Assembling Lined Holsters

[JD Alan]

I'm now working on my second set of holsters. I decided to line these, and dye them black. I need to learn how to line holsters, since I have a few people who want me to make them a lined holster.

So far: Holsters cut out & stamped. Lining cut out, oversized. My plan is to sew on, or somehow attach a belt loop. I have a welt cut that I plan to add. 

As I understand it, my next step should be to glue the liners onto the holsters. I've read enough here to think I know how to do that. After triming the lining, I figured I would need to make, then attach the loop before sewing the holster together, since I can't imagine a way to attach it otherwise. I believe I need to glue the welt on after gluing on the lining, but before sewing the holsters.   

Here is my sewing plan: I figure to start at the edge of the back, and come around to the front edge of the trigger guard. Then sew from the inside of the toe to the outside, stopping just before the welt. Finally, sew from the top of the trigger guard down to the toe, through the welt. I don't know if I've discribed it very well, but I can see it in my mind's eye. 

Then dye the holster. I will likely do a modified dip, laying the holster in the dye, and rubbing the dye in everywhere. The other option is to dye the holster, then sew as mentioned above.  From what I've read, to dye before or after is a personal preference, since people tend to do it both ways.

Does my plan for sewing and overall assembly sound correct? If not, please give me some direction-correction.

Thank you muchly, JD       

[Slowhand Bob]

JD, if your holster is going to have an open toe then do as you say and sew across the bottom from where the main seam will meet front and back.  Now you must do pretty much the same for the top.  Start sewing where the top front main seam stitch hole will be and sew all the way around the top/skirt, stopping with what will be the top main seam hole on the back.  What happens now is that you will close off the whole job when you fold your holster and sew the main seam closed. 

Be sure and understand all elements of your glue job ahead of time as this will be a time sensitive step and YES it is important to glue and get a good bond.  I had a friend bring in a lined holster that had started delaminating big time and wanted it fixed.  The glue layer looked like thet on the back of scotch tape, extremely thin and very uniform.  It was actually a right pretty little full skirted holster with some nice embossing/finish/dye on decent or better looking leather.  It was very obviously mass market production type holster that had the one flaw ruining an otherwise good product.  I opened the main seam completely and the lining seams in a couple of small places to force in some glue for rolling.  There was no charge and I told my friend that when it separated again that he should not bring it to me again.  According to him it has held for a couple of years now, quite to my surprise?   Blind hawg thang...   

[knucklehead]

i agree with slowhand bob.
but he did not address one step that you asked about.

if you are going to sew on a belt loop to the holster then it is preferable to sew this on before you glue the lining in place.
this way the thread is hidden by the lining. and the thread is protected from the firearm being inserted and removed wear and tear on holsters(even though it probably wont hurt the thread)
this step is also preferable when you install snaps, conchos, rivets onto a lined holster. always install the parts on main body of the holster before you line. this way the interior is very clean looking and protects the firearm from the holster hardware.