And to resurrect the thread... :-)
First of all, thank you to everyone above for your thoughts and insights; those, coupled with a few other threads on this forum helped me out with deciding whether or not to get an arbor press to emboss a "US" logo on a holster (approx 1 1/2" x 3"). I ultimately did, and here's the details.
I went with a 1-ton Dayton from Grainger. (https://m.grainger.com/mobile/product/DAYTON-Press-4Z328?breadcrumbCatId=5418) What sold me on this one is that it already has a 1/2" hole drilled in one end of the ram to insert various arbor bits (held in place with a small magnet). Coincidentally, the handle for the "standard" stamping sets and 3d stamps at Tandy has a 1/2" shaft. :-D
I picked up a small sheet of steel plate (~4"x12"?) at the local Lowe's to distribute the pressure over the stamp and bodged up a base from scrap lumber. Tried it out today and it came out pretty well. May not work on everything, but for $85, not too shabby.
Best regards and happy leatherworking to you all!