Home made IWB pancake holster

Wiggy · March 11th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Just wanted to share something I made the other day.

My financial situation is pretty tight right now, and there's going to be a mass lay-off where I work in the next few weeks, so I can't afford a good IWB holster.

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a bag of scrap leather for $6 and a few other supplies like thread. I used an OWB pancake holster that I liked for the pattern, and added a few changes so the clips would fit on it. The clips came off of two other holsters for a handgun I don't have anymore, too bad they don't match (oh well).

I thought it would be easy, until I started stitching... The leather is so thick that the awl broke on the second hole

. I had to use a more heavy duty awl from a swiss army knife to do the rest of it and sew it with a quilting needle. After I was done with the stitching, I fused the knots and went over all the thread with epoxy to waterproof it. After it was done, I buffed it with some black boot polish to even the color out and then rubbed in some mink oil to soften it up.

I've been wearing it every day to break it in, and I have to say, even though it's ugly as sin, it works perfect. It holds the gun tight, it stays where I want it, comfortable, and it's easy to draw from and reholster. The whole thing only cost me about $10, a few hours of my time, and a couple nasty blisters on my hand. I still have enough material left to make another one. For my next one, I'll actually make one that looks nice since the leather is so hard core I think it'll last for many years to come.

sass20485 · March 11th, 2009, 04:05 PM

Not bad !

Frogbones · March 11th, 2009, 04:20 PM

As I like saying...crude but effective.

los · March 11th, 2009, 04:24 PM

Wiggy,

I applaud you.!!

It may not be the prettiest holster ever made, but I'll bet it conceals just as good as the best out there.

CONGRATS.

Hope your financial/employment situation improves real soon for you !

My best wishes.

-Jimmy

Dal1Celt · March 11th, 2009, 05:31 PM

If your happy with it then it must be beautiful!

AZ Husker · March 11th, 2009, 05:38 PM

Every master holstermaker started the same way!

QKShooter · March 11th, 2009, 05:57 PM

Next time use an electric hand drill and a very small drill bit and drill all of your stitching holes first. That should make the next one go easier.

rottkeeper · March 11th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Who cares it's IWB as long as you keep your pants on when you go out nobody will see it.

You tried, you delivered. +100

retsupt99 · March 11th, 2009, 08:43 PM

If it works for you...it's good for you...

Much better than I could do.

Hopyard · March 11th, 2009, 09:09 PM

I have great admiration for anyone who can tackle a job like that and get a usable product out of the effort.

So, from my point of view, you did a wonderful job. Great job, actually. Very nice.

March 11th, 2009, 03:47 PM	#1
Wiggy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gleason, Tennessee Posts: 154	Home made IWB pancake holster Just wanted to share something I made the other day. My financial situation is pretty tight right now, and there's going to be a mass lay-off where I work in the next few weeks, so I can't afford a good IWB holster. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a bag of scrap leather for $6 and a few other supplies like thread. I used an OWB pancake holster that I liked for the pattern, and added a few changes so the clips would fit on it. The clips came off of two other holsters for a handgun I don't have anymore, too bad they don't match (oh well). I thought it would be easy, until I started stitching... The leather is so thick that the awl broke on the second hole. I had to use a more heavy duty awl from a swiss army knife to do the rest of it and sew it with a quilting needle. After I was done with the stitching, I fused the knots and went over all the thread with epoxy to waterproof it. After it was done, I buffed it with some black boot polish to even the color out and then rubbed in some mink oil to soften it up. I've been wearing it every day to break it in, and I have to say, even though it's ugly as sin, it works perfect. It holds the gun tight, it stays where I want it, comfortable, and it's easy to draw from and reholster. The whole thing only cost me about $10, a few hours of my time, and a couple nasty blisters on my hand. I still have enough material left to make another one. For my next one, I'll actually make one that looks nice since the leather is so hard core I think it'll last for many years to come. __________________ Eat a moose... 50,000 wolves can't be wrong.

March 11th, 2009, 04:20 PM	#3
Frogbones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Up in Texas Posts: 438	As I like saying...crude but effective. __________________ Progress, not perfection. triple tap "think triangle - nipple to nipple to Adam's apple. The hope is that at least two of the three will make serious contact with a major organ or the spine." http://theshootersclub.com/

March 11th, 2009, 04:24 PM	#4
los Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corpus Christi, Tx Posts: 683	Wiggy, I applaud you.!! It may not be the prettiest holster ever made, but I'll bet it conceals just as good as the best out there. CONGRATS. Hope your financial/employment situation improves real soon for you ! My best wishes. -Jimmy __________________ What we've got here is failure to communicate.

March 11th, 2009, 05:31 PM	#5
Dal1Celt VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 2,523	If your happy with it then it must be beautiful! __________________ What? Me worry?

March 11th, 2009, 05:38 PM	#6
AZ Husker VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,567	Every master holstermaker started the same way! __________________ Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse.

March 11th, 2009, 04:05 PM	#2
sass20485 Distinguished Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,933	Not bad !

March 11th, 2009, 05:57 PM	#7
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off Of The X Posts: 23,395	Next time use an electric hand drill and a very small drill bit and drill all of your stitching holes first. That should make the next one go easier. __________________ Liberty/Tyranny ___________________________ The Day The Moon Stood Still. Be Happy! *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5lQDdegr2s*

March 11th, 2009, 08:31 PM	#8
rottkeeper VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,175	Who cares it's IWB as long as you keep your pants on when you go out nobody will see it. You tried, you delivered. +100 __________________ For as the lighting comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the son of man be. Mathew 24:27 NRA Member

March 11th, 2009, 08:43 PM	#9
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 22,405	If it works for you...it's good for you... Much better than I could do. __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

March 11th, 2009, 09:09 PM	#10
Hopyard VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: College Station Posts: 2,755	I have great admiration for anyone who can tackle a job like that and get a usable product out of the effort. So, from my point of view, you did a wonderful job. Great job, actually. Very nice.

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