I’ve only been to Area 51 with one fellow. Wes Dahl. Wes runs and is Privateer Leather. I’ve got some items from him in the past, leather notebooks. Which I use all the time for a very special purpose. D&D. But Privateer Leather is mainly a Holster making shop… Yet I’ve never had one of his holsters.
I decided to go back to a Pancake style rig, as I find them ultimately the most comfortable and reliable. And I needed that style for my Ruger 1911 Light Weight Commander.
Wes’s craftmanship is OUTSTANDING and on par with the highest quality leatherwork out there. As such, it’s in demand, and there’s a wait. This is a custom made holster, and not a mass-produced product out of a factory. But it’s worth the wait.
After the Break In, my 1911 pretty much snaps in and out like it was fitted Kydex. It holds the gun securely, yet doesn’t hinder a draw.
Wes tossed in some extras, a leather disk which is, I guess, a Coaster. And a small leather disk that I could put on a Key Chain. The Sealed Envelope is a classy personal touch to the Break In instructions.
Hell, even the box it comes in has a personal touch. That’s some awesome flair.
Nice looking holster. Good pics too, btw. I have an all steel Commander sized 1911 – do you think this holster of yours would be up to keeping that much weight comfortably secure? If so I could see myself ordering its twin as my old holster is getting a bit ratty looking and losing some of its structure. Thanks. c.
Pancake styles do very well with heavy guns. You should have no problem. Reach out to Wes and have a chat with him. He’s Good People and will give you the best of advice on which holster is right for you.
Thanks. I will.
I just ordered my 2nd basketweave Navigant holster from Wes. After carrying my full time .40S&W Hi Power in a Navigant for the las few years, I wasn’t as comfortable when I sometimes switched to my DW VBob .45 in an Askins-style holster. The Navigant feels better and is more secure, and there’s more space between the belt slots to straddle my jeans’ belt loops.
Wes Dahl, hands down, makes the very best holsters I’ve ever owned. If Wes had been in the holster business decades earlier, I wouldn’t have a box in the attic with 30+ years of orphaned leather gathering dust.
Absolutely.