Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

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GabbyHaze

Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

Hi Guys,
I wanted a new holster that would ride up higher to conceal my weapon better. I also wanted the gun to tilt forward a bit for easier access to it and I wanted a thumb break to secure the gun in place while traveling. So I set out to make my own holster for my Ruger SP101.

Here is the Ruger SP101 along with 2 pieces of Horse Hide and a Food Vacuum sealer.
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Next I vacuum sealed the gun to keep it dry.
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Then I placed a wet pc. of horse hide under and over the gun and then vacuum sealed it in a bag. This sucks the leather ( in this case horse hid ) down to the gun and molds it. Then I placed it in the fridge over night to let it mold to the gun good.
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I took the molded pcs. out of the fridge and opened the bag, here is what it looks like. ( the horse hide is still wet at this point ).
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Here is another picture of the 2 molded halves after I took them out of the fridge and opened the bag they were in.
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I then took these 2 wet halves and put them on dryer racks to let them dry good.
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After the 2 molded pcs. dried I glued the 2 halves together and used 2 milk jugs and some clothes pins to hold them together to dry.
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After they were dry I started to sew them together. I also used a pc. of chalk to outline the shape I wanted. I sew the 2 halves together with the gun in between them to get a good tight fit. ( never use a pen or pensile to outline, the chalk comes off easy and won't ruin your project )
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The first outline of the gun is sewn.
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Here I started trimming some of the holster. Be very very careful when trimming, do a little at a time so you don't cut off to much, you can always go back later to re-trim.
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The gun in the holster testing the fit.
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Here I punched 4 holes for the belt slits.
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After punching the belt slit holes I used a knife to finish making the belt slits.
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Here I used a stitching spacer and then I used an Awl to pre punch the stitching holes.
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With the rest of the stitching done I finished trimming the holster and then I sanded the edges using a Dremmel tool and a hand sanding block. I then added the snap for the thumb break.
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Here is the holster sitting on top of my stitching horse. It's just about done, I just had a little bit of last minute trimming to do.
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Here is the finished product.
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These are all the tools I used to make this holster. ( The Hand Sanding Block and Dremmel tool with sanding wheel are not shown )
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I hope this helps anyone out there who wishes to try to make their own holster.

JT
madman4570
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by madman4570 »

Absolutely ingenius! :mrgreen:
That is cool,and ya know it fits your gun.
Very well done Sir!
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

madman4570 wrote:Absolutely ingenius! :mrgreen:
That is cool,and ya know it fits your gun.
Very well done Sir!

Thank you,
I posted this to show people they don't have to spend big money on leather holsters. I purchased that horse hide for $34.00 and I've made 2 holsters, a knife sheath, a key chain, a spare mag. pouch and a zippo lighter case from it.
I'm hoping this will encourage others to try to make their own holsters and things they need.

JT
Phideaux
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by Phideaux »

Very informative, thanks for sharing.
Hagler
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by Hagler »

Gabby,

Thanks for sharing your methods with all of us. Very, very nice. I love to see how other people make things. Your first tutorial made me consider a Seal-A-Meal that I saw at a local Goodwill store. :idea: Now, this tutorial makes me want to truck on down to the Goodwill, and look for one that I will buy. :D :!: :idea:

Shawn
"That's right, Billy, I'm good with it. I hit what I shoot at, and I'm fast!"-Lucas McCain, c1882.
ImageImage
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

Hagler wrote:Gabby,

Thanks for sharing your methods with all of us. Very, very nice. I love to see how other people make things. Your first tutorial made me consider a Seal-A-Meal that I saw at a local Goodwill store. :idea: Now, this tutorial makes me want to truck on down to the Goodwill, and look for one that I will buy. :D :!: :idea:

Shawn

Go for it Hagler,
I know you will have a lot of fun making your own projects and I bet you'll be really good at it to. Don't forget to take pics of your projects and share them with us. :D

JT
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gamekeeper
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by gamekeeper »

Gabby,
I have a book on making holsters etc. but your post makes the book obsolete!
Great post and great pictures, thanks for sharing. :D
If more men loved and cherished their wives as much as I love bacon the world would be a much better place.
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

game keeper wrote:Gabby,
I have a book on making holsters etc. but your post makes the book obsolete!
Great post and great pictures, thanks for sharing. :D

LOL,
I don't know about that, I get a lot of good design imformation from books and the internet, I just have my own way of doing things. :D ( Might not be the right way, but it works for me )
Are you thinking of making your own holsters? ( I hope so ). It's really not as hard as you'd think and it's fun. Plus there's just a good feeling that comes from carrying your gun in a holster you made yourself.
Have a Great day.

JT
Chas.
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by Chas. »

Those vacuum packers are also good for when you're packing clothing and are space-limited, as in backpack. You'd be surprised what one can do to a pair of socks or a T-shirt.
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gamekeeper
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by gamekeeper »

Gabby, I have made a few knife pouches etc. I was only showing Shirley (GF) the leather work book at the weekend, as she said she would like to take up a new hobby. I will be sure to show her your post. :D
Regards

John.
If more men loved and cherished their wives as much as I love bacon the world would be a much better place.
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

game keeper wrote:Gabby, I have made a few knife pouches etc. I was only showing Shirley (GF) the leather work book at the weekend, as she said she would like to take up a new hobby. I will be sure to show her your post. :D
Regards

John.


