Mudinyeri
10-01-2010, 09:50 AM
I'd been thinking about buying a CrossBreed MicroClip for my Kahr PM9 for a while. When Mark's (CrossBreed's owner) recent Blem sale was posted on *********** I quickly scanned the holsters listed looking for a MicroClip for my PM9. No luck! He did have a QwikClip listed, however. I decided to buy it and try my luck at converting it to a MicroClip. Along with the QwikClip, I ordered a set of the standard CrossBreed belt clips.
Upon arrival, I removed the QwikClip belt clip from the holster and test-fitted the standard clip. Amazingly, it fit well in one of the existing holes. I assumed I was going to have to punch a new hole in the heavy horsehide and was giving some consideration as to how I would do that since I don't have leather-working tools.
Holster with QwikClip-style Clip Removed and Standard-style Clip Test-fitted in Place.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1305.jpg
After test-fitting the clip, I sketched out the shape of my cut. I wanted enough leather left under the Kydex to keep the barrel from digging into my hip when I sat down and enough leather left behind the clip to give me some adjustability without running out of leather. Initially, I sketched out the line with a soft-lead pencil. After I liked the line, I went over it with a Sharpie.
By the way, I've purchased several "blemished" holsters from Mark and this one shows more wear than any of the others. Most of the others look like new. If you're looking for a great deal on a CrossBreed holster this is definitely the way to go. Mark has "Blem" sales about every 3-4 months.
Holster with Sharpie Line Drawn
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1306.jpg
A couple minutes and a few snips of my trusty Cutco scissors later I had a MicroClip-sized holster. The shape of my holster is slightly different than that of the standard MicroClip (see photo below). The holster was already combat cut when I purchased it.
Holster with Excess Horsehide Removed
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1307.jpg
All that was left to do was to re-mount the standard clip, adjust the cant and sand down the freshly-cut edges of the holster to smooth them out a bit.
Standard Clip in Place
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1308.jpg
Kahr PM9 in Its New Resting Place
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1309.jpg
Stock MicroClip Holster without Combat Cut
http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/Portals/0/Images/MicroClip2.jpg
All in all, I'm quite happy with the conversion. I'd already done a combat cut on one of Mark's holsters so I was pretty confident in taking on this task. Cutting the leather isn't a big deal if you have a good pair of kitchen shears like those that Cutco sells. I was planning on "punching" the leather with my drill press if I needed to do so.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Upon arrival, I removed the QwikClip belt clip from the holster and test-fitted the standard clip. Amazingly, it fit well in one of the existing holes. I assumed I was going to have to punch a new hole in the heavy horsehide and was giving some consideration as to how I would do that since I don't have leather-working tools.
Holster with QwikClip-style Clip Removed and Standard-style Clip Test-fitted in Place.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1305.jpg
After test-fitting the clip, I sketched out the shape of my cut. I wanted enough leather left under the Kydex to keep the barrel from digging into my hip when I sat down and enough leather left behind the clip to give me some adjustability without running out of leather. Initially, I sketched out the line with a soft-lead pencil. After I liked the line, I went over it with a Sharpie.
By the way, I've purchased several "blemished" holsters from Mark and this one shows more wear than any of the others. Most of the others look like new. If you're looking for a great deal on a CrossBreed holster this is definitely the way to go. Mark has "Blem" sales about every 3-4 months.
Holster with Sharpie Line Drawn
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1306.jpg
A couple minutes and a few snips of my trusty Cutco scissors later I had a MicroClip-sized holster. The shape of my holster is slightly different than that of the standard MicroClip (see photo below). The holster was already combat cut when I purchased it.
Holster with Excess Horsehide Removed
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1307.jpg
All that was left to do was to re-mount the standard clip, adjust the cant and sand down the freshly-cut edges of the holster to smooth them out a bit.
Standard Clip in Place
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1308.jpg
Kahr PM9 in Its New Resting Place
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Guns/MicroClip_Conversion/DSCN1309.jpg
Stock MicroClip Holster without Combat Cut
http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/Portals/0/Images/MicroClip2.jpg
All in all, I'm quite happy with the conversion. I'd already done a combat cut on one of Mark's holsters so I was pretty confident in taking on this task. Cutting the leather isn't a big deal if you have a good pair of kitchen shears like those that Cutco sells. I was planning on "punching" the leather with my drill press if I needed to do so.
Feel free to ask any questions.