Have you guys tried Googling, "Custom handgun holsters?" I have after I got to thinking about a previous thread. The results will stymie you in an information quagmire.

Confounding the issue are are deceiving holster articles that are really latent holster advertisements. The author usually begins with explanations of holster designs & why they're important. Once he has you deep into his article, he'll cleverly insert his "favorite" holster and why it meets his stated holster criteria. After 10 minutes of reading and picturing in your minds' eyes the author's sneaky advertisement which I'm sure paid him for pushing the manufacturer's the one & only holster that will do everything and shine your shoes do we realize that it's not an informative article but an author's attempt to cash in on creating an illusion of what he's peddling.

Peter Lynch in "One up on Wall Street" wrote that if an 8th grader can't explain to him why he should invest in a particular stock, he won't buy. I think the same is true with holsters. If I were to call Holy Holsters and ask why I should by a Divine Defense holster and customer service can't explain to my satisfaction, then the Devil's in the details.

I'm always skeptical of salesmen and politicians that try to baffle me with bull sugar.

The two professionals who've posted here are beyond capable of explaining holster intricacies in a manner that an 8th grader can understand. I'm not extolling their virtues. I'm recognizing their professionalism. And I'm grateful that they've taken their valuable time to teach us what I wish I had been taught years ago. And that gave me this idea. I might, which heavy emphasis on might, buy a "J" frame concealment holster. Before I do, after I've figured out what I want, I'll call the manufacturer and ask why I should buy its product. If I'm not convinced, I'll call another manufacturer. I'm tired of wasting money on page holder holsters. Heck, I could've gone on a guided hunt for the money I've squandered on holsters that are stowed away in my garage.

Ya know, I might just create a new sport: holster hockey. Instead of a puck, I'll use a holster that I should've never wasted money buying.

Put them in the classifieds and get a little return on your money.
For someone else they maybe the cat's meow.

You have to be careful what you google !
spelling and phrasing is important !

Despite what the manufacturers proclaim, there really hasn't been a great deal of innovation in holster design since handguns were invented. The real changes have come about when handgun design changed. When it comes right down to it, your choices are leather, kydex, or a combination thereof, and the level of security. The quality of the stitching and riveting is what separates the men from boys. All kydex holsters are essentially the same, as are all leather pancake holsters, until something fails. How often that happens is what I look at. I then find a design I like, and buy that style for all similar handguns. If I decide I want a different carry position, I go through the same process again . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Tom Threepersons was revolutionary. Roy Baker was revolutionary. Bruce Nelson gets honorable mention. As design features thumb breaks and kydex & similar thermoplastics were significant steps, albeit with multiple people in parrallel over a period of time. ( Plus a few LE duty holster specific developements.)

Beyond those , not much is truely new or different. There are subtle differences in execution of common basic designs. Yes those subtle differences can be meaningful for specific people and specific guns. And different holsters can have variations of materials and workmanship.


If you did get various spokesmen to make 8yo friendly statements, wouldn't really help you. I'll give you all the possable responses in advance :

Our holster use excellent materials and workmanship.
Our holsters have the subtle tweeks of design to be ( pick up to two) more comfortable/ concealable/ secure/ rugged/ durable/ more succuessful in competition.
Our holsters are a great value.

No spokesman for any product will ever say " Our products are overpriced ****". And you would have to get get them very drunk to hear " Our products are just copies of standard designs , of kinda so-so quality'.

Biggfoot44,

Your assessment of Threeperson's and Baker's work as revolutionary is spot on. But it seems there are many holster designers who have significantly progressed holster designs.

Just off the top of my head:

Chic Gaylord perhaps should be considered the father of concealment holsters.

Paris Theodore (Seventrees) emulated Gaylord as well as originating several original and unique designs (still produced by Ken Null BTW.)

Bruce Nelson deserves more than an honorable mention as devotees of the "Summer Special", "Professional / Avenger", and "Patriot / Snap-cake" designs can attest. There are very few holster makers that do not make a variation of one or more of Nelson's original designs.

Bill Rogers produced the first thermoplastic holster and originated the work on "retention security devices" (i.e. Level I, II, III...)

Tony Kanaly (owner of Milt Sparks) has several decades of holster innovation to his credit. His VersaMax is also one of the most coped holsters of all time.

Red Nicholls has too many contributions (and patents to prove it) too list.

I am sure I have overlooked others who have made a difference. But, at minimum, the "Holster Designer Hall of Fame" should include these gentlemen.

MB

I've got a drawer full of left handed holsters that speak to the accuracy of your post. If I knew how to post pictures here I'd sell them.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Got anything IWB for Glock, Sig, 1911, HK

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I don't quite get your complaint. You read reviews but because it's positive review it's automatically an advertisement?

Yea I have a lot of holsters too. I certainly don't blame the author. How many people here are happy with their AlienGear holsters? I'm sure quite a few. After reading those reviews I ordered one. Guess what. ..... it doesn't work for me. Maybe it doesn't work with that combination of holster and gun! The holster itself is fine and the material seems fine but a thick leather backing on a different holster conceals the same gun a lot better.

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What he said . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

After 40+ years fo buying them I too have a lot of holsters I don't use. I don't blame anyone but me, cause you don't always know if a holster will work for you until you try it out. A lot of nice, high quality holsters that I just don't use.

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