depletedyourcranium
02-23-2014, 09:40 PM
I've been looking for some kind of locking retention holster for the PM9 and not found anything. The only retention device I've seen for holsters that fit the little guns are thumb breaks, which are fine if you like them but I really like the new mechanisms with some sort of button release. I have a DeSantis Facilitator that I used sometimes for my Glock 19 that I figured I'd give a shot and see if I could make work for my PM9.
If you're not familiar with the Facilitator, its basically a thick kydex shell screwed onto a leather belt slide. It also features a trigger guard locking system they call Redi-Lok, similar to a Blackhawk! SERPA, but is released by your thumb rather than your index finger.
Here's what the original holster looks like with the PM9 stuck in it:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0186_zps16205293.jpg
You can imagine what the PM9 is like filling the space meant for a G19, kinda like standing in ole pop's shoes. However, it's not that much of a difference so I figure with a little heat and some pressure the kydex could easily form around the PM9.
Here's the setup I used:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0188_zpsa27430b5.jpg
By no means am I a holster maker. This is actually the first time I've actually messed with molding kydex. I got some old foam from my dad that isn't quite as heavy as I probably needed but I stacked it about ten deep.
Gun prep:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0189_zps11456006.jpg
Allen wrenches and gorilla tape were used to make the sight channel, fill the ejection port (not shown in photo) and make a channel for the slide release pin. The slide release on the left side of the pistol actually cleared all kydex on the opposite side so I didn't need to make a channel for it.
I left the kydex shell bolted to the leather slide while I heated and molded it. I was afraid that if I removed the shell from the leather that I wouldn't be able to match up the bolt holes with the leather properly if I had taken it off. I set the oven to 300 and watched for the kydex to soften.
Cut down plastic posts:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0190_zps9683340a.jpg
It took a couple of tries before I quite got it right. I realized that the plastic posts that separate the kydex at the trigger lock were too long. I cut them down and tried it again. After a few more tries I got it just right. After a couple of tests for fit it was locking great and going in and out like it was made for it. I cut down the extra kydex at the bottom, not much maybe half an inch, just to clean up the look.
Trimmed, fitted holster:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0191_zps62a2a534.jpg
Holster with PM9:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0193_zpsfdbcdbdc.jpg
So if you're looking for a decent holster with retention for your PM9, you can make a DeSantis Facilitator fit that role with a little extra work. Sorry for the lousy write up. As I got started I thought, "Someone else might wanna know they can do this." and just snapped some pics when it seemed appropriate. If I had planned to do a tutorial I probably could have made it make much more sense.
There is a lot of trial and error fitting and trips back to the oven. I'd say the holster was in and out of the oven at least 8 different times before I got it right. You've got to get the pistol to set in the holster just at the right depth when you foam it in order to get the retention to lock right. Also, this is some thick kydex. Much thicker than old molded holsters I've used. You'll probably never get it to have that molded-to-the-gun look but it will form to the pistol well enough to lock. It's not too much work and the end result is very satisfying. Its taken me no more than 2 hours from start to finished product.
If you're not familiar with the Facilitator, its basically a thick kydex shell screwed onto a leather belt slide. It also features a trigger guard locking system they call Redi-Lok, similar to a Blackhawk! SERPA, but is released by your thumb rather than your index finger.
Here's what the original holster looks like with the PM9 stuck in it:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0186_zps16205293.jpg
You can imagine what the PM9 is like filling the space meant for a G19, kinda like standing in ole pop's shoes. However, it's not that much of a difference so I figure with a little heat and some pressure the kydex could easily form around the PM9.
Here's the setup I used:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0188_zpsa27430b5.jpg
By no means am I a holster maker. This is actually the first time I've actually messed with molding kydex. I got some old foam from my dad that isn't quite as heavy as I probably needed but I stacked it about ten deep.
Gun prep:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0189_zps11456006.jpg
Allen wrenches and gorilla tape were used to make the sight channel, fill the ejection port (not shown in photo) and make a channel for the slide release pin. The slide release on the left side of the pistol actually cleared all kydex on the opposite side so I didn't need to make a channel for it.
I left the kydex shell bolted to the leather slide while I heated and molded it. I was afraid that if I removed the shell from the leather that I wouldn't be able to match up the bolt holes with the leather properly if I had taken it off. I set the oven to 300 and watched for the kydex to soften.
Cut down plastic posts:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0190_zps9683340a.jpg
It took a couple of tries before I quite got it right. I realized that the plastic posts that separate the kydex at the trigger lock were too long. I cut them down and tried it again. After a few more tries I got it just right. After a couple of tests for fit it was locking great and going in and out like it was made for it. I cut down the extra kydex at the bottom, not much maybe half an inch, just to clean up the look.
Trimmed, fitted holster:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0191_zps62a2a534.jpg
Holster with PM9:
http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag472/depletedyourcranium/IMG_0193_zpsfdbcdbdc.jpg
So if you're looking for a decent holster with retention for your PM9, you can make a DeSantis Facilitator fit that role with a little extra work. Sorry for the lousy write up. As I got started I thought, "Someone else might wanna know they can do this." and just snapped some pics when it seemed appropriate. If I had planned to do a tutorial I probably could have made it make much more sense.
There is a lot of trial and error fitting and trips back to the oven. I'd say the holster was in and out of the oven at least 8 different times before I got it right. You've got to get the pistol to set in the holster just at the right depth when you foam it in order to get the retention to lock right. Also, this is some thick kydex. Much thicker than old molded holsters I've used. You'll probably never get it to have that molded-to-the-gun look but it will form to the pistol well enough to lock. It's not too much work and the end result is very satisfying. Its taken me no more than 2 hours from start to finished product.