My Major Slow Down / What's on the Bench

Purchased a Cowboy 3200  and have been spending most of my time figuring it out.

One thing I have noticed as I began making a study of leather work.  Everyone starts off with  hand stitching, and the old adage is "sell what you have".  People will automatically say that a hand stitch is stronger, until they get a machine and then it is how a machine is stronger.

I will say this, Hand stitching is easier to get good at. I have hours of figuring out this beast. The sewing itself (I have never sewn) is pretty easy. The back stitching and adjusting thread tension is sleepless nights. A regular sewing machine does simple fabric which is all thin stuff, this machine sets up for paper thin to 1/2 inch thickness. That's where the fun starts.

 Just a random shot. All the pieces of thread are from the start and stop attempts. Every little piece of leather on the floor has practice sewing done on it. I think all the heartache has resulted in understanding the way the machine works and how to adjust accordingly.

 While I was waiting on this machine all the projects were built up to the stitching phase, then put on hold. The first project that I used the machine on was the cowboy belt that was in last weeks entry. I told the wife I was going back to do some sewing and a few minutes later she walked by and I showed her the finished belt. She said "but you didn't even have time to watch a movie". Typically I would have watched two movies while hand stitching that size belt. 

 

By the way I will be building gun belts in the near future. That is one of the reasons that I invested in this machine. The one that I wear daily took about 10 hours to hand stitch the 4500 stitches.

