Dale..thanks for the compliment...I'll bring along one or two when we meet up...gotta be something in your arsenal that'll fit.
Pal Val...talk with the guys at Tandy...I"ve yet to find one that wasn't very helpful...ask the questions you think are stupid. I have found that they do tend to underestimate the thickness of leather needed to make a really rugged gun belt or holster....you're looking for saddle skirting leather almost 1/4" in thickness. The gun is wet molded to the holster after your finished. They'll tell you to use the two needle technique...ask them to demonstrate it. I space my stitches with a little spur wheel then drill the holes through the two or three layers of leather using a 1/16" drill and a drill press or a finishing nail of the same dia. It can also be done as easily with a hand held drill. Heavy linen thread is available from Tandy's as well.
Here's the pics showing the wheel, groover and beveler plus some of a Tom Threepersons holster that fits my Vaquero, .44 Spl, and 50th Anni. .357. In use, the groover cuts a groove, the spur is run down the groove and then the holes are drilled. I glue the flap down first with Barge Cement (Tandy's), then stitch it down, after grooving for the thread. Grooving prevents wear on the stitching as the gun is drawn or from rubbing on your pants. Once the flap is secured, I fit the welt, using an extra thickness or two at the trigger guard, glue it in place, then groove and drill the holes. I make a paper pattern of the holster before I start and spend probably an hour worrying about the over all size. I like 'em snug with no extra leather, but if you get it too small, the gun won't fit. I cut the leather over size, then trim back as I begin laying out the stitch patterns.
The notched beveler rounds the edges so that they burnish up well, using a piece of antler. The last pic is of the holster as it sits on a 2-1/2" gun belt, the loops of .44/.45 size.
Didn't mean to get into a holster making rant here, but they are really fun to make. If you make one, you'll make more, trust me. I finish them with Tandy's waterproofer now but have used just Snow Proof in the brown can in the past. I like the soft faded amber look of old leather...H..ll it matches my face! Regards, Rodfac PS: the old one with the Single Six is over 30 yrs old now..my son's inform me.