SC Gallup, Sort Of

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I made a holster for an 8" 1860 conv. I wanted it to have the 'feel' of an SC Gallup holster on page 89 of Packing Iron but without the hammer being buried behind the upper curve. The original holster is clean and without any noteworthy decorative work. The maker's stamp and a bead along the top curve is all. The natural beauty of the leather does the rest.



It also needed to be a 30 degree cross draw holster, which is much better than trying to pull that long iron into your arm pit to draw it out of a strong side holster. To do that I just widened my pattern for a Slim Jim belt loop and angled the top back towards the center of the holster. Then I stitched and riveted it on at the proper angle.



To get the color I diluted a mixture of what-all colors I had on hand with about 4 parts alcohol.

[Johnny McCrae]

 Beautiful! Simple but elegant.

Many thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

[Abilene]

That IS a purty piece of leather! 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, John, Abilene. The more I make these things, the more I like clean and simple.

[Major 2]

That is elegant.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That is elegant.

Thanks, Major.

[Coffinmaker]

  Marshal 

PLUS ONE to what they ALL said 

[Rube Burrows]

Love everything about it. The design, the belt loop, the color. Timeless.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you, Coffinmaker, Rube. I'm pretty pleased with it.

[Skeeter Lewis]

Nice work, Marshal.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Skeet.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I just noticed a typo in the subject line of this thread. I had "RC Gallup" and it should have been "SC Gallup". That's corrected, now

[Skeeter Lewis]

The colour is great. I find dyeing so hot-or-miss. Drives me nuts.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

The colour is great. I find dyeing so hot-or-miss. Drives me nuts.

Thanks, this is a color I've tried many times to achieve and finally hit on it. I have it saved in a jar so I can get a couple more out of the same batch.

I hear you on hit-or-miss. Even two pieces of leather from different parts of the same hide can come out different using one batch of dye. Yes, drives me nuts, too.

There is a solution of sorts.

[Rube Burrows]

The colour is great. I find dyeing so hot-or-miss. Drives me nuts.

I have never really had a problem with the dying process however lately I have had a couple problems. I had a guy who I made a holster for contact me a month or so later and want another holster to match it. Well, same leather, same dye. I made him one and it looked good to me but when side by side the colors don't match like he'd like so I told him I'd make him another.

Well, again, same color same leather and I am getting these almost oil slick like color on it. Not sure what is going on here. I have ordered Herman Oak leather in an attempt to have more consistency.

Any ideas what causes this? Is it the leather? Possibly the tanning process? 

Not trying to hijack your thread Marshal

[Marshal Will Wingam]

No problem, Rube. I'm not an expert on the chemistry of this but it goes away when you put Skidmore's or Lexol conditioner on it. That doesn't seem to happen with dye when diluted with alcohol.

It's hard to get two dye jobs exactly the same. Also over time, leather darkens naturally, especially when exposed to light. Like Skeeter said, it can drive you nuts.

[Rube Burrows]

No problem, Rube. I'm not an expert on the chemistry of this but it goes away when you put Skidmore's or Lexol conditioner on it. That doesn't seem to happen with dye when diluted with alcohol.

It's hard to get two dye jobs exactly the same. Also over time, leather darkens naturally, especially when exposed to light. Like Skeeter said, it can drive you nuts.

Indeed. It did rub out but is a little darker than I was wanting.

Anyways, thanks, back to your wonderful holster.

[Capt Quirk]

I will sometimes wipe down the project with a rag and alcohol, to lighten the dye, but, it doesn't always match. When doing two, your best bet is at the same time.

And Will, I like me a crossdraw rig, nice work as always.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Capt.

You're absolutely right. Doing two at the same time is best. And I also put alcohol on the leather before dying, too. It helps even the color absorption.