Making my own hybrid holster, attempt #1

W

Warhammer

New member
I've been working with Kydex for some time, making some motorcycle accessories and other little things. A few nights ago, I decided I'd try my hand at making a hybrid holster ( a la Comptac, Kholster, etc...). There's really nothing to them, and by making your own you can add some little custom touches. I decided to make one for my Kahr K40. There were some specific issues I wanted to address that I can't find on off-the-shelf holsters:
1. A bottom that would civer the extended, ported barrel I've installed.
2. Provisions for an extra magazine.
3. Molded to the curve of my body, not flat as a board and requiring weeks of break-in to feel right.
4. Full coverage backing for the grip (not "combat" cut).
I figure I've got a total of about $12 worth of materials into this holster.

I used some olive drab .08" Kydex that I had lying around for the holster. I have a bunch of black .093" Kydex, but I thought that would be too thick and I'm not patient enough to wait for more .08" just to make the holster black. Besides, it's and IWB holster, so who really cares what color it is? The leather is natural (undyed) 9 oz shoulder and I used "black chrome" rivets and Chicago screws for assembly. The belt clips are universal spring steel clips. Everything but the Kydex came from Tandy Leather Co.

After molding the Kydex to both the gun and the mag and cutting off any unneeded material with my bandsaw, I dressed the edges of the Kydex and riveted it to the leather. Then, I reheated the Kydex and moulded the whole holster to the contour of my side where it will ride. I punched three holes on each side to allow for some adjustability of the belt clips and installed them with some leather washers and the Chicago screws. A little Loctite will make sure the screws don't come undone during use. Finally, I trimmed the leather to it's finished shape and sanded the edges to a smooth radius. I know a lot of guys like the "combat cut" where there is no leather behind the grip. However, I'm a heavy sweater, so I want the extra protection between me and the grip. Also, the checkering on my grips tend to get fairly harsh against your bare skin after a while.

Anyway, that's what I came up with. I learned a few "next-times" and had a fun evening playing with leather and Kydex. I may punch one more hole in the front so I can give it just a little more cant. The retention of the holster is just right: smooth and easy to draw, but the gun isn't going ANYWHERE on accident. (I've already given it the "jump up and down and run around" test.) The mag is easy to reach with my off hand, and I can store a standard or extended mag there with no problem. Due to contouring the holster to my body while I was building it, it's already more comfortable than most of my "broken in" holsters. I wore it all day Sunday, through church and a picnic in the park (complete with scavenger hunt and bocce) and it worked great.

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That's cool that you like to tinker... looks solidly made. If you get it so you like it as well or more than production holsters, try to give a few of them to some friends to get their feeback - suggested improvements and address those issues... then if you get it so they also like it as well or more than production holsters, you may need to start selling them :D.

Have fun and good luck. :)
 
Looks great. You have the same idea I do with one side being flat. It makes the most sense since that would be the most comfortable. I would even consider putting a layer over the front to sompletely break up any outline of the gun, as long as it would not add too much thickness. The only concern with the design is that all that leather against the skin would probably get warm. I would consider drilling some holes for ventilation purposes. If you use that idea and make lots of money on it, I'll PM you with my address for my cut. ;):D

Great job for a first attempt.
 
Wow dude, well done! I really like to see people make thier own stuff and have it coming out looking and working well..looks like it hides pretty well under that t shirt
 
Something like that would be great for my g23 rtf.....would keep the grip from rubbing a hickey on my waistline...
 
Play with your kydex until you perfect a replacement for the steel clamps would be my only suggestion. The kydex can be shaped almost perfectly to go over the pants top, down to the bottom of the belt, hook under it from the back side, there is less to be seen, and is a whole lot easier on and off than those steel clips.

Also, if you offset the kydex at the bottom just a smidgen, it is easier to tuck the shirt in and put the gun out of sight.

Other than that, . . . I like it.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Get some soft flannel cloth, a bottle of spray glue.

Spray the skin-contact side with the glue and lay down the cloth. Trim.

I have a cross-breed super-tuck holster much like the one you made.

Once I put that soft cloth down it became completely comfortable to the point that I forget it is there - I carry a Kahr CW9.

I have since did this to all my holsters. Works great!

Oh, since I usually wear khaki shorts - I have a belt holster for my Glock 33 which I glued khaki material to the outside in a way such that it no longer is obviously a holster should the lower part become exposed beneath my shirt. Makes a belt holster almost as concealed as an IWB holster.
 
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I thought about doing that with some soft cloth, but I was worried that the spray glue would make the fabric stiff and uncomfortable. What type of glue did you use?

