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thepaladin · Senior Member

I do leather work as well as other hobbies (including being an airgun addict). I've made cases for my knives (fixed and folding), belts, my wallet and so on.

I decided I wanted to make holsters for my 2240, 1377 and now my 1322 (just got the 1322 through Fedex today). When something's an unusual shape you need to wet the leather and then mold it around the shape allowing it to harden.

With a gun you need to get creative as it's not really a good idea to fold a piece of soaked leather around your gun and leave it all night... So, first I wipe the pistol down with oil, then I mold aluminum foil around it...and THEN fold the leather around it and weight it down:

note my creative weights.

Once it's molded and punched for stitching (including belt loop) I'll dye it black, seal it and stitch it up. (God willing). I've already made one for the 2240 and one for the 1377.

thepaladin · Senior Member

here's the finished holster:

Slavia · Moderator

Nice work. With a shape like that you have to make your own - I've never seen anything like it available commercially.

thepaladin · Senior Member

As I recall there was one available several years ago, but I never had one. I also made one for my 2240...and belts to go with them of course. Laughing

Slavia · Moderator

Now you need to make bandoliers for the CO2 capsules like the Frito Bandito has. Then get one of those recordable greeting cards and have it play the theme from "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" when you draw the gun.

Only kidding. I don't work with leather, and I admire your work.

thepaladin · Senior Member

Note the stock on the center rifle. I didn't make that I bought it ...but you've given me an idea for a belt with wide loops...humm.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

sniper · Silver Status Member

So when you pull it out for the finishing shot
you can say "do you feel lucky, punk"? Razz

thepaladin · Senior Member

Only if I'm convinced the squirrel speaks English...

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

Yeah, you gotta watch those commie Russian squirrels. They'll play dead on you then bite you on the nose when you get close enough. A friend of my cousin's wife's sister had it happen to him.

thepaladin · Senior Member

Yeah, take the head shot. Always take the head shot.

robert w · Senior Member

now if you would be nice and make me 1 for my diana 5g . ive looked everywhere for something that would fit it no dice yet but you do fine looking work . you used aluminum foil, i was thinking saran wrap or cling wrap several layers but it worked for you so its kool as long as its not salt cured leather i read some horror stories about holsters made with salt cured leather scary

thepaladin · Senior Member

Do you want to try and make it? I I made it for you you'd have to send me the gun.

Use tooling cow hide if you want to try it yourself. I get mine at Tandy Leather but you can get tooling squares at Hobby Lobby (there's usually a 40% off coupon on line). Be sure to wipe your pistol down well with oil and then wrap it in foil. You can press the foil so that the gun's shape comes through. Then wet the leather well. Put it under water till the little bubbles stop coming up. Then fit it to the gun and weight it to the form you want. if you have the hooded front sight you'll need to be sure it can clear the holster all the way up.

Let it dry 24 hours in a warm dry place. Then I measure a quarter inch out from the shape and cut it out. I use a spacer to mark it for punching stitch holes...then dye, finish and stitch.

I don't know where you live. If you really want me to make you a holster we can work something out I suppose. I'm not too comfortable with getting other folks guns, but I don't own a 5G it's the only way I know to get the shape. We'd have to mail back and forth.

robert w · Senior Member

thanks for the offer the palladin . im thinking about goin up to a big city 50 miles from where i live n getting some leather as they have a nice leather shop and give it a go but i might have to get back and ask some questions but im not goin to try yet as i have a semi truck full of honeydoos ridin on my back heck im lucky she lets me get in an hour of gunnin but be prepaierd for some questions

thepaladin · Senior Member

LOL, got ya'.

Ask away. I'm working on a belt tonight. I'll do any thing I can to help you with doing it yourself.

You may get hooked on leather work, I did. I've made a dozen or more knife sheaths and folding knife pouches. Not to mention other "stuff". I even bought the "whole sale" card.