12 replies to this topic

[NerfMonkey]

NOTE: Most of the credit for this writeup goes to BW, whose L'nL holster gave me most of the ideas I used in this one, especially the clips.

I had the idea a day or two ago to sew some holsters out of fabric since I had a sewing machine, a bunch of sexy camo fabric and two L'nLs in desperate need of holsters. This was what I came up with.

Materials: Light fabric, thread, a sewing machine, a clip (the kind with the three prongs that fit into another clip and lock into place, you'll recognize them), about a foot of heavy ribbon (no plasticy stuff), scissors, possibly a seam ripper and obviously a gun or something similar to make the holster for.

First, take the gun you're making a holster for and lay it on TWO layers of fabric folded over each other. Cut out the gun's outline, leaving about an inch of space around it to allow for the seam so you're sure it's big enough. Then trim it a little bit to make it the perfect shape.



Now, before doing anything else, cut off two pieces of the ribbon that are a tiny bit longer than the width of a belt you'd typically wear. Sew these onto ONE side of the fabric, only ONE layer, one near the top and one near the bottom. If you sew these on with the other layer of fabric underneath the layer you're sewing these onto, the holster will be sewed shut. Whether the ribbon is on the left or right side of the soon-to-be holster is up to you; I put mine on the left so I can wear the gun on my right hip.



Next take the two layers of the fabric and sew them together, but STOP at the "heel" of the holster, where the handle of the gun will come out of the back. This is so you can put the gun in and take it back out. The second picture shows you where to stop.





Then take your clip that you cut off that unused backpack, get rid of whatever strap is on it and thread your ribbon through the two parts of the clip and sew it together so that the fabric holds tight around the pieces of the clip and leave AT LEAST 4 inches of ribbon hanging off of it on each part of the clip, like this:



After the clip is done, fold back the bottom layer of your fabric of the holster and sew the ribbon on one of the sides of the clip to a side of the holster, and then repeat the process on the other side. This is a bad picture but I think you can figure it out:



Now you should be able to take your gun and put it in and take it out of the holster and clip it in so it doesn't fall out while you're running. The loops allow you to put your belt through the top one and a piece of ribbon or something similar through the bottom one to secure it to both your hip and leg so it doesn't flop around when you run.



Hope you enjoy it!

EDIT: Some minor mistakes fixed.

Edited by NerfMonkey, 15 May 2006 - 09:55 PM.

[Black Wrath]

Looks hot!

I'm loving the handle strap for retaining the gun.

Good job man, keep it up!

[Ronnies07]

Without something to make it more rigid or give it shape, I think it would be difficult to Holst/draw oddly shaped weapons quickily becuse of its tendincy to grip the weapon or lay flat aginst your thigh if the weapon is drawn.

[CaptainSlug]

You could use a hook and eyelet or just a snap to hold the gun in place rather than a tooth-clip. Take it to a Sewing or craft shop and they might be willing to add one for you.

[NerfMonkey]

Ronnies07, on May 15 2006, 11:01 PM, said:

Without something to make it more rigid or give it shape, I think it would be difficult to Holst/draw oddly shaped weapons quickily becuse of its tendincy to grip the weapon or lay flat aginst your thigh if the weapon is drawn.

Yeah, putting the gun back in can be annoying but I think a little bit of cardbaord or something else rigid should fix that. Getting it out is easy, but good call on the non-rigidness.

CaptainSlug, on May 16 2006, 06:01 AM, said:

You could use a hook and eyelet or just a snap to hold the gun in place rather than a tooth-clip. Take it to a Sewing or craft shop and they might be willing to add one for you.

I thought about using a button and then I decided to use a clip. Never thought of using the snaps though, that's a good idea.

Thanks.

[Master Yogurt]

Snaps may be annoying, though. Nice to DRAW the gun, but to put it back those snaps can tend to need a lot of precise pressure, at least in my experience. I'm not sure whether it would be any harder than the snaps to reholster (I think it would be harder, though), but it would definitely be easier to draw. It's really your choice, but I think the snaps may be better.

[Black Blade]

I would put a outlined coat hanger in between to pices of the frabic then sew those togther do the same for the other side then sew it up.

[Carbon]

Since people are talking about alternatives to the clip, a strap with velcro would be the fastest for both removal (riiiiiip) and putting back. I like that clip, though...no chance that's coming undone. Good job.

[Meaker VI]

I think that instead of ribbon you should use webbing; available at most fabric stores and REI or GI Joe's (or similar outdoor stores). And webbing is much more manly sounding (If you don't know what exactly webbing is, go look at a backpack. The stuff holding the straps down is probably 3/4" nylon webbing.).

I know that Airsoftatlanta sells drop-thigh holsters for $11 that have all the clips and everything already; and to settle the debate they have both a clip and a button to hold the gun in. Personally, I am a fan of that setup; the button is for emergencies and the clip for more stealthy situations.

Edited by Meaker VI, 18 May 2006 - 12:14 AM.

[Black Wrath]

Carbon, on May 17 2006, 10:43 PM, said:

Since people are talking about alternatives to the clip, a strap with velcro would be the fastest for both removal (riiiiiip) and putting back. I like that clip, though...no chance that's coming undone. Good job.

I made a holster for someone a month ago and he wanted a velcro strap. It worked pretty well, I just hope the glue holds it down even after constant abuse.

[Carbon]

Black Wrath, on May 18 2006, 06:43 AM, said:

Carbon, on May 17 2006, 10:43 PM, said:

Since people are talking about alternatives to the clip, a strap with velcro would be the fastest for both removal (riiiiiip) and putting back. I like that clip, though...no chance that's coming undone. Good job.

I made a holster for someone a month ago and he wanted a velcro strap. It worked pretty well, I just hope the glue holds it down even after constant abuse.

Yeah. Whenver I use velcro in a project, I make sure to stitch it down, because you're right...that glue won't hold up forever, especially under force.

[nerfer34]

I made you holster for my LNL and it works great. Very secure. If anyone wants to see it I can put up a picture.

[rotoryfan]

Black Wrath, on May 18 2006, 03:43 AM, said:

Carbon, on May 17 2006, 10:43 PM, said:

Since people are talking about alternatives to the clip, a strap with velcro would be the fastest for both removal (riiiiiip) and putting back. I like that clip, though...no chance that's coming undone. Good job.

I made a holster for someone a month ago and he wanted a velcro strap. It worked pretty well, I just hope the glue holds it down even after constant abuse.

ya. velcro is the most practical for this. and its probably the cheapest solution too. it can be found at any hobby store, hardware store, and probably elsewhere.

as far as making a holster rigid enough to keep form, I make holsters out of duct tape, and put index cards in between layers. I generally use about 3-6 cards total. I did this for my ttb, and it worked out amazing. it also has a slimmer profile than blackwrath's style, and by putting a little fbr inside, retaining straps aren't necessary. I love index cards (3x5, BTW) for their balance of strength and flexibillity. my design came from a month's worth of observation of a BW holster. I'm going to add a few more index cards to mine, to total 6 or 7, wrap it in hokey tape, and make it clip onto my belt, or clip onto my pants leg. (if it rests in a pant leg, I make sure to have a tightenable strap, and a deep cargo pocket for the holster to rest in.)

I hope this has been helpful. it works for me!