Anyone make their own holster?

**RHVette** · 08-07-2011, 02:43 PM

Here's a challenge I'd bet someone here can meet. I'm thinking about making my own holsters to kill two birds with one stone: finally get me some holsters the way I want them, and to give me a hobby to relax with. Maybe, just maybe, I might be able to save a little money, too, just like with DE razors.

Here's the problem. I can find a whole bunch of tutorials on how to make a holster, some completely by hand and others using expensive specialty machines (obviously out of the question for me.) What I can't find is a recommendation for a beginner's tool set for making a holster. I tried looking at the tools for sale at Tandy and gave up after about the 6th page. So, can anyone recommend what tools I would need to get into this hobby and how much it would roughly cost?

**Godan** · 08-07-2011, 07:22 PM

I have been making leather holsters, both cowhide and horsehide, for about thirty years. It is much more about technique than tools. You can waste a great deal of money on leather making mistakes before you make a good holster. I suggest you take an introductory leather work course at the nearest Tandy or community center, etc., to get a basic set of skills and learn about leather and tools. Hands on is much better than a book or dvd. Unless you live near Northern Colorado, in which case I'll teach you for nothing.

**Nobody** · 08-07-2011, 08:09 PM

I make my own holsters and agree with what Godan said.

There is, however, another possibility. Tandy has holster kits on the shelf for a bunch of different pistols/styles. You might choose one & go with the tools recommended. That would give you a leg up on the sizing/cutting part of it. Also, any workbooks by Al Stohlman (also available @ Tandy) are WONDERFUL(TM) for learning what to do, why, & how. He produced one called "How to make Holsters" or something like that which you would find tremendously informative. Go for it! It's a great hobby! Takes no small amount of patience tho.

**RHVette** · 08-07-2011, 08:48 PM

Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately, the nearest Tandy is about 3 hours away. I'll see what the local community colleges have to offer tomorrow.

I looked at the holster kits, but it seemed like a lot of them were Old West styled, which doesn't have much in common with the kinds I would actually use. This one looks okay, though I'm not thrilled about the design. Do you think that comes pre-stamped or is that blank? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../44454-00.aspx

Regarding the recommended tools, do you mean the ones on the holster making page? Some of them seem redundant and I'm sure there's overlap in the kits. Is this kit good? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../11189-00.aspx It looks like it has everything but the edge beveler and a knife that the tutorials mentioned.

**Nobody** · 08-07-2011, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by RHVette

Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately, the nearest Tandy is about 3 hours away. I'll see what the local community colleges have to offer tomorrow.

I looked at the holster kits, but it seemed like a lot of them were Old West styled, which doesn't have much in common with the kinds I would actually use. This one looks okay, though I'm not thrilled about the design. Do you think that comes pre-stamped or is that blank? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../44454-00.aspx

Regarding the recommended tools, do you mean the ones on the holster making page? Some of them seem redundant and I'm sure there's overlap in the kits. Is this kit good? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../11189-00.aspx It looks like it has everything but the edge beveler and a knife that the tutorials mentioned.

Yeah, that one should be fine. It will be precut, but not tooled, stitched, or finished. The tooling is the real challenge. You've gotta have patience & persistence. You can put together a plain untooled holster pretty fast, but those are cheap in wallyworld or Cabelas anyway. Putting your own mark on the thing is the point of the exercise.

I suggest that you do this first to develop your skills: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../55509-00.aspx

If you make all the stuff in the basic kit, then you will get an introduction to the basics of materials, tools & fabrication techniques and you WILL learn a LOT. That's how I started. When I get the camera working again I will see if I can post you a pic or 2 and show you where it led me. Give me a day to find the cursed thing. Just got a new memory card to replace the one the kids took, now I can't find the camera! lol

**RHVette** · 08-07-2011, 09:40 PM

That doesn't look so bad, price-wise. I need a new wallet anyway. It looks like there aren't any tools in there besides a mallet and some stamps, right?

**Ron991** · 08-08-2011, 06:59 AM

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I will be the first one to give everyone their chuckle for the day. I ran across some leather at a second hand store, which I frequent because you never know what you may run across there. At any rate I purchased this leather for I think it was $2.00. So now what do I do with it? Hmm make a holster. Having no knowledge what so ever of working with leather, I drew out my idea on several pieces of paper, in fact many pieces of paper to be honest. When I had what I thought a working template of what might work, I got to cutting the leather. I had a hell of a time trying to figure out how to get the right forward cant correct, but continued on anyway. When I finished cutting I had no way to sew the leather, so I brought it to a shoe maker, and kind of told him what I needed, and he sewed it for me. So here is my big Idea in It's finished form. Never again will attempt to make a holster again. Trust me this was a one time event, as you can tell by the finished product. The pistol is a Taurus M66 .357mag.

**plpenn** · 08-08-2011, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by Ron991

I will be the first one to give everyone their chuckle for the day. I ran across some leather at a second hand store, which I frequent because you never know what you may run across there. At anr rate I purchased this leather for I think it was $2.00. So now what do I do with it? Hmm make a holster. Having no knowledge what so ever of working with leather, I drew out my idea on several pieces of paper, in fact many pieces of paper to be honest. When I had what I thought a working templet of what might work, I got to cutting the leather. I had a hell of a time trying to figure out how to get the right forward cant correct, but continued on anyway. When I finished cutting I had no way to sew the leather, so I brought it to a shoe maker, and kind of told him what I needed, and he sewed it for me. So heare is my big Idea in It's finished form. Never again will attempt to make a holster again. Trust me this was a one time event. The pistol is a Taurus M66 .357mag.

