Craft Holsters

 I’m looking forward to an upcoming revolver match one of the club members has offered to set up and run.  I like revolvers for a variety of reasons.  They are simple to operate, with no safety, slide releases, or magazine releases to work with.  Most revolvers are not ammo sensitive, if you can close the cylinder, it will shoot.  Most self-defense revolvers are double-action.  I can thumb cock it for emergency rescue shots or simply pull the trigger through the cocking and firing sequence.

Yes, I know most hold only six rounds.  For the average armed citizen, six rounds and a reload is most likely enough.  Most, if not all, of the videos taken from security cameras indicate that everyone is moving away from ground zero as soon as the first shot is fired. 

I don’t see six rounds as a drawback.  My limitation is the range of motion of my right shoulder.  It’s a bitch getting older.  Most of my revolver holsters are high-ride for better concealment.  I needed a low-ride holster without going into the 1890s Western gunslinger-style holster.  And I wanted leather.  I’ve seen some of the problems associated with low carry kydex holsters.

Craft Leather Holsters  Good fit, but the retentions strap is a bit short.

Craft Holsters ( https://www.craftholsters.com/ ) makes a very nice, affordable one with a retention strap that fits my S&W Mod 66.  They quickly shipped it to me.  I then discovered that the retention strap was maybe an inch too short.  I don't know if newer hammers have a smaller cocking spur, or perhaps it’s a different hammer configuration.

The hammer spur catches in the middle of the snap

We traded e-mails, and they assured me I could s*t*r*e*t*c*h the leather using denatured alcohol, a little force, and time.  I was uneasy about this.  I've formed leather around objects, usually my feet, but stretching it that much was alarming.  Craft Holsters assured me their 30-day return policy was still valid after I reformed my holster.  Buoyed by their assurances, I tried it.

Just add alcohol...so many thing have gone wrong starting with that

I wrapped a little stiff cardboard around the hammer to prevent creating a pocket in the retention strap with the hammer spur, wrapped the gun in plastic, and wet the holster down.  It took a lot of work.  I finally resorted to wetting the retention strap with water and working it.  I got it around the hammer and managed to snap it shut.

Stretch marks

 This called for a little more alcohol, on the leather strap, not in me.  I let the holster slowly dry with the bag-wrapped gun in place for two days. 

When the leather dried you could see the stretch marks and the loss of the original sharp detail.  I didn’t care.  The holster and gun fit, the retention strap works.

I gave it a heavy coat of brown shoe polish, let that set in, and later applied a second coating, which I buffed off. 

Snaps!

At that point, I thought the leather seemed dry, so I gave it a light coating of neatsfoot oil.  Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil rendered from cattle's shin bones and feet (but not the hooves).  Yeah, it sounds gross, but it’s a natural lubricant for leather.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neatsfoot_oil

I'm happy with the outcome. 

There may be a strategic component to all of this.  Simply because a product description indicates that it is compatible with your equipment does not necessarily mean that it will work as expected.  To ensure that the product performs as required when you need it, whether it's a holster, flashlight, chest plate, boots, or firearm, you should obtain the necessary item and test it out beforehand.

The retention strap works, the gun fits nicely

 

PS: Craft Holsters doesn’t know I’m blogging about this.  I get nothing or this, and mentioning this blog when you order will get you a "What?" and no discount from them.  Still, it is a good holster.