Here are a couple of examples of how little things can mean a
lot to your comfort and efficiency when carrying your handgun:

On the left below is my Colt's Agent in an open top Baker Pancake.
Notice that the cylinder is above the belt. A loaded
revolver cylinder can have a tendency to cause the revolver to
sag, or tip outward.

2nd from left shows my Colt's Agent in KD's gator trimmed pancake.
Notice that the cylinder is right at belt level. A loaded
revolver cylinder does not cause any sagging or outward tip when
the belt loops are where they should be.

Another little thing, this time about IWB holsters. Notice at
3rd from left, how the BCO Chicago Rocker, with the clip placed
right over the cylinder just adds to the thickness of the bulge.

4th from left, how the Garrity Inconspicuous IWB has the clip
offset, which does not add to the thickness of the bulge.

Makers still make holsters with the belt slots below belt level
and IWBs with the clip over the cylinder. Maybe these little
things don't mean a lot to them. What do you think? Do you
have any little things that mean a lot to tell us about?

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In Omnia Paratus

Very nice!

Boy! do I agree. When you wear your gun every day you soon find out what works and what doesn't. I can't tell you how many pieces of leather have ended up in a drawer around here. I've had consistent good luck with Kramer horse hide belt scabbards for short barreled S&W K frame revolvers but that design just doesn't translate well to an N frame 4". I personally wish we could audition leather before we have to buy it. It would be great if within the forum we could come up with a consensus "Buyers Guide" check list as to what to look for in gun leather. This is a great topic.

In a way this forum is a "Buyer's Guide" for holsters IrishFritz. I would be
interested to know what good features of the Kramer holster made for
short barrel K frames do not translate to the 4" N Frame? Thanks.

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I have a few OWB holsters which have the clips. If they have the belt loops added as some do I take the clip off and just use the belt loops, for the very reason that Phil mentions. Oh, and to note, I also wear the holster between the belt and the waist band of my pants if possible, Otherwise I make certain the belt will hold the revolver without having to use a snap strap to keep it in place.


And Phil, I'm fairly certain if you can come up with a good tune to go with the title of this thread you could make a great song out of it. Might even be a best seller number one of the BB style

I like the IWB sticky type holsters because, with no clips or straps, depth, angle, and positioning is completely flexible. Plus they work well in a pocket. (Probably just for revolvers tho, I wouldn’t carry a Glock in one.)

The biggest problem is that bodies are built differently. What works well for some don’t work at all for others.
I doubt if we’ll ever get away from the box-o-holsters but maybe we could make it a smaller box with tips and tricks from others.

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“Look life in its iron face”

Llance - I think you are pulling my leg. There was a song titled Little
Things Mean a Lot many, many years ago. Mr Google has the lyrics.

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I’m thinking the Folks who carry all day everyday probably have more detailed and specific ideas about Holster details.
Us guys who look into the Holster Drawer and think, one of these fits my 624.
I wish I could remember which one!
We usually don’t have the small details worked out like the everyday carriers.

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THE PILGRIM - I had that problem, but I fixed it. I have a walk in closet
with a lock on the door. Inside I have I big wall covered with peg board.
I hang my holsters on the peg board with a little card stuck below them
telling me maker and what gun they fit.

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I wanna see that closet Phil! It must be something to behold.

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“Look life in its iron face”

Not a very good picture. Blame the photographer.
But it gives you the idea of how the closet looks.

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That actually made my heart flutter a bit.....like the time I first saw a naked woman! What a beautiful sight (both woman and holster lair!)

Wow. Thanks for the picture!
You are the Imelda Marcos of holsters

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“Look life in its iron face”

I’ll let the wife answer

My wife answered, "NO WAY IN 'ELL ARE YOU GOING TO STOCK MY CLOSET WITH HOLSTERS."

That closed that idea. She doesn't go into the dungeon, I stay out of her closet.

Lawdamighty!...It looks like some of my holster drawers exploded......Ben

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Attempting a Buyers Guide would guarantee more arguments than agreements. There are some very strong opinions among those who carry regularly. There are also a lot of "everybody knows" spread by "experts" in books, magazines, and internet blogs.

During my 43 years pounding hides into holsters I lost track of how many people asked, pleaded, demanded things that I knew in advance would not perform as they expected. When advised of that many responded with "just do it anyway" or "so and so says, and he knows what he's talking about".

Before I retired I offered 13 holster designs, with or without 4 common options, left-hand and right-hand, in 4 finish colors, for 142 different handguns. That is about 70,000 possible variations, but someone wanted something else every few days.

