Frustraited with holster companies
- Thread starter Dimis
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*Klutch*
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There is a bit more to it than just molding it, keep in mind that when you mold it, it will mold to whatever is there but now you have to get the gun and light out and there needs to be a relief for the light to fit in and come out. Also your retention will most likely be with the light and not work with the gun without the light.
you are going to have to obtain or craft some tools to mold it with could get a bit pricey.
you are going to have to obtain or craft some tools to mold it with could get a bit pricey.
*Klutch*
Member
Born out of necessity. I got tired of trying to find a good kydex holster that wasn't $75 or more so I sold my P229r and bought a bunch of "stuff" and went to work until I found a few models that work. So far I have 2 different models that are completely different in design and application. The first being the one you saw and the other for small 9mm/380/32 type pistols for appendix to 3:00 position. My holsters go for $40 shipped for the normal holster called the "KDP" and the other is $35 shipped called the 3 o'clock high. Also on a side note these are all handmade, I don't even use a bandsaw.
Here's that one:Kahr CW9
with a different clip style:KelTec P32
Here's that one:Kahr CW9
with a different clip style:KelTec P32
bigfatdave
Member
If you don't mind sharing, how are you cutting, then?
yeah it so hard almost no one can do it
sorry dave but your attitude is a bit much
sorry if molding wasnt the word everyone would use but either way im giving it a shot before i have to pay friggin FFL fees to ship my gun two ways
kydex isnt that expencive
the electric top heat it isnt that high either
rivets are cheap and my labor is free
compair this to the costs of having someone else do this is a bit rediculous
and even worse if i have to ship the gun twice
$250 was a fair price
sorry dave but your attitude is a bit much
sorry if molding wasnt the word everyone would use but either way im giving it a shot before i have to pay friggin FFL fees to ship my gun two ways
kydex isnt that expencive
the electric top heat it isnt that high either
rivets are cheap and my labor is free
compair this to the costs of having someone else do this is a bit rediculous
and even worse if i have to ship the gun twice
$250 was a fair price
bigfatdave
Member
What the hell are you talking about?
And learn to spell, you are embarrassing gun owners the world over.
Id definitely talk to Jimmy at Kholster.com
His is a supertuck copy and he can make it close and you can finish off the molding yourself.
I have the same Kholster im about to fit to my 3rd gun. I dont have a heat gun, But a few seconds over the electric burner on my stove will soften it enough to remold it to what ever gun i want.
Plus its like $45 shipped.
I know not everyone can or wants or has the time but learning to make your own leather holsters is relaxing and satisfying hobby also.
I own 3 ccw guns but own 8 holsters so each can be used IWB and OWB and one even pocket carried. But its definitely not for everyone.
BTW ive done Kydex myself from knifekits.com and they have all kinds of clips and rivits and chicago screws you may need.
But i cut mine with a hacksaw, Even scissors will work if its thin enough.
Get a few cheap but good files tho, They help alot.
His is a supertuck copy and he can make it close and you can finish off the molding yourself.
I have the same Kholster im about to fit to my 3rd gun. I dont have a heat gun, But a few seconds over the electric burner on my stove will soften it enough to remold it to what ever gun i want.
Plus its like $45 shipped.
I know not everyone can or wants or has the time but learning to make your own leather holsters is relaxing and satisfying hobby also.
I own 3 ccw guns but own 8 holsters so each can be used IWB and OWB and one even pocket carried. But its definitely not for everyone.
BTW ive done Kydex myself from knifekits.com and they have all kinds of clips and rivits and chicago screws you may need.
But i cut mine with a hacksaw, Even scissors will work if its thin enough.
Get a few cheap but good files tho, They help alot.
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plateshooter
Member
I have been making custom Kydex holsters for a few years now. I only make the holster to the customers gun. Everyone is built different, and I make the carry system to the customers wishes.
There is more to making a good holster than heating up some kydex, folding it over the gun, then cutting off the edges. After you make a few hundred, you get it pretty much figured out.
Maybe you can find someone local that will make it for you. That is what I would suggest. I would never make a holster for someone that "might" fit. My goal is to make the holster that doesn't end up in the box of holsters that a lot of us have. Best of luck in your search.
There is more to making a good holster than heating up some kydex, folding it over the gun, then cutting off the edges. After you make a few hundred, you get it pretty much figured out.
Maybe you can find someone local that will make it for you. That is what I would suggest. I would never make a holster for someone that "might" fit. My goal is to make the holster that doesn't end up in the box of holsters that a lot of us have. Best of luck in your search.
I believe the box/drawer of holsters is a rite of passage for serious gun carriers.plateshooter said:
I think the internet has had the effect of making the box less overflowing, but body build and presentation angle seems to still do a pretty good job of filling it
EVIL
Member
dasfriek said:
DasFriek...this is the route I went too...I get a lot of satisfaction from carrying in my own craftsmanship.
I have ordered from knifekits too...a good source for a beginner as there are kydex tutorials on the site...
for the OP...if you start making your own holsters it will really pay off in the long run...just be prepared for some unsatisfactory franken holsters along the way....as you learn the tricks of the trade.
