Just thought I'd share with you guys.
My old man, who grew up on the farm in BF nowhere Wisconsin, walked 25 miles to school every day, uphills - both ways, in the snow, with barefeet, etc. He's been a leatherworker pretty much all his life. At first, probably out of necessity since back then you had to make-do with what you got and reused stuff and made stuff out of scratch (he's pretty old....close to 70).
Anywhos, I asked him to instruct me on how to make a holster for myself. This isn't my first time working leather, but this is my first "big" leather project. Really my only criteria is that I want it mid-ride. My blackhawk SERPA is hi-ride and not really digging the exaggerated sway to the side or the "extended" reach up my side to grip the gun.
I will be updating this as I progress.
Day 1:
The old man really wanted me to do it the hard way so we did not use any pre-determined pattern, but made our own pattern. It's better this way anyway as I can get it completely customized to exactly what I want. This required some trial and error, cutting out cardboard and shaping it to what we think we want. After an hour or 3 of cutting, shaping, trimming, shaping, then using a ruler for accuracy, and then cutting and shaping again, we were finally satisfied with what it came out to. We decided that a one-piece design is more artsy than a frankenstein of pieces stitched together. So we took some of his good thick leather 9/10 oz and traced and cut the shape out.
Day 2:
Punching holes and dyeing. I tried using a wheel hole-marker against the advice of the old man...should've listened. Manual is the way to go. Punching the holes is a very nerve-wracking part and after an hour or so of delaying and trying to make sure everything lines up, I started punching in the holes. That didn't take very long. I'm really afraid that my shape is TOO TIGHT, but I'm assured that once it's wet it will stretch enough. I knew it would stretch when wet but.....I really hope it stretches
enough 
. It's really tight. With the holes in place, you can really tell where the leather is going from here. The long part of the leather is going to loop down to match the holes placed there - that will be the belt loop. Then you just fold over the other section to match the holes - that will be the actual holster or retaining portion. I really want to use white thread for the sewing part for sexy contrast, but might just end up using what we got - brown sinew like thread. Doesn't really turn me on, but this is my first holster after all! I'm bound to find something to complain about it and make 20 more
Future designs in mind: Button/snap for belt loop that doesn't require the removal of the belt to shed the holster. 1 magazine holder to rest active magazine in when weapon is not in use.
Below is the hide (rough) side:
Below is the fur (smooth) side:
