By Jack Furr
The following information about leather gear (holsters, belts, magazine pouches) and other ancillary gear of the concealed carry permit holder as well as the professional law enforcement officer has come to the author over a 20+ year career in law enforcement and training LEOs, military and civilian personnel. Much of this time was spent while working at several prominent training facilities within the U.S. In Arizona I worked alongside a man whom I consider iconic in holster design and development…Mr. Bruce Nelson. When time permitted, we talked about these designs, the materials they were made of, how it enhanced draw performance, security, the ability to re-holster one-handed, leathers that were strong, durable and light. It was an important education in what constitutes a professional carry system by a professional law enforcement officer, holster user and superb holster craftsman . . .
There are realities that must be faced when you venture into the area of armed conflict and your choice of a carry piece and system of transporting that firearm and other necessary gear. Gunfights are a nasty business and you really don’t want to be involved in one. Unfortunately, there are times when a fight is unavoidable.
Your fight will be like no other. It’s doubtful it will be static and you’re very likely to end up on the deck. That being said, some holster makers have made it a point to seek out those who have survived a gunfight in-order to gain information that could assist them in a superior design. Sadly, many others have not.
So what properties does a well-executed holster, belt and magazine pouch have and how do you go about selecting them? What should they be made of? What holster makers do you check out, and what questions do you ask of them?
In my opinion and the opinions of several other well known armed professionals – men such as the late Col. Jeff Cooper, Thell Reed, Clint Smith, Louis Awerbuck, Chuck Taylor, Scott Reitz, Raymond P. Coffman, Bill McLennan and many others – your rig should be made of a superior grade of cow or horse hide. Of course, there is ballistic nylon and Kydex, too. These materials certainly have their place, but I doubt if you will see one of the men mentioned carrying anything other than real leather for serious social purposes. Why is this you ask?. Because they know S_ _ _ and they have spent the better part of their lives armed and testing various carry systems. What about cost? A professional carry system will cost at a minimum, one-third the cost of your handgun. You should not allow price to deter you from getting the very best that your hard earned dollar will purchase. How much is your life worth? You can pay just as much for a poorly designed holster, belt and magazine pouch as you can for one of a superior design.
Here are important nuances of selecting the superior designed holster, belt and magazine pouch. All components of your carry system should be crafted by the same maker/person. The professionally crafted gun belt will always be cut on the bias…meaning it will be contoured to fit the wearers hips…we are all alike but we are all different. The subtle curve will assist in the even distribution of the weight of the handgun and extra magazines and it will help alleviate any lower back issues when you are armed 24/7. Magazine pouches should be cut low enough for the shooter to grasp the magazine for reloading with a proper index and have dynamic friction-fit for retention.
The buyer and ultimate end-user…you, should be aware of the following before making this significant and potential life saving purchase. Holster belt loop and magazine belt loop must be of the same dimensions as the belt. This is to prevent unnecessary movement in your carry system. You want your holster, magazine pouch in the very same place on your body each and every time you go out into the world. The armed professional and those who have had the experience of professional training have ingrained a kinesthetic draw-stroke that is repeated each time that the brain receives the proper stimuli and their holstered handgun should be in the same place each and every time as should your extra ammunition for the handgun.
Critical elements of a professionally designed holster:
* The angle of the holster as it rests on your hip is of vital importance. A straight-drop designed holster is the most efficient…economy of motion. Unnecessary movement takes time…time is critical in a fight for your life. FBI cant/rake muzzle to the rear is less economical and causes the shooter to crouch which also takes valuable time and is less efficient.
* The second knuckle of the middle finger of the firing hand should index under the trigger-guard as a full and final firing grip is obtained . If the holster you are using now will not allow this…get another holster. When ordering a new holster be certain that this holster will allow this proper indexing.
* A professionally crafted holster of superior design will have a covered trigger-guard for semi-auto’s and revolvers
* Premium professional grade holsters will have been hand boned to the outlines and shape of your individual handgun. The maker will use antler or other material to shape the wet holster to the exact lines of your pistols frame, slide or revolver barrel and cylinder.
* You will not find any suede or other material used as a lining in the interior of a professionally crafted holster. Suede linings collect grit and other debris and do slow the draw.
* Professionally crafted holsters, belts and magazine pouches will be stitched with the finest material available and all stitches will be uniform and in-line. It will be stitched heavily in all areas subjected to stress.
* Lastly, it will be dyed or left in a natural color and treated with a sealer. Natural colors are the most desirable and easily maintained. Edges will be burnished and dyed to complement the entire rig. No oils will ever be in evidence on a professionally crafted holster as it creates softness and softness is undesirable.
