December Western Gunbelt

[BrokenolMarine]

Looking good, love the concho. That sure is a heavy piece of leather, must have been a chore to cut it.

New blade in the knife. I have learned to make two passes on the heavy stuff. The first pass follows the pattern, and cuts about a third through. The second pass easily follows the first, IF you let it, and completes the cut.

The eight to ten ounce leather is recommended for holsters for the stiffness you'll want for the body. For something like an inside the pants holster, you would go lighter to allow it to mold a bit better. (Or so I've read. )

[BrokenolMarine]

Back out for a couple hours today. I antiqued the loop after correcting some small issues with the tooling that likely only I noticed... then recoated the finish. I set that aside to dry, and with my tongue held just right, I marked the holster for sewing, and drilled the holes. The front went where I wanted. I used a saddle stitch and sewed it up tight to insure we stayed together. Using dark brown dye, I dyed the edges of the holster and the thread and the tooling, and set 'er aside. While THAT dried I went back to the loop and buffed it out. The holster was folded over and I marked the location of the slots for the retention loop and punched those with a slot cutter. Then I could measure the loop and cut it. I punched the holes I'll need to sew that together tomorrow once everything is done.

One last task before stopping for the day, I burnished the edge of the holster where the welts are, and they cleaned up very nice. Looking good. Tomorrow? Burnish the edge of the skirt, the top of the holster body, (Which I should have done before assembly... duh. ) ... and install and sew the retention loop. I'll also drill holes at the bottom of the holster and in the skirt for a tiedown, which will keep the holster from moving up and down in the loop. I WON'T be tying down the holster for quick draw.

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It's looking good so far.... I need to burnish the rough side to get rid of the ragged look.

[BrokenolMarine]

Out this morning after a great breakfast. I fixed western omelet's. Fitting, Huh? Addressed the few issues I had, then burnished the edge of the skirt, and reburnished the edge of the holster body again. Looking good and they are sealed against invasions.

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Added another coat of wax to it all, buffed to a high shine. I took my time and sewed the retention loop in place. Folded the holster over the belt and tucked it in the loop. Time to try the Uberti in the rig. This is pretty much done, I just have to decide if I'm going to bother with a hammer loop and the tie down loop to keep the holster from moving in the loop. Probably. Won't take all that long and will give the holster a finished look. As always, there will be some touch up in my future. I saw some spots that will get some color touch up as well.

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It was a learning experience and on the next one, I'll know what to do, and more importantly, what NOT to do.

[BrokenolMarine]

Up next, the sheath for the knife.

[daytime dave]

Great so far!

[RetiredSeabee]

Thanks for bringing us along. I have a better understanding of why the good western holster rigs are on the pricey side. A lot of work involved.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks for bringing us along. I have a better understanding of why the good western holster rigs are on the pricey side. A lot of work involved.

And when a real leathersmith does the work, you are paying for years of experience and knowledge. I remember a woodworker I knew telling someone whining about a quoted price he'd sell them the kit for half. Just the wood and hardware. The potential buyer asked what he would "DO" with that?

"There yah go."

[BrokenolMarine]

Went out this evening for a couple hours. Thought I'd take a pic of the back of the retention loop so y'all could see how it was sewn.

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Took the time to put the bottom braid on to hold the holster in place. Dyed the thong and then with a hole drilled thru the holster and the skirt, looped it through. I added some barrel beads as accents, tying between the beads so they stayed in place. This is NOT meant as a tie down, but can be cut and replaced if I find later that I want one.

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Next up, starting on the knife sheath....

[BrokenolMarine]

First step on laying out the pattern is to draw the knife itself on the material used for the pattern. In this case, an old file folder. Then you play with the layout and design. I went with a two piece rather than a rolled over, so I could insure I'd have room for the concho, the tying piece for each aspect of the Gunbelt. As you can see, I added each component to stabilize the knife when sheathed.

