Concealment Specialties for 1 1/8 22lr

[jkdmop]

Hi, I' new to NAA. I just bought a 1 1/8" 22lr mini. I've been lurking this forum for several years since a Sheriff friend of mine showed me his 380 Guardian. I told my dad about the mini revolvers and next thing I knew he bought one. After playing with his I decided I had to buy one for myself. This is my first "pretty" gun (my others are Glocks) and I can't get over what a work of art it is.

   

   Alright the question:

   I want to get a pocket holster to start carrying my new mini asap. I'm thinking of getting a pocket holster from concealment specialties. Has anyone tried their model four with a 1 1/8 " lr?

   

   Thanks.

[grayelky]

Welcome aboard.

   

   I have not.

   

   I make my own pocket holster. Use a flexible piece of leather, fold it over the top of the frame/barrel. Stitch down around the bottom of the barrel/frame, and back past the trigger. Trim off the excess. Mine ain't purty, but it works great to break up the outline and keep my pocket from wearing out.

[jkdmop]

Thanks Grayelk.  I'm not sure I have the craftsman tools/abilities to make my own holster.  I'd like to learn because right now I don't carry my favorite knife because the sheath it came with is garbage.  If you know of any good sites with instructions or videos on how to work with leather please post links.  I have never made anything with leather and I don't even know where I would buy it (maybe a craft store?).

[newguy]

A couple of folks on this forum have been happy with their work.  I suggest leather from one of the member/makers on there forum here........

   

   newguy

[rjtravel]

If in a hurry. as you indicate, you can use an ordinary eyeglass case.  I cut mine as desired and placed a pop-rivet where needed to hold it in place.  Mine remains upright and accessible.  It was a temporary fix until holster was selected, but it has worked so well I am no longer looking for anything better.

   Richard

[woodchuckssuck]

Leatherworking isn't that hard, and a holster for the Mini doesn't need to be made out of the same thickness of leather that one for a 1911 needs. I am currently making a knife sheath, and have plans to make a 1911 holster soon as well. The tools will set you back a bit, but just one holster will set me back $70...which is quite a few tools.  

   

   I say learn it, its a valuable skill, IMO.

[grayelky]

The leather is easy. I got my most recent at Michaels (a craft store). They also have heavy duty needles and rolls of artificial sinew. Sinew is what the Native Americans used to stitch their leather goods. The only other tools I used were a pair of needle nosed pliers when my fingers got tired of pushing the needle through the leather, and a sharp knife or a razor/box cutter, etc. It is as simple as it sounds: Fold the leather over the gun, stitch down the area along side the gun, and cut off the parts you don't need. If you screw up, rip out the stitches and start over. Just don't admit it. It is hard to see, but my current one is in the below pic.

   

   

[mrmadhat]

A small nail can work decent as an awl for a project or 2, I have found that standard needles are better then leather needles and cost much less( can be found anywhere), artifial sinew is the best for thread but if you are in an area where it is harder to find there is always dental floss(punk rockers fix all thread, even comes in a dispenser with its own cutting tool on the box) it isnt as pretty but it it tough stuff... you can get leather dye almost anywhere even walmart or grocery stores if you use the stuff made for coloring shoes(make sure its dye and not wax).. you can get leather at many craft stores, or if there is a tandy leather store in or by your town that would be the best place to go for it... if all else fails there is online, ebay or such... if you have a hard time with doing that you can email me about some leather, I can send you a decent piece for a holster at a fair price

[red14]

Decent, eh?  You are far too modest!

[Kevin]

Tandy Leather offers leather from an online shop and has a list of store locations at: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com">http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com

   

   I made a belt holster for my NAA mini-revolver several years ago.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

[mrmadhat]

lol I can send a finished holster for a decent price or I can send a decent piece of leather (just the leather) for a fair price..

[ricart]

Glad to see others make functional without concern with the looks.  I have never made a really nice looking holster, but they work.  I have a Tandy store about 15 miles from me, get my leather supplies there. Also make ugly sheaths for the knives I use to make.  If I ever learn how to post photos, will show how ugly can be functional.  

   So far, no one has explained hot to post photos where this old mind of mine can  do it.  In my day, we simply made pictures on cave walls.

[ebg]

Just have Mrmadhat make you one I have 2 from him and they work great.His holsters are well worth the price.

   EBG

[grayelky]

Yard sales are great sources for leather. My Dad bought an old suede purse at a yard sale for $.25. I looked at him like he had lost a little bit of his mind. He ignored me till we got away from the others. All he said was "Possibles bags".

   

   We were into black powder shooting and had need for a bag to carry our shooting "stuff" in. We made one each, and had leather left over or an assortment of projects over the years. The last one being the first holster I made for my NAA LR mini. The one in the previous picture is the second one I have made.

   

   If you don't want to chance it, give Mr Madhat a try. I have not laid eyes on his work, but he has nothing but positive feedback.

[woodchuckssuck]

I've recently gotten a bunch of holster/sheath making goodies from various craft shops around here. I bought a 3lb bag of assorted leather for $6, with enough large pieces to make 2-3 pancake holsters for a 1911 size gun, with a bunch of smaller scrap to make...stuff  

   

   I plan that if I have good luck with the first holster or two for my 1911, I will break down and order some Veg Tanned tooling scraps (have found a few places...) and get some tools and make some pretty holsters, too ;) My 22/45 is in need of a holster...  

