Ironwood - up to now I haven't made a lined one . . . but . . . . the next one will be. I'm going to make an open top for an '51 Navy. I'm thinking of using buckskin for the liner . . . . extending it out beyond the side seam for maybe 3 inches or so . . . . over wrap the top and possibly put on a concho and then fringing the buckskin extending beyond the side seam and at the bottom of the over wrap on the top front. I'll cut the fringe about an eighth of an inch wide and then moisten it and gently work it in a rolling, pulling motion to make it "stringy" like a lot of fringe work you see on original Native American buckskin work of the 1800s. If you haven't seen a copy of it, there is a great book called "Packing Iron" that has fantastic photos outlining the history of holsters. You probably can take a gander at it on Amazon. You can get lots of ideas of styles and ways you can alter/adapt them to your likeing. Another site to look at is over on CassCity - go to their forums and look up the leathershop. Lots of good fellas and good information along with photos of their work at times, etc. (nobody will hassle you if you go over there to take a look - just remember to come back to this board!
) I got back in to doing leatherwork a couple of years ago. I've made hunting/possibles bags for yeqrs but then got interested in holsters, cartridge boxes, etc. I winter in Arizona and took a class on tooling leather up at Tandy Leather in Tucson last year. Unfortunately, my eyesight isn't the greatest so my tooling skills are lacking. If you have a Tandy near you, find out if they offer classes. You don't need to invest a lot to get started and if nothing more, you'd pick up some new techniques. As far as the rough side of the leather showing - I'm pretty "utility" or "plain" in my likes. I shoot BP revolver and I view the holster as a utility item to hold the pistol which will naturally get dirty from the fouling, etc. I've been in to shooting BP over 35 years and I like my holsters, etc. to look "hand made" as they would have been - and even in the old west, there were harness makers and leather workers of all levels of ability. As I said, the eyesight isn't what it used to be so once in a while there will be a flaw - I prefer to call it "character".
My problem is that the leather work is habit forming and there just doesn't seem to be enough time to get all the projects you'd like to do, done - but hey - it's all about having fun anyway. Your holsters sound really nice and I know your buddy is going to be excited when he gets his! Good luck and have fun! Kindest regards!
