Pocket Holster, Homemade

So I finally did it. After waiting for more than a few days for the pocket holster I ordered to arrive I spent a few hours in the basement with some hand tools and scrap leather.

This is what I got out of it.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Numberone.jpg

I started on the simple side and as you can see my stitches are not the best, I also had to add a bit of stitching at the barrell end to tighten things up a bit (the box with an X in it was not in the plan). Overall I am pretty happy with it... Total cost was about $6 and that leaves me enough leather to do about a dozen more... I carried this all weekend and it works well, Mowed the lawn and even took a nap on the sofa, the side arm stayed put! :king:







Of course being me, I can never leave "well enough" alone... so here is the next gen... (tried to correct the mistakes from the frist one)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...umber3back.jpg This one is made out of tooling leather vs. the suede used above...same shape and design though..

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...backmolded.jpg
You can see the advantages to TOOLING LEATHER....moldability... Still very wet...

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...r3PEMolded.jpg
I have since removed the pistol and have it drying in the basement now... as you can see, I am starting to get more into it. I picked up a overstitch embosser to space my stitches better and also an edge groover to put the stitches sub flush... Once it drys out I will seal it and get the edges burnished a bit better...

What do you think? Critique welcome....:gah:

I like it. To be perfectly honest the "X-box" gives it a nice touch. Good work on the molding, also.

Nate

Nice job! The only thing I would suggest is a hook on the next tooling leather version because the leather is smoother and may not stay put as well as the "rougher" suede. OMO.

When working with the leather did you need to apply some sort of chemical to get the molding to occur? Or was the leather simply saturated with water? Nice effort. I would like to try this with my Ruger LCP.

Great job, you just may have a future in the holster business.:yup:

Looks good, I also like the X box look. Also agree with the hook.

Just what we need another holstermaker, as if my decision wasn't hard enough already!! lol!!!
I think you done good for a first timer. I can't give advice, unless it was made out of wood so I will leave that for the leather pro's.

NCH

Looks really nice. Impressive!! :danceban:

I like 'em both! Good job!

I'm impressed...and I'm picky! Nice work!:hand10:

Very nice, wish I had the talent and patience to do that

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I appreciate all the positive comments and tips...

Someone ask about molding, the leather just needs to be wetted out... there is a techinical name for it, but basically just wet it and be careful when boning it. You can get too aggressive. So far what I have learned is that the holster makers are as much artist as craftsmen. It is kind fun, but I imagine they must be working pretty hard to get the orders out for what time it takes to do one of the more complicated designs... KUDOS to them... they keep us looking good when we're LOADED!:bier: I mean :comeandgetsome: Loaded!

All kidding aside, I have to make a few of these for family members and that will at least get my feet wet in a couple of guns and styles of leather.

Maybe I can make that boxed X my insignia... not sure I would want any of these to hit the market though.. put them next to my Sparks, Alessi, KD, etc and no comparison... :congrats:

Thanks again for the comments and tips...

Cheers..

RJ

It will never work since you didn't pay over $50.00 for it,seriously looks good and I been kicking around making my own holsters ,I just need to buy some leather and Kydex and do some tinkering,Same for spare mag carriers i'm sure I can make some great mag carriers for a few bucks and some time

Now you've gone and done it!
This 'lil hobby will turn into obsession before long!

That's a good looking pair of holsters!

Having ZERO skills in any of the arts, I am in awe of anyone who can do what the OP did.