1851 Navy Conversion Slim Jim Pattern

[Grenadier]

Ok, I have made two attempts at making a pattern for my '51 conversion. The first one ended up in the trash, the second one turned out beautiful, I am rather proud of my first attempt at carving leather. However, the holster ended up fitting my Colt Walker rather than my '51 that I was attempting to fit. 

Since I carved it, I cannot cut it down to fit the smaller framed pistol. After two attempts at making my own pattern and wasting a sizable piece of leather on the first attempt, I thought I would see if someone here would be willing to help with a Slim Jim holster pattern for my '51 cartridge conversion. I seem to have developed a mental block on making this pattern myself 

[Mogorilla]

To make my patterns, I lay the pistol on  a large piece of paper.  I trace it, then lift it 90 degrees, so the hammer is down on the surface, but make sure it does not move any direction but at the angle, and trace.   Draw the upper portion of the holster you want along the triggerguard etc, and then a 1/4 inch outside the trace.  Use the end of the traced upright portion as your center fold and cutout.  This will give you plenty of room, but not too much. 

[MJN77]

http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/CH/ch.html

[Marshal Will Wingam]

If you want to try out your pattern without using a bunch of leather, cut one out of thick paper and staple it along the main seam. That will give you an idea how it fits.

[Graveyard Jack]

File folders work great for this. Center the sixgun along the crease and carefully roll it over. Do your tracing and then design the holster around that. Then fold it and cut out both sides at once.

(A big thanks to Chuck Burrows for this tip!)

[Cliff Fendley]

+1 on the file folders. When you lay it on it's side you will usually need to add around 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch from the outline of the holster.

[ChuckBurrows]

I believe Will Ghormley's forty niner pattern pack includes a pattern for the 1851 conversion if you choose to purchase a pattern. You could give Will a call and make sure before purchasing - he's got a website and is a real nice guy to boot....

The basic difference in a standard 1851 cap lock Slim Jim and an 1851 Conversion/M1872 holster is that the pipe (the barrel section  of the holster) needs to be wider to accommodate the ejector rod housing....IIRC the pipe section on my conversion pattersn are about 1/4-3/8" wider front and back making for a total width of 1/2-3/4" wider.

Craig - you're most welcome - being the son of a book keeper, later in life an accountant myself, and then being in  business for myself for the past 13 years means old file folders were and are always cheap fodder for various projects.

[buckskin billy]

I believe Will Ghormley's forty niner pattern pack includes a pattern for the 1851 conversion if you choose to purchase a pattern. You could give Will a call and make sure before purchasing - he's got a website and is a real nice guy to boot....

The basic difference in a standard 1851 cap lock Slim Jim and an 1851 Conversion/M1872 holster is that the pipe (the barrel section  of the holster) needs to be wider to accommodate the ejector rod housing....IIRC the pipe section on my conversion pattersn are about 1/4-3/8" wider front and back making for a total width of 1/2-3/4" wider.

Craig - you're most welcome - being the son of a book keeper, later in life an accountant myself, and then being in  business for myself for the past 13 years means old file folders were and are always cheap fodder for various projects.

i used will's 49er pattern for the 1851 navy on a 51 navy conversion. i made no changes to it. at first it was a little tight around the ejector rod assembly but the leather molded itself to it and it now fits like a glove

[Graveyard Jack]

Craig - you're most welcome - being the son of a book keeper, later in life an accountant myself, and then being in  business for myself for the past 13 years means old file folders were and are always cheap fodder for various projects.

I heard that. My wife was a teacher for 12yrs and when I talked her into "retiring" early, I was like a kid in a candystore when we were cleaning out her classroom and I found her big stash of unused file folders. It's the little things.....I reckon. 

[Slowhand Bob]

There are actually many videos out there now which really take pattern making to a fine art form with variances and a variety of personal tips from each maker filmed.  There is no doubt that the Bianchi tapes spend the most time on pattern layout, from a professional standpoint,  but the one I would recommend to a beginner is hands down the tape by Gene Simmons(?).  He actually makes it very simple for the beginner and though I think you will move past his techniques pretty quickly, with experience, they will get you started. 

Purchased or borrowed patterns are also great for starting out but you should move past them as quickly as possible and learn to lay out your own.  Do always save your old successful patterns, with center/fold lines marked, as most can be used to transition into new ideas/designs without repeating all of the initial sizing steps.  Not sure but I think Tandy now has all of the past 'black powder' type pattern packs available as cheap down loads, if this is true, has anyone tried to get them??  If memory serves me correct I might have made my first holster from one of those old original Tandy patterns back in the late sixties, liked them then and still do now. 

[Camano Ridge]

Slowhand, I think you are refering to the Percussion Pistol pattern pack #2691 for 9.99 digital down load. It has powder flask and bullet pouch patterns as well.
Jim Simmons Etowah Leather has a california pattern and tuttorial including making a pattern on Leatherworker.net
http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19714  I have made Slim Jim/California style holsters for three different conversion each time I just made for the base pistol example 1851 Navy then wet molded the holster to the conversion it worked just fine. Pictured is one that I made for a conversion I did not have the actual gun so I used my 51 Navy and attached taped a dowel where the ejector would be I built the holster for the 1851 Navy then wet molded it to accomaodate the ejector and it fit the customers gun perfectly.

[Graveyard Jack]

I used my 51 Navy and attached taped a dowel where the ejector would be I built the holster for the 1851 Navy then wet molded it to accomaodate the ejector and it fit the customers gun perfectly.

That's a great idea. I have a guy that wants me to do one for a Colt Python but all I have to create a pattern and fit it to is an Army Special. I can attach a dowel to the underside of the barrel to accommodate the underlug.