I used to joke about the graduates of "Holster Genius School", the guys who had an idea for the "perfect holster" and looking for someone to turn their little dreams into reality. Most were really bad ideas to start with, but Mr. Customer never remembers whose bad idea it was and he never forgets the craftsman who failed to make his dream holster work as it should have (in his mind).

Lots of people want "custom" work done, that is a one-of-a-kind product made to customer specifications. Such work is far more time consuming than any holster made to an established design and pattern, usually requiring 6 to 8 times as many hours to complete. Again, I can't recall how many of these I have listened to over the years. The only response I ever found that works well is to quote an hourly rate plus materials and shop supplies, which always draws the question "Well, how much will it cost?". My response: "I don't know, I haven't done it yet. Send me X-hundred bucks, if there is anything left over I'll refund it, if it isn't enough I'll tell you to send more money". Similar response to "How long will it take?"

OP makes some very good points in his post.

Ray aka LoboGunLeather has given us an excellent perspective from the
maker's point of view. I thought you all might want to see one of those
70,000 variations that he made for me. I was fortunate to get a few
holster from him before he retired. If I remember right, I think
it is just his standard Threepersons style except I had him ad
the "dog ear". Chic Gaylord would have been proud of the way
the gun fits the holster, and I am too.

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Thanks, CrazyPhil. I remember that holster (one of those days in the shop when everything clicked and the results show in the fit and boning), a basic Threepersons-style with the Hank Sloan-style hammer shield added. My avatar shows the same approach for the 6" Model 19 (beautifully hand-carved, lined with smooth leather).

Nothing really new. The Threepersons design dates to about 1920 (credited to Sam Myres at S.D. Myres Saddlery) and the Hank Sloan-style hammer shield dates back to the 1960s (a very practical way of protected the sharp edges of the hammer and rear sight, very popular with plain-clothes cops back in my early days).

All of my designs are still available from Lobo Gun Leather under the ownership of Mark Fedders and family. I am very pleased with how they are doing things!

I had to look closely to see the holster. It looks like the leather was poured over the revolver.
Very nicely done!

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“Look life in its iron face”

Actually Ray, Hank Sloan's patent was for his adjustable welt. The dog ear
came along in the 1940s by Myres, Heiser and Wally Wolfram. Wally had
a young apprentice named John Bianchi. I asked John about the hammer
protector. He said he didn't believe anyone had a commercially succesful
hammer protector before Wally Wolfram.

I have been collecting holsters with dog ears for about ten years
now. Here is the last photo I took. I have a few more now, but
no new picture yet.

Ray's holster is top row 2nd from right.
Hank Sloan model is 2nd row 2nd from right.

Wally Wolfram's Wolf brand is 3rd row on the left.
Wally's Blazer brand is 3rd row 2nd from left.

2nd from left through 5th from left are 4 with dog ears that
I have picked up since the group photo was made.
2nd is from Ellis that had it made to rent out to TV programs and movies.
3rd is a little carved Myres
4th basketweave by Shoemaker
5th S&W branded made by Wally Wolfram

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I am such an amateur. I need to show my wife.
I’ll show her the closet last for my closing statement.

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“Look life in its iron face”

Good tips on here, have never really thought about it much. Probably why I too have a big drawer full of holsters. Looked at the one I had on today and well….clip behind cylinder, cylinder at beltline. Last one doesn’t mater as much I guess because it’’s IWB.
Maybe I figured it out and didn’t even know it. 😂

SS336 - That is a perfect IWB. Looks like a SIDEGUARD.
How do I know?

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Great rigs, as always...

I like that rig. Are those nyclads on that speed strip?

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Thanks, as Phil noted it is a SideGuard holster. Yes they are
Nyclad’s, 125gr HP.

I can tell you for myself as a general rule anymore a pancake holster by Simply Rugged is a great choice for every one of my revolvers. I don't have any SR for my Glocks (I own nearly all revolvers, only a couple Glock autos).

You are right! Snubbies aggravate that tipping tendency. The Lawman is just a beast. There's enough mass to handle even an Elmer Keith level of 2400. The only downside it is tough finding a good holster, most have proven disappointing. With the short barrel it is quite top heavy and the gun wants to twist away from the body, particularly in a high ride style holster. A holster that goes across the frame, cylinder and full trigger guard like the El Paso pictured is about as good as it's gonna get.

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Years ago I was assigned to a Marine Barracks as the Guard Chief, I worn a M1911A1 every day while at work. I tried web gear, black leather gear and a shoulder holster. The only one that was comfortable to me was the M7 shoulder holster. Still have the web gear and the M7, gave the black gear to my B-I-L when he thought he wanted to be a cop after he retired from the Navy.

Nice looking holsters, Phil. I just carry mine in a pants pocket now.

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