Not exactly an Indy gun, but more to show the Holster.

[Jeremiah]

I made this up for my 1851 Colt navy London revolver.

Hand stitched with no gluing or anything.

Was thinking one of these would look dandy on a Webly though.

[Cajunkraut]

[Jeremiah]

Thanks.

[Tennessee Smith]

Nicely done, that looks great

Can we get a pic of the revolver and the backside of the holster too?


-TS

[Jeremiah]

Certainly. Pics added to 1st post.

[ChrisMD]

Nicely done indeed!

[Jeremiah]

Thank you.

[Tennessee Smith]

Beautiful!!!

[Indiana Joosse]

Very well done.

Thank you for showing it to us.

[Jeremiah]

[Michaelson]

GREAT job! I bet that would pattern as a great cross-draw holster too!

Regards! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

Thanks. It can be placed on the opposite side. I made a gunbelt too.

[Indiana Joosse]

So now we all want to see the belt as well!

[Jeremiah]

Sure.
Here is the belt. I made it from sewing two pieces of 7-9oz. Hide together so each side is the skin side of the hide. I cheated for the buckle part by stitching on an end of a leather belt I had. The holster here on the belt is the second one I made.



Ever the perfectionist I am, I made another (3rd) holster today. I wanted more of the cylinder covered.


If anyone here has a colt navy London and would like a holster fitted for it I can send one (I have one to spare on hand) to you free minus shipping. Again, this fits the Colt clone that a. uBerti makes. The barrel is 7.5".

[Michaelson]

Too bad it doesn't fit a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag. I'd be all OVER this offer.

Regards! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

That Blackhawk looks aweful similar to a .357 uberti makes called the cattleman 1873 el patron. I have a pattern for it, as I made a friend of mine one for his. 5/12" or 6" barrel?

Anyway, pm me and we can talk.

[Michaelson]

Actually, it's MUCH bigger than the .357 Blackhawk and about a quarter larger, so you're talking about a lot more material.

I appreciate your offer, but can't in good conscience ask you to look at making one. It's too big and too heavy a gun for such a rig.

Thank you anyway!

HIGH regards! M

[Indiana Joosse]

It would not fit any of my revolvers either, but it is a very generous offer.

You, sir, are a true gentleman.

[Jeremiah]

Ha. Well thanks for the compliment.

I don't have a webly, but if anyone would like a holster for it made to the pattern provided on the homepage, I would love to try making one. All I would ask for is your payment of shipping fees and any donation you feel its worth to you once you get it and like it. If interested pm me and we can talk.

On second thought. Let me make one then post pics. If at that point anyone would like it we can go from there.

[Mountaineer]

The homepage holster pattern is sized for a 4-inch barrel revolver. I printed it out and made myself a holster; it works great for my airsoft K-frame (costuming) and my 4-inch N-frames (IRL carry).

Mine:


However, if you're making holsters for longer-barreled revolvers, you'll need to add some paper to your pattern and change the taper of the barrel area on the holster, otherwise it becomes too narrow to fit the barrel and front sight and keep the Indy-like look. (It gets a little too western style, Slim Jim holster pattern look to it if you don't.) Also, because of that "widening" of the pattern, you may need to adjust the size of the barrel plug on the bottom to fit the larger holster. I made one of these larger holsters as well, at the request of micsteam, who needed a holster for (IIRC) a 6-inch barreled British S&W 1917.

Here is his next to mine:


You look like you're doing very well with your craft; I just wanted to save you from some headache if you try making longer-barreled versions of these. Keep up the good work!

[Jeremiah]

Thanks a bunch. I may wait till I get a Webly clone before doing this one. How is the plug sewn? From the sides? Thanks again.

can't seem to view your pics though.