The key is to not give up and before you know it you will be giving them out as christmas gifts to your friends & relatives with guns...
bigfatdave I was talking about David E's snarky comments of "anyone can do it"
and my spelling will have to continue to embarrass gun owners im too old to change or care about grammer/spelling nazis (this is a forum not a formal spelling championship) I figgure if your smart enough to spell better than me than your smart enough to figure out what i said
Dasfriek I have pleanty of tools and im good with my hands so im sure I can get a kydex holster together without too much trouble
I know leather is classier but I dont truthfuly want leather for this gun
Plateshooter I live in Delaware... the home of nothing.
the best I have for local anything is corn and chicken so a Kydex guy thats local is out of the question
I walk into most gun shops and confuse them instantly by asking about AR accessories its shocking how little they know around here
Ive been to knifekits.com and looked around at the products they have so Im really debating just making my own
Im pretty good with my hands and I like tinkering maybe in the end its for the best that I learn to do it anyway
On a plus note I was mistaken about Bladetech
the Emails I recieved were from Tucker Gun Leather Raven and SIDEARMOR... Bladetech responded with a possative maybe but it would most likely bump the price up a bit
a few more weeks till christmas so Ill hold off till then and make a decision
bigfatdave
Member
You know what, I was wrong ... sorry about that.
I might have been fed up with the endless redundant threads (which this is not one of, really) and some truly difficult to read crap postings. Not really an excuse, just too much general annoyance added to what appeared to be an attempted slam in return for polite conversation.
Firefox is an all-around better web browser and has built-in spell-check, that's the best helpful suggestion for that subject I can offer.
If you're going to make your own, I think the biggest challenge would be the cutting steps, I think a bandsaw is the method used by people with a full workshop.
Other than that, you'd need "chicago screws" and/or rivets, belt clips and/or loops, and a heat gun or heavy-duty hairdryer.
I've never made Kydex goodies from scratch, but I've modified a few pieces with the wife's hairdryer set to the highest setting, then gentle re-shaping with a light leather glove on the hand or using a wooden dowel.
Try dropping an EMail to CrossBreed and KHolster as well, they've both responded to me within hours in the past.
I can take and post some pictures of my rigs if you like, for something to imitate, I have an all-kydex rig for some mouseguns and a CZ52 as well as CrossBreed SuperTucks for 1911 and Walther PPS ... nothing with a light though.
If I were setting up for a holstered handgun with light, I'd still make the holster grab the ejection port/trigger-guard/pistol's shape, leaving it useful for the same gun without light or a smaller light if you change up in the future ... in fact the KT P32 holster I actually use was built with room for a laser I don't have/want, it works fine with the gap.
Dimis, the real reason you don't see a lot of holster makers doing holsters for the Taurus PT1911 w/ rail is that there is no replica available from Ring's Blue Guns or ASP for that particular model. Moreover, a holster can't be created for it by using a replica of another railed 1911, because Taurus, for whatever reason, went with an oddball rail contour (their rail is, ostensibly, a Picatinny spec rail, but it hangs lower off the bottom of the dust cover than everyone else in the industry). Holsters made for this gun will pretty much have to be made off the gun itself, and not all holster makers are going to own one.
As has been suggested already, making a holster to work with a mounted tactical weapon light will make things even trickier. It really isn't simply a matter of forming the Kydex to the weapon and light. The shape of the holster has to make way for the insertion of the mounted light, which is generally a little wider than the host pistol, and then retain the whole unit. Study some photos of Kydex holsters made for mounted lights, versus photos of the unholstered pistol w/ mounted light, and you'll see that there's a whole lot of work involved. Honestly, you're going to find that getting geared up for a satisfactory DIY solution for your light mounted application is going to be costly. Pistol/holster snobbery COMPLETELY aside, it probably would be more economical for you to trade your Taurus in on another pistol that has a more common rail configuration. On the other hand, you could elect to make a holster for your Taurus w/o the light mounted, but then I suppose that would somewhat defeat your purpose for having the rail.
As has been suggested already, making a holster to work with a mounted tactical weapon light will make things even trickier. It really isn't simply a matter of forming the Kydex to the weapon and light. The shape of the holster has to make way for the insertion of the mounted light, which is generally a little wider than the host pistol, and then retain the whole unit. Study some photos of Kydex holsters made for mounted lights, versus photos of the unholstered pistol w/ mounted light, and you'll see that there's a whole lot of work involved. Honestly, you're going to find that getting geared up for a satisfactory DIY solution for your light mounted application is going to be costly. Pistol/holster snobbery COMPLETELY aside, it probably would be more economical for you to trade your Taurus in on another pistol that has a more common rail configuration. On the other hand, you could elect to make a holster for your Taurus w/o the light mounted, but then I suppose that would somewhat defeat your purpose for having the rail.
no big deal I can understand the frustration
bandsaw... check
chicago screws... check (or I can order rivets from knife kits)
rivit tools... check
heatgun... check (also seen a toaster oven method which i also have a spare so... check)
THANK YOU SERAPH!!!!
