The KCarry holster bills itself as the “most comfortable holster you’ll ever wear.” Maybe. But the product is fundamentally unsafe . . .
The simple elastic that covers the gun, including the trigger, does little to keep the trigger from being pulled while it’s still in the holster.
I tried this with several pistols, including a GLOCK 19, the firearm used in their advertisement. I found that I could completely pull the trigger with my index finger or my middle finger. That’s because the elastic is soft enough to not just touch, but put light pressure on the trigger itself.
If, during the stress of the draw or just plain missing it, you reach too far back on the gun, only by an inch or two, your finger can land in the trigger guard and pull the trigger.
Keeping the trigger secured is the one thing that all holsters MUST do. This one does not. Red flag. Buzzing sounds. Lights and sirens. Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.
Of course, the way to mitigate that glaring safety issue is to carry without a round in the chamber. And frankly, why not?
The draw on this gun is already slow and cumbersome. Unlike traditional shoulder holsters, there isn’t a thumb break to hold the gun in place. Instead, it’s a Velcro tab with a ring at the bottom. You pull the ring up and then you can withdraw the firearm.
This really takes two hands. One to pull the ring up, the other to withdraw the firearm. It’s possible to draw one-handed, but you need to be particularly deft. The tab will close back down while you’re grabbing your pistol.
You’d better hope that you can be pretty still during the draw for that. Considering that hassle, what’s another second or two to chamber a round?
This is a conceal-carry holster for people wearing the right clothing. It’s not a conceal-carry-and-ever-hope-to-get-to-your-gun-quickly holster for anyone.
Unlike traditional shoulder holsters, this one has a wide fabric strap across the front. This means you can’t hide it, like you would a traditional shoulder holster, with it over your shirt but under a sports coat or unzipped jacket. The front band is pretty obvious.
For men wearing a sports jacket or suit coat, the band shows even if you can button your coat, which, while wearing the KCarry holster with a 1911, I could not. It canted the gun too far forward to get the jacket buttoned.
For some women, it would be possible to wear a top that would cover the handle of the gun, as well as cover the front strap below their breasts. They’d have to unbutton, or take the top off in order to actually draw the gun. Then, after disrobing, they’d have to pull the Velcro tab up, pray they don’t shoot themselves or someone behind them, then draw the gun.
I think the odds of actually getting that gun into the fight are slim to none.
If you’re willing to forgo being able to get to your concealed gun in a crisis, as well as deal with the fact that the trigger can be manipulated through the holster, then the KCarry holster’s a fairly comfortable way to hold your pistol. It’s not any more comfortable than a well made traditional leather shoulder holster, although it does hold large framed pistols tighter to the body than the old school shoulder rigs.
RATINGS (Out of Five Stars):
Overall (zero)
The KCarry holster isn’t a safe or effective carry option.
Ya, but did you swim in it? Draw while seated in your car? Hot-tub that thang?
No? Ok then. I think you’d be back up around 4.5.
; )
Even my baby sling has a trigger cover.
Dude, I gotta ask, what in the world is your deal with shoulder holsters?!
That looks Operator as Fu……….no, no, I can’t do it.
That rig looks dumb as shit.
It builds the surprise factor.
Bad guy’s like ‘never gonna get that outa there’
You, “BANG”
…with your other gun, from your other holster.
I don’t know, if you work with it a little you can get that muscle-memory thing going on too.
If you can get your woman out of a bra, you can get your piece out of that thing in a hurry too.
JWT wasn’t even trying, bc he’s racciss.
Those ain’t your grandpa’s pants. I think, too, that you gotta go horizontal carry if you’re going to wear it up that high.
I like a thumb-break retention system, two-snaps (not “and a twist” https://youtu.be/0VSO-88E8qo).
If you can get your finger on the trigger (and actuate it) that could be a feature not a bug. https://youtu.be/63KkZoGgYUA
Might be good for outdoor stuff, like kayaking. I’ve got a cross – shoulder strap holster that the bottom of the holster clips to my belt I’ve used while kayaking (going to hog hunting areas)
Ya. Nice.
Damn, zero overall. Ouch!
Harsh but fair.
No, minimum fair is 2.5, with brownie points for being black bc it’s ‘slimming’.
