You've seen the "Good" & the "Bad" . . . here's the "Ugly"

[bedbugbilly]

A "Tale of Woe" that took a turn . . . .
Well . . . here it is!  A while back, there was a post on whether you've ever wanted to "ditch" something you've made.  After seeing another post on a holster for a pocket pistol, I decided it was time to get my SA Ruger Super Bearcat out and make a new bed for it.  I wanted it to be a loop holster so I sat down one night and made a pattern from scratch.  I'd also wanted to play with "convex" borders.  After posting a thread on convex borders, I had lots of good suggestions including using beading blades to other ways of doing it.  With my eyesight problems, I can't use a swivel knife worth a darn and stay "on line".  So, I decided this holster would be a "new learning experience".  I practiced on scraps and finally figured out how to do it with the tools I had.  I have altered a 6 inch wing divider by grinding and polishing both of the legs so that one gives me a nice flat border groove around a 1/16" and the other 1/8".  Since the holster was a "learning experience", I used a piece of leather I had that was about 10 oz.  I normally like to use 12 oz. for unlined holsters but the Bearcat is small and light so I figured I'd use it and see what happened.  Well, by the time I was done, I wanted to toss this as far as I could about a half dozen times.  First was during the cut out stage when my knife slipped – fortunately I could compensate the error and save it.  I live in a 55+ retirement community in Arizona during the winter and my bench and work space is in the garage.  It's very pleasant with a view of the desert, but, a lot of neighbors walk by and quite a few stop to see what I'm up to.  The borders were made by scribing the lines with my altered dividers and then using a pointed spoon modeler, I deepened the outside edges of each groove.  I then used the modeler to contour them and finished them by holding on to the handle of a smooth beveler and pulling it with the tip being guided by the deepened groove.  It worked pretty slick on my practice pieces, but, when I went to work on my holster, a neighbor stopped.  I was concentrating on my work, he spoke to me and walla . . . a screw up on the border.  Well, "it was nice he stopped to say hi", I thought to myself as I looked at my "goof".  Then, when I went to stamp the Masonic square and compass, another neighbor snuck up behind me as I was bringing my mallet down and scared the bejeebers out of me!  Another "oh,oh".  By now, it was not going well and I was ready to toss it in the scrap bin.  But, as I looked at it, I got to thinking about a thread on "antiquing" and another article I'd read on "distressing".  I wanted the holster to have a "used" and "old" look to it.  As I looked outside, my eyes rested on our "stone lawn".  I got up, went out and put the holster epidermis side down on the crushed stone.  With some hesitation, I stepped on it a number of times. I thought "nothing ventured, nothing gained". When I picked it up, I was surprised at the "embossing" I'd done with the stones.  Once again, I had thoughts of tossing it.  I had nothing but time to lose though, so I decided to go ahead and finish it . . . after all, if it looked terrible, I could cut it up into small pieces and then throw it so nobody would know.  For finish, I used the Medium Brown Eco Flo Gel Antique finish that Tandy sells.  After applying it, I was pleasantly surprised  to see how the "stone embossing" darkened up.  After drying, I followed this up with a good coat of Lexol  worked in and allowed to dry.  I then applied a good coat of Virgin Olive Oil and let that soak in well and dry.  Finally, I applied a good coat of walnut (color) paste wax and buffed it well.  Much to my surprise, I ended up with a very mellow antique looking finish and the holster was taking shape much better than I ever expected.  What I had been ready to throw in the trash bin a number of times ended up with the exact "used" and "old" appearance that I had been looking for.   Although I much prefer the looks of a holster without a safety strap, I wanted one on this holster as I not only take the pistol to a range to shoot, I also carry it on the farm back in Michigan and I don't want to take the chance of losing it out in the field.  My next step is to make a belt to go with it but I have decided not to make one with cartridge loops.  I much prefer to carry my 22s "loose" so will probably make a flapped pouch for that.  I have a set of faux ivory grips for the Bearcat that I will be putting on it as well.  When I get all of that done, I'll post more photos.

I apologize for the length of this but I wanted to share this with you all, especially those who are new to the craft.  I've made leather goods for years and we are our own worst critics.  We all have "problems" that arise with our work and sometimes we "start over" as "we see all of the mistakes" . . when others don't.  This holster was a great reminder to me not to be so quick to "toss".  If anything could have gone wrong, it did for me on this one.  I tried some new things for me and I tried doing some things in a different manner than I usually do just so I could see if I could improve on some things.  I know a lot of you may not like the looks of this one and that is fine as we all have different "tastes" and "preferences".  I was tickled with the way it ended up though as it was the "look" I have been trying to achieve through trial and error.  Regardless of the "frustrations" it created, it was one heck of a good learning experience and a great reminder that when you have a lemon, make lemonade!

Hopefully the photos are clear enough.  Thanks!

[bedbugbilly]

A couple more . . . .

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  bedbugbilly,this is a perfect example of what was a lemon and making it into lemon aid, you turned a few mistakes into a beautiful holster, well done pard, it really looks old and used, but well cared for, which is a look I like and strive for in my work, WC my mentor, told me long ago that leather is very forgiving, and I've found this out over and over, but don't ask me how, 


                                    We all do it, some just think outside the box!!!


                         tEN wOLVES 

[KidTerico]

bedbugbilly What are you complaining about? Thats a great looking holster. Keep it up. KT

[Wolf Tracker]

bedbugbilly   I think that holster turned out very nice. I am new to leatherworking and so far most of my work has been practicing on scraps. A lot of things I have tried were just experimenting with different ideas and I think that is where I learned the most. Thanks for sharing your story. It goes to show that not everything has to be perfect according to the standard to be nice looking.

[GunClick Rick]

Note to self....."Get stone lawn" got it!

That dang thing came out perfect!

[santee]

Looks great, BBB. I have a stone yard too...may have to try that technique out!

[GunClick Rick]

Get back in the house KT snow won't work~~

[rickk]

BedbugBilly,

This brings up a whole new eye-opening possibility.

There have been discussions in the past about what tools "real cowboys" might have used to put scrimshaw-like art on a holster while killing time.

They wouldn't have had fancy stamping tools.

They would have had access to metal scraps that they could have made tools out of.

But, they also had access to rocks, sticks, bones, sea shells, and probably lots of assorted discarded "garbage". Any number of such things could stamp out a pattern in a holster, especially if the tool only had to last for a few strikes on a single holster.

[amin ledbetter]

I like it BedBug! Turn out great! I know what you mean about the neighbors though. Always nice to see them, but the only thing keeping me from tossin my neighbors out sometimes, is that it would be un-Masonic of me to do so. Take care my Brother, and remember, you must always take the good with with the bad, even when it gets ugly!  

[Marshal Will Wingam]

BBB, that looks very good. I like the comfortable look you achieved. Nice.