thats the exact answer I needed in the first place.
my original question was what was SO much different about the taurus vs others
thats pretty much the feeling on it
I have the taurus holster for the gun without a light attatched and it works great for when I dont need the light
problem is I prefer the light mounted because
A: Im used to the weight now
B: Why remove a useful part
I still believe Ill attempt a one off holster on my own
it will be a learning experience and if I fail... I fail wont be the first time wont be the last
Im too hardheaded to quit and too attatched to the gun now to trade it in (at least this early in the game)
other than the holster issue im very happy with how my taurus handles and shoots
next time tho I will seriously research before I purchase a gun for holster fitment etc.
unloved
Member
I've got a lot of experience with building Kydex gear, and lemme tell ya, it ain't as easy as many people think it is. There's a lot more to it than just warmin' up some plastic and slappin' it onto a gun.
A few photos to establish my credentials:
I expect that the reason you can't easily find anyone who makes what you're looking for, Dimis, is that Ring's doesn't make Taurus 1911 Blue Guns. I'm kind of surprised that some of the bigger Kydex holster companies don't have Taurus guns on hand, but for small custom makers like me (and others who've posted here) it just isn't possible to buy an example of every gun that we think someone might one day want a holster for.
In order to build a holster, you've got to have the exact model gun, a gun that's exactly the same in all critical dimensions, or a very good facsimile. Throw in a weapon mounted light, and now you need someone who has access to that particular gun, and that particular light.
A few photos to establish my credentials:
I expect that the reason you can't easily find anyone who makes what you're looking for, Dimis, is that Ring's doesn't make Taurus 1911 Blue Guns. I'm kind of surprised that some of the bigger Kydex holster companies don't have Taurus guns on hand, but for small custom makers like me (and others who've posted here) it just isn't possible to buy an example of every gun that we think someone might one day want a holster for.
In order to build a holster, you've got to have the exact model gun, a gun that's exactly the same in all critical dimensions, or a very good facsimile. Throw in a weapon mounted light, and now you need someone who has access to that particular gun, and that particular light.
David E
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Snarky? Heck, if you believe the comments online, it seems that anyone can do it, needing only the desire and a Bic lighter.
There is a vast difference between making a true functioning holster and bending something out of kydex that, by mere happenstance, can also hold a gun.
As I said, it's not rocket science, but there are a few tricks. Many of which have not yet been discovered by folks charging for their work.
I've inspected some holsters that have numerous flaws and shortcomings in both design and execution, but I read online about how "great" this or that brand is. I can only conclude they haven't yet handled or used a truly good holster to compare to.
I hope the OP keeps us posted on his progress, along with pics.
David...
My apologies I don't doubt there is some level of skill and tricks to the trade but at the same time I felt as if you were attacking me because I was willing to at least try
I stated earlier that Christmas has depleted my funds so I wont get around to it till after the holidays but when I do get my opportunity I will post progress and pictures
any helpful hints are welcome also so that I may have less difficulty in my attempt
Oh and to please the other Dave I downloaded a spell checker for my browser lol
My apologies I don't doubt there is some level of skill and tricks to the trade but at the same time I felt as if you were attacking me because I was willing to at least try
I stated earlier that Christmas has depleted my funds so I wont get around to it till after the holidays but when I do get my opportunity I will post progress and pictures
any helpful hints are welcome also so that I may have less difficulty in my attempt
Oh and to please the other Dave I downloaded a spell checker for my browser lol
David E
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No, I wasn't attacking you, only trying to explain why there are no holstermakers pursuing the Taurus 1911, much less with a light attached. It just isn't worthwhile.
I commend you for wanting to try your hand at kydex bending, but I wanted to point out that some people, who have never done it (hey, just file it!) or did it extremely poorly, have posted about how easy it is.
I will tell you this: I've made several 1000 kydex holsters and I hate making them for a gun with a mounted light. To do it right takes awhile.
I suggest you try making a holster for the gun only first.
Don't use less than .093 thick kydex. The thinner stuff is easier to work, but the resulting holster won't hold up for the long term. (I use .125 thick) Get a heat gun and forget about using the stove top heating elements and a Bic lighter. (I actually know the guy that used the lighter) Go slow, wear gloves and remember that kydex will always want to go flat, unless you prevent it. Oh, and if it bubbles, it's too hot!
There's a learning curve. It all depends what your time and frustration is worth.
If I had access to a Taurus, I'd make you one. The LGS has one for $650 and I fear I'd never make my money back on that one.
Best of luck!
Above is the holster I just got in from KLUTCH. Very nice and snaps are very secure. He even "pre-curves" it so that it fits around the hip better. Super tight hold on the gun. I literally shook the gun (unloaded of course!) to try to get it to come out of the holster..no dice! I highly recommend his work!
*Klutch*
Member
Thanks sloman, I would like to add that he is an awesome guy, waited very patiently a few extra days for the holster cause I was sick and he also prepaid me for it which is almost unheard of these days and not normally how I do it but it is appreciated.
Tom thanks again be safe and Happy New Year!
Tom thanks again be safe and Happy New Year!
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