I am sure there are more than a handful of leather workers on the board here, so I was wondering if I could ask a favor of some of you. Does anyone know of a good pattern book with some more up to date holsters in it? Mine is the old Al Stohlman book which while classic, is both outdated and in more than a few cases dangerous. With the exception of the full flap luger holster every single one of them has the trigger exposed. I would like to start making more of my own holsters besides just for my wheel guns and 1911s. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The Stohlman book teaches you how to make your own patterns. Take one of your holsters that you presently own and like the style of and study it closely. Note all of the good points and the things that you would like to improve. Next get some heavy paper (I use manila file folders) and make a pattern slightly oversize. You can fold pattern over the gun and see how it looks. Finally, make your holster out of leather. It will take you two or three tries before you get it right. Then keep building holsters; each will be better than the last.

Thats the way I learned how to make holsters. Good luck.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

I have also wanted to try my hand at making a holster. Well I mean making several. Raider said you will wind up making several, and that is what I have read on every thread regarding the subject. Where can I score the Stohlman book?

Try: bookfinder.com

I actually made my first pocket holster last week and it only took me one try. What I DID do was to learn the cutting, hole punching and stitching by making a holster for a friend's PPK/S out of scrap from the hide I bought. I don't even know if it fits his gun or not, but it taught me what I needed to know. If it does fit, then I'm two for two.

My pocket holster was for my 2" Model 36. I only made a few minor mistakes, none of which affect the function of the holster. Since I'm a lousy hand artist, I used Corel Draw to lay out the design. I used dimension lines to make sure that it was the proper size. I then printed the pattern on plain paper. I cut out the pattern and used spray glue to attach the pattern to the back of a piece of a cereal box. When it dried, I cut around the pattern, giving me a cardboard pattern I used to trace onto the leather.

Using Corel Draw or Autocad allows you to both be very precise in your measurements and to easily modify your pattern. I'm working on a tuckable IWB design right now and it probably took me 1/10th the time it would have taken by hand. I'm still working on an attachment system that doesn't require me to pay somebody to make plastic or metal parts.

Regarding the book mentioned, I think they sell it at Tandy Leather. Of course I got all of my information off of other people's internet sites and posts and it worked out quite well.

I got my copy at Tandy. Pretty neat old book, if nothing else it gives you a good hand on the basics. But it's the melo-dramatic 50's western art work that really makes it fun to look at.

I started making holsters in 1972, and I have made many thousands over the years. Pattern making is an integral part of each project. Learning how to locate stitch-lines so as to achieve a proper fit is part of the learning curve. Selecting materials appropriate to each project requires some experience. Forming and finishing a holster requires some knowledge and experience.

Much of this experience is gained through trial and error. I think that the vast majority of holster makers will freely tell you just how many "chew toys" they made before they achieved a result worth using.

Last year I developed two new holster designs. From the original prototypes, through testing by experienced users, to the first marketable product required 3 to 5 months for each design, consumed several hundred dollars in materials, and required many frustrating hours between the occasional "OK, that works!" moments.

Imitating or duplicating the designs of established holster makers is fine for your own use, while doing so for profit is ethically wrong. You may learn quite a bit by trying to make an established design that you like.

Creating an entirely new design is an involved process that I would recommend only for those who have achieved a level of experience that permits some chance of success.

Either way, you can expect to spend a great deal of time and a fair amount of money on supplies and tools before you have a finished product that meets your needs.

I am not trying to talk you out of trying. I encourage anyone with a desire to make their own to do so. But you will need to have more than average patience and persistance to achieve your immediate goal.

Best regards.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I have some 'chew toys' lying around....I even went the extra step of acquiring a harness stitching machine that is over 100 years old and will punch through over 1" of leather with ease...the hard part is getting the first one (in a series) cut out right, sewn right, and then boned in right....I have not begun to master the art of carving, but am getting progressively better at stamping patterns...I give away most of what I make, and have never sold even one....through all the costs involved, I believe that the time is well invested - definitely cheaper than therapy

Best luck in your endeavors.