This personal carry system will completely define the role of the handgun that is carried in it. You are the one that will determine the role your handgun will play…especially if it is defensive The handgun must be with you at all times and it must be presentable from concealment efficiently and smoothly…”smooth is fast.” This carry system should be undetectable when concealed properly.
Attempting to encompass all these critical design elements into a true combat holster is a design challenge that only a select few have mastered. Many of the holsters offered in today’s market can meet one or two of the above requirements, but the majority disappoint in doing them well.
It is recommended that you do your homework prior to investing in a personal carry system for your handgun. Difficulties will arise in locating a local gun shop who stocks professional one-of-a-kind leather gear. If you are computer savvy…check out various makers of leather gear…ask specific questions of that maker. Ask about his background and if anyone influenced his designs. Ask if he is a shooter or has been a competitor and you just might learn something of value before placing your order. All true professional gunfighting leather makers will have a wait time, so, expect it and the wait will be justified in the final example of their art.
Over the years several professional holster makers have continued to provide superior holster designs to those who demand them. One of the younger makers recently retired from law enforcement who was influenced by the late Mr. Bruce Nelson is Erik Little of Buffalo, Wyoming. Erik’s design and execution are outstanding. Milt Sparks is still producing top quality leather in their shop in Idaho and Thad Rybka’s leather is sought out by many who insist on the finest.
DVC,
Jack Furr
Firebase Academy LLC
Professional Small-Arms Training & Tactics
I hope they will continue to import the AR-24. It’s a quality piece.
As long as there are cockroaches and Anti-gunners, I want more spiders and guns. Spiders are cold blooded, brutal killing machines. guess what? have you seen fish or birds or even cats eat? they aren’t delicate, napkin using critters either. But look at it this way, spiders and other animals have to be that way- there’s no negotiating in the animal kingdom. and even us “civilized” folks have to have that kind of mentality when a stranger with bad vibes strolls up on us.
If these protesters were violating a local ordinance, what’s to keep the local gov from scanning through the pictures, indentifying these ‘criminals’, arresting them a few at a time, etc., etc……? Of course what would be great is if they did this and the judge declared the local ordinance to be unconstitutional. Oh well back to reality. But wait, perhaps a change of venue to a more conservative leaning court….
So, I have a question. Let’s say that I’m about to drop over $200 on a holster system- belt, mag pouches, holster, keepers, and whatever else. I want to buy from one of these high quality, expensive manufacturers. How do I ensure that my investment will actually fit the shape of my hips and waist in a comfortable and concealable way? I understand the drawer full of holsters theory of trial and error, but I don’t want another drawer full of expensive, useless pieces of leather (I work with horses and have lots of old tack that doesn’t get much use nowadays).
While we’re at it… Does anybody have any advice for mounted concealed carry? I’ve been leaning toward a shoulder rig, just so if something catastrophic happens and I fall, I’ll be less likely to break my hip/back over my firearm.
The Duck Hunt tat in the first photo still trips me out. I can’t identify what’s under (left of) the gun, though. Anybody?
Anyone see the story about the guy that shot a potential mass shooter at a party in Glendale? Hmm it is almost as if the media has an anti-gun agenda!
Drool…. wish I could get my girlfriend into that position let alone to shoot a rifle.
The only Gun Friendly Medium I know of is ballistic gelatin.
Is there a big flashing Daily Kos link on their splash screen?
Would it have been bad to take a belt fed long gun with body armor and a gas mask?
(note: wearing/possessing body armor in the commission of a crime is in many states considered a crime its self so may get you arrested)
To my mind, there’s not a single minority ethnic or religious group that should ever favor being disarmed. That’s suicidal stupidity as the innumerable corpses littering history have shown. As for the Jews in Texas making the point, Shalom y’all.
Kind of like a miniature version of this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain-shot
I’ll look forward to seeing ballistic tests, especially for their handgun ammo. Definitely an interesting idea on paper.
If pure draw speed and repeatability were the only concern the best informed would use some variation of a competition holster. Nylon, Kydex, Leather, just have a carry system and don’t worry about the particulars. If a sub 1/4 second increase in draw time saves your life you’re in a very, very small minority of people who have faced lethal violence, let alone people.
I dislike the plastic ‘click’ of Kydex, don’t like the maintenance on leather and think that nylon seems cheap, yet I carry in all these types of holsters.
