Just a few thoughts on what I believe a
working rig should be.
Crossdraws are great for hunting or driving long distances; this Rick Gittelin crossdraw is one of my all-time favorites..
The only reason I haven't wore it for rough work is because when bending at the waist, crossdraws in general don't work as well for me as a strong side, straight drop holster.
But I am hard on equipment. Barbed wire & thorns are hell on fine leather, so I wear an Okie slim jim for rough use. All it needed was a rawhide thong to make it perfectly serviceable, something I should have done before I ever wore it out the door. I got reminded of this awhile back I was clearing fencerows, hooked my plowhandle with a sapling I was piling behind me and flipped the Old Vaquero out nose-first into the mud. You'd always rather not do that but I had to laugh a little as I stopped, poured some motor oil on an old napkin and poked it through the bore from the throat with a green sprig. The slim jim now has the same hammer loop as the Gittelin.
I have yet to see a field holster retention device that I like better than the rawhide hammer loop on the Gittelin holster. It is perfect in every respect and the finest execution of a hammer loop I have ever used. A tug on the bottom adjusts it, the gun is held securely, and yet it is easily and silently brushed off by the thumb when drawing. This is all I ever wanted from a retention device for a general-use holster.
For an actual hard-use holster, I am amazed at how well the 100 year old Slim Jim design meets these requirements. For all of its faults and poor material, the Oklahoma Leather version got the pouch just about right.
The ‘batwings’ at the top of the holster protect the gun well from wet brush, etc but they are just a little high for good access. They should be about a half inch lower. The trigger guard portion of the pouch should support/protect enough of the trigger guard although this also is a little over-done. It also needs to be cut low enough for the finger access, as the gun clears leather.
The working holster should center cylinder on the top edge of the belt, keeping the gun up out of the way but still allowing fairly quick access. At this height, a 5 ½” SA is easily covered by a barn coat or medium-length jacket.
A real working holster should cover enough of the trigger guard to prevent brush, etc. from getting into/under it when cutting brush, etc. or plowing dirt, if you get tossed on your ass by a pony or dirt bike. This one comes up just a little higher than need be, which can interfere with getting the gun quick.
I have also come to the conclusion that the belt loop itself is absolutely critical to the versatility of a hard-use holster, and here’s where OK Leather screwed the pooch.
Theirs is a narrow, pitiful add-on part that lets the butt of the gun tip out, unless a very wide belt is worn.
The belt loop needs to be just wide enough, across the top, to support the gun’s weight hanging straight down when the wearer is standing. I like mine deep enough to accept a 2 ½” belt easily, yet allow just a bit of tilt when worn crossdraw, and seated. I believe about a 3 ¼” loop is perfect for wear on a wide gunbelt or (horror of horrors!) a milspec BDU pistol belt.
Another good hard use working belt is the Bob Allen nylon cartridge belt. It has extra tight loops that really hang onto .45 Colt cartridges; I have one loaded with them and nary a one has slipped despite numerous on-and-off cycles with the rolled up rig stowed behind the pickup seat.
These aren’t fashionable belts, but they simply cannot be beat for getting the working rig off & on in a hurry. They are easily and widely adjustable, for anything from trousers to heavy winter coveralls, without taking the belt apart.
In leather, I like a billeted belt like the old River Belt, which was the most comfortable duty belt I ever wore. It wouldn’t have to be lined though, for a working rig, so long as it was good heavy stock to begin with. My preference runs to dark brown; I have yet to see anything, anywhere, that compares to Rob Leahy's beautiful oxblood finish.
don't ask how I know, got in a hurry and tested that theory 
This was my everyday packin rig in Alaska 4" Mountain gun in one of my Sourdough pancakes and a little spare ammo. easy to wear all day every day, I have even slept in this while fishing and hunting and brown bears are about.
;D
