Tried searching but did no good - Inserts to strengthen holsters, how??

[fourfingersofdeath]

The fancy-dan cowboy holster manafacturers use metal inserts in hosters to strengten them, so they hold their shape.  Is there any way you do something like this at home? Maybe a fibreglass that sets up at the flick of a switch when you have it just right and not before (yeah, I know I'm dreaming).

[Marshal Will Wingam]

You cut the piece of sheet metal, shape it to the approximate curve and glue a lining inside. Then glue the outer pice around the whole thing, bend it closed and sew it. The metal needs to be smaller than the lining and outer piece so you can sew through them without hitting it. I've also used rawhide, but that stuff is much harder to do than steel because it expands and shrinks up much more than the leather you use for the lining and the outer piece. Obviously the steel won't do that and you can work it much easier.

[outrider]

another way is to use  a raw hide insert...just wet it and shape it..let it dry.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

another way is to use  a raw hide insert...just wet it and shape it..let it dry.

OK, that's too easy. I can't handle that.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

another way is to use  a raw hide insert...just wet it and shape it..let it dry.

                What Outrider said, just wet it, shape it and when dry, put it in between the outside piece and your liner, and using a pattern, cut & sew. it has some bend to it, without collapsing, you can crush metal lined holsters.

                                                    tEN wOLVES 

[Dalton Masterson]

You can also use Kydex, which is a sort of plastic. I have never done it, but heard it works well. DM

[Marshal Will Wingam]

it has some bend to it, without collapsing, you can crush metal lined holsters.

I'll attest to that. The one I made is stout enough that I think you could stand on it if you wanted to. The best rigid holsters I ever made was a pair of Cheyennes made from two layers of 8-9 oz bridle leather glued together. It was a mean set to shape, but once done, darn near indestructible. The inner layer, hard to call a liner but I guess that's what it is, wraps down the skirt about an inch and a half where it tapers off to nothing. Here's a pic of those.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Will 

       Good looking set of rigs, I keep forgetting you wear two belts, but anyway, your right , when you use a thin  piece of rawhide, as a stiffener, you can use it to give your gun a little bit of a pitch out from and away from your belt or body, by putting some in the drop and front side of the skirt before it goes behind the belt, for the holster you only need to allow for the cylinder, the way I'm doing my holsters now is by using between 8/10 ounce leather, for a no lining holster, or two pieces of 4/6 ounce if I'm going to line them, after I wet and fit the gun to the holster and let dry, the holster is stiff enough for me just like that, and I can draw and reholster with ease, I used steel lined holsters when I used to quick draw years ago, for the game we play we don't need this, and it could be dangerous without a hammer thong the gun can fall out.


                                                    tEN wOLVES 

[outrider]

Leather Factory does have thicker raw hide pieces...4/6 oz.  pretty stiff stuff..you can barely bend it in it's dry form.  If inserted between the holster body and the lining it will be pretty stiff and once the raw hide dries it will maintain it's shape

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pards,
If your holsters fit your guns without any sort of insert, you may have a problem fitting the guns in the holsters after inserting the stiffener.

I've been making holsters (without steel stiffeners) for over forty years, and the first one I ever made, for a Colt's Buntline Special, made in 1968 was still in use by its owner at least a year ago (last time I talked with him...he was my USAF section OIC in 1968)!

A holster made from 8-9 oz. topgrain cowhide, properly wet-fit to the gun should hold its shape for years.  If you are doing fast draw and just have to have the holster stiffened so the cylinder can turn in the holster, then buy a high-quality, steel-lined rig from someone who does that sort of thing.  (Sorry, I don't do those.)  If you feel you want a holster that doesn't have steel lining, but is heavier, then a combination of layers adding up to 10-11 oz. will do the job!

Best of luck with your project!

[outrider]

Here Here  Trailrider...well said..an also my opinion...I have never had to make a steel lined holster.  I agree with you 100%

[fourfingersofdeath]

Thanks pardners, I made this post then plumb forgot about it. Finally retired a few weeks ago, maybe I'll get some time to finally make these holsters.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Be sure to check back in here now and then. Post pics of them when you're finished. Heck, post pics of any of the things you make. Thanks.

[fourfingersofdeath]

I sure will Marshall. Bit slow so far, just been goofing off. No doubt I will get into the swing of things and make good use of my retirement. I've never had such a wide circle of friends as I now have in the cowboy scene.