Traditional Muzzleloading on the Cheap

Member’s Work Bench => How to do leatherwork => Topic started by: West Texan on December 20, 2016, 01:26:31 PM

Title: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 20, 2016, 01:26:31 PM
Two holsters one for my #2 Dragoon, the other for Remington.  I used Tandy tooling leather. My first holsters. Some of you probably saw these on the Remington board.

Thanks
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Watauga on December 20, 2016, 02:43:09 PM
West Texan,That is  Very nice work thmbsup
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: rdstrain49 on December 20, 2016, 02:46:28 PM
WT, just wondering, did you read my tutorial on holster making on the Remington site?  BTW, good holsters.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 20, 2016, 03:14:50 PM
RD,
I did just have not got around to using information.
I've got two more to make.
Thanks
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: beowulf on December 20, 2016, 07:05:26 PM
nice work  thmbsup thmbsup
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: old salt on December 20, 2016, 07:26:36 PM
 thmbsup thmbsup
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: rdstrain49 on December 20, 2016, 11:09:35 PM
WT, give it a read, you might pick up a few tips.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Hawken50 on December 21, 2016, 12:11:33 PM
 thmbsup  Nice work there WT.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 21, 2016, 01:43:51 PM
Hawken,
Thanks
WT
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Red Badger on December 21, 2016, 04:40:40 PM
Those look good!  I need to get busy during school break and work on a couple of holsters for my sidearms....
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 21, 2016, 05:50:48 PM
RD I've read the tutorial several times. I will again and improve on my previous efforts. I have two Remington's I want to make identical holsters for.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 21, 2016, 06:34:39 PM
I put this in on muzzleloading on the cheap.
Most of the leather tools were inherited from an uncle that recently passed away.
The leather was half price at Tandy.
I've started making some stamps from 1/4 inch carriage bolts and machine bolts.
Walmart has good products in the sewing section.
There are good ways to scrounge and cheap. (Is that a verb?)
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Bison Horn on December 21, 2016, 08:19:25 PM
 Those look great! BH
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Hanshi on December 21, 2016, 11:26:29 PM
Really excellent workmanship.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: rdstrain49 on December 22, 2016, 04:13:54 AM
WT;

What type of holsters are you wanting to make for the Remies?  I may still have patterns for Slim Jim, Mex Double Loop, Gunfighter style Drop Holster, Military style Flap Holster and possibly a few more.  If I can find them I could trace and send you a pattern of what you want.  If nothing else it would give you a pattern to compare your own design to.  Remember that although they are a pain in the posterior, holsters with toe plugs were the norm back in the day.  I don't like doing toe plugs, but I can help you with them, there are a couple of tricks to make a bit easier.  Any questions PM me or give me a call at 515-808-8081.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 22, 2016, 06:51:23 PM
Two ready to cut patterns and basket weave
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: William on December 22, 2016, 09:25:39 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 28, 2016, 02:14:01 AM
Jump forward I seem to be stuck on a style.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: graybear on December 28, 2016, 08:44:01 PM
Why fix what ain't broke? If you keep working at a style until you've found out how to make it quickly and easily, then you can try something new and use things you found from the first item.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on December 28, 2016, 09:09:49 PM
Well, the shootin- iron and intended use determines much of the design. My holsters ( 4 by none) are for cap and ball revolvers and not for "fast draw". But utility carry. I guess that's the real reason for being stuck in one style at the moment.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: mongrel on February 10, 2017, 02:09:47 PM
Having had the opportunity and leisure time to work at it, way back, I can say you'd be surprised at how fast you can clear leather and fire an accurate shot from a historically-correct, non-"fast draw" holster. Fast draw isn't a matter of the proper low-slung carry rig, it's a matter of a lot of practice, starting with very slow, deliberate movements that gradually increase in speed as the muscles of the arm and hand become accustomed to what you're asking of them. Under stress, a practiced user of a long-barreled sixgun in a slim jim or loop holster, either crossdraw or strong-side relatively high carry, will get off an accurate shot in less time than it takes an unpracticed shooter with a drop-loop buscadero rig to try to hurry and blow a hole through his own leg or abdomen.

The huge advantage of the correct old-timey holsters is that, unlike a modern "fast draw" rig where the holster and gun are locked into a low-cut loop in the gunbelt, and stay in the same position and orientation regardless of what the wearer is trying to do, the original holsters could be easily adjusted for comfort when walking, sitting a horse, lounging in a chair, or working at something where it's good not to have the gun up front and in the way. When one is practiced at carrying, his or her body will feel and register the location of the gun butt, so that in spite of the gun not being in the same precise location every time it's needed it is still easy to quickly get the iron into action. I used to carry a Ruger Single-Six in a plain ol' single-loop holster when chain-sawing multiple cords of firewood in a variety of rattlesnake-friendly Arizona locales; I just pushed the holster back over my right butt area to keep the gun out of the way, while still knowing it was there if I needed it in a hurry.

I would be remiss if I didn't comment that I really like your holsters. I'm soon to be moving onto a piece of land that I'm informed is an expressway for local coyotes on their search for someone's pet to eat (my manager at work, soon to be my two-mile-distant neighbor, lost one of his dogs a few weeks ago), and will be carrying a 7 1/2" barreled .44 Special SAA clone in a double-loop holster while sitting a mower or tractor or simply walking the premises. I am completely sold on the original holsters and your variations are very nice.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on February 17, 2017, 05:20:15 PM
Here they are competed
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: graybear on February 21, 2017, 01:06:25 AM
Very nice. Once I get my strength back, I'll have to try to make one for my 1858 repl.
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: Hawken50 on February 21, 2017, 02:04:19 AM
 thmbsup  Excellent work there WT.......I am partial to that style holster
Title: Re: Holsters
Post by: West Texan on February 21, 2017, 01:14:27 PM
I made a couple of holsters for a brother in law for his SASS matches. Seems like they are to tight. I wanted the revolvers to snap in. He needed loose. Anyhow I'll get em back and sell them. They fit SAA clone with 5 1/2 barrel mine are 4 3/4.  I think a Normal use holster ought to be like a DQ blizzard. When you turn it over the contents should not fall out. The SASS guys have a different need.