Help Finding an Old Post on Holster Making

DTakas · August 3, 2007, 08:11 AM

I am looking for an old post on making leather holsters. I remember it being very detailed with a lot of pictures and step by step instructions. I think it was a two part post and was even a sticky on TFL somewhere for a while. I tried searching but with no luck. I would really appreciate it if anyone can give me a link.

**Mal H** · August 3, 2007, 08:50 AM

The closest I found to what you're looking for is (but no pix, so it's probably not the one):

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=132386

Cowart · August 3, 2007, 11:27 AM

This one has pictures...

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=207908

**Mal H** · August 3, 2007, 11:33 AM

I'll bet that's it. It didn't contain any of the keywords I tried other than holster and leather.

DTakas · August 3, 2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

This one has pictures...

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=207908

That's it! Thanks a bunch guys.

T. O'Heir · August 3, 2007, 01:25 PM

Tandy's Leather sells holster making books with patterns. As I recall, there's at least one that tells you how to make your own patterns. Making the pattern yourself(shirt cardboard weight makes the best pattern paper) is better as the book patterns tend to ignore adjustable sights. I have the books around here some place, but don't recall the titles. One of 'em tells you how to make a western style holster and belt with cartridge loops.
A 2" common nail, filed to 1/8" wide and tapered into a hole punch, works well for thicker than 1/4" layers. The hole punches Tandy's sells tend to be for making leather clothing. They're too short to punch through three layers of 8 oz leather.
You'll want to taper the top edges of the holster too. Makes re-holstering easier. A rotary tool(Dremel) is good for this.
Tandy's has dyes too, but you can make black dye with a few hunks of black walnut bark, a hunk of steel wool and some vinegar. Put the bark and steel wool in a plastic coffee can and cover with the vinegar. Leave it sit until the steel wool is gone. Finish the dyed leather with regular shoe polish. Shoe polish has waxes in it that protects and water proofs the leather. It's cheap too.

Thumper · August 3, 2007, 04:21 PM

It's easy with those Tandy kits.

Here are some holsters I've made.

August 3, 2007, 08:11 AM	#1
DTakas Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2005 Posts: 146	Help Finding an Old Post on Holster Making I am looking for an old post on making leather holsters. I remember it being very detailed with a lot of pictures and step by step instructions. I think it was a two part post and was even a sticky on TFL somewhere for a while. I tried searching but with no luck. I would really appreciate it if anyone can give me a link. __________________ Let courage rise with danger, and strength with strength oppose.

August 3, 2007, 04:21 PM	#7
Thumper Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2000 Location: Sugar Land, Tx Posts: 1,507	It's easy with those Tandy kits. Here are some holsters I've made. __________________ Ronnie- Proud Veteran, Neocon, Warmongering, Baby-Pincher

August 3, 2007, 08:50 AM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	The closest I found to what you're looking for is (but no pix, so it's probably not the one): http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=132386

August 3, 2007, 11:27 AM	#3
Cowart Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2007 Posts: 247	This one has pictures... http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=207908

August 3, 2007, 11:33 AM	#4
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	I'll bet that's it. It didn't contain any of the keywords I tried other than holster and leather.

August 3, 2007, 01:25 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Tandy's Leather sells holster making books with patterns. As I recall, there's at least one that tells you how to make your own patterns. Making the pattern yourself(shirt cardboard weight makes the best pattern paper) is better as the book patterns tend to ignore adjustable sights. I have the books around here some place, but don't recall the titles. One of 'em tells you how to make a western style holster and belt with cartridge loops. A 2" common nail, filed to 1/8" wide and tapered into a hole punch, works well for thicker than 1/4" layers. The hole punches Tandy's sells tend to be for making leather clothing. They're too short to punch through three layers of 8 oz leather. You'll want to taper the top edges of the holster too. Makes re-holstering easier. A rotary tool(Dremel) is good for this. Tandy's has dyes too, but you can make black dye with a few hunks of black walnut bark, a hunk of steel wool and some vinegar. Put the bark and steel wool in a plastic coffee can and cover with the vinegar. Leave it sit until the steel wool is gone. Finish the dyed leather with regular shoe polish. Shoe polish has waxes in it that protects and water proofs the leather. It's cheap too.