Holster
I have a LeMat replica but needed a holster for this massive pistol. All the replica holsters I could find online were cavalry-style holsters with flaps. I didn't want something that hid the destinctive gun so I employed the experience of a friend of mine to make a crossdraw style holster.
It was fairly easy to produce the holster in an afternoon based on holsters I already have, specifically the Hickok Holster from Cabela's for my Griswold & Gunnison Model 1862. The resultant holster came with several problems, though. For one, the belt loop is held on at the bottom with snaps. I wanted snaps so that I could more easily transfer the holster from one belt to another. The problem is that the snaps aren't quite strong enough and come loose. The holster sort of flops forward a little as well.
The solution was to take the thigh strap from a WWII M1911 officer's holster and tie up the holster. It looks a little bit kludged together but, as that fits with the steampunk aesthetic, it will do.
The next problem is that the inside of the snaps rubs on the gun as it is drawn from the holster, leaving a little mark on the barrel. As this is not a real gun, I'm not very concerned, but I'll have to do something to address that.
To do it over, I would solve these problems. Having watched it being done, I am now fairly confident that, given the tools, I could do it myself. But Halloween is upon us and I have other projects to attend to before WindyCon so it will have to do for now.
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| LeMat Crossdraw Holster |
It was fairly easy to produce the holster in an afternoon based on holsters I already have, specifically the Hickok Holster from Cabela's for my Griswold & Gunnison Model 1862. The resultant holster came with several problems, though. For one, the belt loop is held on at the bottom with snaps. I wanted snaps so that I could more easily transfer the holster from one belt to another. The problem is that the snaps aren't quite strong enough and come loose. The holster sort of flops forward a little as well.
The solution was to take the thigh strap from a WWII M1911 officer's holster and tie up the holster. It looks a little bit kludged together but, as that fits with the steampunk aesthetic, it will do.
The next problem is that the inside of the snaps rubs on the gun as it is drawn from the holster, leaving a little mark on the barrel. As this is not a real gun, I'm not very concerned, but I'll have to do something to address that.
To do it over, I would solve these problems. Having watched it being done, I am now fairly confident that, given the tools, I could do it myself. But Halloween is upon us and I have other projects to attend to before WindyCon so it will have to do for now.