Howdy Game Keeper,
To be honest with you and the rest of the guys here I have learning troubles. I can't ( and never could ) read something and figure out how to do it by reading a book. I can learn from watching a video or watching someone else do something, but not by a book. Most of what I've made I taught myself through trial and error and used my own ideas to make what I want.
I think it's a great idea for Shirley and you to take up leather working. It's a lot of fun to make your own stuff and you could sell it to if you wanted. I hope the both of you do well at it and have a great time doing it.
I am disabled with a progressive ( meaning it will get worse ) degenerative Spine and joint disease. It's eating away at 75 to 80% of the joints in my body and my spine and causes a lot of swelling and pain. So t takes me forever to make a project because I have to stop a lot and wait for the swelling in my hands to go down before I can continue. So this is strickly a hobby for me that I can do when I'm feeling up to it.
Post some pics of your projects as you get them done, I'd love to see them.
JT
BobM
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by BobM »

Very Interesting!
CEMENTHEAD
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by CEMENTHEAD »

:mrgreen: :D

That is nice!

I have the same pistol, wanna make me one? LOL

Thanks, Tom
War sees no color, sex, or ethnic background - wars only see blood shed by our heroes for our freedoms.

I Am An American! Fighting for our Country and our way of life.

Fourth Generation Veteran and Proud !!
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

CEMENTHEAD wrote::mrgreen: :D

That is nice!

I have the same pistol, wanna make me one? LOL

Thanks, Tom

Thanks,
No, but feel free to use my pictures and directions to make yourself one. :D
CEMENTHEAD
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by CEMENTHEAD »

Thanks Gabby!

I'm not quite that eager to try it....I'll end up stitching my fingers together!...LOL

Thanks, Tom
War sees no color, sex, or ethnic background - wars only see blood shed by our heroes for our freedoms.

I Am An American! Fighting for our Country and our way of life.

Fourth Generation Veteran and Proud !!
soon 2 retire
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by soon 2 retire »

Gabby,

What is the wooden handled tool next to the ball peen hammer?




Bob in NE Indiana
Don't look back something might be gaining on you.
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GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

CEMENTHEAD wrote:Thanks Gabby!

I'm not quite that eager to try it....I'll end up stitching my fingers together!...LOL

Thanks, Tom

Trust me when I tell you this. Before I got smart and used learned to use an awl to prepunch my stitching holes I used to just push the needle through the leather ( which is very hard ) and I stuck myself right to the bone with the stitching awl. Once you do it, you be cafeful not to do it again. :D

JT
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

soon 2 retire wrote:Gabby,

What is the wooden handled tool next to the ball peen hammer?




Bob in NE Indiana

Hi Bob,
That is a Stitching Groover. It's used to make a groove in the leather for your stitching to lay in, this way it doesn't stick up higher than the leather. Here is a better look at that tool. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home ... roduct_219 . It's a must have for leather work !!!

JT
RSY
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by RSY »

These are a couple that Hagler made for me about four years ago (man, time flies). I carry my 3" SP101 in the black holster. I know he didn't set out to do so, but that holster couldn't be a better fit for the SP101. I especially like the detachable strap because I can carry it secured when I'm working around the ranch, and when I use it for concealed carry I take the strap off altogether.

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GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

RSY wrote:These are a couple that Hagler made for me about four years ago (man, time flies). I carry my 3" SP101 in the black holster. I know he didn't set out to do so, but that holster couldn't be a better fit for the SP101. I especially like the detachable strap because I can carry it secured when I'm working around the ranch, and when I use it for concealed carry I take the strap off altogether.

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Very nice !! Good job Hagler :D

JT
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

[quote="RSY"]



RSY,

Here is a set I made for a friends Hi Point .380. I made the holster, mag pouch, zippo lighter case and key chain out of horse hide.

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Hagler
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by Hagler »

RSY,

:D I am thrilled, and a bit humbled, that you are still using those holsters. What a blast! :D 4 years seems like 4 months. Time sure flies.

**************************

Gabby,

If you want to see some more of my leather creations, then you can look at my gallery, here:

www.bigloopleather.com

Shawn
"That's right, Billy, I'm good with it. I hit what I shoot at, and I'm fast!"-Lucas McCain, c1882.
ImageImage
GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

Hagler wrote:RSY,

:D I am thrilled, and a bit humbled, that you are still using those holsters. What a blast! :D 4 years seems like 4 months. Time sure flies.

**************************

Gabby,

If you want to see some more of my leather creations, then you can look at my gallery, here:

http://www.bigloopleather.com

Shawn

I checked it out Shawn,
Very nice, keep up the great work !!

JT
RSY
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by RSY »

Hagler wrote:RSY,

:D I am thrilled, and a bit humbled, that you are still using those holsters. What a blast! :D 4 years seems like 4 months. Time sure flies.
Well, it's definitely one of my favorite mementos from my time in Louisiana. I still appreciate them. Maybe I'll post a more recent photo of it so you can see how it's held up. As you'll recall, though, I had to quit using the pocket holster because the tanning agent was messing with the nickel finish on the S&W.

You and Carla often come to mind and I hope y'all are doing well in your new place. In fact, I still follow St. Tammany news because I still feel a connection to the place. By the way, have they solved that case of the burned car with the Slidell woman in it down by the lake, yet?

Scott
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Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by Old Savage »

Thanks for that very interesting post.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

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GabbyHaze

Re: Handmade Ruger SP101 Holster

Post by GabbyHaze »

Old Savage wrote:Thanks for that very interesting post.

Your welcome.

JT
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