                              ︻┳テ=一  Bam Bam  一=テ┳︻

~~~~~~Whats on the Bench~~~~~~~~

That which we affectionately call the brick holster.

An Omni Skinny for the M&P shield

And just starting on a Omni Skinny and a hybrid for this Glock 42

Introducing the OMNI / Whats On The Bench

Most holsters that I make are simply holsters that I saw somewhere else and thought they were a very good designs. Not the case with the Omni. I just wanted one that does exactly what "I" wanted for the way "I" carry. Most of the time I carry in the appendix position which is up front around 1 o'clock. Once you get past the reality of where that gun is aimed it is the most comfortable and practical carry position for me. It isn't for everybody and I fully realize that. The original Omni has a single clip centered on the gun itself. It can be locked down so it wont move, but worn in appendix I actually like a little movement, so my clip is not as tight as it could be on my personal carry gun. 

 

The Omni "skinny" is the regular Omni made as thin as possible. Two pieces of thin leather glued together with a kydex stiffener in the mouth to ensure it stays open during re-holstering.  The more I wear my omni skinny, the more ways I find to wear it - mostly appendix and small of the back, occasionally on the hip, and when on a road trip, I have slipped it on cross draw. Each place the cant changes easily to accommodate.  Admittedly, it is purposed for appendix carry, but I can't think of a more practical every day holster in my opinion.

There are several variations of the Omni and the rest stem from evolving the design for carry on the hip area. When the clip is locked down it will not move more than normal one-clip holsters. When the holster is new and the leather has not broken in there will need to be a few tightening adjustments needed as the leather compresses from the pressure of the clip.  That being said one-clip holsters can wiggle a little. Again me personally I like that. We don't want to repeatedly play with our gun in public as others may become curious. That is what is called a "tell" which creates unwanted attention. However, when I get in my truck I have a habit of adjusting it to a more comfortable angle. And there are other examples when this is beneficial in my opinion. I also seem to repeatedly find occasions when I have to take my gun off for some reason. A one clip holster is just as easy as it gets. I have had customers tell me this is a major benefit.  

The Pro's

• Can be used in so many carry positions.
• Easy off and on, we are talking one handed removal and replacement. 
• Very little real estate on the belt. Basically the width of the gun at the trigger guard to slide area. I have a size 38 waist and some holsters want to take up any where from 7 to 11 inches of it.

The Con's 

• Will wiggle or walk (cant decide which word best describes the fact that the cant can change) more than a 2-clip or strap holster.
• Not sure it is a "con" but the Omni is not a flat back holster, which means the contour of the gun is felt against the body. 

 

Any time you are weighing the "pro's" and "con's" you always have to remind yourself that the opposite of "progress" is...........wait for it..........."congress,"

What's On The Bench

The cowboy Belt finally got finished.  My personal stuff gets put on the back burner a lot.

Finished another Wingman. I think I will make a few more changes to this model and then it should become a standard.  A little more trimming on the left side and a little adding on the re-enforcement and I think it will bring it a little better.

A ruger SR40 Avenger with a thumb break.

A cowboy holster for a 5 1/2  SA 22. 

 I can now build holsters for the "shield.  I have made one earlier (had to have the customers gun) but just got a blue gun to be able to make an infinite supply of them.

The Progression of a Shooter / What's on the Bench

I will be the first to say that there are so many different ways that a shooter progresses. Not only that, but there are different goals for every shooter.

First time I picked up a hand gun, I could not hit the broad side of a barn. I was actually  amazed and dumbfounded at how difficult this was. After getting my CHL (concealed handgun license) I decided to have a goal, and my goal was to feel competent with any handgun I decided to pick up. Today, I can hit the broad side of a barn all day.

I think IDPA and USPSA   are very good tools to accomplish that goal. AND,  yes I know the arguments of training and competitions, so save your breath. I started off like every one else, I sucked. I did all the things that most shooters do in the beginning. Dry fire, lots of bullets, and lots of matches. And so little by little I sucked a little bit less.....baby steps. 

While I mostly shot my model 1911 which I liked to compete with, I would change it up with other guns on occasions. After all, the goal was to feel competent with any handgun. The stages of fire in competition are typically rehearsed movements yet every time I shoot it is instinctive. What I mean is after shooting a lot of matches, the movements and actions are not thought about, but just happen. Not giving thought to the draw, index, sight, movement and shot or other actions needed.   This past match I shot my main carry gun and daily carry gear for mags. And one comment I made at the match was "at least I suck consistently".   I came home from that match more content with my shooting than any other time that I can remember even though my score was one of the worst ever. I have come home with my chest puffed up because I "raced" better than usual, but this time it was because my little carry gun hit every target. even did some one handed shooting just to see if I could and reloaded out of the back pocket since that was how it would be in real life. I had a major malfunction and had to clear the gun but for the most part, I was happy in that I had never (I don't think) had that bad of a malfunction before and I just cleared it and marched on.   

My point is that  every shooters progression is different. It does not bother me if others progress differently or towards different goals (nor should it bother you). Since I started shooting, I have never done "race work" to a gun, (all the enhancements). Other than sights on  my 1911, I have shot every gun  factory stock because I have had one goal: to  feel competent with most any handgun. By the way, after an adrenaline dump, what good are those fancy sites that you cant focus on? And that heavy trigger after running a 2-pound trigger all the time? Just my thoughts, my personal goals and progressions. What are yours?

