Earlier this year we outlined how to get all crafty and make your own gun holster. And that was all well and good.
However, YouTube user particlerealities was busy this week uploading a comprehensive three-part video demonstration that completely blew our post on it out of the water. He not only shows you how to create your very own leather holster but provides a snazzy soundtrack that goes right along with the creative process.
There are plenty of steps involved, but in the end, you will have something special that you won’t be able to find anywhere else (especially if you bedazzle it.) Carve out some time in your calendar to try it out, and tell us how it goes. We’ll try to do the same. Maybe.
Here at Gun Holsters Blog, it’s fairly evident that we have a thing for, uh, holsters. But what about things shaped like gun holsters that aren’t really gun holsters? Hmm… good question.
Take the Koffski Shoulder Holster for instance. It says it’s a shoulder holster; it kinda looks like a shoulder holster; it should feel like a gun holster since it’s Italian leather. But will it hold a gun? Not a chance.
From the brilliant minds of the Germans comes a “shoulder holster” that’s actually a men’s handbag. This firearm fashionista purse includes a bag, wallet and a V piece as well as a shoulder strap. Perhaps having a wallet that looks like a holster might keep criminals at bay?
On the other hand, having a holster with a real gun might be a teensy bit more intimidating.
The product description for the bag reads “Whether in the office or on the move, the shoulder holster allows the user to carry his basic items around with him in a manner that is manly, flamboyant and, above all, extremely practical.” We’re not sure if something got lost in German-to-English translation here, but we’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
Marksmen have used leather for holsters since the beginning of firearms. However, nobody expects you to know that history or how to properly care for a leather holster. That’s why we’re here.
Simply follow the guidelines (collected from variousholster manufactures) outlined below to ensure your leather holster receives only the best TLC. And by properly cleaning and storing your gun holster, you will prolong the life of it and save money in the long run.
Note: Many have varying opinions on these treatments, so if you disagree with something or have found a better way, let us know in the comments section. These are just the “official” rules from those who produce holsters.
DO: Treat your gun regularly. If left untreated, dry rot can begin to occur. Unfortunately if you treat it improperly, your holster will begin to break down long before it can dry rot.
DON’T: Dry your leather holster using artificial heat from a hair dryer, oven, radiator, direct sunlight — you get the picture. This makes leather crack.
DO: Use hard-bar glycerin soap. Lather soap with water, rub onto the leather surface with a soft cloth, and wipe off.
DON’T: … get too soft on us now! And if you use oils like Neat Foot or Mink oil, you will. These oils saturate and soften the leather holster too much, negatively affecting its shape.
DO: Let your leather dry naturally. Your patience will pay off.
DON’T: Forget your holster on your car dashboard in the summer. Or anything, for that matter. Especially foodstuffs.
DO: Give your holster is a cool, dry home when it’s not at your side.
DON’T: Submerge your holster in any liquid, including water. So, no deep-sea holster diving, people!
DO: Use a neutral color of Kiwi polish after a holster wash. Buff it off with a brush or soft cloth.
DON’T: Leave your holster in a high-humidity space. That will cause mildew and quite possibly a funny smell. Conversely, a low-humidity space that’s too low will cause it to dry out.
DO: Continue reading this to get the low-down on some sweet types of leather.
Full-grain: This represents the upper layer of the hide that formerly contained hair but since has been sanded or buffed, as it is the highest quality of leather. This is also a common leather used to make gun holsters.
Vachetta leather: Best known as the leather of Louis Vuitton luggage and handbags, this type goes untreated and is very likely to undergo staining and/or water damage. Sunlight makes the color of this leather become darker, which makes it easy to spot a fake designer bag over time.
Corrected-grain: Also known as snuffed grain, this term applies to any leather that has its outer surface of grain removed by an emery wheel and has an artificial grain added to the surface. Most of it is used for pigmented leather since it covers up any imperfections.
Top-grain: Far from being “top” in quality (actually it’s the second best), this leather is sanded and refinished for more stain resistant, plastic feel.
Split: The name comes from just that — splitting the grain layer of hide into two or more layers. Used to create suede, split leather has an artificial layer applied to the surface and embossed with a leather grain.
Bonded leather: This man-made material is constructed mostly of leather fibers and scraps that are bonded together with latex binders most often seen as Bible covers, diaries, art books and even belts and sofas.
For the most part, homemade gun holsters really aren’t something professionals should carry, especially those dealing with dangerous criminals. Nevertheless, you can find endless instructions on how to do it on your own in seconds. But to actually construct it … well, that’s going to be a bit more time consuming. If you’re good at it, you’ll have a personalized holster that fits your pistol perfectly in no time.