I did something similar for a knife sheath for the first hunting knife I made. When it came time to sew the leather first I tried an awl then I chucked up a very small drill bit in the drill press and clamped my leather together and went to making holes to thread the twine threw. It worked out fairly decent, it works great and looks fine.

**maxman** · 08-08-2011, 07:21 AM

There was a thread a few months ago from a fellow who showed off is leather works.
He made a holster or two.

I can't remember who though.

**Mako72** · 08-08-2011, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ron991

I will be the first one to give everyone their chuckle for the day. I ran across some leather at a second hand store, which I frequent because you never know what you may run across there. At anr rate I purchased this leather for I think it was $2.00. So now what do I do with it? Hmm make a holster. Having no knowledge what so ever of working with leather, I drew out my idea on several pieces of paper, in fact many pieces of paper to be honest. When I had what I thought a working templet of what might work, I got to cutting the leather. I had a hell of a time trying to figure out how to get the right forward cant correct, but continued on anyway. When I finished cutting I had no way to sew the leather, so I brought it to a shoe maker, and kind of told him what I needed, and he sewed it for me. So heare is my big Idea in It's finished form. Never again will attempt to make a holster again. Trust me this was a one time event. The pistol is a Taurus M66 .357mag.

No laughter here, I did one pretty similar for a 1851 Navy Blackpowder revolver when I was about 19. I just got some nice thick leather and tried to think what a handmade holster of the era would look like. It looked almost identical except no retaining strap, just a leather pull thong to go over the pistolshammer and tighten. I did do my own stitching though, punched holes for all the stitching with a 3" finishing nail and then used beeswax thread and a pair of pliers to pull all the stitching, I cut it all out with poultry shears IIRC. Came out ok and even though I thought it looked kinda hack I got alot of positive comments when we would go out. Only one I ever did as my hands were so sore from pulling the stiching they were cramped up for about two days! I am sure I did it the hard way but hey I did one!

Jay

**Nobody** · 08-08-2011, 08:11 PM

QUOTE=RHVette;3356421]That doesn't look so bad, price-wise. I need a new wallet anyway. It looks like there aren't any tools in there besides a mallet and some stamps, right?[/QUOTE]

SOrry, can't seem to find the camera yet. Need to make do with old photos from last year:

Gosh darn it! Had to fire up the photobucket acct. Direct download didn't want to work.

Anyway, that will give you an idea where it can lead. The kit I linked to has basic tools, mallet, needles, thread, knife, blah blah blah. Enough for you to complete the projects. It's all about learning and especially learning if you really have a yen for the needed patience & attention to detail! If you complete them, learn well and like it? You can do anything with it given time!

@ Ron: That's a damn nice holster for just seeing a piece of leather and getting an inspiration! Looks as good or better than a lot of the commercial ones I've seen lately.

**RHVette** · 08-10-2011, 07:55 PM

Wow. That is some really impressive artwork there. I'm going to order this kit as soon as my paycheck clears on Friday. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../55510-00.aspx It appears to be almost the same as the one recommended, but comes with a bit of an upgrade for $5 more. Not really worth the extra $90 they normally want, IMO, but for $5, why not?

**Nobody** · 08-10-2011, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by RHVette

Wow. That is some really impressive artwork there. I'm going to order this kit as soon as my paycheck clears on Friday. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../55510-00.aspx It appears to be almost the same as the one recommended, but comes with a bit of an upgrade for $5 more. Not really worth the extra $90 they normally want, IMO, but for $5, why not?

Thanks. Looks a little clumsy to me now. I tried hard tho.

What do you know, they have that kit on sale! FWIW I only buy sale items with them. They have plenty of them! I wish you the very best of luck! Take your time with it and feel free to PM me if I can do anything to help! You will learn an awful lot if you complete all the projects. Don't feel at all bad if the first few don't go smoothly. I think that is to be expected.

Also, you may find a lot of good info here: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?act=idx
Nice people! I need to hang out there more.

**RHVette** · 08-15-2011, 05:43 PM

Well, I picked up the kit today. My first practice piece was a mess. I think I didn't let it case long enough because everything came out shallow. I'm going to let it and the other test piece prep overnight and see if I get better results tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I think I'll have to dig out that old arbor press I've got hidden somewhere and make myself a stamping press.

**Nobody** · 08-19-2011, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by RHVette

Well, I picked up the kit today. My first practice piece was a mess. I think I didn't let it case long enough because everything came out shallow. I'm going to let it and the other test piece prep overnight and see if I get better results tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I think I'll have to dig out that old arbor press I've got hidden somewhere and make myself a stamping press.

Y'know, if I remember correctly, it seems the instructions for casing were fairly involved. Damp, overnight, blah blah blah. Try taking a piece of scrap and dabbing some water on lightly with the sponge, front & back, & just wait for it to come back to a mostly normal hue & try a few tool strokes. You should be tooling within 10 minutes or so. You can vary the moisture content as you need to by just rubbing the sponge over it lightly. That waiting overnight jazz never worked right for me either and it really isn't what you will find when you read the instructions of the masters of the art. I don't know who wrote that part up for them, but he isn't too impressive to me.

**LittleLebowski** · 08-22-2011, 07:36 AM

Take a look here

**Pete_T** · 08-29-2011, 03:15 PM

There are a ton of videos and walkthroughs on various forums. I've been planning to make a storage holster for my Luger, and maybe a sheath or leather case for my rifle, and I plan to just get one of those things to mark stitches (they look like a little spur on a handle), some leather dye and leather (obviously). Ive made a couple thrown together things with leather and the best tool to make your actual stitch holes seems to be a dremel with a 1/16 bit.