Got bored today. Looking for opinions/suggestions.

[gottabkiddin]

Just finished a holster project for my Beretta, but after adding a little color to it, I'm not sure if I like it or not.


Thought I'd get some opinions before I undertake another one, or find out if I can change the color even though I have already applied a dye to the leather. I'm now thinking I would have rather had gone with black instead of the Saddle Tan, or just left it natural. I guess I should have thought it through a little more before I did it, but oh well.



Here's a couple of pics of before and after of each, whatcha think.






Here's what it looks like now.






Thanks for any tips or advice!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ExactlyMyPoint]

I would use a color that would blend in with whatever clothing you wear. I typically go with either black or whatever color that bottom one is.

[SatCong]

Looks good to me. One thing,it well change color after you wear it for a time. Just my $.02.

[OldVet]

Nice! The yellow was a bit loud for my taste.

[oneshot]

Looks great to me GTBK!

I like the color of the finished product.
Did you make it from scratch?

[zonker1986]

Looks perfectly fine in the brown. I wish I had your talent....would save a fortune in holsters.

[smolck]

Grandma always used to say "an idle mind is the devil's workshop". At least in this case, you did something that turned out really good looking. Well done.

[chiefjason]

FWIW, black can be tough. It's one of those colors that really has to come out even to look good. I don't use dye on my holsters, I vinegroon them. It's a bit of a complicated and time consuming process but it turns the leather black instead of dying it black. If you have not sealed it you could probably go darker, but you might want to consider doing something like an antiqued look. Maybe rubbing a darker brown over that but letting it take a more weathered look. Or, since it's IWB just not fool with it.

If you have sealed it you should be able to remove some or most of it with denatured alcohol. Then you could re dye it.

BTW, is that artificial sinew for the stitching?

[ccw9mm]

Depends on your clothing colors and whether you'd prefer it to blend in. I think it looks great.

IMO, black or cordovan tend to be more attractive, but that's with the guns and particular clothing I've had. Were I to be a cowboy or rancher and frequently dressed in dusty leathers, I might well think differently about holster coloring. (Almost certainly, I'd think differently about a lot of things: sheep, muckin' out stables, spirited stallions, and the "o'dark:30" watch, to name a few.)

[msgt/ret]

Good looking well-made holster and I do prefer the brown but being an IWB who is going to see what color it is anyway.

[gottabkiddin]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the comments and input.... I know it's only been a few hours, but the color is starting to become less of an issue for me the more I look at it. Besides, as it's been said already, it's a IWB holster and it's not going to be a show piece or anything, just something to carry my Beretta in. I think I'll start on a OWB one now and make that one black. I have a few others that I bought already with my Beretta, but it'll make a nice weekend project. Anyway, thanks again for the comments.

[gottabkiddin]

BTW, is that artificial sinew for the stitching?

Not sure. I got it at the Tandy leather store. All I know is, it's supposed to be waxed nylon threading.. Thanks for the input on the color. I'll be looking into the color method you described and see what that's all about. I'm afraid I'm just a weekend warrior and not very knowledgeable with leather craft. YouTube, here I come.... Thanks again!

[gottabkiddin]

Looks great to me GTBK!I like the color of the finished product.Did you make it from scratch?

Thanks my friend. Yes, totaly made for scrap leather. I was looking online for a new IWB holster and saw something similar and really liked the adjustable cant on that one, so I thought I'd try to make one like it with some scrap leather I had laying around. Turned out pretty well as far as use goes, but could have been a little nicer looking I think, but again, I'm no leather craftsman.

[zacii]

I think it looks nice. I like the color, too.

When I was dabbling a little into holster making, the pros advised to use a base color like brown to get a richer, darker black. I suppose it's a layer to help subdue the yellow of the natural leather from showing through.





Sent from my Galaxy S2

[multistage]

Looks pretty good. Make sure you seal it or that dye will stain your britches. Guaranteed.

Holster making is an art. Used to make them, but I now leave that to those who have that mythical concept called "spare time."

Two boys will keep you hopping.

Stick with it. You show promise.