Made this for the Mrs M&P C

[SGB]

Starting to get the hang of this

 

[Firefighterchen]

Do you use a sewing machine?

I can't afford a machine...so I have been using a punch and screws, mine almost looks like a leather version of raven concealment.

Nice looking holster you made there though, keep it up!

 

[tuts40]

Sweet! Nice job indeed, and you must have a certain sense of satisfaction having done it yourself.

Say, on the slide side I notice a downward gap between the belt 'hole' and the body of the holster, does that allow the holster/gun to lay less tightly against the body, or to not lay as flat against the body as it would otherwise? Not a criticism, heck that is a great looking holster you made and I am no holster maker by ANY stretch, just wondering about the lay of the gun if not used IWB.

Another question? How did you get the leather to form inside the trigger guard and under the slide at the bottom of the holster?

That's 3 questions so far if you include the sewing machine question from Firefighterchen above. Inquiring minds wanna know!

 

[Firefighterchen]

If you get the leather wet just right you can mold it using plastic (cheap tool) or bone (expensive tool). not enough water you will burnish the leather (becomes hardened, plastic appearance, darker friction burn colour). Too much water and the leather won't hold its shape while drying.

I'm not sure what the design for the wings are, I have seen them before (and your holster looks as good if not better as those $100+ holster, be proud of what you made). It looks as if the shape gives you the personalized cant, and allows the wing to wrap around the curve of the waist better, pulling the slide side more naturally to the body.

Arranged is a picture of the pocket holster I made with decent molding as well.

Stitched leather looks so good, but I think i'm going to stay with rivet/screws for now. Keep making holsters and post up the pictures!!

 

[Firefighterchen]

I have another question...

What generation holster is this? As in, how many did it take for you to get to this point? I had made 3 Gens of holsters before I got to the pocket holster (gen 4) I was happy with in the last post.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

If you get the leather wet just right you can mold it using plastic (cheap tool) or bone (expensive tool). not enough water you will burnish the leather (becomes hardened, plastic appearance, darker friction burn colour). Too much water and the leather won't hold its shape while drying.

I'm not sure what the design for the wings are, I have seen them before (and your holster looks as good if not better as those $100+ holster, be proud of what you made). It looks as if the shape gives you the personalized cant, and allows the wing to wrap around the curve of the waist better, pulling the slide side more naturally to the body.

Arranged is a picture of the pocket holster I made with decent molding as well.

Stitched leather looks so good, but I think i'm going to stay with rivet/screws for now. Keep making holsters and post up the pictures!!

Beautiful, Chen!

 

[CapGun]

I clicked this thread because I wanted to see what you were talking about. Then I saw the picture and only had one reaction. An audible WOW!

 

[Firefighterchen]

If you get the leather wet just right you can mold it using plastic (cheap tool) or bone (expensive tool). not enough water you will burnish the leather (becomes hardened, plastic appearance, darker friction burn colour). Too much water and the leather won't hold its shape while drying.

I'm not sure what the design for the wings are, I have seen them before (and your holster looks as good if not better as those $100+ holster, be proud of what you made). It looks as if the shape gives you the personalized cant, and allows the wing to wrap around the curve of the waist better, pulling the slide side more naturally to the body.

Arranged is a picture of the pocket holster I made with decent molding as well.

Stitched leather looks so good, but I think i'm going to stay with rivet/screws for now. Keep making holsters and post up the pictures!!

Beautiful, Chen!

Thanks, I have a notebook full of concept designs for holsters...maybe one day I can go find a new leather shop in this town and start making more.

This thread though is for the OP to brag about his creation, which he has all the right to because his is beautiful as well.

 

[Phillip Gain]

Check out the Tandy Leather website. They have all sorts of how-to videos for hand-stitching etc. (I'm thinking about making my own holsters someday, but haven't gotten there yet.

 

[6shootercarry]

Looks good. What is that snap type holster in the background above? I'd like something like that for my M&P40c with a 5° forward rake...

 

[SGB]

Do you use a sewing machine?

I can't afford a machine...so I have been using a punch and screws, mine almost looks like a leather version of raven concealment.

Nice looking holster you made there though, keep it up!

No machine, I hand stitch.

Sweet! Nice job indeed, and you must have a certain sense of satisfaction having done it yourself.

Say, on the slide side I notice a downward gap between the belt 'hole' and the body of the holster, does that allow the holster/gun to lay less tightly against the body, or to not lay as flat against the body as it would otherwise? Not a criticism, heck that is a great looking holster you made and I am no holster maker by ANY stretch, just wondering about the lay of the gun if not used IWB.

Another question? How did you get the leather to form inside the trigger guard and under the slide at the bottom of the holster?

That's 3 questions so far if you include the sewing machine question from Firefighterchen above. Inquiring minds wanna know!

The gap allows for the piece of leather that reinforces the mouth of the holster to wrap around from back to front, much stronger than simply sewing an extra piece to the front of the mouth. Further it provides a flex point to the front belt loop that allows the stiffer rear belt loop to pull the gun butt in tight to the body.

If you get the leather wet just right you can mold it using plastic (cheap tool) or bone (expensive tool). not enough water you will burnish the leather (becomes hardened, plastic appearance, darker friction burn colour). Too much water and the leather won't hold its shape while drying.

