When the first semi-autos emerged on the scene and played an important role in personal carry and police work, the holster makers of the day treated them as funny-shaped guns. They continued to design holsters for these new types of guns in the traditional western styles. 

Today, semi-auto rigs are much more evolved and are available in endless options, including all the customization you may need. At Black Hills Leather, we have some design tips and insights into how you can have your custom semi-auto holsters designed to greater aesthetic and functional effects.

Design Elements

More traditional styles feature the safety straps being placed between the hammer and frame or over the grip safety. This design concept is consistent with the way in which certain guns were carried with the hammer kept down and the chamber empty. 

When there is not much interest in the traditional carry concept, the holster could be set up for cocked and locked. This design makes the rig convenient and more suited for the modern era.

Modern Designs

A more popular semi-auto holster design features a cattle leather exterior and suede interior. Additional features include:

• Interior steel reinforced thumb break
• Adjustable thumb strap for providing additional retention
• Couple of directional snaps on a belt loop for the holster to be attached to any belt

Ideally, semi-holsters are designed on frame sizes, but you can take things to the next level as well. 

Attachment Types

The ideal semi-auto holsters fit around your belt with two directional snaps. These snaps come off only one way and move back in reverse. 

Genuine leather tends to naturally stretch after usage. So, these holsters are typically made snug, ensuring the gun fits properly after use.

Popular Design Elements

Some of the popular design elements found in semi-auto holsters are as follows:

• A more retro style can feature a medium ride and a 25-degree rake of the conventional holster. Such a design puts the trigger guard transition atop the belt. 
• You may prefer a holster with flaps, especially if you have a heavier gun. A flapped holster can serve the same purpose as the old holsters served centuries ago. Besides keeping your gun protected, the flap will also keep dust, dirt, and snow out. While these holsters can cause a slower draw, you will have to deal with lesser cleaning and wear and tear on your gun.
• Retro styles are also widely popular among semi-auto rig users. Many such designs take some of their cues from the Wild Bunch Holster. They feature a pouch with a unique hidden skirt and are more slender. 

The Wild Bunch style is among the most popular styles for semi-auto holsters. Oftentimes, every custom designer will add their own touch of design elements to the basic style. 

These are some of the most popular design elements for semi-auto rigs. If you want to customize your holster or want to explore more design options, feel free to get in touch with us at Black Hills Leather. Call us at +1 (956) 436-4888 or send us a message at rudy@blackhillsleather.com.