Smith M19 Holster

rodfac · December 18, 2019, 01:41 PM

Christmas is just around the corner and I've been busy with some leather work for friends and family:

4 OWB holsters for an equal number of Smith Shields
Another OWB for a Glock 19, and one for a Smith M28
Plus a cpl of knife sheaths

This last one, pictured, is for my own Smith M19 & M66. Gotta say, my fingers are sore after all this...all are double needle & awl stitched...(only stuck myself once, but it was to the bone) and I used 9 oz. tooling leather for the outer shell, with vegetable tanned pig skin for the linings.

This is my favorite configuration...OWB, with a slight forward tilt to accomodate the old FBI - 4 o'clock carry. After 50+ years of carrying there, I doubt my hand could go anywhere else.

I line them to minimize wear on gun finishes, locate the belt loop for a 1-1/2" gun belt, and burnish all edges with an antler tip. Lastly, I've got a stamp set to mark the inner face with gun type, our name and the date it was made. There's a lot of satisfaction building one...and it's a pass down to my sons, DIL's and friends that means something to them.

Just an old man's meanderings here...and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and an "accurate" new year. Best Regards, Rod

KyJim · December 18, 2019, 10:20 PM

Nice holster for a couple of nice revolvers. When I think of my favorite gifts, they are almost always something that somebody has made for me. I'm sure your friends and family members will feel the same.

upstate81 · December 20, 2019, 09:20 AM

Nice work! Some of my favorite shootin irons as well.

rodfac · December 20, 2019, 08:39 PM

Thx guys for the kind remarks...that pigskin lining does a cpl things: it makes for a smoother presentation from the leather in that the gun slides easier, and it also precludes the front sight from picking up a bunch of "leather dust", nor does it wear like an unlined holster. It's also vegetable tanned, which makes it less likely to rust your blued steel beauty. The down side is that it more than doubles the amount of hand stitching required. Rod

smee78 · December 20, 2019, 08:57 PM

Wow, I like those. I bet my M19 6inch nickel would look great in one of those. Great work you did, congrats on the fine gifts you made, I'm sure they will love them.

J.G. Terry · January 2, 2020, 06:36 AM

You friends are going to get something special for Christmas. Your holsters are professional quality. Excellent work.

USSR · January 2, 2020, 07:05 AM

You are a craftsman, Rod. Good work.

Don

HighValleyRanch · January 2, 2020, 10:30 AM

As someone who has done a bunch of leatherwork, I can appreciate your work!
Very professional looking.
What dye do you use?

rodfac · January 2, 2020, 07:30 PM

I like Tandy supplied Eco Flow (water based) Gel Antique in black, and the same brand of edge dressing to follow burnishing. It takes 3-5 applications to get a good uniform look but it's deep and takes a beating when done. Thanks for the kind remarks, one and all. The holsters went over big with the guys this Xmas...we all carry and it's fun to get what they want, exactly.

Here's a plug for Tandy Leather....when our #2 son was flying in Afghanistan, our local Tandy sent him all the leather and supplies he could use at their cost. He made up a lot of the specialty harness rigs for the special forces guys working out of Bagram, 6-8 years ago. Good people there at Tandy and very helpful with tips and tricks.

Best wishes for a New Year, Rod

December 18, 2019, 01:41 PM	#1
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Smith M19 Holster Christmas is just around the corner and I've been busy with some leather work for friends and family: 4 OWB holsters for an equal number of Smith Shields Another OWB for a Glock 19, and one for a Smith M28 Plus a cpl of knife sheaths This last one, pictured, is for my own Smith M19 & M66. Gotta say, my fingers are sore after all this...all are double needle & awl stitched...(only stuck myself once, but it was to the bone) and I used 9 oz. tooling leather for the outer shell, with vegetable tanned pig skin for the linings. This is my favorite configuration...OWB, with a slight forward tilt to accomodate the old FBI - 4 o'clock carry. After 50+ years of carrying there, I doubt my hand could go anywhere else. I line them to minimize wear on gun finishes, locate the belt loop for a 1-1/2" gun belt, and burnish all edges with an antler tip. Lastly, I've got a stamp set to mark the inner face with gun type, our name and the date it was made. There's a lot of satisfaction building one...and it's a pass down to my sons, DIL's and friends that means something to them. Just an old man's meanderings here...and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and an "accurate" new year. Best Regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

December 20, 2019, 08:39 PM	#4
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Thx guys for the kind remarks...that pigskin lining does a cpl things: it makes for a smoother presentation from the leather in that the gun slides easier, and it also precludes the front sight from picking up a bunch of "leather dust", nor does it wear like an unlined holster. It's also vegetable tanned, which makes it less likely to rust your blued steel beauty. The down side is that it more than doubles the amount of hand stitching required. Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

December 20, 2019, 08:57 PM	#5
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Wow, I like those. I bet my M19 6inch nickel would look great in one of those. Great work you did, congrats on the fine gifts you made, I'm sure they will love them. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

January 2, 2020, 06:36 AM	#6
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	You friends are going to get something special for Christmas. Your holsters are professional quality. Excellent work. __________________ Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems

January 2, 2020, 07:05 AM	#7
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	You are a craftsman, Rod. Good work. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

December 18, 2019, 10:20 PM	#2
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	Nice holster for a couple of nice revolvers. When I think of my favorite gifts, they are almost always something that somebody has made for me. I'm sure your friends and family members will feel the same.

December 20, 2019, 09:20 AM	#3
upstate81 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: NY Posts: 801	Nice work! Some of my favorite shootin irons as well.

January 2, 2020, 10:30 AM	#8
HighValleyRanch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2005 Posts: 4,066	As someone who has done a bunch of leatherwork, I can appreciate your work! Very professional looking. What dye do you use? __________________ From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail"

January 2, 2020, 07:30 PM	#9
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	I like Tandy supplied Eco Flow (water based) Gel Antique in black, and the same brand of edge dressing to follow burnishing. It takes 3-5 applications to get a good uniform look but it's deep and takes a beating when done. Thanks for the kind remarks, one and all. The holsters went over big with the guys this Xmas...we all carry and it's fun to get what they want, exactly. Here's a plug for Tandy Leather....when our #2 son was flying in Afghanistan, our local Tandy sent him all the leather and supplies he could use at their cost. He made up a lot of the specialty harness rigs for the special forces guys working out of Bagram, 6-8 years ago. Good people there at Tandy and very helpful with tips and tricks. Best wishes for a New Year, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.