The ugly

[Slowhand Bob]

The Ugly is all I can think of to describe these ruff out holsters.  They have no finish and very little in the way of refinements or even the benefit of good leather working techniques.  I will most likely use some tan dye and a very slight amount of neatsfoot oil in keeping with the overall tone of the project. What do you want to bet that the damn holsters will outlast me!!!

This is the leather cut to pattern and if you look close you can just see some pencil lines drawn in.  The lines depict where the two pieces will be glued together and later sewn.  To get the glue to stick well on the smooth part of the wing shaped belt loop you will need to sand or wire brush that smooth surface to rough it up slightly.  At this point I did run a #2 edger across the smooth grain side of the leather toe and mouth only.  You have probably noticed that the belt loop pattern was only a half pattern that was traced, flip flopped and retraced to give a full pattern.  Remember that now is the time to adjust for cant, amount of drop and belt width stitching.  If you noticed the original paper pattern was cut for a straight drop but was adjusted to render a 15deg cant on this piece of leather.    

[Marshal Will Wingam]

They look servicable, Bob. I expect you're right that they'll last. You going to make a matching belt?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

            Pretty snazzy, Pard, the guns look like they fit well too, you did good 


                                              tEN wOLVES 

[Slowhand Bob]

Thanks, actually it will need a belt of its own I suspect as the 2 1/2" size is a bit tighter than a good fit.  I might do a 2 1/4" belt in the unlikely event that I decide to sell them but most likely the holsters will be donated to one of our local clubs after I use them a few times to see how they work.  The neat thing here is that this is a serviceable pair made from less than fifteen dollars worth of scrap leather(my cost).  At this point of construction there is probably well under an hour in the whole of the pair and they are as fast as anything I have made that cost many times this.  Look out cheap Mexican leather and oily messy American bargain brands, a one man shop can compete....

This also makes a great first time holster design for the beginner to learn the basics of construction without the guilt that his first project is perhaps sub par. Anyone can put a basic ruff out together that will look as good as mine and make their first holster a painless learning experience.  Though a 3/4" round punch, a thread punch, plus a number '2' edger are great assets, but not necessary, the rest can easily be done with a box knife, needles and a few feet of thread.  In this case your first pair will cost much less than most of whats available in the low end stuff in a Cabelas catalog!       

[Ace Lungger]

SB,
I think they look great, Just my 2 cents here, I think if you would take a little G.T. and rub on them to flatten flesh down a little and then some neatsfoot oil, and they would look just like what a real cowboy that moved those little doggeys down the trail!
Keep it coming.
I like em!!
ACE

[Slowhand Bob]

Ace, I am not sure what the tannery uses to create what they call a pasted back on cheap leather BUT my first thought was GT as it dissolves rapidly from contact with any type liquid.  A good glue mixture might work but the time wasted trying to upgrade an already low quality piece of leather would not be worthwhile.  I have several other pictures during the process that I will share soon.   These are actually made to the same pattern as one of the little holsters in an earlier post making the difference primarily a cosmetic one.

There was a time that the ruff out was my favorite look in a holster, ala Clint Eastwood, but have been told by very many that the style was unheard of in anything from the true old west.  I have since grown away from rough outs but think they do offer a few advantages and perhaps one additional disadvantage.  Ruff outs give the same smooth interior that one pays additional for in a lined rig, it eliminates any need of decoration, it has its own look built in and there are a few who actually prefer that look.  The only disadvantage beyond not being original is the fact that its nap being exposed should make it less durable when exposed to the elements, or at least harder to seal.

[Ace Lungger]

Bob,
You could use what I use when I want a holster to stay a little firmer, Take a little bees wax, get you some neats foot oil and get it heating and slice the bees wax small and melt it in the neats foot oils and rub it in good, and let the sun bake it! But I also like it the way it is!

Just trying to help!
ACE

[Hank Rugerman]

Is it just me..or are those just screaming for a brand ....Very interesting Slowhand...

Nice job....

[Slowhand Bob]

HEH  HEH  I hear them screaming but it sounds more like they are begging for some hammer safety thongs.  These are cut down to about half a holster!!!!

[Johnny Dingus]

Those are nice fast looking holsters.

Bet you could get a pistol out of there real quick.

Would like to see them when they have a little wear on them.

Great out of the box thinking.


Johnny Dingus