Holster Material?

[Bowlcut]

If you were to make a holster for your weapon, being a two tone gun like a bersa 380, what would you make it out of?

I want to make one for my dad, he is wanting something very specific. Well more like a specfic place to put the holster. It needs to be a soft or semi soft material. So no kydex or hard plastics. Probaly little bit of sweat, but nothing major. Daily wear for atleast 5 hours, basicly time from leaving work till home and weekends as he cant wear at work.

I was thinking leather, but hand making something seems a bit daunting with pretty stiff leather. Thought like neoprene since its very soft and flexable, plus water resistant. Im worried about sweat soak sorta. Thinking atleast to of these, so he can swap them out allowing proper airing out time of each.

Any ideas? Probaly needs a thumb strap as the position it will be in may allow gun to fall out if not retained, but of course one hand opperation. Quiet would be key also, any tips on a quiet retention method

 

[Old Fuff]

I hesitate to be specific because I don't understand exactly what you have in mind, but if I was looking for a light, flexible material that was sweat resistant I would consider the very heavy plastic material usually used for chair upholstery. If it was too thin you could bond two pieces together with contact cement. You could also contact cement an outer layer of upholstery material to leather, as the outer “skin†would block sweat.

The only reliable method I know of to retain a gun in a soft holster is a safety strap of some kind. Medium-weight leather can be molded around a gun, I don’t believe soft plastic can.

 

[10-Ring]

Sounds like leather is the obvious choice

 

[PCRCCW]

You have many things you need to really think about before you make a holster for your dad....not knocking you or your thoughts at all....K?

But if its not right it simply wont work. Not enough retention, the gun goes see ya" and too much it wont come out properly if needed.

Thumb breaks are pretty straight forward if you have the gun to work with and try a couple of times.

Question??? Why not just get him a "good but still reasonable" leather holster for it, biacchi and a zillion other companies make 30-40$ holsters that have breaks for the generic "walther pp, 230, Bersa" etc......
Look at the Biancchi Pro 100 IWB for a decent and cheap holster..........

If you cant find anything that will work...email me and Ill help you sort it all out. Sorry for the "be careful" tone of my reply...but its your dad and his carry gun.....pretty big deal......

Shoot well..........

 

[JoeWang]

Neoprene is designed to isolate moisture, not wick. Leather has the same issue with retaining moisture and not wicking.

Moisture + salt + metal = rust. The death of all guns.

 

[PCRCCW]

It depends on what type of neoprene he's talking about. Closed cell sponge wont absorb moisture. Open cell will.....
Plain neoprene elastomer sheeting wont absorb water....non sponge style.

Actually none of them is well suited for a holster material. They have no tensile strength unless your talking about the sheeting.

A properly made leather holster will resist moisture for the most part....finished properly it will repell moisture much like horsehide does.
But in its raw/natural state..its very absorbant and doesnt wick like you point out.

Its still a better choice of materials..you can always make it resist moisture with a finish.......

Always wipe your gun down..........................

Shoot well.

 

[Bowlcut]

well the best way to say how it will be "mounted" is in a fashion similar to a shoulder rig. Gun almost hoizontal. I have thought about a few ideas of modifying a cheap holster but I just cant see it working well. I had an uncle mikes #1 and was trying that but without some sort of retention gun can side out a little too easily. Maybe sewing a simple neoprene strap across the back that streaches so it can be streched over the hammer, and easily and quietly pushed off the hammer.

Dad is a black belt and a skilled talker, he has always tried to be very covert in his actions. The few times he has had his hand on his gun in somewhat need, he has talked his way out or backed out. He used to do this with his knife but age caught up so he wasnt as fast and stepmom wanted him to get a gun. Now he carries it daily, or when he can.

I dont want to go into much detail as what Id like to make might fill a small niche market....heck im a little buisness man ya know . If it works for dad it would likely work for others. And making a decent holster cant be too hard....ive seen some very simple designs that are easily made. Yea form fitted leather...out of my league. But I think something can be made.

No real skin contact...atleast a tshirt between gun and body. Needs to be light weight and HIGHLY flexable if no gun is in it. Say when he has to disarm in the truck, Id like to not have to make him remove the holster every time. Neoprene type material as in the uncle mikes #1 really sparked my intrest. I may use it as I already got him it, but I dont know how long it wil hold up. Maybe a really thin smooth leather?

 

[clubsoda22]

something like this maybe? It's probably a little difficult to access, but such is the problem with deep cover.