The Rohrbaugh Forum

Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh Accessories => Topic started by: K-Man on April 25, 2006, 11:38:59 PM

Title: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: K-Man on April 25, 2006, 11:38:59 PM

Here's a couple of pics of a portion of my workshop.  I recently finished up laying down some commercial grade carpet.  That was loads of fun, especially having to move all the equipment and cabinets around by myself.  ::)  The other half of the shop is still undergoing upgrades/renovation.  I hope to have it done in the next month.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/Shop1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/Shop1a.jpg)

Here's the most important piece of equipment:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/Shop1b.jpg)

The machine is 30 years old, and still keeps the soda ice-cold.  It will hold either cans or bottles, and will hold up to 50 cans.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: harrydog on April 26, 2006, 08:06:52 AM

Very cool - thanks for posting. Looks like a nice place to work.
I'd really love to see some photos of a holster in the various stages of construction, if that's possible.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: theirishguard on April 26, 2006, 10:33:22 AM

good looking rolls of leather. Thanks for posting
Tom

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: K-Man on April 26, 2006, 10:36:59 AM

Yes, the shop is becoming a great place to work.  I spend a lot of time there, so I try to make it as comfortable as possible.

Here's some pics that show the basic steps in putting together a holster.  

This is the basic cut out of all the pieces needed:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/e331bbbe.jpg)

The gluing/sewing on of the reinforcement band and belt slide piece:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/631b21e4.jpg)

The gluing of where the two sides will meet:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/51ca2767.jpg)

The sewing of where the two sides meet:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/9cafa972.jpg)

The beveling of the edges, as part of the slicking of the edges:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/98da6d68.jpg)

The wet-molding of the holster to the gun:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/f5a5c459.jpg)

The finished holster after being dyed and final finish applied:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Leathercrafter/4070181e.jpg)

There are a couple of other "processes" that occur during all of this, but these are the basic steps in making the holster.  Each holster maker may have variants on how they get from the beginning to end, but there are a lot of similarities, too.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: RJ HEDLEY on April 26, 2006, 03:30:04 PM

Very good post Kevin...

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: Michigunner on April 26, 2006, 05:21:09 PM

I really enjoyed seeing those pictures.  

Someday, could you show more detail about how the leather is shaped to closely fit the pistol?

Bill

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: theirishguard on April 26, 2006, 06:02:44 PM

very nice post and photos on your business. Why all the Coke signs?
Tom

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: R9SCarry on April 26, 2006, 10:19:58 PM

Tom - Kevin is a Coke fan! :)

Great to see the ''step-by-step'' pics Kevin, excellent. :)

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: harrydog on April 27, 2006, 09:18:55 PM

Thanks for posting that. Like Michigunner, I would also be curious as to how you actually wet mold the leather to take the shape of the gun.  It's called boning, isn't it?

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: MountainMan on April 27, 2006, 09:57:54 PM

Excellent Kevin - very informative and a nice shop.  Now I want a coke and don't have any.

I really enjoyed it!

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: kanuist on March 14, 2009, 09:50:54 PM

Kevin,

Nice post, very informative.  I really like the belt too!

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: Jack Foulard on March 15, 2009, 01:25:40 AM

6 weeks shy of 2 weeks.  Way to go.

I too devoured all I could read a while back.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: Richard S on March 15, 2009, 09:41:06 AM

Seeing this thread brought forward prompted me to post again a photograph of one of Kevin's completed works of art (a custom-made adjustable "Paddle Defender" trimmed in shark skin for my HK P7). I do this just as a testament to the quality of Kevin's work for those of you who are contemplating an order or are about to receive one of his holsters:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/RichardS/HKP7withKDHolster.jpg)

(I might also note that, because of the P7's short barrel, this adjustable rig is particularly comfortable in the cross-draw configuration when riding in an automobile.)

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: JJ62 on March 15, 2009, 12:05:46 PM

Kevin
The shop looks great wish you the best of luck
Jim

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: K-Man on March 15, 2009, 01:29:11 PM

Quote

Kevin
The shop looks great wish you the best of luck
Jim

Look at the date of my original post - nearly 3 years ago.  We've since moved twice to new locations.   ::)

RichardS:

Thanks for the kind words and the posting of the picture.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: theirishguard on March 15, 2009, 01:44:29 PM

how time flys when we are having fun.  Tom

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: jerseyboy on March 24, 2009, 10:51:48 PM

Kevin,

Just a point of interest - what is your take on suede lined holsters.   Does it cut down on wear on finishes such as Diamond Black ?  

Thanks,

JerseyBoy

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: slashsplat on May 18, 2009, 04:08:56 AM

Boning and Coke, what a great combo!

As a proud K&D owner, love to see more on the forming process.  Can't say boning without laughing...

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: K-Man on May 20, 2009, 11:42:32 AM

slashsplat:

The basic forming of the holster is done by wetting the holster and placing the gun in the holster.  Then we utilize a 6-ton press to give us the basic form/lines of the gun in the holster.  Then we utilize a couple of different tools to chase/follow those lines.  We also get the leather to form more closely to the gun by basically molding the leather around the shape of the gun - kind of like making something out of clay.  You push, smooth, press, around the contours of the gun.

Title: Re: Making of a Holster at K&D Holsters
Post by: kjtrains on May 20, 2009, 12:23:21 PM

Interesting!!   :)    :)