Leathersmiths.....show us yer stuff, (#1) THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED

[GunClick Rick]

Would that style work for an old Luger?

[RollingThunder]

Hi JD. Mike Ulrich's wife passed. I thought I sent off an email, although some of my emails have been getting either bounced or dropped in the junk mail folders lately. Something to do with the ISPs and beign sent out in bulk, I suppose. They didn't honestly expect her to live much longer, as she was pretty beat down by the blood infection. So while it is very unfortunate for him, she's in a much better place now, and is feeling no pain. As an aside, she and Mike are born again christians, so one day they will reunite, and that is undoubtedly a comfort to him.

As for the lines and design, I more or less approached this one from what your typical service-style revolver would need. It'd need a thumbreak, and a covered trigger and lines that would look good on a policeman's uniform. The thumb-break makes it a little tougher to remove or fire accidentally, should the law enforcement officer using this holster get hung up in something, or should a bad-guy attempt to try to remove it from the holster. In the third picture down, you can see where my thumb is resting on the 10 oz. leather sewn to the back of the holster pouch. Pressing against that will pop the snap, releasing the break, allowing the pistol to be drawn and aimed. The forward cant allows it to clear leather faster, and the whole holster sits with the hammer spur facing out away from the body slightly due to the placement of the belt loop strap. This is so that it doesn't catch up in a shirt as easily. The trigger guard is covered as well, for safety's sake, but instead of sitting in the pouch deep enough to contact the grips, it sits a bit higher, giving the hand enough purchase on the grip to draw, and leave the index finger sitting in a safe position.

I'm no fast draw, but I tried seeing how fast I could unsnap the break and clear leather and draw down on someone, and it's suprisingly easy for a holster this snug. Sometimes you get really lucky with the fit .

As for the lines being a little less flowing and graceful, I was working from the old Civil War military holsters, and the flap-style service holsters that law enforcement and military personnel used to wear. No real swoopy lines there, just common sense, crisp straight edges that worked well with the lines of a uniform. Underneath the buckle billet, there is a second scallop, so it's not totally devoid of grace. Hehehe. And speaking of the buckle, most of these are fitted for a specific pistol, but some that I have seen are adjustable like this one is, in the off chance you want to house a different pistol in there. That's also why it has a more generous pouch to it, and a little longer length to the barrel. You guys are gun guys. You know how some gun guys swap pistols like the swap socks.

So that's the nickel tour.

And yes, Rick, I think this would work with a Luger, but most Lugers I have seen have been in flap style holsters, but you could strap the break across the top at the same place you would on a 1911.

Now ... on to say that Kid, that carving on fixing the fence is perdy doggoned awesome. My mom did a painting of myself and my daughter fixing fence called, "Take your daughter to work day" ... I don't know if it's quite as cool as that one though. Very nice work!

Still snowing here in Illinois, so I've got another holster to work on for my ferrier (long overdue, too) and I think it'll be just warm enough in the workshop to spend a few hours and a pot of coffee sitting there working on it. Hope the rest of ya'll are staying warm.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

   RT, your holster finished up real nice Pard, your friend will be proud to wear it.

           Regards

       tEN wOLVES 

[JD Alan]

Terry, what a GREATjob on that album. You nailed that baby, a perfect picture. I would not know whre to start doing that, since I'm still trying to finish a decent holster.

Good job Pard, JDl

[RollingThunder]

I agree withJD ... I can do a decent stamped design, but carving is like writing in Chinese to me. That's some skill there!

[Arizona Cattleman]

Just finished two more slim jims.  I will do a new cartridge belt next week.  The first one I did I lined but found that I should have allowed for that in the pattern, so the front site is pretty tight.  I think I can work it out but these two are a smother draw.  Does any one wax the interiors of the holster and if so what do you use?

AZ Cattleman

[Gun Butcher]

 Hey AC, those finished out great Pard. You did a mighty fine job of matching the color on them and they have really nice lines. You  got a real good handle on this leatherwork.

[Arizona Cattleman]

Thanks GB, I wonder if everyone that fits a slim jim to an SAA has the same fitting problems....


AC

[Kid Terico]

AC Great set of holsters. Really like the color. KT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Those look good, too, AC. Nice job.

I never wax my holsters. I just mold them to a friction-free slip fit.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

 AC, your holsters look great, you did a fine job Pard, I don't use anything on the inside of my holsters in the way of wax, on Slim Jims, I choose not to line my holsters, I just like the way they feel without lining, all my fitting is done when I do my wet molding, I work the
gun in and out until it goes in and out with ease, just remember if you line your holster, you want to add about 1/4" on the sides of the bucket, adding a 1/4" on sides works well if you stay between 8 and 10 ounces of combined thickness of your liner and the front side of your leathers, if the two pieces of leather are going to be over that, you will have to add a little more than the 1/4" on the sides, IMHO,    keep up the great work Pard, we'll all look forward to seeing the belt you're making for these holsters.


                      Regards

                   tEN wOLVES  


               

[cowboywc]

Howdy AC
Very nice job on the Slim Jims. I've only lined one and that was for the big Walker.
WC

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy AC,

Great job on the slim Jim's! Those Holsters have a very elegant look to them. Slim Jim's are my favorite style to make. Many thanks for showing them to us.

[outrider]

Hi Pards,  First off I hope everyone had a good holiday so far and hope all of you have a great upcoming 2010...

Here are some pictures of a knife sheath I just finished for one of my shooting pards.  This is the first time I am attempting to use the "braid stamp" that I got from Bob Beard several months ago...this is the stamp that our good friend WC uses alot on his holsters and sheaths.  When WC, first posted a picture of a holster with this stamp I knew I had to have one of those stamps.  Has a little learning curve to get the alignment but once you figure it out  the process goes quickly.

[cowboywc]

Howdy Outrider
Very nice job with the braid stamp. Looks good.
WC

[outrider]

WC,  Appreciate the comments..after all you are the one who got me interested in that stamp....I will definately use it again

[Kid Terico]

Outrider thats a good looking sheath. He should be happy.KT

[Kid Terico]

Heres a old style I just finished up on. KT

[Dalton Masterson]

Outrider, thats a good looking sheath! I like that stamp too!
DM

[JD Alan]

Outrider, that is a fine looking sheath. That stamp is the bomb! Barry King and Chan Geer both have similar stamps, but I wasn't enamored with them, partly because of the dots or spots if you will that they make. This stamp from Bob beard really makes a nice impression and design.

Kid Terico, another great looking project. I am amazed at the speed that you do this, along with the quality and design of your rigs.

Thanks guys for sharing your work, JD