Oh, and naturally for competition or daily carry, you will do better with a Bam Bam Holster............ just saying.

Whats On the bench?

Well, the "wingman" has progressed but has been on hold for the most part. 

Have been working on two similar "avengers" and have to admit that one of them had a crash and burn. I increased the cant and did not get the pattern just right.  I have often said that it is hard to believe, but the paper pattern is the hardest part of the holster building process. If it is off, then the whole holster is off and usually not noticed until the very end. 

 

The next one I have affectionately named "The Brick".  Unusual design as well, The request was a holster fashioned like a western holster, in that it hangs lower. And then a looser fit with a retention strap. Purposed for wearing when hunting. We will see how she goes. 

 

Stitching.....stitching .....stitching, seems like all I do. be some updates on that in the near future though, That update has slowed down production for now......more to come.

And one of the "avengers" finished.

How My Holsters Are Made / "whats on the bench"

Sounds silly, but it is important to understand that one day there was a cow that became beef in the store and his hide was tanned and purposed into leather. This is important because every hide is different. There are so many things that affect the hide: tanning chemicals, how they are handled, and the way they are stored, just to name a few. The hides will take dye differently and the same color will have different shades as a result.

I buy these hides, trace a pattern, and then cut out the piece that will become a holster.

From there it is stamped, grooved and the edges are worked over. (pic)

It is left alone to dry....  Tick Tock Tick Tock.

I dye them with oil based dye by applying it with a dobber; then let it dry, and buff, buff some more, and then air brush accent colors, if it calls for it. Then buff, buff, and ......you guessed it, buff some more

It is left alone to dry....... Tick Tock, Tick Tock....like watching paint dry.

Then they are sewn together and once again the edges are worked over.

It gets dunked in water and then wet formed to the gun itself. Then the "boning in" or forming of the leather to the gun is done.

It is left alone to dry......Tic Toc hickory dickory dock the mouse ran up the .......

The edges again get worked over again and then dyed and burnished

It is left alone to dry ........ Tick Tock Tick Tock.......go to work, bed, which ever applies

It is then sealed with an acrylic resolene.  This is to give it a nice finish, but more importantly, to inhibit the dye rubbing off.

It is left alone to dry....... Tick Tock Tick Tock......go find something to do.....

It gets a second coat of sealant.

It is left alone to dry......... Tick Tock Tick Tock  .......... finally......DONE!

The wording "it is left alone to dry" is in there over and over is to emphasize the fact that producing one single holster is not a quick process......it takes time .....usually about a week.  The description above is not exhaustive but does cover the basic steps.

"Whats on the bench"

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Finished the Omni that was in last weeks post.

An attempt at a couple of things.

First it is the biggest "skinny" I have built. 

Lets call it a "Semi Skinny".  One piece of the leather is a little thicker than the other and has the kydex stiffener. 

 

And since I got bored (and its for my son) I put and alligator inlay in it which was much more successful this time.  


In the need to use the gun to form the holster, I lay out some saran wrap and put down a light coat of oil on it and wrap the gun. I will sit in there about a day.


The thinner the leather the less detail shows up in the "boning in" or forming the details of the holster. 

Real close to done!


And .....below, is the jigsaw puzzle that will become a "wingman" holster. If I think of it as I build it, I will take pics of the process of putting it together.........it is interesting to say the least.

Made some progress on the belt I am slowly working on but no pics this week.

Why I started my Holster Hobby/Business.

I will have to admit that I have thought about it for some time. A while back I did a little research and found that there are a lot of people that make holsters as Hobby/business. The grim reality is that it would be very difficult to grow a full time business, so money is not the object by any means.

I have made several holsters for family and friends and with each holster, I would learn and add some new detail to the process. In the course of this time I would see people, both local and on the internet, selling holsters and was shocked by a few things. My honest thought on many occasions was "I can do better than that. Really look at..."  and thought of the faults in appearance, design and ability to function would rattle around in my brain. This happened time and time again.

Now I do not consider myself and expert. I know with out a doubt that I can build a holster that is aesthetically pleasing and more importantly, one that is built with a clearly defined purpose in mind while being safe and functional.

When you look at custom made leather holsters it becomes vary apparent some holsters makers are far better than others. The most sought after holster makers have their  reputation due to the quality of their work. These holsters fetch a handsome price because of the confidence one has to acquire a great product. Yet they all started somewhere. Here I am, starting. Will I be as good as them? Come along for the ride and time will tell.  My prices are about 30% - 60% of what I consider accomplished holster makers. I am not in it for the money at this point. I am in it to build that reputation of a quality holster maker. 

It is discouraging to me when people see my work and compliment the "looks of the holster"  even though I think they ought to look nice. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in what you wear on your belt.  To me when I see a good holster, what I see is a holster that just fits like a glove because the retention is in the sweet spot.  Just enough that the holster must be gently shaken upside down to release the gun, yet when on the belt the release is without struggle.   

Why launch a leather holster business some might ask. Because it is fun to follow your passions!