Help with pattern

[Holsterguy]

Howdy guys
Been searching the web for a couple weeks trying to find a pattern fo a civil war holster. Came across an old thread here from davemyrick answered a lot of questions. He made an offer to get hold of him and he would send anyone wanting a pattern.
Well, tried to send him an email, no one at that address. Tried boothillbob, who he was talking to, websites down.
Did anyone get one of those patterns that would share?

[Johnny Dingus]

I don't know if this will help you at all but after looking this is all I have.

Johnny Dingus

[Holsterguy]

Thanks Johnny, but that looks like the same one I have (Simmons). Can't get SAA to fit in it. Works fine for 1860 army tho.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Tandy has/had a small book on holster making, YEEHAW! In it there is a chapter, with kindy-garden type illustrations on making patterns using THE STRAP!

Not the one Daddy had in the barn, but something like the reins used with the plow-horses. First get some pattern paper. (Target material, old file folders or large document envelopes) Draw a line down the middle or fold a line. Hold the pistol, sight line down on the line and carefully lay it down on one side and trace the outline. Then draw the leather-line about 3/4" outside that. Fold the pattern paper and copy it for the other side. An easy way to do this is with scissors, fold & clip, just like making crafts in kindy-garden. Pretty rough and ready, so based on the carpenter's rule "Measure twice - cut once", now get out THE STRAP!

A strip of leather of the same thickness as your holster material. If you are lining the holster, the strap has to take account of that. Pinch it into a loop and take the circumference of the pistol at critical points, including the 3/4s of an inch you are holding in the pinch. (Actual plus 1 1/2") use these measurements to lay out a pattern on heavy paper. OR use them to alter an existing measurement. Sometimes I make several tries before getting a pattern I think I can use. If you are new to this, make the first holster simply, without a lot of time and resourses. It might become your loaner or spare - hopefully not returned to the scrap pile!

Once you have a successful pattern - keep it on file, properly labelled. It can be altered for such things as barrel length, target sights and style of pistol. E.g; if you want to make a holster for the Old Vaquero but only have a SAA pattern, "ease" the pattern by 1/8' in all dimensions. Even a New Vaquero is just slightly larger than a SAA clone (personal experience - Vaquero is very tight in a holster made snuggly for the SAA.)