Some questions on making a "laced holster"

[bedbugbilly]

I'm getting ready to start on a holster and gun belt for a vintaqge s & W (I won't mention the pistol as it's too new for this forum   ) and I thought I might try a "laced holster" as I've never done one.  In Stohlman's book, "How to Make Holsters", he gives a good description on page 7 on how to do it.  I didn't pull out my copy of "Packing Iron", but if I remembeer correctly, there are several holsters in there that are laced.  I have some long pieces of 2 to 3 oz leather that I can cut the lace from but I was also wondering about using true "rawhide" for the lacing strips?  I've never worked with rawhide but I am assuming that it would have to be wet in order to use a strap cutter to cut a 5/16 inch lace and I am assuming that when the holster is laced, it would have to be "wet laced".  I was thinking that the natural rawhide would constrast nice with a dyed holster and somehow, I would utilize some lacing on the cartridge belt to make the set match.

My question is . . . . am I nuts for trying to use rawhide for the lacing?  Any suggestions if I do use the rawhide?

Or . . . should I just stick with the regular veg. tanned 2 - 3 oz. that I have to make the lacing?  If I use the veg. tanned for the lacing, what's the correct way to lace the holster - with the lacing material "dry"  or should it be "damp" so what I would call "stretch" is taken out of it during the lacing process when it is pulled tight?

I don't want to use lacing that yo have to use the slotting punches for as I don't want to go to that expense.  Doing it as Stohlman shows looks like it would make a good looking laced edge and not something that looks like it was made in a summer camp somewhere.

If any of you have followed Stohlman's method as shown in his book, could you advise if there are any "tricks" or things to watch out for?  And maybe you could post some photos of your laced holsters as well? 

The holster will have a "western flavor" and will probably be a single loop.  (It's for a 4th change target model with a six inch barrel). 

Any suggestions, comments, advice would be appreciated.  From looking at his instructions, it looks pretty straight forward. 

[Don Nix]

Lacing with rawhide is easy  but it has to be wet and pliable. When I lace with rawhide I've found the easiest way is to pull the lace through saddle soap and keep it slick. This helps kep the rawhide moist and eases the lacing process.
But if you are cutting your own rawhide lacing you really need to bevel the edges. if not beveld the edges wil be sharp and will not lay down well when the rawhide dries and hardens.

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks Don - that all makes sense!  Now another question - you said if I make my own (which I was planning to do) - is there a place that I can buy the rawhide lacing already cut and beveled - or at least cut to the 5/16 width that Stohman recommends??  I have to believe that it would be a cheaper way to go instead of buying a large piece or rawhide just to make lacing.  Thanks! 

[Ned Buckshot]

Yes Tandy/leather factory sell rawhide lace in 3 differant widths and they're all on sale right now!

Ned

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks Ned.  I checked Tandy out but they don't have anything listed that is wide enough.  Stohlman's instructions are showing a width of 5/16" for the lacing.  The widest that Tandy shows in their catalog is 5/32".  Tandy does list a 1/4" X 48" lace but I'm afraid that 48" would be a little shy of what would be required to lace the holster I'm going to make.  I want to follow Stohlman's as I think the wider lace (5/16") would look better and it usese round holes -what Tandy sells is usully used for slotted lacing.  I could probably get by with 1//4" width if I could get it in a 5 to 6 foot length. 

I've googled for rawhide lacing and haven't come up with a whole lot yet.  If I locate a source for he wider rawhide lacing, I'll  post the links.  If I can't find what I'm looking for, I'll probably make some lacing out of some some 2 - 3 oz. veg. tanned that I have and dye it a contrasting color to the holster color.

[bedbugbilly]

After doing some more looking and searching on the 'net - I was able to locate a source for rawhide lacing.

Leather Cord USA
509 Hickory Ridge  Suite 110
Woodstock, GA  30188
877-700-2673

The link to the rawhide lacing is -

http://www.leathercordusa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LCU&Category_Code=C16

They show it in 1/8", 1/4" and 1/2" widths - 20 meter length spools

I'm sure that I can make the 1/4" work - I ordered a couple of spools of it at 15.99/ea - total 31.98 + $3.63 shipping - reasonable I thought.  Lacing is "natural".  The two spools will give me a good back-stock that willl take a while to use up.  A 20 meter spool should give enough to lace up 10 or so holsters.  When I get it and have a chance to use it, I'll post a follow up on it.  If you're looking for rawhide or other types of lacings - check them out as they offer a variety of products and pretty decent prices.   

[Springfield Slim]

You don't have to have one piece long enough, when you run out you splice in a new piece. Trying to guess how much so that you have exactly one piece is frustrating, plus it can make for one hell of a long piece if you have a long holster or belt. Never did it with rawhide, just flat lace. http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/mwhyte123/P1000636.jpg

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

You don't have to have one piece long enough, when you run out you splice in a new piece. Trying to guess how much so that you have exactly one piece is frustrating, plus it can make for one hell of a long piece if you have a long holster or belt. Never did it with rawhide, just flat lace. http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/mwhyte123/P1000636.jpg

  +1 for what Slim said, I never worry about having enough lace, just get the amount you are comfortable with using, and if you run short just splice some more on, you won't even see the splice if done right.

                 tEN wOLVES

[will ghormley]

Hey BBB,

If you start out with lace long enough you don't have to splice, it will take you for ever to lace it, and every time you pull it through the holes it will stretch out more.  I wouldn't use anything longer than your arm, and get good at splicing.  It's a lot quicker.

Will

[Boothill Bob]

Can anyone show Me/us How to splice it right? Do you usr contact glue?

[Springfield Slim]

I do it like it shows in the Tandy book. I don't do it much and have to read the book for reference every time, but it always comes out right if I follow directions. Pulling through more than 5-6 feet of lace is very difficult for many reasons.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Can anyone show Me/us How to splice it right? Do you usr contact glue?

   Bob, I skive about 1/4" off the top of one end, and the same on the bottom end of the other, I use contact cemment  and after letting it set up for a few minutes I join them together and tap the bond down with a smooth headed hammer, I let it set for a few minutes longer and then I'm good to go, doing your big jobs of lacing this way will also allow your lace to stay in good shape, if you use too long a piece for your lacing, by the time you start getting closer to the end you lacing will start to show signs of wear, by splicing you eliminate this wear.

        tEN wOLVES

[Boothill Bob]

Thanx TWF, sounds easy.. I made a wallet that I laced and I know what you mean when you say that the laces got in bad shape if you use a to long lace.. Belive Will is right, use a arm legth and keep it fresh..
The wallet is a Tandy kit, just buyed it to make a pattern of it..

[Chuck 100 yd]

Nice job BB. Sweet ! 

[Boothill Bob]

Thanx Chuck. Now I've got the pattern for it 

[Drayton Calhoun]

Nice thing about the Crafttool that Tandy sells for wallets, they come in handy for carving patterns on wide gunbelts.