After pouring over several how-tos and step-by-step instructions, here’s what we gleaned:
1.Make a holster pattern using cardboard. Cut out your cardboard model, and hold it next to your choice of material (many prefer cowhide). Trace around the cardboard on your material. 2. Use a sharp knife to cut the leather. Be sure to cut a mirror piece, too, since this will be the other side of your holster. 3. Take a ruler, and mark the position of the gun and magazine and then the trigger guard and barrel. 4. Thinly layer glue to the areas on both pieces, making sure that you don’t glue together the part where the gun will go. 5.Trim the leather, and punch holes for a belt to loop through. Cut belt slots and stitching grooves. Stitch and double stitch the holster. 6. In order to mold the leather, wet it on the inside and out, and place your plastic-wrapped gun on the inside. Use your fingers to push the leather around it. 7. When the holster is dry (usually takes a night), trim and burnish the edges, and dye it if you’d like.
Check out a much more detailed version of this process, along with a variety of other types of holsters right here. Or for even more details, stop by JDLawhon.com’s Holstermaking 101, where a holster hobbyist walks you through everything — from picking out the leather to his own personal tips and tricks. “It’s always fun doing another holster (although I wouldn’t want to do it for a living!),” he writes on the site.
There are plenty of other ways you can get creative with your pistol holster. Try knitting your pistol its own cozy, or even crochet a holster belt out of doilies (see below photo for examples). Sure, you’ll probably be laughed off (or kicked out) of the shooting range, but you’ll get bonus points for creativity. Right?
And in this DIY video below, t3hDRIT shows off a holster made for his Airsoft pistol out of duct tape and spray paint.
Note: You might want to abstain from getting too creative because it could jeopardize your safety and the safety of those around you.
Know of any cool and creative holsters you’ve made or found online? Send them our way!
Just in time for the upcoming Shot Show, Blackhawk has added two new pieces to its nylon duty gear lineup.
Made out of Nytek composite fabric, the recently launched gear can be picked up in either a plain or basketweave finish. The Nytek fabric helps to give the belt a fancy leather shine, but the material itself weighs less than traditional leather and is much more breathable. Blackhawk even contends that Nytek is so similar to its leather counterpart that when you get deep down to the belt’s fibers, you can barely tell.
“We have seen rapid adoption of our SERPA holster technology in the law enforcement community, and with the extension of both plain and basketweave finishes to our nylon duty gear lines, officers will now be able to have a complete duty belt system available … regardless of their choice of finish,” said Terry Naughton, Blackhawk’s vice president of marketing, in a prepared statement.
Perhaps the most attractive aspect of Blackhawk’s nylon line is that you can polish it just like leather, yet you can use a 5 percent bleach-water solution to on it to eliminate blood-borne pathogens. This material is also weather resistant, which means it repels water and does not dry out or crack.
Along with the duty belts ($49.99), a range of tactical pouches ($27.99 to $49.99) are also available.
Wondering what is typically included on a duty belt? One man shows the world “all the crap” he carries on his duty belt in the video below.
From the real cops and military personnel to the ones we watch on the big screen, all have at one time or another used one of Glaco’s world-famous holsters. Their products can certainly make you feel like any type of action figure. And now that you’ve been formally introduced, it’s time to get to know Galco a little more intimately. That way, if Galco ever pops up on a Trivial Pursuit question, you’ll be ready to throw down.
$7.25 million – According to Dun & Bradstreet, a business information provider, this is how much Galco rakes in each year.
2,071 – The number of miles Galco’s headquarters in Phoenix are from its top competitor Safariland’s Jackson, Fla., headquarters.
1980 – That’s when Galco International was formally branded. The holster company was initially called “The Original Jackass Leather Company,” which kinda of has a ring to it.
130 – The estimated number of people who work for Galco, another tidbit from Dun & Bradstreet.
20 – Pop “Galco International” in YouTube’s search, and this is how many results you will find. Watch one of the results (below), an interview with Galco’s own Mike Barham about the company’s Hollywood history, as posted by Spookybacon.
1969 – The year Galco was founded by Mr. Gallagher. No, not that Gallagher. Richard N. Gallagher to be more precise. We apologize for the confusion.
The western gun holster, sometimes also called the cowboy holster, has a long history, beginning at the end of the Civil War and American West. Texas Rangers and the United States Border Patrol officers were some of the first to give the idea of decorating gun holsters to holster and saddle makers. Many legendary lawmen of the day also wanted a holster that allowed for quick draw; most of this happened before 1890. Even though the epic days of the Old West were over, both lawmen and citizens still carried weapons as a normal, everyday thing. Newer western styles that came out during this period were more practically designed and more comfortable to wear.
