I haven't found much in the line of holster making books specifically, but I have a fair collection of leatherworking books. I have found some resources on the web for walkthroughs and discussions on holstermaking, but very little in the way of patterns (unless you are looking for cowboy action style holsters).

As for tools, I have bought the majority of my tools from Tandy leather, in Bloomington, and some tools at Greys leatherworking on Nicolett and 35th(?) St.

Both stores have hides for sale, and Tandy has bits bags for playing with carving and tooling. Otherwise there are several websites that sell hides as well, but I'm at work, and the bookmarks are at home, so I could post them later if your interested.

Addall.com came up with this holster making book.

http://www.addall.com/New/compare.cgi?dispCurr=USD&id=178144&isbn=1892214989&location=10000&thetime=20061220091232&author=&title=&state=AK

Have fun

Published 1953.

Hey, that was the only one.......

I don't expect leather work has changed much in the last 100 years, never mind the last 50.

I have looked through that "book" it's available at Tandy; it's probably a gem, if your intending to make cowboy action revolver holsters.

Very interested... I am excited to make my own. What does some of the tools cost?

There's a video titled, "Holsters & Knife Sheaths," by Dusty Johnson that's available through Hide Crafter Leather Company in Fort Worth, TX. Their number is 888-263-5277. The video provides some good instruction on the basic construction and design of the holster. Also included is a variety of patterns, cowboy and modern. This was one of the very first I watched and I still use some of the techiques shown on the video in the making of my holsters today.

The cost of a sewing machine can be very pricey. An adequate machine with which to make holsters is going to run you approximately $800-$1000, and it goes up from there. I have three machines and the average cost was $2k for each. The machines that Lou Alessi, Matt Del Fatti, etc., use run in the neighborhood of $6k-$7k.

That being said, the majority of the folks who work at the Tandy Leather Factory stores are very knowledgeable and can steer you in the right direction for tools needed to make a holster. There are some tools that most of us probably already have, such as a dremel, utility razor knife, that you can use in the making of the holsters.

I'd recommend choosing a double shoulder for the leather needed to make the holster. (You do not want to use a "belly" as it has no structure/stiffness.) The shoulder and back area of the hide is the most dense/firm section of a hide. By using from that area you have greater durability of the holster, both now and long-term.

Good luck in the making of the holster(s). Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions.