After carrying a full size 1911 for awhile I am seriously considering a shoulder holster. I am looking at the A. E. Nelson Untouchable model. The last time I used a shoulder holster was a bianchi X 15 for an N frame 25 years or so ago.

Anyone use a shoulder holster?

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Stan

One of the ways I carry my .45 Glock is in a shoulder holster. It is a custom made leather from Fist Inc. It is a vertical carry holster with no thumb break or strap of any kind. It has a retention dimple behind the trigger guard. Very smooth one-hand draw and re-holster. conceals very well and I prefer it in jacket weather. I find shoulder carry a refreshing break from IWB/OWB.

I have a Chet Paulson for a 6 in. "K" frame that is made like the Nelson "untouchable" and I like it better than the Bianchi X15. Larry

I suppose since they are still being made today means that some guys still use them, but I personally never found them wearable for any length of time. I actually tried wearing one a few months ago and I never made it out of the house with it on.

I live a short distance from A.E. Nelson leather Co. and used their products since 1968. Ben is up there in age, but taught his son in law and daughter Kitty the ropes for a bunch of years and still goes to the shop every day. There are still PD's using leather duty belts here in Oregon, and most are Nelson Leather. Everything is handmade and there are no factory formats used, and you just can't go wrong if they are your choice.......

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Rodger
Retired LEO

Shoulder holsters are too much of a hassle. You always have to wear something over it, which is a PITA in the summer. Then there's the image... at least in my neck of the woods, you risk getting labeled a Starsky and Hutch wannabe by the other cops. I only know one guy who ever used one all the time; he carried two 6-inch S&Ws, one under each arm. But he was a local legend, so no one gave him any grief. Sadly, cancer did what the bad guys couldn't. But they say he married an 18-year-old on his deathbed to keep those pension dollars flowing....

Much of the time I do. It is my prefered mode of carry.

A. E. Nelson makes very good holsters.

Body type comes into play here. I have been lifting weights for 10 years when I bought my butt down rig from DeSantis. I had developed very large lats and that made the gun hang too far from my waist to conceal well. I did better with a belt holster.

My main issue was that the gun on the belt was pulling down my pants requiring constant hitching up of the pants. I resolved that by adding suspenders to the mix.

Nowadays there are Perry Suspenders that hitch directly onto the belt. If pants pulling down is your problem, then Walmart carries Perry Suspenders. I even have one in "flesh color" to wear under a shirt.

They work well for Harry Callahan but not so much for the rest of us....

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I think it has to do with body type and apparel. Eastwood was fairly slender, and he wore sports jackets all the time.

Othe body types/sartorial types are probably better served with belt holsters.

I do have a problem with this image: http://media.photobucket.com/image/d...DirtyHarry.jpg

How did he access the holster with the jacket buttoned?

Note: Finger on the trigger was OK back then--not criticism-worthy.

I use one when I go camping but otherwise they are a PITA. What bothers me the most is that in the winter Im stuck wearing my jacket inside if I have a shoulder holster. And I have to have a semi auto so that the mags balance out the weight on the other side.

Harry was very fashion conscious, so after he drew, he'd button his jacket again so that it would hang properly.

OK. That explains that picture, but it runs aground when you consider that Harry wore Harris tweed jackets on several occasions. When the movies were broadcast on analog TVs the jackets would moire. (Less of a problem on hi-def.)

[QUOTE=Arik;136677057]. What bothers me the most is that in the winter Im stuck wearing my jacket inside if I have a shoulder holster. QUOTE]

How do you hide the gun in a belt holster? Larry

I sometimes wear an Eagle Industries nylon shoulder holster for my 4006 when working at the farm. I like it... except it's a fairly adjustable rig with velcro... and the loose velcro ends tend to mess up my shirts...

Hog

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

Okay, what do broadcast problems have to do with Harry's sartorial splendor in historical documents?

I would hazard a guess that he unbuttoned it.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I use shoulders holsters all the time. It's my preferred way to carry. properly adjusted they are very comfortable. I use mostly old school holsters from Bianchi, Clark or Bucheimer. You can still get them on auction sites and gun shows.

I suggest checking out mernickle holsters and Diamond D custom leather these two holster companies both sell shoulder holsters.

[QUOTE=tops;136677178]Same as in the summer. Shirt/sweater covers the belt and i carry iwb. Kinda impractical to pull a sweater over a shoulder holster.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

They work. Who gives a red rats butt what someone else thinks friend.

Seems like the people I know that complain about a shoulder holster and how it is a pain in the behind have never used one that is properly set up or adjusted.
I use one frequently when driving and find it very comfortable, plus all of my stuff ie. magazines and gun are in one spot.

I have two...one for my 1911's and one for my S&W 39 both are the original jackass holster and are still going strong.

Randy

I have both wide lats and a barrel chest and the Jackass or Galco Miami Classic horizontal rigs don't work for me. I tried adjusting it a zillion times, but it never has fit me quite right. Tried selling it here recently, but I had no one interested in it. I would have thought a period correct Sonny Crockett rig for a S&W 645/4506 would have found a home here.

I have never owned a vertical holster, but do wonder if this wouldn't be a better design for my body type. Not sure I'm willing to spend much to find out, but there are applications, like taking a long drive in a car, where I think having a shoulder rig is nice.