[Mountaineer]

I used a tutorial that holster maker Will Ghormley had/has on his website: http://www.willghormley-maker.com/MakingHOGRig2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can glue the plug into place and then stitch it if you want, I found I didn't need to when making mine. When it comes to sewing it up, if you don't have a leatherworking awl, WAIT until you do. I'm not talking about a lock-stitch awl, one with a spool attached; just a plain, old, diamond-shaped, awl. (I exclusively use diamond punches to make the stitch holes on my work and then saddle stitch everything I sew. I do not use a lock-stitch awl.)

Drilling out the stitch holes with a drill looks (to me) awful. I made the stitching holes on my holster plug using a drill, and on the other one, I used an awl to form the stitching holes. The second one looked so much better. Granted I had practice by making mine, but the awl allows for MUCH more precise placement of the holes. It makes a major difference.

[Jeremiah]

Thanks. Yeah I used a 2mm diamond punch to make the holes on the holsters I made then saddle stitched them.

[Mountaineer]

Excellent!

[Jeremiah]

Would love to see pics of your holster. The links seems to be broken in your initial reply though.

[Mountaineer]

Sorry, I was using my images hosted on Imageshack, but I changed them over to flickr.

If those links still don't work, hopefully this link to the album will: Holsters Album

[Michaelson]

They're working for me now, Mountaineer.

Regards! Michaelson

[Mountaineer]

Thanks for the info/feedback, Michaelson.

I've noticed Imageshack has really, REALLY changed, and NOT for the better.

I've had/used flickr before, but I'll go that route from here on out.

[Jeremiah]

Excellent work. Did you use a dye or just conditioners and sunshine?
I know there is a pic limit to threads but can I add a few more as I finish this build?
I have my pieces cut out and edges burnished. This is a small holster in comparison to my colt navy.

And sewn.


Finished. Just have to get a button for flap. Then oil it up. Man was that plug a pain. But it's sewn.

[Mountaineer]

Awesome job! I feel your pain with sewing those toe plugs! Also, thanks for the kind words.

I'm sorry I didn't mention it earlier, but did you double the thickness of leather on the plug itself? You basically cut two plugs, glue them together and then sand it at a slight taper, like a keystone, with the exposed area being wider than the internal bit. It (IMO) does two things when you do this; 1) it gives more leather for the stitches from the sides to bite into, and 2) reinforces the plug and helps keep it from puckering when pulling the stitches tight.

For my holster, I used the most beat-up, range-marked piece I had because I didn't think anyone would want something made from it. Once everything was cut, I pre-treated the leather with some liquid Lexol conditioner, let it soak in (just like when you case the leather for stamping) and then immediately used Fiebing's Tan Leather Dye applied with a rag; buffed off the excess and then did maybe one more coat to try and even things out. Once it had dried, it was assembled and finally I applied a heavy coat of Fiebing's Aussie Leather Conditioner, letting it soak in overnight and then buffed off the excess.

It's good to see others here getting involved with leatherwork! I really enjoy it when I can find the time to actually do the work.

[Michaelson]

Wow! I'm impressed with your final results!

Looks as good as my old El Paso Saddlery holster.

Regards! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

Thanks guys.

wow. now you tell me about doubling up the plug

well I will do that for the next one I make. I kind of raced through this one just to make it. I don't even have a gun small enough I can test to see how well it fits though.

I will definitely make another though.

[Michaelson]

I wonder if a 5 shot Taurus Model 60 .357 2" barreled revolver would fit in it?

Regards! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

Let's find out.

[Michaelson]

Mail it to me and I'll confirm.



Regard! M

[Jeremiah]

Made this up yesterday for a .22 revolver I had. Darker with indoor lighting, but it came out a nice chocolate brown color. No dye. Just some leather oil. Funny that the toe plug either works well or does not. It's the hardest part for me and this one is not the best I've done.



Edit: I uploaded pics of my most recent and better one. This one is it. I am happy with the weathering and how compact the holster is. Toe plug came out great on this one.

[Michaelson]

Now THAT'S a fine piece of leather work!!!

Regards! M

[Jeremiah]

Well thanks.

[Jeremiah]

Made this for a 1851 colt navy clone with 7 1/2" barrel.