How to Make a Leather Holster

6 MONTH ACCESS

Follow along as I teach you the essential techniques in how to make a leather holster. In this video I will cover cutting techniques, prepping and glue up, edge prep and bevel, machine stitching and more. Everything to get you up to the Wet Forming stage in the next video. Learn how an outside the waistband holster is made the right way using simple tools and attention to detail. 

 
This video is part 2 of my video series on how to make a leather holster. In the first video I cover how to make a pattern to fit your handgun, for those that wish to skip that step – I do have pre-made patterns for sale for almost all models of Glock handguns. The paid video is organized into chapters, to help you find the information you need quickly and use as a reference later on.

19 minutes // Beginner

Tutorial Skills

  • Cutting thick leather
  • Belt slot prep
  • Edge prep and bevel
  • Sanding tips
  • Stitch line placement
  • Glue techniques
  • Machine stitching
  • Stitch compression
  • + more

All Videos in this Series

holster pattern button
Construction - Leather Holster
How To - Wet Forming
finishing holster button
holster secrets button
thumb break holster button
tension screw holster button

Related Patterns

Tools + Materials Needed

I sell various tools and supplies in my online shop here as well ➔

If I don’t have an item shown in the video listed here, I don’t have a link for it so you may have to search around to find a supplier. Links directing to an amazon product are paid links.

Tools needed to make a leather holster

Initial Instruction Preview:

After designing our pattern in the last video, it’s time now to get this holster built. First thing, make sure to have about 2 square feet of vegetable tanned full grain leather. You can purchase your leather with or without dye pre-applied. I prefer mine undyed since I will be finishing the holster by dipping it in hot wax which will change the color to a rich brown. This will be shown in the final video.

how to make a leather holster - cutting out the leather

When tracing out the holster pattern onto the leather I like to use a fine tipped red speedball pen. Don’t worry if there is any red mark left after cutting, it will be sanded or beveled off later. When marking out the reinforcement panel I also take a pricking awl to mark the stitch line leading out to the belt slot. To cut out the leather I have a pair of scissors that will cut through almost anything, and they were never intended for use on leather. Basically the lower edge blade has a mini serration on it that grips the leather while cutting. I’ve found that these are by far the best scissors for leather – most other brands that are intended for leather have no serration and slip constantly. You can get these scissors through my tools and materials links. If you still find it difficult to cut the leather (it is thick and usually a bit dry), you can wet it down a bit using a damp sponge. Let that settle for a few minutes and you will find it quite a bit easier to cut. For tighter inside curves I either do my best with the scissors or I use different sizes of hole punches. And for straight edges I like to use a ruler with the rotary cutter.

tracing the leather holster pattern when making a holster

One thing to note before cutting out the body and reinforcement panel, you will want to place the pattern for the reinforcement back onto the body and align the top edge. I use a pricking awl and mark around the edge about 1/8 inch in. When you get to the belt slot area, go inward and follow the stitch line around the slot. This marking technique shows you where to sand and place the glue. You won’t want to glue in the belt slot area or in the strip of leather next to it since your belt will be passing through that spot. 

beveling the edges of a leather holster

After marking up all of the areas on both the body and the reinforcement panel I will proceed in beveling the edges. Now you don’t need to bevel all of the edges, only the ones that you won’t be able to get to after you glue the reinforcement panel. First you will want to lightly dampen the edges to be beveled. Using a number 2 beveler I bevel the edge on the bottom portion of the body on both the front smooth grain side and the flesh side….

Meet Your Instructor
Mr. Lentz

Over a decade ago in the dusty plains of central Colorado, I began the path of building this small leather goods business. As the years have passed, I have acquired very useful and practical leather working skills that I am more than happy to pass on to those who are looking to learn the trade. A lot of knowledge comes with running a successful leather goods business, and at the heart of it all - remains a deep understanding of how to work with leather, approach problems, and come up with simple and satisfying solutions. Let me pass on a bit that knowledge and advice to you and we can keep the beautiful artistry of leather craft alive.

READ MORE

Meet Your Instructor
Mr. Lentz

Over a decade ago in the dusty plains of central Colorado, I began the path of building this small leather goods business. As the years have passed, I have acquired very useful and practical leather working skills that I am more than happy to pass on to those who are looking to learn the trade. A lot of knowledge comes with running a successful leather goods business, and at the heart of it all - remains a deep understanding of how to work with leather, approach problems, and come up with simple and satisfying solutions. Let me pass on a bit that knowledge and advice to you and we can keep the beautiful artistry of leather craft alive.

READ MORE

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