Well my cheap pocket holster for my 642 has finally wore out. I am looking for a good leather pocket holster to replace it. I have been looking at alot of web sites and found alot of nice products. I just wanted to ask peoples opinions that are using some of them and what you guys prefer.

Check with Ray Cory of Lobo Gunleather. I have two of his for my 640, one made rough side out of a lightweight cowhide (pictured) and another made smooth side out of a slightly thicker cowhide. Excellent design, quality workmanship, fair price. Plus, Ray is a member of this forum and a great guy to deal with.

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I have used the DeSantis Nemesis model for my 2" Chief's Special over the past 6 years and have found it to be very comfortable, sweat resistant (in the summer) and light weight. I am on my second one since wearing out the first about a year ago, but at $17.99 each, it's no big deal. I have tried the leather pocket holsters, but have not liked the fact that they absorb sweat.

chief38

Robert Mika. Hands down. DeSantis Nemesis - runner-up.

Talk with Sam Andrews at Andrews Custom Leather.



Andrews Custom Leather

I've used a Kramer pocket holster for years, but Kramer seems to be pricing themselves out of the business.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

Leather is fine but IMO there is a lot of advantage to the "sticky" "gripping" outer texture of the DeSantis pocket holsters. At less than $20. I can replace mine every several years if necessary.
oldogy

I got a Galco Pocket Protector from S&W and I really like it. It doesn't come out of my pocket unless I want it to, and the mouth is reinforced and it stays open. I've also had good luck with the Uncle Mike's pocket holster.

I have a rough suede side out like the lobo...thin and doesn't come out with the gun...works great...I tried the Mika and it worked well but was bit thick for my tastes...IMO, with pocket holsters, less is more.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

On duty, my model 38 Airweight Bodyguard rides in a DeSantis "Nemesis" pocket holster.

Off duty, it rides in a Milt Sparks "PCH-R" with a shark skin front.

The Uncle Mike's until it wears out.
Otherwise...
Mika, Mika and Mika.
At first it feels stiff. After a few days,
it softens a little. For me, nothing else come close.

The reason I don't like the DeSantis is that it is so unecessarily thick and bulky. It makes a much larger bulge in my front pocket than a horsehide or Uncle Mikes (Maybe that is a good thing? ). Notice the difference in the picture below comparing the DeSantis with a horsehide holster. The reason it is so bulky is they do not make a holster specifically for the J frame. They sell one for the J frame, but it is exactly the same holster they market for some other guns, like small autos. Any time you go to the one size fits several, you give up some benefits...

Who makes the horsehide one in your pic?

Sorry, I should have said that in the post. It is a Galco I got for $19.95 in the bargain box at a gun store.

A Mika Roundcut.

Robert is a great guy, I think he has gotten his lead time down and the prices can't be beat.

DeSantis Nemesis second but don't get the Superfly, just the regular.

I agree. I keep coming back to the uncle mikes foamy after trying at least two of the other more expensive holsters mentioned in this thread. The cylinder bulge in these small revolvers already make for a higher profile package than say a pocket auto, and there is no sense in exasperating that condition with an unnecessarily thick or stiff holster.

It's not leather, but I use Mika. After a month or two, they really fit the gun well and lose a lot of their thickness.

All of the leather pocket holsters I've tried have been too tight. From what I read, lot's of people like the Galco.

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Centennial Every Day

I've been looking at the Mika's myself. What makes the roundcut better than his other style?

No difference other than the square tab on the bottom (in front of the trigger guard). I tend to use the round more than square as I don't carry in a back pocket and my pants have round bottom pockets in the front. Some of my cargo shorts have square front pockets and the gun stays vertical and the draw is a bit easier.

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Centennial Every Day

Stiab,
Is the rubber around your revolver's grip (the one on the left in the photo) a cut down bicycle inner tube??
I am not joking. That is what I used 40 years ago!

Chief38

Mika's pocket holster.

I also carry a Nemesis and am quite happy with it.

There are probably better pocket holsters, but they're also significantly more expensive. I'd rather keep using the Nemesis and spend the money on better IWBs for my bigger guns.

I am currently using an UM with no real issues...but I rarely carry in the pocket. I would like a good "jacket pocket carry solution".

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YAT_YAS

Yes Chief, you are correct! It is thinner and better gripping than the expensive rubber grip covers made for semi-autos, and it can also be used on revolvers.

I have a Kramer, DeSantis Nemesis and a Galco, but the Kramer pocket holsters are the best for me.
HTH

I have a Galco, but usually get Uncle Mikes IWB. When it starts to wear out, cut the threads off the plastic clip; makes a great pockey holster!

