Tag Archives: Holsters

Gear

PRIVATEER LEATHER

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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.

Gear

Craft Holster’s Cargo Explorer Concealed Carry Bag

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Some time ago I was contacted by Luke of Craft Holsters, with an invitation to review one of their products.  I checked out their site and found something I was interested in trying out.  A small Sling Bag type set up that I thought might work out great when riding a Motorcycle.    Hit that link to see the details and better photos than I took.

I used this bag for a couple months now.  You guys know I don’t like to do a review unless I’ve actually used the thing I’m reviewing.  And if I don’t like it – I’ll tell you that I don’t like it.  And I’d also throw down any Constructive Criticism that I have for the Item, so it could be used for further Product Development.   Continue reading Craft Holster’s Cargo Explorer Concealed Carry Bag →

Weapons

Adams Holsters’ “Closing Time” Appendix Carry IWB rig

4 Comments


Let’s try AIWB again.   Let’s call this “Round Two”.   A few years ago I tried Appendix Carry using what was at the time a very popular CCW type firearm in a very popular IAWB type rig.  And I quickly found that it wasn’t for me.    Because, let’s face it… I’m not the young high speed, low drag operator that I was in my youth.
But I wanted to try it again, and I wanted to try it with my personal favorite type of firearm ever, a 1911 Lightweight Commander.
This isn’t a gun review so I won’t even mention how fantastic my Ruger SR1911 LWC is… But it is.  Ahem…

So I had a conversation with my Leathermancer, Lucas Adams.  Lucas has been my #1 Go To for Holsters for the last 7 years? 8 years?  I don’t know… But when I get a new pistol that I intend to carry, I talk to Lucas.  He’s good.  He’s that good.  Even when I actually worked for another Holster Maker (Kydex, so it like, doesn’t even count) I still had Lucas make my personal carry rigs.   Continue reading Adams Holsters’ “Closing Time” Appendix Carry IWB rig →

Gear, Training

Strikers and Soft Holsters – A Negligent Combination

6 Comments

We see articles like THIS (Warning: Link shows a gnarly wound on a bloke’s arse) from time to time.  Where a fellow was wearing his gun in his holster and there was an Accidental Discharge.  I’m not calling in Negligent, because the people were generally not doing anything wrong…. Accidents CAN happen, though they are Rare.  99% of the time it is Negligence, but not here.  More on this in a moment…

This sort of an accident almost always involve two things:
1.  A striker fired pistol.
2.  A generic fit soft holster.  Most of the time made of Neoprene or Nylon, but also sometimes of some form of softer leather.

This is a bad combination, a Striker in a Soft Holster.  If this is your carry combo – I would recommend you change it because I believe that it’s dangerous.  Flat out dangerous.   Also dangerous are the use of Minimalist Holsters… any holster that covers only the trigger guard, or strives to be as small and light as possible.    Some of these holsters can break during use, some can let objects get into the trigger guard…. and none of them protect the gun in any way, shape, or form.
There was one guy getting into a car wearing his Striker in a softer type leather holster where the holster its self rolled into the guard so when he sat down, it discharged.  Another guy just leaned against a counter and it went off.  So yes – these guns can “Just Go Off” when you are packing a Striker in a Soft Holster and you are not paying attention.
Really I’m coming to the opinion that if you do pack a Striker fired gun in a Soft Holster – or a Minimalist Type Holster – You are being Negligent.   There is no valid reason in my mind to do so.  You are either too cheap to buy a decent holster, too ignorant to look for something better, or you are packing something different enough that there are no other holster options out there.  Which makes me think maybe you shouldn’t be packing it yet.

GET GOOD GEAR.  A Holster is a crucial part of your Weapon System and if you don’t have a good holster – then yeah – Your ass is Negligent.

Gear, Weapons

Adams Holsters Texas Rig

7 Comments

20150730_150111 20150730_150137 20150730_150156 20150730_150213I’ve now spent 24 hours with my new Texas rig from Adams Holsters. I wore it last night, and I’ve been wearing it since I put on my pants this morning. What a great rig. Simple. I like that. I don’t need or want a complicated holster. I don’t want a system. I want a simple scabbard. This IWB rig is just that. The leather is beautifully finished and well formed. My Ruger SP101 pops into place and pops out like this was Kydex or something. Retention is not an issue because of that fit. The Clips are made of a spring-steel and are quite solid. I’m not worried about bending them like I am on other holsters. Comfort? Yeah, it’s comfortable. Concealable? Extremely. Last night I wore this rig and my gun with just a T-Shirt over it and I asked my wife if she could see it.
“No, I can’t… even knowing what to look for, there’s no bulge even.”
I’ll not tell you the rest of the conversation about her looking at my bulge… But the fact remains this rig keeps the gun very concealed. It holds the gun very tight against the body.
Comfortable… Concealable…
This is everything you want in a concealment rig.
http://adamsholsters.com/

Gear

Crusader Weaponry: Custom Kydex Tactical Holsters

4 Comments

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Joe at Crusader Weaponry has found some interesting tactical holsters that he wanted me to take a look at.  Having worked for G-Code Holsters last year, I have learned a few things about Tactical Kydex… not just from them but from everyone making it.  This stuff Crusader has partnered up with is different.

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Pretty much all a Kydex holster is, is a thermo-plastic made of PVC Acrylic, extruded in sheets, cut and formed under heat and pressure to form a holster.  Simple stuff, really.  What makes it all complicated is how to get the holster onto your Tactical Gear or Belt.  Clips, loops, buttons, snaps, straps, and hooks… and then you add the quick disconnect stuff, which adds cost, complexity, weight, and bulk.

