How often do you screw one up?

[Graveyard Jack]

I don't mean little slips that can be fixed or covered up. I mean, pound your fist, cuss and throw it in the garbage "rurnt", as my grandmother would say. I don't really have a complete count, as my spreadsheet doesn't include personal stuff or the most recent work. I figure in the 8yrs i've been at it, I've made close to 100 holsters, belts, sheaths, cartridge slides, pouches, bags, etc.. Which isn't really all that much but I have only ruined one, a holster that I made too small for a Ruger Bearcat, back when I first started. It was ugly to boot. Until today. I was going to use the Ghormley "Jesse James" pattern but by the time I got done with making adjustments for the Cimarron S&W #3 American, I didn't use any of it. So here I am with a brand new pattern, cut out two of them to make a crossdraw pair. Decide to try a new serpentine border stamp and that beader blade I got from BK. Went south right off the bat and only got worse from there. Should've practiced with that beader blade but I didn't. The harder I tried, the worse it got. At first was just going to finish it and see how it turned out but I couldn't stomach it. For the first time in 8yrs, I turned around and threw a holster in the trash can. That Mexican loop I just finished was some of my best work. Now this. I did decide tonight that I'll finish it and use it for experimentation with aging processes.

Went back later and stamped out the other one no problem.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I can count one of four holsters that isn't going to be usable.  I tried to make it too tight and made it tight enough that it can't be used.  Fortunately I used some less that great leather.  I also made a nice looking holster from a Will Ghormley pattern that was too floppy.
Later

[Skeeter Lewis]

I have thrown away SO many holsters I wasn't happy with.

[The original bad bob]

The last time I trashed a holster every thing was going fine until I went to fold it to sew it up.. then the leather cracked at the fold.. I was so angry I threw the holster over the backyard fence.. I eventually retrieved it though   >:(I save the leather to make small black powder pouches or make belt loops for slim Jim holsters 

[Capt Quirk]

I was doing a holster for Dirty Dick, that was a "3rd time is a charm". Messed up the liner, then it was too tight... I'm always misstamping, or messing up border cuts. So, to answer your question, too often.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yeah, I trash one occasionally. The leather is always usable for something, though, even if it's only a coaster.

[Rube Burrows]

I have messed up a few but usually use the leather for something else.

[Trailrider]

Don't know if it counts as a "screwup" but sometimes when making a holster for a customer's gun that I've never made one before, I will make a prototype from some usable, but scrap, leather.  If it needs adjusting, I'll make the final one.
Now, occasionally, I will cut out a holster only to discover a flaw that didn't show up until I wet it for bending prior to stitching or something.  I won't continue finishing it, but may save it for whatever use it might be used for.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

My first try at a lined Mexican loop holster was too small for either Rugers or SAA. I kept it though, as my Single-Six fit it perfectly!  No absolute throw-aways, but quite a few dissapointments.

[Cliff Fendley]

Don't know if it counts as a "screwup" but sometimes when making a holster for a customer's gun that I've never made one before, I will make a prototype from some usable, but scrap, leather.  If it needs adjusting, I'll make the final one.
Now, occasionally, I will cut out a holster only to discover a flaw that didn't show up until I wet it for bending prior to stitching or something.  I won't continue finishing it, but may save it for whatever use it might be used for.

When using a new pattern I haven't tested and not quite sure of I'll use belly leather or some leather that's not really A grade. Most of the time they would come out OK even though I might make an adjustment to the pattern.

I'm such a tightwad I hardly ever throw anything away so have several of those holsters around that are blims I call them but never wanted to sell them with my name on them.

[Graveyard Jack]

That's where I'm at with this one. If the finish turns out right, I may keep it for myself but wouldn't sell it.

I've been very lucky with patterns as far as fitment (don't claim to be good). Only the Bearcat holster has been an issue in that department. I've gone back and adjusted some of them. In fact, I've thrown away all my original Slim Jim patterns and redrawn them but that was for stylistic refinements. I have made knife sheaths that didn't fit the knife I made it for but found something else that did. 

[DeaconKC]

CraigC, is the S&W holster still usable for a guncart holster? If so, I would love to get it from you. Thanks

[Graveyard Jack]

It's got my maker's mark on it and I can't in good conscience let it leave the shop.

[Rube Burrows]

Since you asked; I decided to screw one up just so I could post it here.  Not really but I did ruin this one.

I recently got myself a Walker and decided I would make a holster for it. I wanted to try a few things on this one.

1. I wanted a Slim Jim style belt holster. (I know they were meant for carrying on saddle)
2. I wanted to do my first lined holster
3. I wanted to use my serpentine stamp that I have had since Christmas
4. I wanted a somewhat distressed look. I figured I would use a dark brown dye and flatten some of the stamps and not be so gentle while making it.

Well I checked of some or most of those but what I had not accounted for was the overall heft of the Walker.
I went about 3/4 of an inch from the tracing of the revolver for my pattern.

That did not leave me nearly enough room to put a Walker in the holster.

It will hold a 1851 or a 1860 and things like that but those don't have the massive 9" barrel that the Walker does.

I knew when I cut the leather out that a Walker was prob. not going to fit in there but I thought it might stretch enough to squeeze one in. I was dead wrong. Even soaked, the leather would not budge enough for a Walker.

I went ahead and finished it up but not sure what I will do with it now other than keep it as a lesson hopefully learned.

Would have been great if Will's Pattern for the 49er Slim Jims had a Walker pattern in it also.

[Tommy tornado]

I hate the rope border tool.  Can't seem to get that thing to look right any time I try it.