Building your own holsters.

[Hvymax]

As a group that builds and customizes our own guns how many are making their own Holsters and carry rigs? I started making holsters for the SWAT team my neighbor was on when I was 14 after I got the Merit Badge. Belts, wallets, holsters etc especially fully carved. I've used stainless and spring steel subframes sewn in etc. Imagine Sam Browne not making something for an 8" 1911 or a 3/4 break front for a 6" S&W 29 in the mid 70's!!! My latest creations are either pocket/cargo pocket or OWB/shoulder hybrids.

 

[AKfishwhisperer]

Here is a few pictures of some of my leather work. The chest holster for my .357mag, my wading belt for my fishing waders, a couple cast iron skillet handle covers. Along with a few scrap tooling pieces. I have made some other stuff too. I just don't have pictures of them.

 

[Hvymax]

Here's my latest for my Palmetto Dagger. Custom holster, Custom design.

 

[Racer88]

Where can I get an "80% holster?" Then all I have to do is drill a few holes and remove the blocks.

 

[Hvymax]

Where can I get an "80% holster?" Then all I have to do is drill a few holes and remove the blocks.

Tandy sells kits. Hobby Lobby sometimes carries them. Stain and stitch. Unless of course you are into carving.

 

[Racer88]

Tandy sells kits. Hobby Lobby sometimes carries them. Stain and stitch. Unless of course you are into carving.

Just kidding around. Leatherwork has never appealed to me. Same with Kydex. I'll just buy my holsters. But I certainly appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry!

 

[James Moore]

As a group that builds and customizes our own guns how many are making their own Holsters and carry rigs? I started making holsters for the SWAT team my neighbor was on when I was 14 after I got the Merit Badge. Belts, wallets, holsters etc especially fully carved. I've used stainless and spring steel subframes sewn in etc. Imagine Sam Browne not making something for an 8" 1911 or a 3/4 break front for a 6" S&W 29 in the mid 70's!!! My latest creations are either pocket/cargo pocket or OWB/shoulder hybrids.

Have you sought professional help about your obsession with skulls?

Nice work. I did some different stuff with Tandy kits when I was younger and had forgotten about them.
Thanks for mentioning them. I'm gonna have to check that out now.

 

[Hvymax]

Have you sought professional help about your obsession with skulls?

Nice work. I did some different stuff with Tandy kits when I was younger and had forgotten about them.
Thanks for mentioning them. I'm gonna have to check that out now.

I went with the Western Gothic design to do something entirely different. My latest I decided to go with an original design for my latest for my Palmetto Dagger. Over the years I've done Traditional Western Filigree, Oak Leaves etc. I try to be as original as I can.

 

[Hvymax]

Here is a few pictures of some of my leather work. The chest holster for my .357mag, my wading belt for my fishing waders, a couple cast iron skillet handle covers. Along with a few scrap tooling pieces. I have made some other stuff too. I just don't have pictures of them.

Making them yourself makes them yours and yours alone. That's what's special about having tools and skills.

 

[Hawkeye]

As a group that builds and customizes our own guns how many are making their own Holsters and carry rigs? I started making holsters for the SWAT team my neighbor was on when I was 14 after I got the Merit Badge. Belts, wallets, holsters etc especially fully carved. I've used stainless and spring steel subframes sewn in etc. Imagine Sam Browne not making something for an 8" 1911 or a 3/4 break front for a 6" S&W 29 in the mid 70's!!! My latest creations are either pocket/cargo pocket or OWB/shoulder hybrids.

Awesome work!!
I love the feel of leather holsters and have thought about making some holster for some of my builds because of how hard it is to find a holster that fits custom builds. I got to try this.

 

[Knack]

Occasionally I get a request to restore an antique something or other that has some leather on it. Chairs, chests of all kinds, jewel boxes, tool boxes, and on and on. I turn over the leather work to a friend who specializes in that. Restoring leather, patching or replacing it with period-matching hide is very involved. I may get into it gradually but there's a lot to learn and it takes a while to master leatherwork.

My venture into gunland has given me some inspiration to make a kydex holster. I have been reading about it and it doesnt look like it's that hard to do. I have gone so far as to think about the design: A two layer sandwich type or the taco-style fold over. The rivets and Chicago-style screws most commercial holsters use are easy to source. I have all the tools to do the cutting and of course I have an oven in the kitchen.

I have some work in the pipeline now that the holidays are over. A backlog actually. So I will be putting in a full day of work now instead of commiserating about guns all day. But I will make the effort to check in during my evenings. I'll post my kydex holster making ramblings once I get that started.

 

[Twan_10]

Its worth a look on holsterbuilder.com they have all sorts of supplies and even pre-formed shells in various stages to save from the learning curve of experimentation if you want to fast track your "creation".

 

[Knack]

@Twan_10 Thx for the tip. I'll check that out.

Does anyone make a holster for a Howitzer? I know someone who wants to buy one.