   

   I currently have Tandy Leathers Eco-Flo dye, but I have read it is not the best for holster use... Will order some oil based dye at some point.

[mrmadhat]

eco flo sucks, it doesnt color evenly at all and it get globby... go with fiebings.. the only eco flo product worth its weight in spit is the "satin sheen"

   

    nothing wrong with yard sale leather, I have made projects out of it in the past.

   Greyelky,

   I have had some negative feedback, 4 or 5 I think.. lol considering I have been doing this for almost 2 years and sold over 1000 holsters, im not doing to bad.. I guess you cant please everyone, at least 4 or 5 out of 1000 (give or take)..

[jtartam]

[Moderndayedison]

Or...

   

   You could just buy a digital camera case

   from Wal-Mart and wear it on your hip quite

   easily right out in the open without anyone

   giving it or you a second glance.

   

   Everyone is so used to seeing cell phone

   cases and digital camera cases on people's

   belts that it doesn't even raise an alarm.

   

   I like the Black colored cases myself.

   

   Just remember not to wear it through the airport

   or walk into a court house with it on your belt.

   I have even wore mine into my bank without issue.  

   

   When sizing a camera case for your gun, it is  

   best to trace your gun on a piece of cardboard.

   And cut the traced gun out of the cardboard.

   Then use the cardboard gun to size the camera

   case in the store until you find the one that  

   will suit your needs.

   

   I was asked to leave a Walgreens Pharmacy because

   I had neglected to do this and was checking

   camera cases for size with my Black Widow.

   

   It was unloaded and had the cylinder removed.

   But that didn't make them feel any better about

   what I was doing in their store.

   

   This is why I suggest using a cardboard cutout

   of your gun when shopping for a potential case

   or holster for your gun.

   

   And I also suggest two cases...one for  

   your gun and one for extra ammunition.

   

   Hope that helps.

   

   

   --MDE

   

   .

[Kevin]

Pick up an old used camera bag with the individual pouches for 35mm film canisters. Then order enough extra fitted cylinders for your mini-revolver to fill every pouch.

[Moderndayedison]

Not that there is anything wrong

   with leather holsters for guns.

   

   Fine leather is preferred for a  

   fine firearm, especially for when

   your going out to shoot for practice

   and recreation. But let's face it,

   most of the time when your carrying

   a gun...you want to be as legal as

   possible without calling attention

   to yourself, you want to blend in

   with everyone else in society without

   causing an uproar just because you

   have a gun on you.

   

   The camera case is ideal for this.

   It's not concealed, it's right on your hip

   in plain sight, just like an I-Phone would be.

   Yet readily available if ever needed.

   

   Just a suggestion worth checking into.

   

   Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

   

   

   --MDE

   

   .

[Moderndayedison]

Also...if your truly interested in learning

   leather craft Mrmadhat gave some excellent

   suggestions above, and if you ever have any

   primitive frontier re-enactments around where

   you live...these are excellent sources of  

   leather bundles and leather lace as well  

   as real senew like the indians once used.

   As well as the artificial stuff too.

   

   Micheal's Craft Stores has allot to work with.

   Their worth checking out. Also as Mrmadhat has

   suggested a thin nail and a hammer works well

   for making holes to sew leather.

   

   I'm by no means an expert like Mrmadhat  

   but I am in the process of learning.  

   

   I have an Estwing hatchet that has a nifty

   leather sheith that got me interested in  

   the idea of working with leather as a  

   hobby of sort. Making my own tool pouch

   holders, knife sheiths, ect.

   

   I might get around to making a holster

   in the future for my BW, it does sound  

   like an interesting project.

   

   

   --MDE

   

   .

[newguy]

Thanks for all the input!  it is REALLY useful and of great benefit!  Especially MDE!!!

   

   Glad I signed up here.  I am going camera case shopping tomorrow.  With all the crowds, no one will notice..............

   

   newguy

[heyjoe]

Dont forget the duracoat for the holster after its finished. With contrasting color for the stitching of course.

[westerly1965]

OOOhhhhhhhh good idea Joe.  Nothing like a good coat of duracoat to make a holster topnotch!

[tocsn40]

oh you all just make my day.  

   

   with duracoat on it you can just make beleve your playing cowboys and indjens no one will notice ha ha

[coinchop]

It might be worth TWO GRAND if its yellow!

   

   THAT'S BAD!!!! ("SLAP SELF")

[westerly1965]

LOL Coin!  Good thing you slapped yourself we don't have to do it that way HA!

[snubsforme]

I had one for a while.  Very light and well made.

   For $13 you should give it a try.  I sold mine because I found after a month of switching back and forth I prefered my Special Edition pocket holster from Concealment Holster Solutions.

[grandpa]

MrMadHat is far too modest!  His stuff is beyond incredible and amazing.  Calling him a "holster-maker" is like calling Michaelangelo a painter.

[jtartam]

I have four of his holsters and ordered four more. They are the best.

   John

[mrmadhat]

I get ALLOT of repeat business, there are even a few folks who have ordered around 20 holsters all in all..

[jkdmop]

Thanks for all the ideas.  I'm probably going to order the concealment specialties holster.  I think it will ship before i get around to making my own.  I do plan on getting a Madhat holster, just not sure which one yet. I have to spend more time at the range and decide where exactly where i want to carry it.  Just not sure where I'll end up carrying it yet.  

   

   All the leather working tips make me want to make a sheath for my knife.  Next time my wife goes to Michael's I guess I'll tag along.