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Hi everyone, I've recently applied for my CHL and have been looking at holsters. I came across some "super deluxe" kits from Old Faithful holsters that would fit my XD9 sc. They look like a crossbreed super tuck style, but half the price.

Has any one bought and assembled one of these kits? They look pretty easy--you dont even have to mold the Kytex or anything. How do they wear and hold up? Have you heard of any problems with them?

If you spend an extra 10 bucks you can get horsehide leather instead of cow leather, is horsehide better?

Here's the link for the holster kit I'm lookin at
http://oldfaithfulholsters.com/?p=1802

Thanks for any help you can offer.

No direct experience with Old Faithful Holsters, but I have owned/used both Crossbreed and Comp-Tac IWB tuckable holsters and IMHO they are the best style of holster available for CC. I have also made my own similar holsters from raw materials - leather and assorted bits (screws, rivets, thread and needles) from Tandy Leather Supply and ABS plastic (similar to Kydex, but slightly cheaper and available at Regal Plastics in Austin). And I've even made leather backing to fit Comp Tac Minotaur kydex bodies (actually more difficult than making your own from scratch because you have to line up their pre-cut screw holes perfectly with the leather).

From my experience I would think assembling one of Old Faithful's prepared kits would be straightforward and easy. I didn't realize he was now offering the kydex already molded to the gun shape, but that's probably a bonus for someone doing their first kit. Molding the kydex is not that difficult, but does require some special tools (many of which can be homemade).

My one caution is his method of molding the sheet kydex into the belt clips. I've had bad luck doing this with all thicknesses of kydex and abs plastic. You'll also note that Crossbreed used to mold their clips this way but stopped after too many were returned after breaking. They now offer the spring steel clips. You can buy clips only from Crossbreed or Comp Tac or Tucker Gunleather or some basic spring steel clips from Tandy Leather. I'd recommend any of these over the kydex sheet "bended" clips that Old Faithful uses (or at least used to use last time I looked at his site).

Anyway, I say go for it. Good intro experience in holster making.

When you get ready to try your own from scratch there are plenty of threads around here and on other forums. Best advice on kydex molding is to have a heat gun ($20 at Harbor Freight tools) not merely a hair dryer, and also access to an oven or toaster oven. Ideally you'll also want a foam-lined press (can be homemade from 2x4 lumber, plywood, and door hinges) and/or a vacuum forming machine (also easily home-made from lumber, a Shop Vac, and a few Shop Vac attachments - see this YouTube video " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - I made one like this and have been pleased with it - there are also other versions available on YouTube just search diy vacuum forming or homemade vacuum forming)

Best of luck

I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...
just to make holster for all my carry guns...

I made one from their kit. It was pretty straight forward. As A-R stated, you do need to make a 'press' to form it. They offer steel clips on their site. I would suggest that you go ahead and get them or from another source. It was a good learning experience and I had no problems with the holster. My SIL now has the pistol and holster and uses it daily.

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll go for it. it's only either 30 or 40 bucks depending on the configuration so its not too much of a loss if it doesn't work out.

I havnt uses theirs but I do own a crossbreed and have made several of the same style.
My one caution is against the metal clips. I tore up several work shirts and the back of the seat in my work truck using those clips. Also tore some pants using one on a mag holder. I now only use the j clips....the shredding of clothes has stopped. I bought a set from crossbreed but now make all of mine.

ac-mech wrote:I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...

This may be a dumb question but what is "Tandy"?

TDDude wrote:

ac-mech wrote:I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...

This may be a dumb question but what is "Tandy"?

They're a computer company.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

TDDude wrote:

ac-mech wrote:I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...

This may be a dumb question but what is "Tandy"?

They're a computer company.

Dont let TAM fool you.
Tandy is a leather company. Long time in the business & trustworth quality products.
Google Tandy Leather.

The Annoyed Man wrote: They're a computer company.

That's what I think of every time I have seen a reference to Tandy on this site - lol.

Where do I get the instructions for the TRS-80 holster?

The Annoyed Man wrote:

TDDude wrote:

ac-mech wrote:I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...

This may be a dumb question but what is "Tandy"?

They're a computer company.

Cute!!

You mean they USED to be a computer company and now they sell leather?

TDDude wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:

TDDude wrote:

ac-mech wrote:I did order one about a year ago just to learn from it and now just started ordering the kydex from ebay and getting the leather and hardware from Tandy...

This may be a dumb question but what is "Tandy"?

They're a computer company.

Cute!!

You mean they USED to be a computer company and now they sell leather?

Actually, they were a leather company before they sold computers as it was founded in 1919.

A little side note - - - Tandy was or still is the parent company of Radio Shack the only source for Tandy Computers in the early days.

It looks like the original Tandy changed their name to RadioShack and then sold off all non-electronic aspects. The leather part of the company joined with The Leather Factory to become The Tandy Leather Factory.

Wikipedia