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I made this shoulder holster for a friend of mine. It my interpretation of Doc Holiday's shoulder holster from the movie Tombstone, (with a few tweaks with my own creative license.) This is first time I’ve made something for someone else. It kind hurt to give it up, lol. I started with a pattern from London Jacks on Etsy. Then, I found auction photos of the actual holster, and I modified it enough that there is almost no part of the purchased pattern left. Also, Chakotay has a nice YouTube video where he makes his version. I used his idea of how to make the belt loops on the back. My friend picked up the holster over the weekend. He was thrilled, which was a good feeling.

Any shoulder holster pattern downloads out there?

Recent project I just finished for a guy out in California that does competitive paintball. Definitely a challenge to make everything fit and be comfortable with the size of the paintball guns. Everything was hand stitched definitely need to get a machine. All veg tan 5/6 and 8/9 oz leather. Used 1mm thread from makers leather supply awesome thread, and can’t beat the price. Fiebings russet brown dye. Antique copper hardware from tandy. Had a great time designing this and working with the customer. Hope for many more projects like this in the future.

A few months ago I bought the Tandy western style shoulder holster pattern - love it! Thanks for the help via the forum on finding it. But, now have a son in the military going into a professional tactical training career - and a neighbor who is a detective wanting a more modern version of a shoulder holster for work. They both liked the western style which lead to "Oh, can you make me one for my glock... with clip holder, cuff holder, laser...." Mine look like Doc Holiday! I did have a makeshift pattern for a tactical shoulder holster but old computer died and I can't find the one I printed out and taped together - it's been about two years since I made one. Anyway - they both want holster on right - clip holder on left, and officer wants a cuff holder. I can combine everything but am in need of the harness pattern. If anyone can point me towards a pattern I can purchase it would be appreciated. I'm going to start building one from scrap pieces today - but would love a pattern to look over as well. Here's the style shown in a few pictures - thanks - Kent

I've been sentenced to a wheelchair, at least for now, so while I go about wheeled I want to make sure I go about heeled. I can't use the holster I used to carry my Beretta Cougar in because the arm rests interfere with my draw from 4:00, and I'm afraid of appendix carry. Anyone can win the lottery, and I don't want to shoot my nuts off. I'm pretty disciplined with my firearms, but I've proven to be unlucky and my physical acuity is waning. (Spinal injuries are miserable. Avoid them if you can.) So I decided I wanted to go back to carrying in a shoulder rig, but I grew to dislike my old Galco, which carried the pistol horizontally, because I was constantly lasering the folks behind me. It was also an awkward draw. Back before I became disabled I had been a power lifter (saved my life in the big crash) so I have enough muscle around me that it's not easy to reach around and draw. I considered a cross draw, but it doesn't address the issue of what to do with the piece when I visit the head. I need a shoulder rig. So the point I'm getting at, in case my tags didn't give me away, is that I'd like to make myself a custom tanker holster. It'll let me carry more towards the front of my torso, and pointed at an angle toward the deck instead of at random innocents. Plus, it's a cool design. But I can't just take one off the shelf because my wife bought me a Colt rail Gun for our anniversary - and she is a keeper, that one (the wife, although the pistol is, too) - and I slapped a laser/light show on the rail, so nothing out there fits it. But I earned Leatherworking Merit Badge back in the late twentieth century, so I think I can make one of my own. But here's my question: can anyone tell me anything helpful about adapting existing designs to accommodate various dust cover-mounted gizmos? I was thinking about wrapping the pistol and laser/light in plastic wrap, and then wet-molding the whole assembly with a sheet of leather big enough to leave a substantial border, then laying it down on a tanker-styled shape and carving off what I don't need. (I'd add a large oval strap in front of it all with the old "US" logo, just as a respectful shout out to tradition.) Am I kidding myself, or am I onto something here? I'd be grateful for any suggestions, insights, advice, or dirty limericks. Thanks in advance. All the best, George

Does anyone have the pattern pack number for a Tandy Pack? I need to buy the correct pack that includes a western shoulder holster pattern for a customer. None of the Tandy Pattern packs I have includes a western style version - not the modern semi pistol - aka tactical version. If somebody knows which Pack Item number I need to buy I would appreciate it. - Thanks - Kent

I need a pattern for a S&Wednesday 44mag model 629. Thanks!!!

A friend of mine has asked me to make a basic shoulder rig for him for his ccw. His gun is a xds and I have all the holster parts done and ready to go. it's the strapping I am confused on how to do. He wants basically 2 circles that go around his shoulders and cross in the back. He doesn't want a strap that goes around high stomach. I have already gotten a 3x3" rounded square for the straps to feed into that goes between the shoulder blades. I am just stuck on how to do the straps. Across the shoulders it will be 2" wide and everywhere else 1". it will be adjusted for a custom fit by snaps. Good thing is he is about my size. Does anyone by any chance have a pattern for the straps I could use? Thanks Charles

Evening all! I have a customer that wants a custom made vertical shoulder holster. In order to capture the look he wants, I need to find a tension spring to help keep the holster's shape and security while allowing the customer to draw his long barrel pistol straight out of the holster. I've scoured google and I can't find what I'm looking for...maybe I haven't found the magic search phrase yet. Any ideas where to find a tension spring to accomplish what my customer wants? Thanks in advance!

I've wanted to give this a try for a while but never managed to find the time until now. This is the 1911 holster and shoulder harness from the Al Stohlman holster book. I modified the holster slightly to cover the trigger and I made the harness several inches bigger and flared the top of the shoulder strap about an inch or so instead of having it be the same width as shown in the book. 10 oz HO on the holster with 2 coats of NF oil and a light wipe of Fiebings Hi-Lighter. The top piece of the harness is some scrap chap leather in the 4-5oz range, bottom piece is 8 oz HO and the 1/2 strap is also 8 oz HO. Thanks for looking, Josh

Hi, I'm new to this, been working with leather for a grand three weeks now. So I saw these holsters based of the uncharted video game, and really wanted one, but didn't want to shell out the 300 bucks they were asking, so I decided to make my own. But I ended up spending that much anyway. I took my 300 down to Tandy and bought a bunch of stuff not having any idea what I was doing or what I really needed and jumped in with both feet. So I made a few bracelets for my buddy's daughters and thought I knew what I was doing. So feeling confident I started my shoulder holster and then I realized about the order things need to be done in and what tools I really needed, but here's the final result. I am happy with it, and confident my next will be even better. Constructive criticism accepted.

I don't make a lot of holsters but was commissioned by a friend for this one. He wanted a verticle shoulder holster for his 1911 that he could wear comfortably. He specifically asked not to have mag pouches so I opted for an elastic attachment on the non gun side to counterbalance the whole thing. Made everything pretty much modular so any piece could be replaced as necessary or changed out. I went with a non traditional style back piece to get something that was comfortable to wear for long days on the range. Figured I would share it.