Holsters 101

[Blackey Cole]

I left the Cleveland area in April.  My Dad lives out of Athens and I have a lot in a POA campground on 129 north of Cleveland  My Dad has a camper there that he and  his wife lives out of when  they are not in Athens.  Since he is in his 70's and she isn't too far behind and has had knee replacements and is overweight they prefer to stay at the camper most of the time as the utils are cheap and the limited amount of waling involved not to mention the view, it is creek side.  I will be back in Ga in November but this time I will be leaving the trailer behind to save money and be there until mid January.  I doubt I will be able to do much leather work while I am there, limited space to carry everything.  I plan on being back in NM around the 3rd week of January to prepare for a shoot the forth weekend in Las Cruces.

I have all but 14 issues of Leather Crafter's & Saddlers Journal, Many of the Hidecrafter and tandy Patterns, plus several videos from Hidecrafter and the ones I have mentioned here.  I first started working with leather in Alaska in the 80's I had a Friend Rob Roy who had a saddle Repair shop and he got me started in working with leather sew, cutting, and assembly techniques.  THen when I got back in to working with leather and shooting CAS I met another gentleman who tutored me on holsters and gunbelts for a short time named Ken Lane out of Alamogordo NM.

[outrider]

Blackie and Slowhand...if you get in the Cleveland area give me a shout we can get together...

[Blackey Cole]

Cleveland Ga?  I spent last winter there  just off 129 in Paradise Rv Resort.  I will be up there to check my mail a time or two in NOv and Dec.

[outrider]

Cleveland, TN.

[Slowhand Bob]

Mom will turn 84 next week.  My two daughters, with their families, had just left Atlanta Intl for Cozumel when we found out that mom had fallen and broken her shoulder.   By the time I was on the way good they were releasing her from the hospital and she was home when I got there.

I have all issues of LC&SJ but it is some of the older stuff that I will go through.  At one time Tandy did offer patterns for a pancake holster, is that still available and what gun did it fit?  I'm sure I still have that one somewhere as well as some interesting magazine articles that were clipped and saved.  One deals with patterning and construction of a laminated holster similar to the old Safariland style that used a sight track.  Later.

[Slowhand Bob]

I watched the George Hurst version of Holster making yesterday. As stated elsewhere, he follows the Stohlman book fairly well and covers most of the basics, though his delivery is a bit monotone.  This could be an excellent video for the beginner who wants to see the full process before making his first holster or the more advanced maker who is ready to tackle his first lined holster.  There is something to be said for all of us gaining something from watching another experienced leather crafter perform the tasks from a different perspective.  There is little available, techniques or secrets, for the 'old pro'  in this one but it does mesh well with other Hurst 'basics' videos.   In my opinion Hurst is probably more an old school craftsman than a dedicated holster maker, he tends to stumble on his common holster and firearm terms quite a bit.  I consider this to be  a good video and should still be available through Tandy or Hide Crafters.  Guys, my memory isnt my greatest attribute but while these are still a bit fresh in my mind I will be glad to try and answer any specific questions on them.  It might be a few days but I plan to watch the Chuck Burrows video next and eventually end it up with the very long series by Bianchi.  After that I will be waiting for for the next holster making video to come along, anyone have a camcorder and a wife to use it?

http://www.hidecrafter.com/hci/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=84&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=35     

http://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/t-instructional-videos.aspx

[Blackey Cole]

Looking forward to tour video review of Chuck's DVD.  If it is something different then I will pick it up. 

I ordered Dusty's dvd on holsters.  I can/t wait to checking it out

[Blackey Cole]

Well, went by the house today and picked up several things like all my leather working videos and books.  I will be re-watching the George Hurst Holster Video soon along with Dusty's Holster Video.  I also picked up a couple of new un-advedrtised items from Springfield Leather.  I got their Pancake holster pattern for the top 5 handguns and their police book with all the Sam Brown items except the duty holster.  So I got some researching to do and try out that pancake pattern for my XD-45.  I have found that most holsters follow the western/Tom Threepersons style of a folded holster or they follow the pancake layered style of holster if you can become proficient with those two types then you should be able to use a photo to replicate any holster out there.

[Slowhand Bob]

Yes I am falling down on the job, I even watched a movie the other night.  I will try to do one on Chucks DVD soon as I want to see how you guys compare your viewing experience with mine.  Remember, how to videos are not about entertainment so do not expect most holster makers to be greatly entertaining individuals.  If you want entertainment, watch the movie I watched, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL and you will see a winner.  I really love the period equipment and the fact that they even used gunfire that sounds right for bp.

[Dalton Masterson]

Blackey,
That pancake set is pretty good. I have been building the XD version and it builds quite well. I ended up using the back piece as a pattern for the front.
It didnt seem to line up too well using their front and back patterns right off the page. I am currently tweaking the designs a little too, but they are a great start. The XD also fits a Beretta 92 if you make it a hair longer.

