I'm going to mock up a chest holster for my Glock Model 40, then make the holster itself of leather and the harness system using supplies from these guys:
http://www.strapworks.com/default.asp?gclid=CjwKEAiAlNbEBRCv9uy4j4SWrgwSJAB5MqJFLumVTgoVuL28e-OQ0F_UL66M9QBE-iopU6K6_lbCBRoCtm3w_wcB
Hope to end up with something very like the Kenai from Gunfightersinc, but avoiding the noisy Kydex element.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/BillOregon/fullsizeoutput_832_zps67utnf8i.jpeg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BillOregon/media/fullsizeoutput_832_zps67utnf8i.jpeg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/BillOregon/fullsizeoutput_831_zpsnjz5o5ja.jpeg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BillOregon/media/fullsizeoutput_831_zpsnjz5o5ja.jpeg.html)
I've made a dozen or so holsters over the years and it isn't rocket science. Here are the working patterns. The back piece will be of heavy 10-12-ounce skirting leather, while the wet-molded front piece will be of 6-8 ounce -- all of this oak tanned of course. I will make the shoulder strap of 2-inch wide elastic webbing, and the abdominal strap of 1 1/2-inch elastic webbing. The bottom one-inch strap will be of leather, and will attach to my belt. This will anchor the holster firmly against the friction of the draw.
Will post when I get this thing under way.
Ended up using 8-ounce horsehide for the back and 5-ounce oak-tanned cowhide for molded top. This is the "beta testing" version so far. Got my order for webbing and buckles in to Strapworks.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/BillOregon/fullsizeoutput_833_zpsz2oharvm.jpeg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/BillOregon/media/fullsizeoutput_833_zpsz2oharvm.jpeg.html)
Cool, looking forward to seeing the end product!
Funny how life gets in the way of best-laid plans. Since I last posted in this thread, Photobucket took all of us down, I got a surprise divorce and moved to New Mexico and I sold the Model 40 and all my 10 stuff. As of now, I have another Model 40 with a ZEV trigger and KKM barrel inbound, and I went over my beta version of the chest rig and started over after making some design changes. So I should have photos of the new rig to post here very shortly.
Well, that had to suck. Sorry, and hope you are in a better place after all the turmoil.
SQL: Thanks. Just have to make do with the hand dealt. I am liking the desert after having spent most of my 65 years in the Pacific Northwest rain!
Here's a shot of where I am at this morning on the holster. You can see by the odd shape of the beta holster that I failed to fully account for how the leather would stretch; I should have used a larger piece.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/790/26471159957_dbc459d2fd.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GkaBBB)
This is basically how I shaped the 6-ounces veg-tanned leather, first thoroughly soaking or "casing" it and then letting it sit for a half hour in a zip lock bag. It becomes highly moldable. I am glad it occurred to me to cut out the shape of the back layer of the holster on a piece of plywood with a band saw, as it gave me something really firm to clamp to.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/25Zk6gX](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/41342884761_5dd9a4f539.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GkaBBB) (https://flic.kr/p/25Zk6gX)
I sure like my Kenai chest rig, and yes, they are noisy.
Got her done. Glued with Barge, double-stitched with waxed linen, copper riveted in key places, Obenauf's rubbed in and harness restitched. I think it is going to be a swell holster, just based on wearing it around the house.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/897/41307847682_579f6b9d87.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25WevYo)
Hey, no wisecracks about the gut, guys. "Honey, does this make me look fat?"
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/41307848182_8d5397fe4c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25Wew81)
cool great when one can stay on course despite few forks in the road.
Happy to scan and email the patterns if anyone is interested in making their own. Strapworks is super-easy to work with.
Nice job Bill!
Looks very professional. Great job.
Nice, I like it, awesome work