I'm already working on ideas for Ver 2.0.
1. I think I'm going to stitch the Kydex to the leather (like a traditional leather holster), rather than using rivets. That would allow me to put the gun and mag very close together, making the holster more compact. I could also make the flanges at the sides smaller, again making the holster more compact.
2. I'll probably "pretty up" the next one. I'm thinking of chocolate brown Kydex on chocolate leather with black stiching and black edge dressing on the leather.
3. I'll probably make Kydex clips rather than using the universal steel clips.
4. I'm considering adding belt slots to make it either an OWB holster or a convertible.
 
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Warhammer,If you are going to stitch the next one why not make the holster and the mag carrier as seperate parts.When you stitch them to the leather you could leave a small space between them and the rig would automatically conform to your body shape without you having to mold in a curve.I really like your work.Keep it up.
 
Charles, I'm trying to make it as compact as possible. Since I would have to leave a flange to stitch through for each piece, I could not mount them as close together as if I just make it one piece and run a single line of stitching the Kydex to the leather.

Well, I just ordered some more Kydex and it won't be here for 2-3 days, so I'll just have to keep braqinsorming until this weekend. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the next holster done then. The nice thing about doing this myself is that it's cheap enough for me to try lots of different ideas without ending up with a $1000 box of holsters I'll never use!
 
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Warhammer, how will you be stitching the kydex to the leather? I know you can purchase leather sewing machines and such, but will the needle go through the kydex? IF so do you have to heat the kydex up with a heat gun first, and then sew a line, or just sew the line with the kydex cold?

My last question is, how does your holster compare and contrast with the cross breed holsters?
 
Mordis,
I'm going to heat the kydex and then use an overstitch wheel to emboss the stitch pattern into the Kydex. Then I'll pre-drill the holes and hand stitch it using the double needle technique. Basically, I'll treat just as if I was sewing together two layers of leather.

As for the comparison with Crossbreed, from what I've seen:
+ They have cooler looking belt clips.
+ They get a more exact imprint of the gun on the Kydex. (I just haven't bothered to build a molding press.)
= I used the same thickness of leather and Kydex and the same rivets.
- I did a better job of finishing the edges of the leather.
- Mine holds a spare mag, has a full sweat shield, and completely covers the end of the slide & barrel (custom touches are easy when you DIY).
- Mine cost $57 less, $65 less is you want the "combat cut" (for the cost of 1 Crossbreed, I can make 5-6 of mine).
- I get the satisfaction of making it myself to my exact specifications.

If you like DIY projects, this type of holster is really easy to make and you're not giving up any quality by going DIY. There just really isn't that much to them: a little leather, a little Kydex and some basic hardware. I built this first one in about 2 hours at my kitchen island, while watching TV.
 
warhammer, soon ill be picking up some kydex molding supplies from texas knife makers supply. They sell kydex, rivets, chicago screws and molding presses with foam inserts, tho im not sure what the foam insert is for, any ideas on that lol there website is quiet on it.
 
very interesting... great job... I've just started to dabble in making my own holsters ( though I seem to prefer dead animal skin ) & prefer OWB higher ride & with an "FBI" cant... but I could see using the Kydex as a stiffener, as I like a stiff & controlled carry...

... honestly... my expirience with IWB hosters hasn't been that great... most pretty uncomfortable... once I get a few of my OWB hosters done up, I think you've inspired me to try a couple IWB... & will incorporate some of the others suggestions as well... keep up the great work...

BTW... this is what I use for stiching holes in leather... & should work just the same in Kydex ???

http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16859&cat=572&page=2

here is a pic of my latest ( I currently have 5 holsters in the process of being built, & I just started a couple months ago... it's kinda addicting )... a high ride OWB with some Ostrich leg leather for an outer covering, & a cartridge case head added for some bling ( 3 layers thick leather on the front side, & 2 layers thick leather in the belt loop area help keep this holster where it's supposed to be )... this one fits my S&W Air Lite 44 Special...

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mordis,
The foam inserts on the press flex around whatever you are pressing to make the Kydex conform to it. You can make your own press from two peices of plywood, a foam camping pad and some clamps. It's not as pretty as the pro model, but it does the exact same thing for much less money. There are a lot of videos on Youtube of guys making holsters and knife sheathes with Kydex. Just watch a couple of them and you'll know exactly what you're doing before you start.

MWM,
That's a nice looking holster! I agree with your preference for dea animal; it definitely looks nicer. That's why the next one I make will have stitching, etc... I have never found a comfortabel all leather IWB, either. It think it's because they are so thick, since you have to add several layers of leather to keep the holster mouth from collapsing. This type of hybrib holster is not a whole lot thicker than the gun (of course, carrying a thin gun helps with IWB, too).

You're also right about this being addictive. I just dropped $60 at Tandy Leather on tools, dye, thread and more. I may have to make a couple of holsters to sell in order to recoup my costs. Of course, I save so much making my own versus buy a holster that my tools are actually already paid for.
 
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