Andrews Leather makes a very nice shoulder rig in both vertical and horizontal styles. One feature I think is interesting with the Monarch rig, is the use of a lower strap that connects both sides of the rig and keeps the holster and mag pouch from moving when you bend forward at the waist. I've considered McGyvering a strap on to my Galco rig, but shelved the idea, now that I plan to sell it. It might be an idea for others to consider.



Another useful shoulder rig that I'm probably going to hang on to, is the City Slicker by Ken Null. It is an upside down, pull though design that work well and disappears under a sweater, yet is easy to get to in a hurry. I had Ken craft a double rig that helps make it a more balanced and ambidextrous set up.

Thanks for the post and comments everybody

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Criminals love gun control

Shoulder holsters work well for extended driving but are near impossible to properly conceal.

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Centennial Every Day

Im about ready to switch to a shoulder holster because of all the driving, but 29 years old and wearing a vest might scream carrying.

the SH is good for driving. winter mostly. it is easy to go to the bathroom, you don`t have to take it off. i`m tall, 52" chest. so a weapon hangs good for me, bianchi/ nylon/ single mag. on oppsite side. have another leather shoulder rig. saw on a forum a chest rig. took off the leather straps and put on nylon straps until i get it to hang right. this will be a good winter rig, and to use while driving. the bianchi has straps to wrap around the belt so it doesn`t move around. like what is posted above. wear whats comfortable for you.

I too am considering a shoulder rig. Both for driving and for riding motorcycle for my SD9 or M&P c.

I stumbled on the Kangaroo holsters, which use a stretch fabric across the chest.

Anyone have experience with a rig like these?

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-Ric
Keep Calm and Carry

My wife carries a 4" 66-3 in her purse. I'm not too hip on that so I made her a shoulder holster. It fits great and conceals nicely under a stylish jacket. The only problem is at 38DD she can't reach her gun over her boobs.

I own several Shoulder holsters, mostly DeSantis as I worked for them for a few years. They have their place but they can be uncomfortable for certain body types and in hot weather. They are also slower to get on target as the gun must travel a greater distance to get on target. They're also a hazard to anyone in that arc of movement from under the left armpit to target acquisition (for a right handed shooter).

Most law enforcement agencies do not permit shoulder holsters for qualification fire because of the hazard presented to a shooter's side during presentation and re-holstering.

I carry my 1911 in my Bianchi X15 shoulder holster,And it's more comfortable, Now since I had Arisin Wind make the replacement straps for me, Last year on the X15 that had the original Elastic strap that came with the holster.And it's 10 times more comfortable with his straps thanks again Arisin.

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AA

i have an old cop shoulder similar to the dirty harry but alot older.1 carry my 6 inch mod 586 nickel.fits perfectly.summer i have a cowboy style i wear under short sleeve button front shirts with tails and can carry either cross draw or hip.both work great and no printing

I have used shoulder holsters for many years on the job and off. Properly adjusted they are comfortable, and conceal well. seated in a vehicle access to your weapon is very easy. As for Law Enforcement not allowing shoulder holsters for quals, because of the draw(muzzle cutting across the firing line). I have never heard of departments "banning" shoulder holster carry for their officers. I was in law enforcement for 30 years, and instructed firearms at every level. If I had someone with a shoulder holster, or cross draw holster that I had a concern with, I would simply position them at the very end of the firing line(right side or left) depending on which hand they shot with. In this way their draw only crossed the side burms of the range not another shooter. Not mentioned here in addition to shoulder holsters, cross draw is a favorite way for me to carry my guns. A quality cross draw paddle holster is comfortable, easy access to weapon, very concealable and you can slide the whole rig off easy and lock it up if need be. JMHO.

When I first started carrying (back in the 1970s) I bought a few shoulder holsters and found that only the (original) Jackass Shoulder Holster was comfortable and did NOT dig into my armpit on the opposite side. I CCW'd either a PPK/s or Colt Det. Spl. in them. Tried Bianchi Secret Agent (IIRC) and it dug into my opposite armpit badly, very uncomfortable.

If you always wear a jacket (I hate to and haven't had to since the 1970s), it may work for you.

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MA Gun Law & NRA Instructor

Then there's the issue of sweeing the muzzle on the draw...


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The Monarch Rig from Sam at Andrews Leather Catalog is one of the finest shoulder rigs made, however it is also one of the most expensive shoulder rigs. If I had a couple hundred to spend on a shoulder rig, it would be my first choice--Sam's work is as excellent as his customer service.

I own several but I try not to use them. There are several disadvantages: In a fast presentation, it takes longer to get on target. If you shoot a tad too soon or too late in the swing, you'll miss or merely wing your target, left or right. A strong side draw puts you on target more quickly. shoot too soon and you still hit your target but perhaps lower than you intended. Hits are better than misses.

Shoulder holsters are usually not permitted in firearms training as each time you draw and holster, you point a loaded gun at all who are on your holster side. Also, be careful at public ranges that you're not downwind of somebody using s shoulder rig.

When seated in a vehicle and when wearing a suit jacket and top coat, you may find that you're unable to reach the gun.

I use an old M7/M9 Korean war era chest rig, but anchor the clip to my belt loop in the summer making it basically a vertical rig. I wear it properly under a pea coat some time in winter. It's great for driving, especially in the neck of the woods when I need to be open carrying (which is a few places because of my age).

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Just the opinion of a kid