If I’m faster or slower on the different materials I assure you it’s imperceptible without a chronometer and frankly so much less important than being generally fast and generally accurate that it just doesn’t matter.
Just draw from your holster, a lot, and pick something that suits your carry, lifestyle and price tolerance.
I have some nice leather, and I like to wear it. I won’t wear the good stuff to do yard work though, or 4 wheeling. Nylon is great for that. I dislike what Kydex does to finishes and so use it only with my tactical gear. Different guns, different thought process.
My prized Colt 1911, which sees frequent carry (it’s my most carried gun) always rides in leather, that is when it’s not in a cheap uncle mikes ‘mole skin’ IWB.
A holster is a tool as much as the gun is. If it works and it’s cheap, it’s great, if it works great and you can afford it it’s spectacular, if it’s pretty and expensive it had sure better work awfully well.
That said I wear the ‘big’ gun to weddings and funerals in a very nice Yaqui slide. It’s hand sewn and tooled. It’s my ‘dress’ holster and meant to look nice if exposed, such as if I remove my jacket. It also highlights the Colt 1911 it contains, which is generally considered visually appealing to those not of a hoplophobic disposition. It draws plenty fast and if there is drag I sure don’t notice it, and doubt anyone else would either when drawing for business.
A Kydex holster with a tux or a nice suit is like a turd in a punch bowel; you’ve ruined a good thing. Now, keep in mind, the places I go and the people I know expect me to be armed, it’s not a concealed all the time issue. I like for my holster to be at least as nice as my shoes when so dressed.
Lower down, I wear a suit most days for work, and prefer leather at these times too. Once again, nice shoes, my better watch, a good belt and a decent suit, why sully it with an ugly holster? I wear lower cost lower grade holsters for this every day carry since I don’t want to stress and wear out my best things on day to day carry.
Jean’s and a shirt? Kydex and Nylon are back in. They won’t make my outfit look cheap, they work well, are very durable, require almost nothing in maintenance and are less expensive.
If I had a very limited budget and needed a good all around holster I’d go with Nylon, a bit more cash and Kydex is king, but don’t discount the look and feel of good leather. A Timex keeps good time but will never be a Rolex, and nothing will ever beat leather for look and feel when wearing nice clothes.
The right to armed self defense is a natural right derived and not a privilege granted by government.
The same people who are advocating this position would tell you you can’t declaw your cat, because then the cat is defenseless.
The right to defend one’s life does not come from government. End of debate.
Stupid libtard (democrat). Needs a good headbutt.
We were limited to ten rounds carry before the SAFE Act was even an idea. I’m glad there’s so much hate on the SAFE Act from within and outside of my state, but really, the non-expiring AWB, Sullivan Laws, etc have been bootheels on the necks of gun owners for years, so it’s more fair to blame the NYS/NYC “gun climate” that has prevailed over the last several decades, rather than this latest insult from Albany.
The more I thought about this article, the less I liked it and the less validity it has. While leather has a storied history for sure, the article doesn’t even begin to address why people like Cooper only used leather: the technology wasn’t there yet.
In today’s current climate of offerings, I doubt sincerely the “experts” would agree that leather is still the bees knees. Looking at the LEOs who shoot IDPA with me, if all of that gear was leather, I suspect that duty belt would be appreciably heavier.
This article seriously offers no “leather is better and here’s why”. There is no mention of alternate materials other than a passing “ballistic nylon and kydex have their place”.
This is just a big sales pitch for leather. I suspect that in 1985 similar articles were written about how polymer framed semi autos were woefully inadequate compared to time tested wheel gun and steel framed designs.
Must not have a powerful Senator from the state which makes these things.
If these were made in CT, there would be a requirement to have 10 of them attached to every fire team.
I’ve got a Henry Big Boy .44 magnum named Cancer Killer. I bought it to celebrate when the doc said that my PSA was undetectable following surgery and radiation. That was sort of a hard fight but right now I’m winning.
Good article. I disagree that the entire carry system needs to be made by the same manufacturer. I use belts by Wild Bill’s and I have holsters from Alien Gear, Galco, Desantis, Tucker (HF-1 and The Answer) and others. The Answer holster from Tucker Gunleather is a kydex shell, but I ordered mine lined with leather. What IS important is that your belt fits the holster no matter who made it. I have multiple belts in widths from 1″, 1.25″ and 1.5″ to go with different styles of pants and fit the holster I am carrying.
I do have a few kydex holsters. I am partial to Blackhawk Serpa models, but I only use these when open carrying outdoors. For daily CCW leather (for me) is the way to go.