How to Make a Pistol Bed Holster
For whatever reason a person feels the need to keep a gun close to his bed at night, a bedside gun holster can facilitate access to the weapon while providing appropriate storage. Modifying an ankle or belt holster to make a bed holster by mounting it to a metal bracket is a quick DIY project.
Things You'll Need
- Gun holster with belt loop or clip
- 10-by-10 inch square of sheet metal
- Wide stick-on Velcro
- 3/8 inch bolt, 3/4 inch long and nuts
- Drill
- 3/8 inch drill bit
- Skill saw with a metal blade
- Vice
- Pliers
- Butane Torch
- Metal File
Instructions
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1
Cut two sections of sheet metal using the circular saw to form the holster bracket. The outer bracket measures 5 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches long. The inner bracket measures 1 inch wide and 10 inches long.
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2
Bend the outer bracket into a 90-degree angle. Clamp the bottom 1 inch of the sheet metal's length in the vice and use the torch to heat a line across the sheet metal just above the vice jaws. When the metal is hot enough to glow orange, grasp it with pliers and bend the remaining 7 inches of the sheet metal toward you. When the metal gets too cool to bend easily, reheat it. Repeat this process until it is bent 90 degrees.
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3
Drill three holes in the outer bracket, using the 3/8 inch drill bit. Holes in the outer bracket should be drilled in a line across the width of the 1 inch flange created in Step 2. The holes need to be 1 ½ inch apart. The center of the holes should be a ½ inch from the top of the flange -- in the center of the flange's width.
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4
Drill three holes in the inner bracket, using the 3/8-inch drill bit. Holes in the inner bracket must line up with the holes on the outer bracket. Drill the first hole 1 inch over from the left hand side of the bracket. Drill the second hole 1 1/2 inch to the right of the first hole. Drill the third hole 1 ½ inch to the right of the second hole, and six inch from the right edge of the bracket.
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5
Affix the inner and outer bracket to one another. Line up the 3/8 inch holes in the two brackets. Push the bolts through the holes from the back of side of the outer bracket. Screw the nuts onto the bolts on the outside of the inner bracket.
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6
Round off sharp corners and remove any metal spurs from the cut edges using the metal file.
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7
Slide the holster onto the long arm of the inner bracket, just like you would attach the holster to a belt. If it has a belt loop, slide the arm through the belt loop, if the holster has a clip, slide the clip over the long arm of the bracket, depending on the holster style.
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8
Slide the long horizontal section of the outer bracket between the box springs and mattress of the bed. Lay on the bed naturally with your arm dangling over the side, and move the holster and bracket so it lies parallel to your arm.
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9
Peal the back off the self-adhesive on the rough half of the velcro and place the rough side of velcro on the mattress or box springs directly behind the holster, half way down the length of the handgun barrel.
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10
Peal the back off of the self-adhesive on the soft side of the velcro and place the soft side of the velcro on the holster, so that it is level with the velcro on the bed. The velcro will assist in supporting the weight of the gun and prevent the bracket from shifting.
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Tips & Warnings
Never use a bed holster in a home where children reside. Remove the pistol from the holster when children visit.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
