Help with a line 24 snap

[john beattie]

Hi guys
Iv'e just put a shoulder holster together that has a strap on the back held at one end with a line 24 snap but it won't hold and keeps popping off with the least bit of movement, is there anything anyone can suggest to strengthen the hold of the snap, the male end of the snap can't be removed as it's between leather and lining but the female end can as it's just on the strap

Any help would be very much appreciated

All the best
john

[Camano Ridge]

Have try just snapping a new female onto the male to see if it gets a more solid snap, before removing anything. If you get a more solid snap then just replace the female. Not having seen what the holster looks like, if you need to replace the male end carefully drill out the center post, take a thin sharp knife like an exacto insert it in between the layers of leather adjacent to the snap and cut just enough stitches to get the old snap out and insert a new one, then overstitch the cut threads stitching past the cut threads by at least a couple of stitches.

[john beattie]

Hi Camano
Thanks for your reply, i tried a new female end but it's just the same, The leather is bonded and stitchred making replacement or adding a second snap very hard, i was hoping there may be an easy way to make the 24 snap a little stronger

Thanks again though for your input

All the best
john

[Trailrider]

How thick is the leather to which the female strap is attached? You either need a longer stud on the cap that holds the female part, or you will need to thin the leather until you can get enough protrusion to peen the shorter stud over sufficiently to hold. To thin the leather you can try using a 1/2" wood bit, turned by hand (so you don't go too deep). You probably can thin the leather (from the inside of the strap), so the remaining thickness is about 6-7 oz (6/64"-7/64"). That should be sufficient strength in the strap.  If necessary, you might need to go a bit (no pun intended) deeper. If necessary, you might have to use a 1/2" bit and recess the cap itself.

[Camano Ridge]

Can you post a picture of both the male and female on the straps so we have a better visual. Also a side view of them snapped together.

[john beattie]

Trailrider
There is no problem with fitting the snaps to the leather, it's the strength of the snap hold to it's self i have the problem with, here are some photos the black one is a PWL holster and has some real strong snaps the only way you can get them appart is by pulling the steel tag, the tan holster is the one im making the snaps are line 24, it's a shoulder holster, the strap is the one that fits around the belt to stop it swinging about.

John

[Camano Ridge]

The snaps on the black holster appears to be pull the dot type fastner, if so it is going to give a more secure snap. However I have used line 24 snaps for your application and they workeed just fine.

In the side view of the snap the female does not look like it fits square to the leather, that might just be the picture. What brand or what vendors snaps are you using? By the way great pictures.

[john beattie]

Hi Camano
The snaps are from Tandy and your right the female is not flush with the leather and the stem has bent a little, i'll try another but will also do a google on pull the dot see if i can fine some.

Thanks again for your help

All the best
john

[Trailrider]

OK, now I think I understand... You are saying that the snap doesn't stay snapped female to male...NOT that the female strap is pulling loose from its cap on the strap?  The Pull-the-Dot fastener is more secure, as you have to hook the female over one side of the male and then rotate the female down to complete the snap. To unstrap, the end of the strap has to be rotated up and away from the male.

One way to increase the "pull" is to take a pliars and squeeze the sides of the male portion just slightly. This causes the male to be slightly oval. Do this gently so you can still fasten the snap segments.

[john beattie]

Hi Trailrider
Thanks for the tip i will give it a try, i have found a company over here in the uk that sells the pull the dot snaps and have orderd some, the female pull the dot snap that is on the black holster i have won't go on the male line 24 snap but mayby the ones i have orderd will and that would be job done if not unfortunately i don't think i can replace the male end without spoiling the holster so will have to make the holster again.
but im pleased i found the stronger snaps for future reference, Also thank you for the thinning leather tip with the drill bit i have had that problem before so next time i will try what you say.

Many thanks to you all

All the best
john

[GunClick Rick]

Get a round piece of metal that's just a little bigger than the male,insert tap with hammer and flair it out some,i did that once,it held but was a booger to unsnap.. WHAT~~~we have here~~~is a failure,to communicate @

[john beattie]

Hi rick
Thats a brilliant idea, thank you i will give that a go, I orderd some pull the dot snaps unfortunately the stems are shorter and will have to use Trailrider's method and thin the leather, but if i can get away with swelling the male end that would be great.
Thanks again

All the best
john

[GunClick Rick]

Roughing them up with sand paper may help also.Take an ice pick to the inside of the female scratch a little surface off the inside.

[TN Mongo]

I have successfully fixed the same problem using Rick's solution.  I used a flat tipped punch to spread out the male end a little.  I would, however, try the method on a spare snap before I messed with the holster.