Bender: Almost-authentic holsters for percussion wheelguns are really easy to make, if you have access to oak- or vegetable-tanned skirting leather. This is the kind of leather that is easily form-fitted when wetted. I hvae made a dozen or more such holsters over the years, and gotten compliments on them, and I "ain't no artisan," believe me. I make a rough pattern using a manilla folder with the revolver on the fold of the folder and tracing the contour with an inch or so of extra. Cut the pattern out, then hold it around the revolver to make sure it is a reasonable fit. Then trace the pattern on your skirting leather and cut it out. Wrap your revolver in plastic wrap, dip the leather in lukewarm water to thoroughly wet it, then fold it around your gun and start shaping it with your fingers, the firmer/closer the better. Once who have the leather following the countours of the gun, pull out the gun, adjust the main seam to make sure it is straight, and let dry. Once dry, you need to attach your belt loop, depending on the style holster you have chosen.I make it easy on myself, using copper rivets -- two at the top of the loop, then fold over and tack the bottom with rivet No. 3. Then you can glue the seam closed with Duco or better, Barge cement. If you want to try tooling, do this before gluing the seam, as you will want to unfold the now-stiff holster and rewet the leather where you plan to tool. Once the glue has set, trim the excess leather along the seam, mark your stitch holes (easiest with a wheel from Tandy) and poke them with a diamond- or triangle-shaped needle. I usually apply finish about here, but others may do it earlier in the process. Sew with saddle stitch, round and burnish the edge and off you go. Sounds harder than it is.
