Made my first holster!

[Apex Predator]

Thought you folks might appreciate this one.

I have a large frame .44 mag that I plan to hunt with and needed a holster for it. I bought a nylon holster, but it's just not what I was looking for. I'm a romantic at heart! I decided to make one. I obtained bunches of info on here, rolled up my sleeves, and started to work. I found a remnant on the auction site. It is 10+ oz vegetable tan. I figured it would be hard to work, and it was. I made several mistakes along the way, but learned from each one. My biggest mistake came after molding the almost complete holster around my revolver. It was taking forever to dry, and I'm impatient (character flaw). I decided to put it in the oven at 170 deg. for a couple of hours. After an hour I went to check on it, and wouldn't you know the temp had somehow settled on 350!!!! Luckily, I had placed an wooded spoon handle in door to leave a crack for air circulation. Never attempt this, because it didn't work out so well. The holster shrunk in all the wrong places. After it was almost cool, I put gun in it and started to try and straighten it out. I got it mostly back to shape, but couldn't save the welt. It was nice and even, and beveled perfectly before. Now it was shriveled up inward away from the main holster body. Nothing to do, but live with it. There wasn't enough edge past the stitching to sand and re-bevel. Any way, here it is.

Now I know why the good ones costs $80.00+!

[Kahi]

How do you stitch the leather, machine or hand? I want to make a knife sheath, any advice?

Kahi

[Apex Predator]

I'm the wrong person to ask for advice. This is my first leatherworking ever! I drilled the holes with my drill press with as small of a hole that I could force the needles through. Hand stitched with two needles.

Try this site for real advice. They helped me bunches.

http://www.leatherworker.net/forum/

[Dave Sikorski]

Nice work.

Kahi....When you figure it out let me know and I'll send you a knife I need a sheath for

-D

[Jared D]

Dang Marty... making bows, holsters... Wow. It came out very nice IMO. Now your gonna have to save a hide (off a gator or tiger shark would be awesome) and make some custom ones.

I am sure Brad has already put in for an order of one!

[weekender]

very nice job with the holster, good looking job on the stiching