Much later, during the 1940s and 50s, western film and television flourished, and holsters took on a new meaning. They were no longer just a place to put a gun, but instead became an expression of personal style. More thought and innovation went into producing these highly decorated, fancy holsters, and fully lined leather belts and holsters began to pop up. Fancy stamping, carving, and silver trims became popular decoration. Most of the actors who wore these holsters weren’t skilled gunmen, and not too many skilled holster makers still existed, so film took great liberty with the look, style and function of holsters. The designs were, sadly, almost always historically inaccurate. The quick draw we all associate with John Wayne wasn’t possible with frontier-style holsters, but this in no way detracts from the accuracy of cowboys of the Old West. Today, western gun holsters are still used for stage props, western movie and television productions, western reenactments, cowboy shootouts, or just at home on the ranch.
Safariland is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of laminate gun holsters, belts, and accessories used by law enforcement, military, competition, and sporting goods enthusiasts. More than 70 percent of law enforcement professionals in the United States use Safariland products, according to the maker’s website. The company offers a wide array of holster styles made of a number of different materials. The original and most extensive Safariland line is Safari-Laminate. The holsters are made from durable laminate and are best known as being one of the most popular choices of law enforcement professionals. Safari-Laminate is used for many products, including duty holsters, concealment holsters, competition holsters, and shoulder holsters.
The company offers other gun holster material choices as well. STX Tactical is a finish famous for strength, abrasion resistance, and protection. It’s heat-molded to fit the user’s exact weapon and can be easily cleaned. Lined with a suede-like material, it protects the weapon’s finish and absorbs oil from hands or lubricants. Super-Duty looks like leather but comes without the maintenance. It is highly durable and retains its function in hot or cold climate. Nylok and Nylok Pro are Safariland’s fabric options. Nylok Pro uses the Safari-Laminate technology to bond DuPont nylon to an unbreakable shell. Nylok products are made of the same tough material but without the shell interior. As the world’s largest supplier of holsters and duty gear, Safariland is always on the cutting edge of holster making and materials.
Leather is one of the best materials for gun holsters. Leather is fairly stiff but still pliant, and it comes in a number of common choices. Leather holsters are both attractive and pliant, and they come in a number of colors or embossed with designs that give a decorative touch. A leather holster should fit the gun tightly. Some holsters fit with tension screws, and if your holster has these screws, they may need to be tightened or loosened until the desired tension is achieved, especially for the first time you fit your gun into the holster. If the holster seems too tight, the natural leather will stretch, and you can help it along (one of the benefits of a holster made of natural fiber). Holding your unloaded gun by the grip, push it into the holster while holding the safety strap with your other hand. This will allow the handgun to seat in the holster. Do this several times to break in the holster. If your holster does not have a safety strap, hold the holster body while doing the procedure described above.
Ladies who carry weapons have special requirements that men do not and leather holsters often fit a woman’s needs. Leather holsters can be worn at the waist, back, or thigh, but for women, sometimes a more versatile option is necessary. Many companies offer handbags with a slot inside for a weapon. Also, many leather holsters are shaped to better fit against a woman’s body, for both comfort and concealment, if necessary.
The basic function of a holster is to secure and hold a firearm, or another object, in a location where it can be easily accessed. A holster needs to tightly hold onto your firearm, but it also needs to be taken out relatively easy, so users must decide what balance they want to strike between security and accessibility. The simplest holster is a pouch that fits close to the gun. These simple pouches give a fair amount of protection and security, depending on material, and provide much more protection than clip-on holders, which can sometimes be flimsy. Pouch holsters can have a spring-flap closure to keep the gun inside the holster but also keep it even more secure.
A wide range of shapes, materials, and retention/release mechanisms are available on firearm holsters, and some even cover the entire gun. Because gun holsters are used in a wide variety of situations, a lot of options exist. Holsters are usually designed to be used with one hand, and because of this, the holster is usually made of relatively stiff material. But here a balance is necessary, too: if the material is too stiff, the holster might break when pressed between the user’s body and another object, like a wall. Most handgun holsters are made from leather, but nylon and molded plastic, such as Kydex, are also popular choices. Holsters can be worn a number of ways: attached to a belt, clipped to clothing, or inside a pocket. The holster is usually kept near the chest, waist, or upper thigh for easy access.
At Gun Holsters Blog, we explore just that -- the wonderful world of gun holsters. But that's not all: We love firearms, too. Expect to see something gun related every time you stop in and say "hi."
Safariland is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of laminate gun holsters, belts, and accessories used by law enforcement, military, competition, and sporting goods enthusiasts. More than 70 percent of law enforcement professionals in the United States use Safariland products, according to the maker’s website. The company offers a wide array of holster styles made of a number of different materials. The original and most extensive Safariland line is Safari-Laminate. The holsters are made from durable laminate and are best known as being one of the most popular choices of law enforcement professionals. Safari-Laminate is used for many products, including duty holsters, concealment holsters, competition holsters, and shoulder holsters.
