Calling all builders/holster gurus.

[texasmusic]

Got a M7 replica holster from Charley's surplus. Leather quality is decent but the hardware is awful. After having it for less than 24 hours the belt snapper is done for. Here's a few pics..


The male peice... not where it should be.


My question: where can I get a replacement? I am inclined to just replace the male and female portions. The male portion does not go through both peices of leather, so I would have to cut the stitching to get it out. I'm not dying to do that so maybe I can drill through it and put a new snap that screws the two peices together.

What's a good source for these parts? I'd like a pretty stout pair of snaps. Had trouble with the snap coming undone with normal wear and it was irritating which is why it came off. I deformed the male end to make it an oval which made the snap a little stronger but the snap didn't like that.

Thanks gent's

[RiverRat]

The easiest is Tandy leather for a snap kit, if you have one nearby. I use"pull the dots", but buy by the hundreds and require a specific snap setting tool and die.....Tandy is less expensive.

[2up1down]

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/Snaps.aspx

IF you have a local store they are always a wealth of info.

IF it is the retention snap, you could also remove it and replace with velcro, you may find it difficult to "re-snap" if the leather is damaged underneath or by removal, sewing velcro could secure the strap and "heal" the leather defect.

[texasmusic]

It's the belt snap that's broken. In the second picture you can see the stamp on the leather left by the snap, leather isn't damaged at all and I'd prefer not to go with velcro as I think that would have the same problem coming undone.

Is there a source for the entire metal hardware kit for the holster? If i'm going to be tearing it apart to get at the base of the snap I might as well start replacing the rest of the D-rings and buckles(which are plastic upon inspection-not happy about that-sent Charley an email.)

[HotLeadSolutions]

If you will send the holster to me, I will rebuild it for you. All that I ask in return is for you to find a lost soul and them them about Jesus and lead them to a CHL class.

[texanron]

If you will send the holster to me, I will rebuild it for you. All that I ask in return is for you to find a lost soul and them them about Jesus and lead them to a CHL class.

There is an offer that is hard to refuse.

[texasmusic]

If you will send the holster to me, I will rebuild it for you. All that I ask in return is for you to find a lost soul and them them about Jesus and lead them to a CHL class.

That is a very generous offer!

I replaced a lot of the hardware already. Bought some genuine lift-the-dot stuff and went to town. I haven't stitched it back up yet so if you PM me maybe we can work something out.

[gigag04]

If you're in the the Brazos Valley, PM me your contact info, and we can do it at the house.

[duallydondon]

Went through the same thing,,,sold mine on ebay !!!!

[texasmusic]

Well a year later I have upgraded the snaps to the brand name "pull the dot" fasteners. If you haven't tried them in your holster/belt stuff; they are amazing. On the belt snap no amount of tugging from the belt side will make the snap come loose, but if you give it a tug on the leather extension it comes off. One way on and off you have to rotate it into place. I think I have a few extra pieces of hardware if anyone else has the same problem and wants to try mine out so let me know and I'll go digging.

Took a while to get motivated and stitch the thing back up but I just finished it... I used one of the inner strands from a piece of paracord. It works in a pinch but I don't recommend it, it tends to twist and fight as you pull it through.


Just need 2 3/4" d-rings and 2 conway buckles (I ordered 1" by mistake...)

Gigag04, I missed your post last year! I appreciate the offer, if you have any leather dye equipment I'll take you up on your offer belatedly. I'm going to order some as soon as I can find some 3/4" hardware.