Another holster project
 

My uncle-in-law won a 9mm handgun in a volunteer fireman’s raffle/fundraiser. It didn’t come with a holster. He wants to wear it while bowhunting and asked if I would make him one. I was more than happy to do it.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psa9e186eb.jpg

I make holsters and knife sheathes from 6 to 8 Oz tooling leather so I always have a good supply on hand.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps92f2574d.jpg

It’s a small handgun so scraps will work.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pse718118e.jpg

I make all my patterns from “crapalloy” which can be found in empty cereal boxes of 24 packs of soda. It creates the rough concept or outline.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps85bbdff4.jpg

Then the face is wet, allowed to normalize and is then wet fitted to the contour of the handgun with antlers and bones and wooden shaping tools.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pscc3a9612.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps8d117da6.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps9b0e09a7.jpg

It spent Sunday afternoon in the sun to dry and forever lock in that shape.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3ad83e56.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps06879d86.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps742939f2.jpg

A backing piece is made of the same leather and contact cement holds the pieces from shifting during sewing and riveting and belt loop cutting.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psc2c41f3d.jpg

Tubular rivets are used in high stress areas.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps2c026b2e.jpg

Then stitching holes and belt loops are made.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps46848c4b.jpg

After hand stitching the excess is trimmed.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps463ffad0.jpg

I need to make a thumb snap feature.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps4095ab3c.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3a648fdf.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps414593ae.jpg

So far so good.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps013ce1c7.jpg

He wants it black and it don’t get any blacker than USMC black.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps1e922131.jpg

Then edge coat is applied to all the cut edges to keep the fray and swelling down.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psdca5344d.jpg

The oils need to be restored.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psaf56b06a.jpg

And then waterproofed inside and out.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psbc0ec308.jpg

And then a good shine.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psdbb5fdf5.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps8e6c4267.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps977caed3.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps73591b92.jpg

Then I gave it a test drive.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps5a717077.jpg

Wow! That is some nice work, Rancid!

Iam so jealous. Dude, you do great work.