Matching store bought belt

[crossdraw]

Howdy all
I have a Triple K brand gun belt that I bought at Cabela's that is a medium brownish/maroon color. I am making two holsters to use with that belt and need to match the dye as close as I can.
Has anyone done this? If so, what did you use to get a match with Triple K.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Crossrdraw

          I'll take a stab it this , i went to Cabela's web site and look up that holster maker , I think you would be safe with some Fiebings Saddle Tan, but you will have to play with it to get the color, shade or tone you are looking for , and remember it doesn't have to be exact, back in the old west pards picked out their holsters, and then they picked out there gun belts,and they didn't always match, unless they had the money to have the saddle maker custom make them one, then the color would match real well, but in your case you should try to just get as close as you can . when you put the dye on make sure you let it dry at least 24 hours, and you will see what color it is , do this on scrap first , after dyeing, if you want your leather softer than it is , use Lexoil, after that try putting about three light coats of extra Virgin olive oil, let it dry between coats and place your leather in the sun between coats , which will also darken the leather and bring out more color, if you find the color your looking for after any of the oil coats and after dry, then stop, then your done unless you want to take it another step and rub some Skidmores leather Cream, and that will add conditioning and protection to your leather.

                                                        Take care pard , hope this will help 



                                                                    tEN wOLVES 

[crossdraw]

Thanks Ten Wolves. I guess I am just going to have to experiment some to get the right color.

[outrider]

Crossdraw,
I am working on a rig right now that will probably be the approx color you are looking for.  I used Fiebing's Saddle Tan reduced by 1/4 ( 1 oz dye to 1/4 oz reducer).  If you can wait for a day or two I will post a picture of the rig so you can see the color.

[crossdraw]

Thanks Outrider
I can wait. I held the belt up to the Tandy catalog and there are two colors that look close, they are Mahogany and Russet in Fiebing's leather dye. This belt is soaked with oil so I expect it to lighten up some as the oil comes out. Like Ten Wolves said "it doesn't have to be exact" I just need close so they don't stand out so to much.

[outrider]

Crossdraw,

I have posted the rig I just completed with the reduced Fiebings Saddle Tan color.  Check the Show us your stuff thread.  This color was reduced...1 oz. dye to 1/4 oz reducer

[crossdraw]

Outrider
That holster is real sharp looking, you did a great job on it. I compared your rigs picture with my gun belt and it looks like I need a slightly darker color.

How did you get the color to come out so well? whats your technique. I used Fiebing's oil dye in saddle tan on my shoulder holster and it came out lighter than your new rig. I think it is lighter now than when I posted a picture. I applied the dye with a piece of wool and even gave it a coat of oil.

[outrider]

Crossdraw,

How many coats of dye did you apply?  I think I did two coats  then after it dried I applied a coat of Neatsfoot oil...when that dried I applied a finish coat of Tan Coat.  If you need it darker don't reduce the dye like I did.   Remember I reduced the dye  1 oz dye to 1/4 oz reducer (4 to 1)  Best thing to do is to do sample strips and after they are dry you can get a better idea of what you have to do to match the store bought gear.

[crossdraw]

Outrider
I did three coats, the second didn't look even so I soaked some steel wool with dye and rubbed the holster down. I first wiped the leather down with alcohol then slightly dampened it with water then applied the dye with a piece of wool.

[Ace Lungger]

i would like to ask a question intaled to your question to some degree? I bought a brand new Hunter Belt, long ebore I started making my own, It is a Buscadero Belt Model 158size med 34-39 waiste Tan Color, it has 38's loops, I need advice and this is what I am asking (not trying to horn in on your post Cross Draw, I plan to sell it, it is new in the package, but I think it would be worth more money with a holster, so I am going to make a Buscadero Holter, but the only guns I have to make a pattern off of is, my 72's, my Cattleman in 45, and my OMV. What would be the best gun to use as a pattern?

I would be most great full for advice, i do not need this, and I would like to get the most I can! I would think that a complete rig would sell better than just a holster or would it?

Thanks
Ace

[Dalton Masterson]

Ace, I would use the vaquero as a pattern, that way it will fit a Colt as well, although a little looser. I am making all my ebay holsters Ruger size, but the Colts fit them pretty darn good. DM

[Judge Lead]

I agree with Dalton.

If they are shaped to suit the OMV, you have it covered for a good 90% of whats around.

Regards.

[crossdraw]

Well this is what I ended up with. I took the Triple K belt to the local Tandy shop where they told me that Fiebings Mahogany leather dye would be the closest match. I applied that dye and the holsters just looked purple, so before they dried I applied a coat or two of saddle Tan oil dye over the mahogany to get rid of the purple. I also applied two coats over the gun belt after I deglazed  it with alcohol.
When everything dried the leather was a rich brown with a hint of the mahogany. I applied Eco-Flo super sheen over the top of all the pieces. I don't like the gloss so I may change to a flat finish later (kind of looks like a Sunday wear to church gun belt) but the gloss does give the finish some depth.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great match, pard. You really did that right. Outstanding work. Thanks for the photos.

[crossdraw]

Thanks Marshal
It wasn't a good feeling to look down and see two purple holsters  , Thank God for saddle tan.