ABOUT
History of Rigal Leatherworks
I build leather goods meant to be used daily and hold up over time. Everything I make is built from full-grain leather, reinforced where it matters, and designed with one goal in mind: something that wears in—not out.
Rigal Leatherworks grew out of a simple idea. Back in 1994, I couldn’t justify spending more on a holster than I had on the handgun itself. So I made my own holster using parts from a couple old boots—Red Wings and suede—and put it together the best way I knew how at the time. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. That holster is still around today, and it’s held up for almost 30 years.
That experience stuck with me: if something is built right, it should last. From there, I taught myself leatherwork the old-fashioned way—books, trial and error, and a lot of practice. Over time, I expanded into belts, holsters, sheaths, and eventually more complex work like bible rebinding and tote bags. For years, everything I made was for personal use or gifts (such as the items shown below).
<—FIRST HOLSTER
“11-14-94”
In 2017, I started offering my work for sale. Since then, the business has grown steadily, mostly through word of mouth. What hasn’t changed is how I approach the work. This is still a one‑man shop. Every piece is built by hand, one at a time. I don’t aim to produce large quantities. The focus is on building a limited number of items and doing them right. That means heavier leather, stronger construction, and more time spent on the parts you don’t always notice—until they fail on something else. If you’ve seen one of my totes after a few years of use, that’s the entire idea: it should look better, not worse.
About Chad
Outside the shop, I’ve spent my career working as an accountant and financial analyst. My wife and I have been married for over 28 years, and we’ve raised three amazing kids together. Family has always been the priority, and the leather shop has grown around that. Rigal Leatherworks is built the same way everything else in my life is: with intention, consistency, and the goal of doing things right the first time.
All images and logos are copyright Rigal Leatherworks, LLC.
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