-2012, 17:41
Good looking work, man.
Good looking work, man.
Thanks! I think next time though, I'm going to use lighter leather. I used 8-10 oz on this one, and it is thick! I got a little bit of 6-8 oz and it held up awesome also, was easier to work, and was a hell of a lot more detailed. I only got a tiny bit to play with though and still have quite a bit of the 8-10 oz to use. I think I'm going to make one for my Match USP, and a SOB holster for something...
I don't know any methods with two needles. Where did you learn the method? Is there a youtube link perhaps?
10mm-man
05-27-2012, 18:42
Very nice looking man! Your pretty talented.......
Holster finished. I applied the dye (the wrong way... but fixed it), and then the sealer. It hardened the thing, a lot. It's very stiff now, need to use it, break it in!
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/Works/DSCN1780small.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/Works/DSCN1782small.jpg
Pretty nice! It looks heavy though, is it? I know jack all about leather work so I have no clue how in the world you got it molded like that!
Nice work. Came out great
palepainter
06-10-2012, 19:22
Nice work!!
Big Wall
06-10-2012, 19:39
Nice! Can you tell us about the molding process?
Pretty nice! It looks heavy though, is it? I know jack all about leather work so I have no clue how in the world you got it molded like that!
The holster itself isn't actually very heavy at all. I lost my digital gram scale when I moved so I can't weigh anything. The leather itself is very thick, and a pain in the ass to mold. I still have quite a bit of it left though, probably for another couple holsters. I'm going to go down to a lighter oz next time. I got a bunch of scrap for free from the place I got the leather from in Pueblo and the step down, lighter leather, molds so much better and from the little I had to play with, it looks like it holds up very good.
Nice! Can you tell us about the molding process?
The way I did it was a pain in the ass. I precut the leather out the basic size that I wanted to do it, bad idea. The little leather that I would have "wasted" just securing a chunk of leather over the gun, would have been worth sparing me the extra time it took to line everything out. This is the video I used to start everything:
ehcBSI8FjZA
Very nice work Spyder. I have made a couple of completely leather ones to. Very time consuming. Great work man!
That is fantastic work man. you could definitely get some decent coin for something like that. Like say if you made one for a cz82 [Flower]
BPTactical
06-11-2012, 11:30
I really regret selling my shoe patch sewing machine[Bang]
I would be making holsters as well. Keeping my eyes out on CL.
You did a nice job Spidey, especially for a first time. There is a place up here called "The Leather Warehouse" that has a slew of supplies, even the wide spring clips ala Bianchi for an IWB.
Nice job Spidy-your web has another dimension!
Big Wall
06-11-2012, 11:36
Thanks for putting up the video! I'm not saying that it looks in any way easy, but it looks like it's not as complicated as I thought it would be. Very nice work!
Thanks BP and everyone, it was definately a learning experience. For a first time, I think I did pretty well.
That is fantastic work man. you could definitely get some decent coin for something like that. Like say if you made one for a cz82 [Flower]
I've thought about making them for others, but the problem is that I would need your particular gun. All I have are Hk's and 1911's currently.
Thanks for putting up the video! I'm not saying that it looks in any way easy, but it looks like it's not as complicated as I thought it would be. Very nice work!
I was going to take one of the summer NRA courses here, the leather holster course, but I didn't have the money to pull it off. I decided to look online for a good video and found the one above.
lowspeed_highdrag
06-11-2012, 13:52
EVERYONE is making Kydex holsters these days. Not many people are willing to put the time in to making leather holsters. There IS a market for this if you ever decide to get into it. Your first holster is already a cut above what alot of small shops are putting out, with some experience and a class or two, you could really have something.
BPTactical
06-11-2012, 14:07
All I have are Hk's and 1911's currently.
You mean there are others???[Tooth]
So, back onto holster making..... My wife got an XDS, and I needed a holster if I ever carried it... So begins the journey..................... This is after the I laser engraved it, and molded it to the pistol. I am using 6 oz leather, I think... Never mind the Bodyguard in the picture..http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN4838_zps2e7e4ff6.jpghttp://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN4835_zpscc32a754.jpg
This is where the holster is currently. The cover is glued onto the base layer. You can kinda see some of the glue coming out of where it was thicker and got squished out. I scored the base layer that I glued the outer "cover" onto where both surfaces come into contact. Next step is to cut the final shape, make the loops (this is going to be an IWB holster), glue and attach the loops, punch the thread holes, stitch everything together for that extra strength, dye, and seal. The glue that is holding it on right now is strong enough to last quite a long time without any stitching, I just like stitching, and the extra strength that comes with it though. http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN5157_zps9558d73f.jpghttp://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/asrspyder/DSCN5157_zps9558d73f.jpg
Impressive.
And inspring too - mades it look easy.
Very tight fiished product.
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