Do you remember the first Holster you made?

I started shooting Cowboy Action matches in 2007 and needed a Holster rig so I bought the book by Al Stohlman entitled "How to Make Holsters" and jumped in. Attached is a picture of my first Holster. It was crude. I didn't know how to sew so I laced it. Through the years, from this forum, I learned many things including how to sew, dye leather with homemade dyes, stamping and design etc. Father Time has forced me to retire from Cowboy Action Shooting and Leather Working, but I have many good memories.

Attached area few of my favorites.

Your first holster was pretty darn good, I'd say!  And then it just got better. 

Yes,that is a great first holster.  My first holster was 1995.  I was a bigger ape then.   So big when i priced commercial ones, it seemed that the cattle needed to be NBA length to get a belt to fit me.  So, remembering jr. high shop, i order a full hide.  It was latigo so not able to tool or stamp.  I went with a buscadero style because i knew no better.   I also worked on healthing it up.  By time i was done, belt was too big.  Started researching history and continued working on better holsters.   I now am 130 lbs less in size and 10 inches less around so much better.   I used to carry the holster as a spare.  A young kid shot with us and i let him borrow it.  He liked it and i told him to keep it.  Buscadaro belt i keep in the basement to remind me biscuits and gravy cannot be a daily meal. 

Many thanks for the kind words, Gents. My work pales in comparison to the fine work displayed by the craftsman on this forum.

Thats's a great story, Mogorilla.

Quote from: Mogorilla on November 02, 2024, 10:37:49 AMYes,that is a great first holster.  My first holster was 1995.  I was a bigger ape then.  So big when i priced commercial ones, it seemed that the cattle needed to be NBA length to get a belt to fit me.  So, remembering jr. high shop, i order a full hide.  It was latigo so not able to tool or stamp.  I went with a buscadero style because i knew no better.  I also worked on healthing it up.  By time i was done, belt was too big.  Started researching history and continued working on better holsters.  I now am 130 lbs less in size and 10 inches less around so much better.  I used to carry the holster as a spare.  A young kid shot with us and i let him borrow it.  He liked it and i told him to keep it.  Buscadaro belt i keep in the basement to remind me biscuits and gravy cannot be a daily meal. 

I don't have my first holster since it was a gift to my father. The second one got away from me years ago, probably went with the Single Six it was made for. Both of those were highly tooled. I do still have my third one, though. It was made for a Ruger Blackhawk. The brand is mine.

This one for a 3rd Model Dragoon back in 2013. The belt loop is a bit low on the pouch but otherwise, it's a pretty good holster.

My first holster was at best laughable.
I did improve, I use an analogy....

"I can make a sandwich when I'm hungry, but on some occasions, you need/want a really GOOD Crafted SUB ! 
  So, I reached out to the craftsmen.
One of those was you Johnny...you never disappointed me 

and I still have them