Ok, the ‘sternum strap’ seems excessively large, but go-big-or-go-home. They could use some more user-input-development on the ring-release to go one-handed, and they need to balance you out with 2-3 mag pouches on the other side and then they wouldn’t need the back cross-supports.
Still, I bet you could do a cleaner retained 5K in it, swim a river / lake, sleep in it (otherwise nekid) and [similarly] be carrying that way while you smoothed your woman in a hot-tub wid dat. Ya.
“Comfortable” = carry
“uncomfortable” = sits un-gatted on top of the safe.
KCarry shoulder holster = handles for your woman in the hot-tub
OWB / IWB = not (likely) on you while you are in the hot-tub.
See.
As a proponent of shoulder carry options, this looks like a complete failure to understand the design requirements of a holster, never mind a shoulder holster.
Added on top of that issue is the obvious selection of cheap materials to avoid the price of real leather. Some of us vastly (not a little bit, but day vs. night) prefer leather, and “modern materials” like this are simply non-starters.
I hear what you’re saying. But, leather and swim – not friends after first try
Modern materials – more repairable, hold up to sweat, hot chlorinated water, stretch but don’t tear.
KCarry looks like they were shooting for body-hugging retention, and . . . they got there.
How much is it?
Leather can survive getting wet. You have to treat the leather first.
Then again, swimming isn’t high on my list of “to do” activities here in Wyoming. The water is usually cold enough to take your breath away in seconds – and at this time of the year, still water is typically under about 6 to 8″ of ice.
Ugh. If I’m going to wear a shoulder holster I can’t conceal, it’s going to be my El Paso tanker holster:
https://epsaddlery.com/?s=1942&post_type=product
That’s like the one I have. Except mine is padded nylon with a wider shoulder strap. It works good for lake/river/swamp use. If you dump into the river you don’t lose it.(weapon) I’ve dumped and swam to the bank using it. As far as leather goes, I don’t think I’d like it. I can’t see it holding up over time.
I’m not often in lakes, rivers and swamps. I can see synthetic being a better choice for you. Barring repeated soaking, a high-quality leather holster can last decades.
First off I don’t plan on going swimming while carrying. Secondly, why am I going to buy/use a shoulder-holster that needs a belly band. Probably overpriced too! POS.
Drat, I was hoping for a decent shoulder holster that was not a one week grocery bill. Any decent suggestions, POTG?
Eat fewer groceries?
Ooh, I live in America 2018…sometimes I splurge on the Hunts canned tomato sauce and 93% lean ground beef…other than that I don’t know. What’s the budget equivalent of onions and bologna?
You get what you pay for…trust me. I know…
Find what you want and save up…best advice I have. Joe R., do you go swimming while carrying that often?? Just wondering…..
It’s the same reason you carry, ya just never know. Sometimes ya just gotta splash it.
A serious question, JWT –
I agree it’s unsafe.
Will TTAG *not* be throwing it in the TTAG prize closet as a givaway?
If TTAG owns it, I hope they destroy it so it can’t hurt someone else…
Send it to me, I’ll video myself swimming in it (hot tub pics will have to stay on the dark web [and NSA satellite feeds]).
Most of the gear we review gets sent back to the manufacturer. No doubt this will be the same.
But, first a swim?
Can I just use a double’d up paper bag the right size? I hope someone didn’t spend too much time on that unit. Wow. R & D was toked up.
My wife wants to know if they make it in a “C” cup.
On many other review sites, we would expect to see a glowing review, praising it’s many virtues, with any faults reduced to short obscure sentences buried in a paragraph at the bottom.
Instead, JWT serves up the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the ugly unvarnished truth in the first paragraph.
Kudos.
Bottom line up front!
they should supply a trigger guard kydex holster with their shoulder holsters.
Ummmm, Joe R is posting WAY more than normal, using few superlatives, refraining from all-caps, AND NOT TAGGING ANYTHING AS “POS (D)!”. This is clearly an imposter from KCarry hijacking his name.
Can we please get the real Joe R back?
Thank you for your feedback and review. Safety is paramount and we take your comments seriously. KCARRY has chosen to include a trigger guard with each holster. We strive to update our product from feedback and appreciate the opportunity to improve from your review.
Thanks again,
KCARRY