When looking at one of the holsters that "db" posted in the 1911 holster thread, it had a very wide welt. I have seen a few holster makers that do not make a welt in their holsters. You holsters makers on the forum, which is best welt or no welt? What are the advantages of each way? Thanks.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

A welt is typically a strip of leather installed at a seam for the purposes of allowing for fitting and/or to provide additional strength or rigidity at the joining of two or more panels of holster construction.

Hard to explain it more clearly than that. Either there is a need for greater clearance to fit the intended purpose, or there is a need for increased strength/rigidity at the joined edges.

So would you make holsters both with and without welts? I just thought it odd that 99% of my holsters had welts but a few did not.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

For a lot of guns, a holster without a welt will cause more holster wear where the welt would have provided more room. That is GENERAL statement. A well made, and fitted holster without a welt can be just as respectful of the gun, depending on the maker. Personally, I hate to have to sew welts in, but it sure makes the fitting easier for me. But, I'm a rookie holster maker. If I had better (much more expensive) equipment, it wouldn't be an issue.

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Fight socialism. Never stop.

For me it depends on the holster.
A perfectly serviceable and well fitting holster can be made without a welt.
But, if I'm making something a bit more stylish like this belt and holster set:


I'll sometimes add a welt just to show off my hand edge burnishing:


The holster I made for my matching holster, belt and belt side set is 7 ounce leather with a 5 ounce leather liner.


It already had a wide edge and I decided to add a 9 ounce welt just to make it wider:


Since I hand stitch, my only limit is the length of my stitch awl:

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Keep on Chooglin'

Made my first holster for sale in 1972. Retired and sold the business in 2015. During those 43 years I completed orders for customers in all 50 US states as well as those in 33 other countries.

Late in my leather career (2008 or so) I started applying welted-seam construction to the Enhanced Avenger-style holsters, then to the Enhanced Pancake Model, finally developing the Combat Classic Model with contoured welted seam. These were all difficult to make, requiring precise assembly and stitching "blind" (no direct visual reference to the welt between holster panels). To my knowledge, this development was a first within the industry, so perhaps I may speak with some authority on this subject.

As far as the discussion goes regarding welt or no welt, the decision must be made based upon the holster type and intended uses. Welts add bulk, thus are less favorable for IWB or deep cover applications. Welts add strength and rigidity to the holster, thus favoring holsters that are readily accessible and perhaps less concealable.

Everything in holster design revolves around the 4 basic factors of comfort, accessibility, security, and concealment. Whenever one factor is emphasized the other factors will be compromised. There is no such thing as the "perfect holster" for every user or application, only compromises to be made by those who recognize their needs and make accomodations with what may be available.

Fortunately, Lobo Gun Leather was purchased by the Fedder family, a very talented and hard working bunch of folks who continue to produce the Lobo Gun Leather product line with excellent quality control. I continue only as a "technical advisor", which means that I have to shower more frequently and stand a little closer to the razor than I prefer.

Best regards.

I tried several times to create a short post that explains the several reasons why welts are, or are not, included. Suffice to say that I convinced myself that it would take a book chapter to do it justice, and gave up :-).

Welts are Western school because these makers were saddlers; and leaving them out is Eastern school because they weren't. But the historic, scientific, tradition, market, and functional reasons (that is, the benefits to a holster consumer) will have to wait for a bigger space!

Suffice to say that for most makers a welt is included, or omitted, out of a sense of tradition rather than understanding why both methods work. Elmer Keith was most unhappy with his Gaylord and had Sparks take the Gaylord and incorporate a welt into it, because Chic didn't understand, either; though he lauded the Threepersons design he didn't understand it and Elmer's big revolvers kept falling out!

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

A welt is not, near as important as the quality of design/construction and fit.




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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That is what I love about welts, the hand edge burnishing look! To me, it gives a more finished look. I am sure it involves much more work for the maker though.

I realize IWB holsters don't need the extra bulk. Most all of my holsters are OWB types and my preference is ones with a welt.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!