help with lacing up a holster

[john beattie]

Hello and happy new year to you all, i hope you all had a good one

iv'e been asked to make a holster that has the mean seam laced up, iv'e never done this before so need a little help

is there any particular size or kind of lace i should buy ?  tandy have many to choose from

this photo is what the guy has sent me, i believe this is a double loop stitch

many thanks

john

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy

   I self taught myself how to lace, by getting Tandy's book on lacing, it is very straight forward and easy to understand, as for size, I would stay with 1/8" or larger for a holster seam, but it is your choice to make, I've seen as wide as 1/2" used for seams with good results.

                   Regards

               tEN wOLVES 

[john beattie]

Thanks Ten wolves
i will order a copy of that and take a look

many thanks
john

[Springfield Slim]

What Ten Wolves said, it's not that difficult once you do some, just try and be consistant with the pull on the lace. And remember to use enough lace, but also remember there is probably no way to do it all with one piece, so expect to do some splicing.

[john beattie]

Thanks Slim

i had a look at the tandy video i think with practice it will come to me

is there a particular distance from the edge i need to make my holes or is it just the same as what i woud do if i was going to stitch ?

many thanks
john

[Boothill Bob]

How do you guys End the lacing, a knot In the book of lacing they always ends were they begin.

[bedbugbilly]

Bob - if you have access to a copy, check on pages 6 & 7 of Stohlman's "How To Make Holsters".  He shows a good way to do it - starting at one end and finishing up on the other.

If you don't have a copy available to you, send me a pm with your e-mail. 

If I ever get done with my "honey do" jobs  , I've got a holster that I want to make and try lacing up.  I found a good source of rawhide lacing and ordered several spools to keep in my supply bin.  I'm going to use 1/4" wide rawhide lacing.  I posted a while back about it and someone suggested using saddle soap for lubing up the lacing which sounds like a great idea.  I tried it on a sample and it worked great - now we'll see how it works on the real thing when I get to it!

The link to the source I used for lacing is below.  I ordered online and had it within just a few days - I was very pleased with their service and with their product.

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

Good luck!   

[Drayton Calhoun]

I have a gunbelt and holster that are entirely laced...it is the last belt I will do with lace! LOL. I will post the pic here soon>

[Boothill Bob]

Bob - if you have access to a copy, check on pages 6 & 7 of Stohlman's "How To Make Holsters".  He shows a good way to do it - starting at one end and finishing up on the other.

If you don't have a copy available to you, send me a pm with your e-mail. 

Thanx for the help Bedbugbilly, it helped me alot to understand 

[GunClick Rick]

I think KT is about done with lacing after that set of saddle bags he made,jesus they are bueatiful!!!

[Drayton Calhoun]

I made some lacing that I plan on using here soon. 1/8 inch dark brown. I plan on doing a holster for my 3rd Model Dragoon.

[Trailrider]

Frankly, I've never done the kind of lacing that I think you are trying to do. HOWEVER, my #96X and #1870 Rio Bravo holsters are laced...  I use 7-8 oz. burgundy latigo x 1/4-inch wide strips.  I punch 3/16" diameter holes centered about 5/16" from the edge of the leather and 1/2" apart, except going around the toe of the holster body, where I cut the spacing to 3/8".  The lacing end is tucked between the first three or four loops, and the rest is whip-stitched through the holes.  These look good, are rugged as all getout, and in over 40 years (including my own), I've never had anyone complain about them wearing out! Putting a holster together this way is fast, secure and good looking.

[Helda Huginkiss]

I actually Lace most of mine.. Here is a sample. This is for an automatic and for a left handed shooter.. Incase you were wondering..

[john beattie]

I actually Lace most of mine.. Here is a sample. This is for an automatic and for a left handed shooter.. Incase you were wondering..

And very nice it is too, would i be correct in saying that is a pattern from Al Stohlman number 40

[Helda Huginkiss]

Yes it is!