My First Holster

[Gentleman Jack McKiernan]

Howdy.

Attending my first SASS match next month, so I thought I'd find something to occupy my time until then, so with that said, thought I'd share my very first attempt at a holster for my Uberti. 
Overall, I know it needs a lot of work but I'm pretty pleased at how it turned out.  I'm going to start another one this weekend, as it's amazing how many nuances you learn even after just the first one.

Feel free to critique, I've got a pretty thick skin.   

[Skeeter Lewis]

A very good first holster. The style of it is authentic - technical improvement will come fast.

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy Jack,

Welcome to the Leather Shop. That's one fine Holster especially for a first one. With every Holster you will get better and better. We look forward to seeing your future projects.

Best of luck to you with your first SASS match.

[Camano Ridge]

Welcome, first holster looks pretty good can't wait to see the second one and belt.

[Slye]

good look for your first holster and the finish of the colour is very pretty

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Welcome to the forum Jack, and a job well done on your first holster, I wish my first looked as good, good to have you aboard pard, and thanks for sharing with us...

tEN wOLVES 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great job on your first holster, Jack. Good work. Thanks for sharing. Welcome to the forum. It'll be good to see your next one.

[Mean Bob Mean]

Super nice!

[Gentleman Jack McKiernan]

Howdy, folks, thanks very much for all the kind words.  I look forward to hopefully, one day, being able to reproduce some of the beauty that I regularly see in this forum.
As for the belt, well, that will come after a couple of more holsters, I'm thinking.  The cartridge spacing looks to be a serious challenge.

[Camano Ridge]

Gentleman Jack, if you check the How to FAQ you will find information on cartridge loops. Marshall Will posted spacing for a veriety of calibers with measurements for marking loop strip and belt. There is also infor mation on how to stitch the loops and doing woven and semi woven loops. Most of the answers to questions on how to build holsters and belts are here. If you can't find what you need after a little searching just ask.

[outrider]

Jack...welcome to the forum...Very nice for your first holsterand we hope to see more in the future

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

welcome to the Leather shop Jack
I will echo what everyone else is saying about your first holster very nice work for the first time however it looks like you might have some experience with working with leather by the looks of that holster. if not you have a natural talent working with cow
oh and BTW did anyone warn you the smell of Veg tanned leather is addictive!
Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Just for the record, the spacing for all those calibers and gauges were originally posted by Outrider in the original Show Us thread and I just copied them into the Cartridge Loops thread. Here's a link:

Stitched Cartridge Loops

[dwight55]

As others said, . . . that's a good looking holster.  Course, . . . some might give you some grief about it being made for the wrong hand, . . .

Let me be one to encourage you to do a belt, . . . and don't put it off, . . . just go for it.  This one here is really easy to make, . . . it's a folded piece of 5/6 or 6/7 veggie tan, . . . with the loops simply woven in.  You come in the back side of the belt, and go back out the same hole, . . . makes it easy to compute, . . . if you want 24 cartridges, . . . punch 24 holes.

I punch 3/4 inch long slots with a bag punch, . . . then weave the 7/8 inch wide piece of 4/5 leather through them, . . . wet.  Wrap it around the cartridge, . . . pull it tight, . . . move on to the next one.  I leave the cartridges in place for the first hour then very gently remove them.  The loops come out snug but not tight.

Then you fold it over, . . . sew the top seam, . . . put on the buckle and tongue, . . . go shootin', Pard. 

May God bless,
Dwight

[Gentleman Jack McKiernan]

Thanks for all the input, folks, I really appreciate it.  Am I repeating myself?  Am I repeating myself?  I feel like I am.

St8Line, you're correct, I've worked with leather before but I'm still relatively new to it. 

Will, thanks for the link.  More for me to peruse.

Dwight, that's a pretty brilliant idea, thanks for the information.  It's really funny you mention the wrong hand because when I traced the leather side, I forgot to flip the leather (or pattern) over, so it came out backwards.  I decided to make it anyway, even though I'm a righty, because it's more about the process than the result, right?  Maybe?  Hopefully?   

Cheers, folks.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

A left side is half of a double rig. Now all you need is the other side. Thumbs-up!

Am I repeating myself?  Am I repeating myself?  I feel like I am.

Nope. Nope.