Holster Disappointment

Hey James. Thanks, I guess I could have used something a little less flashy :redface: :redface:

Ron

Thats a "Sunday go to meetin" holster fer sure! :thumbsup:

Deano, I'm sorry you're unhappy with a holster most of the rest of us would be thrilled to claim. Like Ron said, let that thing get some of your lovely Arizona sun and all will likely come right.
Those Californias you are referring to in Packing Iron will be easy for you to pull off with your carving skills, my friend!

Ron, Didn't you wear that rig in the Three Amigo's movie! ... Cough!

"Old Truckers never die! ... They just make Beautiful things!" (Inside comment).

Rick :hatsoff:

Hey deano- good job but since you're looking for some ideas I'll shoot out some thoughts. Some period holsters had a fishscale stamping that was similar to basketweave. You can get a fishscale effect with a mule shoe stamp but I went ahead and made my own stamps. All the stamping spreads out/expands the leather so do the stamping first- starting in the middle and when 90% is done then measure out the size of the pattern and do the last few hits around the perimeter of the stamping to finish. I use a pizza pie pan and diluted leather dye to dye a dark brown. The pan is large enough to emerse the entire piece of leather and you get an even dye job- or at least it works better for me. For a liner- it looks like some originals had either a mustard yellow or faded red that likely was bright red so I rubber cement that in place. I burnish the edges. I opt for the California style and my biggest trouble is a high center of gravity- you need the loop "just so". The loop is troublesome because most photos just show the front of a holster but one of Hickok's (sic?) had the back shown and it was rather square and just large enough for a belt. I think the California style was top heavy since a lot of photos show these holsters sort of twisted on the belt.
The Mexican double loop. That's what my great grandfather had but I think that may be more 1880's or so I have been told.
BTW- I can't do carving- looks like ^%$!! the way I do it- reason I use the fishscale.

Thanks everyone for your positive comments. As I said, I'm happy with the build, but not the finish. I will continue to work on improving that part of my leatherwork.
:hatsoff: :hatsoff: :hatsoff:

Looks awesome to me!

Thanks for that input, Crockett. It will be considered in my future efforts towards better holsters.
:hatsoff: :grin:

deanscamaro said:

Well, as you learn, things don't always turn out like you want them to. I finished my second holster for my 1851 Navy revolver. Most everything I am satisfied with except finish. This one is a lined/carved Mexican Loop (thanks to Swampy for the idea of using pigskin for the liner). For my second holster, I am pretty satisfied with the mechanics, but am getting unexpected results with my finish.

Anyone out there have experience using both Tan Kote and LCI Clear Lac in a Sheridan finish? I had used Tan Kote on a previous holster and ended up having it darker than a belt where I used Clear Lac. I did the Clear Lac path on this holster and got two different shades between the loop and the holster. ???? Any ideas? I'm starting to suspect the old memory problem and wonder if I left a step out on the loop. The Tandy store manager says the Tan Kote lets more stain through than the Clear Lac.

Well, I now have to find something to do with a second, not-so-good, 1851 Navy holster.

:idunno: :shocked2:

Click to expand...

Dino

deanscamaro said:

Well, as you learn, things don't always turn out like you want them to. I finished my second holster for my 1851 Navy revolver. Most everything I am satisfied with except finish. This one is a lined/carved Mexican Loop (thanks to Swampy for the idea of using pigskin for the liner). For my second holster, I am pretty satisfied with the mechanics, but am getting unexpected results with my finish.

Anyone out there have experience using both Tan Kote and LCI Clear Lac in a Sheridan finish? I had used Tan Kote on a previous holster and ended up having it darker than a belt where I used Clear Lac. I did the Clear Lac path on this holster and got two different shades between the loop and the holster. ???? Any ideas? I'm starting to suspect the old memory problem and wonder if I left a step out on the loop. The Tandy store manager says the Tan Kote lets more stain through than the Clear Lac.

Well, I now have to find something to do with a second, not-so-good, 1851 Navy holster.

:idunno: :shocked2:

Click to expand...

I think that is excellent workmanship. My hats off to you and repeating what has already been said chances are you are your own worst critic ! That leather will age. You should maybe think about looking for another 1851 to fill that second holster. oldrust

Deano, thats a good lookin rig to be proud of and like others have said, it will darken with use. I have heard of folks actually letting it set in the drive way or a sunny place outside for awhile to help with the evening out. I've never done that myself but you could give it a try.
One question that came to my mind; is the leather for the holster body and loop from the same hide? Sometime the different hides will take finish and look differently when placed next to each other. If they were from different hides, that may be why your loop is darker than the holster.
I have seen that happen, I usually use the top coat over a "dyed" hide, so I try to even out the overall color before I apply what ever top coat I may use.

Looks great to me!! I like the two tone look!!

Looks very good to me. After it ages somewhat the colours may even out. I really like it!

Post being 7 years old I can imagine it has aged some by now

deanscamaro said:

Well, as you learn, things don't always turn out like you want them to. I finished my second holster for my 1851 Navy revolver. Most everything I am satisfied with except finish. This one is a lined/carved Mexican Loop (thanks to Swampy for the idea of using pigskin for the liner). For my second holster, I am pretty satisfied with the mechanics, but am getting unexpected results with my finish.

Anyone out there have experience using both Tan Kote and LCI Clear Lac in a Sheridan finish? I had used Tan Kote on a previous holster and ended up having it darker than a belt where I used Clear Lac. I did the Clear Lac path on this holster and got two different shades between the loop and the holster. ???? Any ideas? I'm starting to suspect the old memory problem and wonder if I left a step out on the loop. The Tandy store manager says the Tan Kote lets more stain through than the Clear Lac.

Well, I now have to find something to do with a second, not-so-good, 1851 Navy holster.

:idunno: :shocked2:

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but I don't understand something. Does this photo of the rear of the holster show the pigskin liner going around to the back side of the holster to form the loop or is it the same leather as on the outside of the front of the holster, only with the rough side showing in the back?

If the latter is correct and you used the same amount of finish all the way around the holster, what probably happened was the rough side of the leather sucked up a lot more of the finish and thus turned darker. You can't stop that completely, but if you dampen leather before using stain or finish, it won't show later as such a difference between the rough and smooth sides of the leather. This because it won't allow the rough side to suck up as much stain or finish when it is dampened.

Gus

Gus,

deanscamaro was last seen:
Feb 18, 2015
$ years ago was his last post. This is not a current post.

Doubt you will get a response.

Ooops….. Thanks for informing me nhmoose!

Gus