Teal

Well, I finished up the second holster my dad asked me to make. Well, actually, my step-mom asked for this one. She wanted a nice black holster, with pretty stitching. I think this one turned out better than the last. I was able to cut the pattern tighter, so it fits the gun better. It is still a bucket-type holster, and doesn't hold the gun, but there isn't a lot of slop, either. I was able to wet-form it as well, and I flared the holster mouth, for reholstering.

The one I made my dad was good, but this one is better. It's the proverbial difference between a 9 ring shot and a bullseye shot. Generally, I'm happy with consistently shooting in the 9 ring, but being able to hit the bullseye is even better.

Component Parts

The major parts of Fast-Draw holster #2 are cut and dyed. They are drying for later, when I have free time.

Fast-Draw

I finished up my Pops' Fast-Draw rig. Learned a few things, too.

I cut the pattern too big. I have re-calibrated my pattern.

I need to stain the whole damn thing before assembling. It will probably go easier, and have a more uniform color.

But, it's a true Fast-Draw rig. If you turn it upside down, and the tie-down isn't over the hammer, the gun will fall right out.

It's wet-formed well enough to maintain rigidity. If you get the muzzle in the holster and let go, the gun will re-holster. A one-handed re-holster is a help in the Fast-Draw game. I even flared the mouth to assist in the re-holster.

I was even able to make a nice bullet-deflector.

I don't know if it's going to suit the old man's needs, but from all I can tell, it should be up to the tasks demanded of a Fast-Draw holster.

Here's hoping.

Mock-up

New project in the works...

Ruger

My sister and her fiancee' came by this weekend. We barbecued last night, and this afternoon, we will go hit some museums.  I called my sister's fiancee', Greg, and told him to bring his Ruger this weekend. He got it about a year ago,  and has yet to get a holster for it.

I used red stitching on this one, and it looks great against the black. I am not entirely pleased with the way the sweat-shield turned out on this one, but otherwise I am pleased. The sweat shield works fine, but I didn't match up it's angles properly with the angles of the Ruger, so it doesn't LOOK as clean as I'd like. At least I know that, though, and can avoid it in the future. Greg says he likes it a lot, and if it gives him something in which to carry his gun in the woods, so much the better.

Gun Porn

A friend came to visit this weekend. He brought a gun to show me. He said they found it when cleaning out his grandfather's house, after he passed. He said he thought his grandfather brought it back from the war.

The lanyard loop is missing, but the threaded hole where it screws in is on t uh e bottom of the grip, and the serial number has a "v" prefix.

Pretty cool old Smith, even with the complete lack of finish, and the surface pitting. Bore looked good, though.

EDIT: apparently you can't see it, but the top strap says that it belongs to the gub'mint. Also, sorry the bottom pic didn't rotate properly...

Retention

I decided to make my wife a new concealed carry holster. She likes carrying AIWB. The holster she has been using for years is one I made about 3 years ago for her. I figured that I have progressed in my leatherworking ability significantly in the last 3 years, and had good leather again, so I might as well try to make her a new holster.

It turned out beautifully. I mean, it was GORGEOUS! Problem was, it came out attached to the gun on the draw stroke. So I thought about that, and realized the belt clip I put on it was rather dinky. So half an hour later, I had taken it apart and installed a better belt clip.

It still came out on the draw stroke, about 75% of the time. F@€k! $h!t!.... that didn't work, so I started thinking about retention. This is a SWEET looking holster. It has been perfectly fitted to my wife's carry gun. It was molded to fit like a second skin... apparently I did such a good job that you can't get the dam thing out of the holster. Made the holster pretty worthless. So I decided to *ahem* judiciously re-contour... the holster.

Now, my wife has a good looking new holster, that actually works like it should.

It was more of a headache than I thought it would be.

Iron Dye

I decided to dye the holster black. I used some iron die I had laying around. As soon as the dye dries, I can oil it and polish it. Then I just have to wait on the Venigar smell to dissipate, and I can use it!

New Holster

I haven't done much leatherworking in the past few months. Life got in the way, I guess. And we all know that a hobby you don't make time for is a hobby you quit doing. I decided that it was time to do some leatherworking. I have recently acquired a good piece of 6-8 oz. Veg-tan leather. I sharpened my leather knife, drew a pattern, and started cutting.

I can't BELIEVE how much I missed working with Veg-tan leather. I have been using Chrome tan leather for the past year or so, because I had a ready, cheap supply. Veg-tan ain't cheap. But as soon as you start working with it, you realize why Veg-tan costs more. I can only liken it to the difference between potter's clay and river mud. Veg-tan leather is just SO MUCH easier to work. And it cuts better. And you can form it. Chrome-tan leather won't form to an oblect like Veg-tan will.

Anyway, I'm happy with my little project, and super excited to be working with quality materials again. In a day or two, the holster will be dry (you have to wet the leather to form it), and I can decide if I want to stain the leather, or leave it natural. After that, I can put some preservative on it, and I will have a dandy new belt holster for my Kahr.

Louisiana Hombrewers

The Louisiana Homebrewers put on a home brewing class today at the Library. I have been homebrewing  for several years now, but decided to go so that I could ask a lot of questions about the All-Grain method of brewing. I have been brewing using malt syrup, but have been wanting to get into All-Grain for a while. The class was very informative, they answered all of my questions, and walked me through what the differences would be.

I had fun, and really enjoyed the program. I learned some things I didn't know, too.  I learned about different hop varieties, as well as different types of grains. The Louisiana Homebrewers are professional, knowledgeable, and polite. I  will definitely be buying all my homebrewing supplies through them from now on.