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The company making this stuff for Crusader is Kinetic Concepts Tactical, or KCT for short.  KCT has take a rather clever approach that is both simple and easy to use – and it minimizes the bulk.  PALS slots. I like that.  Simple, no bulk, light weight.  It holds to the gear secure enough for Government work, but really doesn’t take too much effort to take on and off.  I like that.  A lot.

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On a Chest Rig, anything on it adds bulk and that means you can’t get as low as you may need… Or on a battle belt and things start snagging seatbelts and such.  You want it to be as flat as you can get it… And this is pretty much as flat a solution as I’ve ever seen.

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The quality is right up there with the rest of the Upper Tier stuff that’s out there.  The holster is strong and very ridged.  Tough.  All the edges are blended out and I can feel no sharp edges anywhere.   The rivets are set proper and the lamination is about as flawless as you can get with Kydex.   What I like the most about it… It’s cost.   It’s only $45 bucks for most of the color options, and there are a lot of color options.  For 5 bucks more you can get some camo patterned options.  Multicam, Digital, Kryptek… Oh, and Carbon Fiber.  Nice.  Here’s the thing… You don’t need to buy anything else to go with it.  It’s just a holster and not a system you need to get to know.  It’s just a holster.  Simple.

Available for all your popular tactical type handguns.  If your gun is not listed, well, I did say popular… Just kidding, give KCT a shout and see if they can hook you up.   Good folks there at KCT, and they want you to be satisfied with your gear.   They have Mag Carriers too.   Check them out here.   Use the Discount Codes.   Get geared up.

This is good kit.  This is going on my battle belt…

Gear

Leather

10 Comments

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THIS is what it’s all about.  Luke Adams of Adams Holsters is a freaking Artist with Leather.  This… This is stunning… This is the most beautiful holster I’ve ever seen.  Does a holster get any better?   Hell No.

See, Tactical Kydex is fine when the job requires it.  But when it doesn’t… Why not step it up?

Gear

I hate Appendix Carry

25 Comments

Appendix Carry is fad that I wish would go away.

The 4 Rules of Firearms Safety:
1.  Handle all firearms as if they were loaded.
2.  Never point the gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
3.  Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you have made the decision to fire the weapon.
4.  Know your target, and know what is beyond the target.

These 4 rules are pretty simple.   But with Appendix Carry, you violate Rule #2.  I can’t get past this.  Forgive the crude language, but I hate the fact that when I tried Appendix Carry, I was muzzling my Cock and Balls.  Should an accident have happened – it would have been a Contact Shot.   WARNING: The LINKED TEXT is GRAPHIC:  I’ve seen the photos of what Contact Shots do to human beings, but never one that happened to a man’s Junk.   This filled my mind with graphic images that I wish never popped in there.  Horrific.
I know that I have friends that carry Appendix, and I have friends who teach Appendix Carry.  Because the position does offer some great tactical advantages.  It really does.  The speed and ease of the draw is an advantage.  Easier draw from awkward positions.  While driving.  While laying on either side.  Drawing with the weak hand.  Yes yes yes… I know all of this.   It makes sense.
But then there is Rule #2.
You see, in the more traditional position of 3:00 or 4:00, should an accident happen… a Negligent Discharge… The results are usually a visit to the hospital for a session of Shame and Stitches and you are back out again.  Because nothing vital was destroyed.  Usually.  Not always, but most of the time.  I personally know two guys that ND’d from the holster.  I will not say the names… They know who they are.  One, the weapon was at the 3:00 and the bullet went in and out of his leg.  He was out of the ER in 2 hours and on his feet the next day.  The other fellow was packing at the 4:00 position and he suffered a Flash Burn to his Ass.   No ER visit.   As they had been considering Appendix carry before… I asked both fellows how they would have faired if they had been packing Appendix.   There was much uncomfortable silence  as they both considered the results of a Ballistic Castration.  No, neither of them are packing Appendix now.

This isn’t just an unreasonable fear.  I remember reading more than one news article about some thug that shot his balls off packing in the appendix position.  Usually with a very sad mug shot to go with it.  But there was another story of a guy – not a thug – and with a holster… in a car with his family.  He didn’t survive.  That’s not a way that I would want to go out.

So you want the advantages of Appendix, but without the liability… What is the option?   Cross Draw.

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It’s not just for Cowboys and Peacemakers.  The muzzle is NOT pointing at your dick.  You can access the gun quickly with either hand.  You have more control over it in a weapon retention tussle than in the 4:00 position.  And it’s just badass.  So you get the advantages of Appendix, with none of the liability.    There is a downside though, and that is problem with most cross draw rigs out there… and that’s concealment.    But most cross draw rigs I’ve seen were not designed for concealment.  But there are some.  I believe DeSanti is still making the Skymarshal rig.  And Kirkpatrick is making their Texas Cross Draw rig, which looks excellent.  I’d like to see more Cross Draws come out and I’d like to see less Appendix.

 

 

 

Gear

Cheap Kydex.

4 Comments

I really don’t get how some guys can get all worked up over cheap kitchen table made Kydex holsters that are the size and shape of the spade end of an Entrenching Tool, or a License Plate. To make them more hipster, some guys are putting optional accessories on them to dress them up. I’ve seen Star Wars character faces, facial hair and eye wear options.  I’m not kidding.  I find that to be comical. And sad.
A holster should be just a holster. It holds the gun in a ready position until you need it. And you should be able to forget about it until that very moment. And when you do need it, you shouldn’t have to think about the holster at all. A holster in this regard, should be like your Pants. Easy deployed and ejected in an easy and rapid fashion, and be comfortable enough that you are not reminded constantly that you are wearing them.