When I came upon a Heiser for $29.95, I just had to check it
out. That is how this story began.
It is a model 417. The 4 means plain leather finish. The 1
being an odd number, means it is for a revolver. I have, and
have seen, a lot of Heisers with 7 for the 3rd number. Most of
them are/were fairly plain. This one is laced. The seller called
it latigo lacing. I simply call it rawhide.
As shown in the "Before" photos below left, the hoster was
dirty and greasy. And the retention strap was missing. I
thought it might be fun to clean it up and add the strap, so
I rescued it.
I thought it might look alright with the plain brown enamel
caps on the snap, so I ordered some. I also ordered the
necessary tools. There are "How To" videos online, so I watched
a few of them..
When the snaps came they were brown alright, but not big
enough for the heavy duty of a retention strap. I think they
are what is called glove snaps. More shopping failed to turn
up the line 24 size in brown, so I ordered some antique copper.
Went to my local saddle shop and got a piece of 10 oz. slightly
used bridle strap, 5/8" wide. Asked my saddle maker (Carol)
if she happened to have the female half snap, line 24 size, with
the cap in brown. Miracles never seem to cease for "luckyphil".
Carol did just happen to have one. Right size and right color.
The holster arrived the next day. First I took the Before photos.
Then I tried the new snap on the existing post. Perfect fit, so I
left the original post intact.
Then I sprayed the holster with a de-greaser, and before it got
dry I gave it a good scrubbing in warm water with a few drops
of Dawn.
After it dried, I started to install the strap and the snap, but
some of my rivets were too short and some were too long.
So, I will go back to see Carol again tomorrow. I massaged
Blackrock Leather "N" Rich into the holster. Wiped off the
excess, and left it to dry for a while. Then I wiped on some
of Fiebing's Tan-Kote for a little extra shine.
"After" photos are 3rd, 4th, and 5th from left. Shown with my
Model 10 with 4" barrel. There is about an inch to spare so
I reckon it was made for a 5" M&P.
Total cost was about seventy bucks. Not much to pay to
have so much fun.
out. That is how this story began.
It is a model 417. The 4 means plain leather finish. The 1
being an odd number, means it is for a revolver. I have, and
have seen, a lot of Heisers with 7 for the 3rd number. Most of
them are/were fairly plain. This one is laced. The seller called
it latigo lacing. I simply call it rawhide.
As shown in the "Before" photos below left, the hoster was
dirty and greasy. And the retention strap was missing. I
thought it might be fun to clean it up and add the strap, so
I rescued it.
I thought it might look alright with the plain brown enamel
caps on the snap, so I ordered some. I also ordered the
necessary tools. There are "How To" videos online, so I watched
a few of them..
When the snaps came they were brown alright, but not big
enough for the heavy duty of a retention strap. I think they
are what is called glove snaps. More shopping failed to turn
up the line 24 size in brown, so I ordered some antique copper.
Went to my local saddle shop and got a piece of 10 oz. slightly
used bridle strap, 5/8" wide. Asked my saddle maker (Carol)
if she happened to have the female half snap, line 24 size, with
the cap in brown. Miracles never seem to cease for "luckyphil".
Carol did just happen to have one. Right size and right color.
The holster arrived the next day. First I took the Before photos.
Then I tried the new snap on the existing post. Perfect fit, so I
left the original post intact.
Then I sprayed the holster with a de-greaser, and before it got
dry I gave it a good scrubbing in warm water with a few drops
of Dawn.
After it dried, I started to install the strap and the snap, but
some of my rivets were too short and some were too long.
So, I will go back to see Carol again tomorrow. I massaged
Blackrock Leather "N" Rich into the holster. Wiped off the
excess, and left it to dry for a while. Then I wiped on some
of Fiebing's Tan-Kote for a little extra shine.
"After" photos are 3rd, 4th, and 5th from left. Shown with my
Model 10 with 4" barrel. There is about an inch to spare so
I reckon it was made for a 5" M&P.
Total cost was about seventy bucks. Not much to pay to
have so much fun.
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