Carving a holster that is already finished

[PAMuzzleshooter]

OK.  After a friend of mine saw my latest carved holster, he asked if I can carve a holster he had purchased from a business out west.

I told him no because it has already been finished and I have to be able to wet it.

Am I correct on this or is there a way to pull it apart and wet it to be tooled/carved?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It depends on how it's finished. You could take it apart and do something to it but I doubt it would look like one where you start with a fresh piece of leather.

You could, however, incise it successfully. If it's a Slimjim, that could look pretty cool. That would be easier done taken apart but I seem to recall many originals were done by the owners after they bought them.



As an option for you to consider, perhaps a concho or two with a blood knot would give the guy some pleasing embellishment(s).



Spots are another way to dress one up. You would want to put them where they wouldn't scratch the pistol.

[Knarley Bob]

That really depends on how the holster was finished, dyed or if it has a liner. If it has a liner, was it glued into place or just stitched. You will most likely have to completely dis-assemble the thing to do the carving and tooling. That may or may not stretch the leather. Ever tried putting a tin shed BACK together? Nothing ever lines up again. I would imagine he'd like his holster back, sounds like opening a can of worms. Maybe time to commission a new one?

KB

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Thanks guys.  Thinkin' Im' a gonna stick with my @No" answer.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Your answer is probably the best one. Now see if he wants a new one similar to his existing one but decorative.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Will, That's what I'm thinking

[Marshal Will Wingam]

What style is his existing one?

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Probably for a Colt 1873 .45.  That's what I made for him to replace his.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, but I meant more the type, like Mexican loop, Slimjim or something else?

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Will, That I do not know.  Haven't seen it.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Will, That I do not know.  Haven't seen it.

When you find out, you might be able to make some suggestions that will look good on a similar holster.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Good idea, Will

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Have you cruised through our holster style thread for ideas?

[Cliff Fendley]

No is the best answer. A lot of times just because something might be able to be done it can still make absolutely no sense to do it.

In this case it's more work to take one apart and put it back together than to make a new one to begin with and for what? to save the cost of the leather to make a new one by using what might or might not be inferior leather that was used in some store bought holster. And if it's a holster from a custom maker you just take away from that by altering their work.

Just say no and offer to build him a carved holster like the one he has.

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Will,  no I haven't, but I will.

Cliff, I agree

[Knarley Bob]

If you build him a new one, chances are it would be far superior too........

[PAMuzzleshooter]

Thanks. I'm'll be seeing him possibly on Wednesday.  I'll text him and have him bring the holster in to see what I can do to make a new one for him.

Funny story:  my brother, who you don't know but you probably know some one like him, wants to know why his friend got the fancy carved holster and he got the plain one. 

He asked me to text him a picture of the carved holster to show John, a friend of ours.  I asked him what John thought and this is the response I got: "John said he liked it and it was a shame you didn't make me one that ornate.....". As Charlie Brown would say "AAARRRGH!"  😂

Looks like I'll be making my brother a new holster (it ain't gonna be free!!!!).