I just came into possession of a nice old Mexican double loop holster, The leather is still quite pliable but the stitching has gone in a few places. This isn't a big name holster, looks like a catalog or hardware store one to me, so I am wanting to re-stitch it because the holes are all fine. My question is can anybody recommend a thread that would be authentic and period correct (probably early 1900s)? The holes are kinda small so I need a finer thread I'm thinking. I'm guessing cotton linen??

Waxed linen.  It comes in different sizes, so i would gauge it by the holes.   You can get it prewaxed or get linen thread and run it through a chunk of beeswax. 

All I see is pretty large gauge. The holes are small, much smaller than current made old west type holsters, so that is why I was asking so maybe I could get a suggestion and source of where to buy.

I use Artificial Deer Sinew Waxed Flat Thread

 https://www.amazon.com/waxed-artificial-sinew/s?k=waxed+artificial+sinew

You can pull it to a finer thread, the stuff is very strong.

If the Artificial concerned you, remember the waxed Cotten is 85% or less cotton too.


 

I won't be using this holster, just thought I would fix it. Gonna make a pattern from it first

Look for embroidery thread, it too can be split to thinner and just have a chunk of beeswax.  Any craft store/fabric store should be able to help you out.

  Hey There   I'm not a leather worker.  Never have been.  Never stayed in a Holiday Inn Express neither.  But iffin you need really fine stuff, I'd suggest your local fabric store and look/ask for "Carpet" thread.  Tough Stuff and lotsa colours you betcha.

Of course, you 'could' try going to Tandy's...

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Right, I was hoping somebody on here would pretty much know what most old holsters were sewn with as far as thread size

Waxed linen.

On a Mexican 'Buscadero', you can pretty much use any thread - upholstery/carpet thread would be good enough, due to strength - outside of movies and television, they weren't exactly working rigs - just affordable ones that replicated what was seen on the screen - and for most folks, that was good enough.

Scouts Out!

You probably want some 5 cord linen, it matches most old holsters and such in my collection from that period. I mostly use 5 cord Barbour's Red Hand Linen for ones I want to be authentic to the period. I'm not sure you can still get that brand but I've also used the other Campbell Randall Linen, I get mine from Campbell Bosworth.

Thank you Cliff !!! I knew somebody would know !!Do you wax it or does it come already waxed ? Thanks to everybody who posted in this thread but this is actually what I was looking for , a name, a size , and where to get it .

A picture would be good.

I'm not smart enough or computer savvy enough to post any

Quote from: MikeM. on January 04, 2025, 09:09:07 PMThank you Cliff !!! I knew somebody would know !!Do you wax it or does it come already waxed ? Thanks to everybody who posted in this thread but this is actually what I was looking for , a name, a size , and where to get it .

I wax it myself, beeswax and pine pitch is the old handed down formula but I've used straight beeswax with good success too. The pine pitch makes it stickier and sort of locks in better.