Yes, Im a bit slow but...

[BillBro]

I did finally finish a holster I started about a year ago. I didnt go as much into the boning as I had originally planned but thats due to the leather getting a little scuffed up and a few other mistakes I made along the way but I did want to complete it so I can tweak the next iteration, which I will make.
I think with a few small pattern tweaks, a bit more attention to what Im doing, learning my new tools and not letting the unfinished holster sit around for a year the next one will be much nicer.

Its really comfortable, stable, pulls the butt in nicely and just plain looks good, to me.

I made this for my 3" 696 no- 44Spl

[snubbyfan]

Looks good to me. Nice edge work.

[lkabug]

You did good!

[BillBro]

Thank y'all.

I have some pretty nice horse hide I might try for one too. Ive been told that its a bit harder to work with but I sure like the grain of it.
What do you think of the elephant hide accent?

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by BillBro

Thank y'all.

I have some pretty nice horse hide I might try for one too. Ive been told that its a bit harder to work with but I sure like the grain of it.
What do you think of the elephant hide accent?

The accent looks good but is it stitched on?
If I'm adding on a extra piece, I like to do a full perimeter stitch and have it line up with the stitch line on the edge of the piece it's getting stitched to.
Something like this.

[BillBro]

No snubbyfan, it is not! You caught it, one of my many mistakes. I fully meant to as evidenced by the groove around the perimeter. But I got all excited about my new leather sewing machine and was curious about its ability to sew thick leatherthat I jumped the gun and stitched the holster before that accent. Like any other leather-to- leather joint its glued with Barge brand contact cement so I hope it stays put.

[Nevada Ed]

Working with leather was a fun prodject for me, back in High School in the mid 60's.
I did wallets, purces and holsters but back then we used a needle and lacing with stiching punches, to gather the seams.

A heavy sowing machine was usually only availabe at the local shoe repair store, in town.

I went to get a few items a few months ago and the prices on the materials, almost gave me a heart attack !!

Nice looking holster, by the way.

[AlHunt]

Originally Posted by BillBro

No snubbyfan, it is not! You caught it, one of my many mistakes. I fully meant to as evidenced by the groove around the perimeter. But I got all excited about my new leather sewing machine and was curious about its ability to sew thick leatherthat I jumped the gun and stitched the holster before that accent. Like any other leather-to- leather joint its glued with Barge brand contact cement so I hope it stays put.

OK, so what did you get for a sewing machine?? What do you think of it? Maybe a picture?

[BillBro]

Again, to all, thanks for the kind words.

As to the machine. I bought the absolute cheapest sewing machine to be had. But you know what? The darn thing works, great.

Amazon

 

Amazon

Just had to do a lot of cleaning, a little tuning, some larger needles and away we went. I couldnt believe it actually. It has gone through 1/2" of leather.

[BC38]

Looks pretty darned good to me!
Is that piece decorative leather on the outside a piece of 'gator hide?

[BillBro]

BC38, the accent is elephant, and thank you.

Need to work at getting a better finish.

[AlHunt]

Originally Posted by BillBro

Again, to all, thanks for the kind words.

As to the machine. I bought the absolute cheapest sewing machine to be had. But you know what? The darn thing works, great.

Just had to do a lot of cleaning, a little tuning, some larger needles and away we went. I couldnt believe it actually. It has gone through 1/2" of leather.

Yep, usually referred to as the "Chinese Shoe Patcher", or sometimes "Tinkerer's Delight". They seem to have quite a fan base and people turn out respectable work with them. There are quite a few people on leatherworker.net using them, if you haven't found them yet.

Have fun with it.

[BillBro]

Yep, leatherworker.com and youtube guided me through. It does a solid job. Ive always just saddlestitched everything, even belts with a double row of stitching. Talk about sore, bloody hands.

How I would love to have one of those old saddlers sewing machines. The thing with the cheap machine I bought, $98 by the way, is having it run with a heavier bonded thread. Until I get my larger needles Im limited right now to lighter threads. Theyre not that hair-thin thread like granny used but nowhere near what Im used to hand stitching with.