Dittos to Raider. I have a beat up copy of that Tandy book and it was a good basic start to then go crazy modifying patterns. I've been making holsters for fun for 40 years. In the past 25 I've made them for others. Starting out I probably butchered a whole heard of cattle until I got around to feeling comfortable selling stuff. I also cut and trim paper constantly forming it around a gun.
I make a lot of holsters based on classic themes and feel just fine about it. Myres made the famous Threepersons, later Lawrence makes the "Keith 120" which is practically identical. Not to compare myself anywhere near these guys I'll make my versions of their holsters and won't lose any sleep over it. And people ask for modified versions to suit their personal tastes all the time.

JDLawhon.com - Holstermaking 101
This tutorial, along with much advice from Lobo among others, helped me get started. I'm pleased with the holsters I make, and I intend to learn tooling this winter.

The biggest thing I have found out is that to make a good pattern you have to be able to KNOW how you want the holster to sit, ride, and carry. I usually make a paper mock up of my holsters before touching leather and once I think it is coming along well then I go to a demo holster. You will make mistakes, but making them on paper is a lot cheaper.

That's about 8 or 9 members making holsters and a couple more wanting to. I guess I make #10. I've seen some of Wyatt Burp's and Lobo's and a couple of gregintn's but let's see some more. I'd love to see some more members leather work.
I'll start it off with my latest for a 4" M28...
Come on guys let us see what you got.

well bear in mind this pic is from a VERY ****** camera phone but the holster is black with RICH cordovan tooling

I wish you had a better picture. That looks pretty cool. How did you do the background tooling?

just a simple pear shaped camouflage tool, and I will try to get to a better camera soon, kids killed mine! This pic really doesn't do it justice!

If you have a local Tandy leather, talk to the owner and see if they do classes on making projects including holsters. Most do and is how I started out.

Like Lobo, we go though a ton of trial and error when creating a new design or making a custom customer order can be the same way.

Customer feedback and suggestions have lead me down 4 to 5 models I currently make.

Bye the way, I started out making my own holster because I could not find one that worked for me especially locally. It ended up becoming a true business that continues to grow.

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Srigs

I agree with a previous post that JDLAWHON.COM is a great tutorial on holster making. I, myself, have ruined a few sections of cowhide. I recently stitched one a bit too small and I told my wife that I could utilize it by stopping by the gun shop and picking up a more compact model that I had been eyeing. When my wounds heal I'll work on it again. I only play around with this for my own personal use. Here are a couple that I've done recently. A stingray paddle and a pancake, both for my Kimber Ultra.

This is going to sound strange, but honestly hand sewing and tooling the leather is the easy part for me. I'm just kind of apprehensive about making my own patterns and attempting them for some reason.

Thats the fun in making your own holsters. Just make the minor changes from the styles of holster makers to suit your own needs. Don't be reluctant to try something different and unique, and you will end up with a custom item that you can be proud of and have the gratification knowing that you did it and there is not another one like it. Go for it!

That's why I use Corel Draw.

I start out with a rectangle, then reshape it to the configuration I want. It's easy for me to copy one side of the holster and mirror it to create the opposite side. Then, if I need to modify it (sweat guard, etc.) I just just reshape that side. If there are any additional pieces (belt loops, reinforcements, etc.) I can similarly lay them out. I could even lay out stitch lines if I wanted (haven't figured that out yet).

Advantages:

1. I can make as many copies as I need.
2. I can use one generic pattern as the basis for any number of variations.
3. If I get a dimension wrong (too long, too short) I can easily and precisely make the correction and print out another pattern to be glued to a cardboard backing.

Hello all,
I have a S&W 2206TGT Target Model .22 auto and am trying to sort out what holster size & shape would work for it.

I just bought a SKYBALL MOUNTAIN fabric one that fits mostly but is 2" too long. It works but you know, I'd like something a little nicer.

Other than fitting the gun to various holsters at the gun stores, is there an easier way?

This is my first post here and I am thrilled to have a nice S&W gun for a change. Thanks in advance..
BB

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S&W Model 2206-TGT Target .22