I haven't used a pocket holster before, but just wanted to say I appreciated the rec's on this thread. I found a nemisis for $15 for my M36 and figured I couldn't go wrong. Just got it in today and it feels good, we'll see what happens over time.

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Pete.

Got it in today. Earlier than the expected 8 weeks. Very nice.

Mika.

Bought it for my 442, as a bonus, my Ruger LCR/CT fits perfectly also.

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Life Member NRA Since 1985

I've been using a holster from RKBA holters for about a month now and couldn't be happier. I was using a Desantis Nemesis and it was just too bulky for some of my pants.

Stephen makes a great leather pocket holster with a smooth side out for anti-printing and a molded side in for retention. He also offers various colors and custom engraving if that floats your boat.

MIKA!!!

Mika's Pocket Holsters - Custom Made Pocket Holsters, Waistband Holsters, Vest Holsters, Tactical Pocket Mirrors And Much More.

I've tried lots of pocket holsters and keep going back to this one. Elite Pocket Holster for Ruger LCP, Kel Tec & similar It's not bulky at all like a Mika and like every leather pocket holster I've tried. It's thin, doesn't absorb sweat, retains the gun well yet stays in the pocket on the draw, and is cheap. Covers the trigger guard but allows you to get a good grip on the snubby while it's in your pocket. I have all kinds of pocket holsters as that's the only way I carry. In order I like Elite, then Uncle Mike's, then Mika. The only downside with the Elite is the muzzle end is open. This is good if you have a gun like a 642 Power Port Pro where the barrel is too long for a 642 sized pocket holster. But this is also bad if you carry a gun that sized for awhile as it could wear a hole in your pocket. It could easily be sewn or glued shut.

Leather holsters absorb too much moisture for pocket carry imo. At least for me since I sweat like a pig. And the Mika, all that vinyl in my pocket just isn't comfortable.

Also, with the elite holster, since it's not bulky, I can pocket carry a J frame easily in any pair of pants/shorts that I own. It's not fancy or pricey but it works for me.

I like Kramer's --- flat facing doesn't print, gun stays put, holster stays put, EZ in/out of pocket, if they can be worn out, you couldn't prove it by me, half-life seems to be measured in decades of daily use --- expensive, but worth it...

Best? I have been through more than my share, and I believe I have found the best "for me".
Matt Del Fatti's PH3. They drop in your pocket so easy and you have to work to get them out. You have to wiggle them back and forth the "hooks" really work. Very well thought out design, and thin. My Seecamp holster works for front or back pocket carry equally well. Here are a couple pics. The J Frame one is horse and the Seecamp is shark. I lucked into the J Frame one by checking Matt's in stock page, NO WAIT!

In my opinion, this RKBA pocket holster is one of the best pocket holsters out there. You don't have to worry about it following the gun out of your pocket. This holster stays put.

RKBA Leather & Holsters

I am perfectly happy with my Uncle Mike's pocket holster------fits the gun snug and no excess or unecessary material to take up space in your pocket (maybe its just my eyes, but that appears to be the case to me on the Nemesis). And at $12.99, you can afford to replace as often as necessary.

For me it is the Uncle Mikes Sidekick Size 3. The holster is cheap but it really works for me.

That what I am using too.

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Protected by Sigma 40VE

Plus 1 on this.

I recently picked up a Blackhawk which is a dead ringer for the UM. It was working swell until about a week ago. The part of teh holster just below the triggerguard started folding up which caused the butt to start peeking out of the pocket.

I need to find another Milt Sparks PCH-R...that was the absolute best holster I ever owned.

Too, the uncle mikes is small and will fit more pockets I've found.

With the gun in the holster, and holding the holster with your off hand, twist the gun sideways, gently. Do this a couple of times, checking the fit. This approach worked very well for a Kramer I use with a 640-1. It used to come out of the pocket with the gun. Now it does not.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

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Centennial Every Day

I'm digging that gun leather. May have to order one of those pretty soon. How long did it take to get yours?

That is an awesome-looking pocket holster, Sod. Maybe I'll get lucky some day.

+1 on the Mika. Seems huge at first but sweet as can be after break-in of a couple of weeks. Best of all, it is moistureproof.

I've tried several different holsters, but my 642 now rides in a Mika, and it's by far the best I've used.

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With S&W, you're holding history in your hand

If I remember right, about 5-6 weeks.

I have a Mika and a Krammer. I like both and both work well. But I think the Mika is more comfortable, and you could buy several Mika's for the price of a Krammer.

not sure what I'm using, but it was some cheap suede thing they had at the gun shop. cost about $15. so far, it's worked better than expected and no one has noticed i'm carrying my 637 in my front pocket. even people who know I carry don't notice.

i've been thinking about the mika, but I want something pretty thin.