Leather weight for 19th century holsters

[BrushyCreekDouglas]

Hey gents,


I’m sure this has been covered on a previous thread, but in my search I couldn’t find it. I’m curious what information fellow shuckmakers have found as to what weight leather was typically used for holsters in the 19th century. This question may be impossible to answer as I’m sure, then as now, different folks used different leather. I have heard that most holsters were made of thinner leather than we’d typically use now. I mostly use 9-10oz for my holsters.

Hope everyone is doing well. God bless!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It has been mentioned but I don't recall where. I seem to recall that original 19th century holsters were slightly thinner than we use today. Perhaps 7-8 oz or so. I use 8-9 or so for most of mine but 9-10 works fine. Maybe one of the other historically-minded leather workers here will know for sure.

[Trailrider]

Plain military holsters used "bridal leather", which comes out to about 7-8 oz. Some civilian holsters of the later 19th - 20th Century period, with a lot of carving, probably  8-9 oz. Much earlier, cheap holsters might use 6-7 oz. I tend to use 8-9 for most civilian holsters, and 7-8 oz for military rigs. It depends on the particular pattern designation.

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[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, Trailrider. That is pretty clear.

[Johnny McCrae]

It has been mentioned but I don't recall where. I seem to recall that original 19th century holsters were slightly thinner than we use today. Perhaps 7-8 oz or so. I use 8-9 or so for most of mine but 9-10 works fine.

My thoughts also on this subject.

When I started out making Holsters, I made lined holsters using two ply of 4-5 oz. leather. I eventually switched to one ply of 8-9 oz.

[DeaconKC]

My thoughts also on this subject.

When I started out making Holsters, I made lined holsters using two ply of 4-5 oz. leather. I eventually switched to one ply of 8-9 oz.

Johnny, was the switch due to ease of making, more durable holsters, or what/why?