Hickock Holster in the Making

[PAMuzzleshooter]

What width do you usually use for your belts?
Do you use firm hand leather or something a little softer?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I often make mine 1-3/4" with the ends tapered to fit a 1-1/4" buckle.

Not sure what you mean by" firm hand leather". I use the same leather I use for holsters.

[Graveyard Jack]

Great tutorial and I love the result. I've also done a holster tutorial and can greatly appreciate the work that goes into one.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Not sure what you mean by" firm hand leather". I use the same leather I use for holsters.

Will,  "hand", "temper", "firmness"...all the same term.  People in my Tandy store call it "hand".  I had to ask them what they meant.  Just wanted to know if you used softer or stiffer leather for your belts.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great tutorial and I love the result. I've also done a holster tutorial and can greatly appreciate the work that goes into one.

Thank you, Craig. Yeah, I could have made three holsters in the time it took to make the one and get the photos. It was all good fun, though.

Will,  "hand", "temper", "firmness"...all the same term.  People in my Tandy store call it "hand".  I had to ask them what they meant.  Just wanted to know if you used softer or stiffer leather for your belts.

I wasn't familiar with that term. That's OK, though, I've noticed that the older I get, the amount of things I don't know increases. After I wet mold or shape a belt, it gets a little stiff so I add a couple coats of Skidmore's Leather Cream then work it some after it has soaked in to make it more limber. That makes a belt more comfortable. Even if I don't wet shape the belt, I do work it some. I don't start with softer leather though. It's exactly the same leather as I use in the holsters. Often the belt and holster come from the same side of leather.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

After I wet mold or shape a belt, it gets a little stiff so I add a couple coats of Skidmore's Leather Cream then work it some after it has soaked in to make it more limber. That makes a belt more comfortable. Even if I don't wet shape the belt, I do work it some. I don't start with softer leather though. It's exactly the same leather as I use in the holsters. Often the belt and holster come from the same side of leather.

Thanks, Will,  In what way do you wet mold/shape a belt?  I've wet molded holsters but not belts.  Do you cut straight then curve them sort of like a Buscadero belt is cut curved?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Will,  In what way do you wet mold/shape a belt?  I've wet molded holsters but not belts.  Do you cut straight then curve them sort of like a Buscadero belt is cut curved?

For the most part, this is correct. What I actually do is put a little curve to it so it fits a person's body without digging in at the hips. Some men don't need any curve. Women take a little more curve than men because their waists are proportionately narrower than their hips. If someone is going to wear it low on one side, you can put a little drop in it on the low side.

I wear double crossed belts for CAS. Here is the curve I put on the left side belt. It looks warbly but that's just the sunlight filtering through the trees above.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Thanks Will.  Looks interesting.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

What I try to accomplish is to give the belt the shape it would naturally achieve over time. No need to wait. 

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Good idea!