I have built quite a few of the 1911 holsters from that pattern too.

Bob, Ride with the Devil is a great movie. I hadnt seen it until a year or two ago, and have watched it several times since.

I agree with you on Dusty Johnson's holster video. Very quick video. I like Chucks much better, but it relates better to what I build.

DM

[Blackey Cole]

How about one of you all loaning me the Chuck DVDs and I will loan you one or more of the following:

Sheridan Style Leather Carving with Jim Linnel
Secrets of Lacing & Stitching with George Hurst
Traditional Western Leather Carving with George Hurst
Basic Assembly Techniques by George Hurst
Basic Leather Stamping with George Hurst
Dyeing & Finishing By George Hurst
Rolled Edges Featuring the French Knife with George Hurst
Carving Roses By George Hurst
Making Custom Holsters with George Hurst
The Art  & Techniques of western Holster Making by John Bianchi

or a
1911 A1 Blue Gun(black)
1873 Colt SAA 5 1/2"
Taurus 24/7
Springfield XD 45
Springfield XD 45 Mag

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Howdy Pards


                     Just a reminder , we do not discuss modern gun leather on this forum, that includes Pancake Holsters, the only time we go above 1900 is for the Wild Bunch and gun leather we use for it that is SASS legal, Thanks for your cooperation

                                        tEN wOLVES 

[Blackey Cole]

Sorry about that TW.  We were describing fabrication techniques and passing on tips that were learned so other would not have to learn it the hard way.

[Slowhand Bob]

Well I finally got around to watching the Chuck Burrows video on holster making again.  I really do want to stress that I consider the earlier video on making knife sheaths as an extremely valuable addition to the holster set.  Though some might disagree, I think Chucks video, though easy to understand, is better suited to the maker with a little more experience under his belt.  In my mind this is about how to make a holster special, more so than just how to make a holster.

There is really some 'notch above the ordinary' information on the Wild Rose custom way of holster making revealed.  This is the first one that I have watched that I will recommend the first time viewer to have a pencil and paper handy for some notes.  Chuck is constantly recommending things such as needle/thread sizes, various mixes for dyes, lubes, certain specialty tools and the list goes on, there is also a great resources guide at the end but the notes will help with who has what.  

The Holster videos alone uses two DVDs and will require several hours to watch but listen to the commentary well because this is as close as you will come to spending a day with the old master.  Be sure to have fresh batteries in the old hearing aid as what he says is just as valuable as what he shows!  He does a great job with several skills that give some of us fits, such as his demo on making/sewing muzzle plugs.  He also spends a good bit of time discussing his style of tooling leather and how it compares to much of the early styles.

Now for whats not there, and the good part is that it is mostly the stuff from the earlier videos that I rated as beginner selections.  Chuck does not go into a great deal of time on the basic pattern layout for his two holsters demoed here.  You will also find little, beyond an occasional comment, covering sewing machines and other tools of the production shop but he does demo using common power tools such as the belt sander to save time.  Probably the other big time saver he was able to delete was discussions on liners, as these are not often a part of the Wild Rose style of historically accurate leather.

I do not pick this as a new makers first video but do highly recommend it as the one to seek when you are ready to call yourself a true craftsman and in particular want to make some artistic early style holsters.  These can be found on THE WILD ROSE site and do not forget, I highly recommend that you get the knife sheath making vieo and actually watch it first.  I will not turn this into a review of that but it does have so much valuable and related custom information that relates directly to custom holster making skills that I would feel remiss if I didnt mention it again.  http://www.wrtcleather.com/tr-books/books-1.shtml#holsters

Last but not least will be the other 'old pro' holster making video set, as put out by John Bianchi.  Another one that will take hours to watch so it might be awhile.  

[Blackey Cole]

Bob, thanx for the info.  I plan on getting this video soon.   I just watched Dusty Johnson's Video and was in the process of reviewing George Hurst's video but it is giving my laptop fits. 

I am also think of taking a class at Fiesta Leather next month.

[outrider]

Don't forget the two DVD's made by Paul Long...the sheathmaker.....both are excellent but I think are geared more towards the more advanced leather maker

[Slowhand Bob]

Outrider, if you have seen these please give us a quick revue and a resource link as I might be interested in getting them.  Got to go now, my girl Maggie isnt doing to well now and I need to get her to the vet.
PS: Maggie is on  the right.

[Slowhand Bob]

My best friend of 13 years lost her battle last night.  My My, sure is hard and I will miss the old girl.  Later.

[Dalton Masterson]

Sorry to hear that SB.
DM

[outrider]

Slowhand...sorry to hear about your loss