Leather Question

[RVM45]

Friends,

I have quite a few Handguns and very few Holsters. A quality Holster can cost almost as much as a good used Handgun. I have no quarrel with that. A workman is worthy of his hire...

But the raw fact is that I cannot afford them.

{The only way that I've found that a Poor Man can have nice things is to buy one or two with every windfall and then grimly refuse to part with them during hard times—even if that means sitting around hungry in a house with the lights cut off…}

Be that as it may...

I'd like to make Holsters. That means scrimping for a very long time to buy materials and if any mistakes are made, it will be a long time until they can be rectified.

The candidates are:

#1} A Double Shoulder Rig for a pair of S&W 5906s—Horizontal carry with Thumbreak—The Pistols carried Cocked like Single Action Autos...

Probably a bit Ambitious for my first project.

#2} A pair of Holsters for the 5906s approximating the old Chapman High Ride—I've discussed this Holster before, but I'll include Pictures.

#3} A pair of High Riding Holsters for two Ruger Blackhawks with 5.5" Barrels.

I have a Pair of Ruger .22 Pistols—one a Standard Barrel MK I; the Other a Bull-Barrel MKII—I'd like for each of them to have a nice High Ride Holster.

Then there is a Walther PP, a Colt Police Positive Special, a 4" Ruger Redhawk, and a Pair of S&W .38 Specials—one a 2" K Frame the other a 2" J Frame.

They're all whining and wanting Holsters of their own. Some want High Ride Holsters. Some want "Summer Special" type Holsters And a few are holding out for both types of Holster.

I have a Stitching Awl, and couple books and a handful of patterns that I downloaded or that kind folks have sent me. I don't have a Leather Cutting Knife, but I do have several various Razor or Craft Knives.

What sort of Leather weight and size would I need to make a pair of Holsters for #2 or #3 {or #1 IF you think that is the way to go…}?

Are there any other Leather Working Tool that I really ought to have?

Thanks.

RVM45

Edited July 17, 2015 by RVM45

[snubbyfan]

I've got some follow along video series on holster making, from making a pattern to buffing the final finish. It covers the tools, leather, dyes, finish, edge burnishing techniques, stitching and other stuff.

There's lotsa ways to get the same results, these are just how I do it.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOM3hbruUKHov9kquIxXKlA/videos

Generally I use 9-10 ounce for holsters, 6-7 ounce for pocket holsters.