I'm not sure what the design for the wings are, I have seen them before (and your holster looks as good if not better as those $100+ holster, be proud of what you made). It looks as if the shape gives you the personalized cant, and allows the wing to wrap around the curve of the waist better, pulling the slide side more naturally to the body.

Arranged is a picture of the pocket holster I made with decent molding as well.

Stitched leather looks so good, but I think i'm going to stay with rivet/screws for now. Keep making holsters and post up the pictures!!

I have another question...

What generation holster is this? As in, how many did it take for you to get to this point? I had made 3 Gens of holsters before I got to the pocket holster (gen 4) I was happy with in the last post.

Third Generation

Here is my very first holster from a couple months ago

Nice pocket holster, I'm working on a leather/kydex hybrid IWB that differs slightly from those currently being marketed as well.

 

[tuts40]

You hand stitch you say. Holy crap, that makes the work you did even better, as the work that went into it must have been painstaking and worthy of admiration for sure. I'd love to try something like that but I'm too lazy and I'm sure it would not turn out as nice as yours. I'd be more likely to buy one from ya!

 

[Firefighterchen]

Do you use a sewing machine?

I can't afford a machine...so I have been using a punch and screws, mine almost looks like a leather version of raven concealment.

Nice looking holster you made there tit up!

No machine, I hand stitch.


job indeed, and youe a certain sense of satisfaction having done it yourself.

Say, on the slide side I notice a downward gap between the belt 'hole' and the body of the holster, does that allow the holster/gun to lay less tightly against the body, or to not lay as flat against the body as it would otherwise? Not a criticism, heck that is a great looking holster you made and I am no holster maker by ANY stretch, just wondering about the lay of the gun if not used IWB.

Another question? How did you get the leather to form inside the trigger guard and under the slide at the bottom of the holster?

That's 3 questions so far if you include the sewing machine question from Firefighterchen above. Inquiring minds wanna know!

The gap allows for the piece of leather that reinforces the mouth of the holster to wrap around from back to front, much stronger than simply sewing an extra piece to the front of the mouth. Further it provides a flex point to the front belt loop that allows the stiffer rear belt loop to pull the gun butt in tight to the body.

If you get the leather wet just right you can mold it using plastic (cheap tool) or bone (expensive tool). not enough water you will burnish the leather (becomes hardened, plastic appearance, darker friction burn colour). Too much water and the leather won't hold its shape while drying.

I'm not sure what the design for the wings are, I have seen them before (and your holster looks as good if not better as those $100+ holster, be proud of what you made). It looks as if the shape gives you the personalized cant, and allows the wing to wrap around the curve of the waist better, pulling the slide side more naturally to the body.

Arranged is a picture of the pocket holster I made with decent molding as well.

Stitched leather looks so good, but I think i'm going to stay with rivet/screws for now. Keep making holsters and post up the pictures!!

I have another question...

What generation holster is this? As in, how many did it take for you to get to this point? I had made 3 Gens of holsters before I got to the pocket holster (gen 4) I was happy with in the last post.

Third Generation

Here is my very first holster from a couple months ago

Nice pocket holster, I'm working on a leather/kydex hybrid IWB that differs slightly from those currently being marketed as well.

[/QUOTE]

I'm not posting my gen 1 for dignity reasons....

Hand stitching, what's your secret for such straight lines? .....that is jaw dropping impressive....

 

[Tucker's Mom]

'Chen -- I like the one you posted because I am not keen on the trigger (even a part of it) showing on my holster. The first photo SGB posted is well made but part of the trigger is showing.

SGB -- I like the style of the second photo better. Both your works, 'Chen and SGB are equally very good indeed. 'Wish I have the time to make one. It is nice to be able to custom make your own.

 

[SGB]

Hand stitching, what's your secret for such straight lines? .....that is jaw dropping impressive....

Thank you.

I use an EZ adjust stitching groover, freehand stitching groover and a Popsicle stick

 

[Firefighterchen]

Hand stitching, what's your secret for such straight lines? .....that is jaw dropping impressive....

Thank you.

I use an EZ adjust stitching groover, freehand stitching groover and a Popsicle stick

Ah, totally makes sense, that dang Groover...the one tool I opted out of buying when I started...maybe if I go back to stitching I'll pick one up. In the meantime, I'll pick up the popsicle sticks since that's the true secret!!!!!! yummy yummy popsicles.

 

[SGB]

Ah, totally makes sense, that dang Groover...the one tool I opted out of buying when I started...maybe if I go back to stitching I'll pick one up. In the meantime, I'll pick up the popsicle sticks since that's the true secret!!!!!! yummy yummy popsicles.

- the Popsicle stick is my straight edge when I'm using the freehand grover. I set the stitch pattern with the overstitch wheel and then make my holes with a scratch awl and poly mallet.

 

[Firefighterchen]

- the Popsicle stick is my straight edge when I'm using the freehand grover. I set the stitch pattern with the overstitch wheel and then make my holes with a scratch awl and poly mallet.

I was impatient at first, my lines were horrible. My 3rd gen holster looked pretty decent on the stitching. I too used a straight edge with the over stitch wheel, then used a leather punch for the holes. Tandy leather site showed my how to properly stitch. I really like my black leather with red stitchng.