Darker Walnut stain? Skirt Straps w/Buckles?

[Steel Striker]

Greetings my new friends;

I've been practicing leatherwork in preparation for designing & building my own CAS dbl rig [45LC].  Now trying to learn pattern making to yield something close to what was intended, eh. 

--Intend using a taper welt to support the trigger guard, leaving guard & grip unhindered; will have a hammer strap for safety.
--Intend top of grip about 3" below the [2.5" Ranger style] belt. 
--Intend holster [2 ply 5/6 wgt.] 15-20 deg from vertical.  Don't know if an 'outward cant' is advantageous?  What say you experts.?

? Would using 2 small buckle straps as skirt loops be effective in 'tuning' holster retention?  I doubt my holster construction efforts will be sufficiently calibrated.

? I started from scratch [prefer old school when I can] & made my first batch of Walnut Stain, 4 gallons.  My hatchet sheaths, belts & multi tool pouch are too light for my taste [post Neatsfoot oil].  Will it help concentrate the stain by 'cooking' it to evaporate more water?  I've tested overnight soaking for darker color no avail.  I like Johhny McCrea's dark brown results.

? I've tried researching authentic Western 1870's border tooling styles.  Are any replicated/shown in your Tooling Library I can learn from?  I'm planning to make a small "V" stamp [imperfection = originality] to 'point inward' from a contour following groove.  3/8" re-bar should maake an acceptable 'stamp'.  I see where others used engine valves, etc.  Nice to see 'old school' at play.

Appreciate any & all comments.  I've learned quite a bit from this fine forum already.  Thanks much & safe travels.

aka:  Steel Striker  SASS #100044  P.S.  [My wife aka: Bar-B-Sue is #100045, cool eh.]

[Johnny Dingus]

Walstr,
Before you go making your leather holsters I hope you have read the SASS rules as to holsters.  Here is a link to the rule book.
http://www.sassnet.com/Downloads/SASS%20Handbook%20Ver%2020_2.pdf
I think an out ward cant of the holster is advantageous if you are built like me a little heavy.
If you want a stiff holster I would make it with one layer of the 8/9 and the other of the 5/6 that you got.  I shoot gunfighter and like the holster stiff so it draws without resistance and re holsters easy.
Look at some of Slye's posts to see how he makes his holsters.  You can learn a lot from the pictures.

Johnny Dingus

[Johnny Dingus]

Walstr,

Are you edging the leather sides and using a slicker on the edges?  If not you might want to look into do so as it makes your finished leather work look so much better.

Here is another leather worker site that you might want to visit to get more info on leather working.  www.leatherworker.net 

Johnny Dingus

[Steel Striker]

Thanks Johnny D.;

Yea, SASS permits up to 30 degrees off vertical.  I'm not as nimble now, so I figure sliding the holsters towards my front [no closer than 2 fist widths apart] & having them "tilted" some, would feel better.  I was practicing with a paper holster @ that angle.

Sure will burnish edges.  My 3 belts look great after burnishing with a piece of Birch dowel in a drill press, that I had 'grooved' with a rat tail file & 'seasoned' with Neatsfoot oil.  Not the best wood species, but it's what I had, eh.

I was just looking @ leatherburnishers.com for 'more' tools.  My 1st holster will probably cost as much as the 1st lb. of fish for the season!!  You know how that goes.  Besides, 8yr. old Rye is a lot cheaper @ home, so I figure all the $$ I'm saving there.  My wife saw this & said she's wondering what to buy with the $5,000 she saved NOT buying a fur coat!

I think "hobby" is to benign a word to describe what we do...