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Once the layout was done, I cut out the main pattern, and redrew that on the folder. Then cut out the front section, redrew it. Cut out the welt, from the front piece, and redrew it on the file folder. Lastly I used that center I had cut out to make the welt as the pattern for the wedge. Then, using each pattern piece, I prepped the leather for cutting by transferring the pattern to the leather.

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Next I went to work. I cut out each piece, then cut out two pieces of the wedge shape when test fitting showed I'd need extra. Test fitting let me mark where adjustments would be needed to the parts I had cut out. I marked and then tooled the front and back panels, while they dried, I skived the wedges so they would work. Got a lot done, but still plenty to go.

Tomorrow I will recheck my work, and I'll also cut out the belt loop for the back of the back panel, as well as the front strap that will secure the knife to the sheath, and tool that. I am in no rush as I can't glue up the project until AFTER the concho is installed and I am waiting for those to arrive from Tandy, they should be finished with end of the year inventory and beginning to ship soon. NO rush...

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I can dye the pieces once they are done, taking care NOT to dye the areas that will be taking glue.

[BrokenolMarine]

After a couple sessions, I have made some progress on the sheath. A stutter here or there, but making progress. When you stutter, you recut and keep moving but just because you have to recut, you don't waste the off cut. As you can see, I used a portion of the off cut to make the belt loop. (The tooled piece on the far right will be the belt loop, the tooling will be hidden...)

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The stack with the wedge will allow the knife to fit tight in the sheath, and the strap will secure the handle to the top. I need to add the snaps. So far the pieces have been dyed, (two coats) and treated with neatsfoot oil to restore the flexibility since the dye dries it out terribly. Next trip to the shop I'll antique the tooling as needed then add a finish, then install the concho since it can't be installed AFTER assembly. Once the step dries, I'll glue up.

[BrokenolMarine]

Then I can sew on the belt loop and sew around the edge of the sheath body and then sand and burnish the edge of the body. I have already burnished the strap and the upper sheath portions.

[Hatchdog]

That is an amazing amount of drawing and cutting making the pattern. Many more steps than us non leather workers would imagine. I’m liking the tooling you did around where I assume the Concho will be located. Keep on trucking’

[BrokenolMarine]

Got a lot done in the afternoon. Got the snaps done, the retention strap sewn in place and the front glued on. Just need to trim and burnish the edges and sew down the front panel and the belt loop panel on the back.

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I got started on those tasks and got the burnishing done and part way thru the sewing and got called in for dinner. It's 24 degrees out dark, turning colder and the wind is blowing. I won't go back out tonight. I'll head back out in the morning.

[daytime dave]

Looking great!

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks, should finish this morning after coffee and toast.

[Hatchdog]

Looks great and not going back out to the shop was a good decision in your weather conditions.

[BrokenolMarine]

Back out in the shop this morning after breakfast, and knocked out the sewing, and the decorative loop for the bottom of the sheath. Stained the edges and reburnished, and made sure the holes where we sewed were stained so raw leather wasn't showing. Slid the sheath on the gunbelt and put the knife in place, then the holster and the Uberti. THAT was a chore. Seems the holster shrunk quite a bit when it dried. Will need to wet it and refit the Uberti to the holster later to stretch it out a good bit later... BUT, this is basically done. I have ordered black edge dressing and will knock that out when it comes in, but ... again... done. A long view:

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A look at the sheath end....

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A look at the middle of the belt where the cartridge loops ride....

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And of course, the holster end...

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A learning experience, and I learned a lot. I am pretty happy. Watched a lot of videos, and will do a better job on the next one. Some inlays perhaps, and of course lining the next. I'll post a final pic once the edge dressing comes in.

[daytime dave]

I think it looks awesome! Great job Marine.

[RGRacing]

Do you ever have a sale on belts that you would rather move down the road - Love to see a sale.

Nice Work

[BrokenolMarine]

Do you ever have a sale on belts that you would rather move down the road - Love to see a sale.

Nice Work

I don't normally sell my work, it's a hobby and I don't consider myself a pro...
Check your pm's.