Hi friends,
Recently I have been testing a new kydex IWB clip-on holster for my M&P 40 FS, it's called The Treadstone, from Overwatch Holsters.
The Treadstone is built from .080 thick Kydex with a sturdy ABS type belt clip which holds the rig securely to your belt while still allowing you to quickly remove it for those time you need to enter a "sheep" (gun-free) zone. I have seen this clip used on several other makers holsters and know it is quite popular. One of the nice things about Overwatch Holsters is that they do not charge extra for colors other than black. Currently you can order one of their rigs in black, coyote tan (pictured here) coyote grey, and blood red. The Treadstone can be ordered with a straight drop (as pictured here) or a forward cant but is not user adjustable so you need to decide when you order.
I am fortunate that I have lived in areas of the country that recognize a citizen's right to self-defense and have been carrying concealed pistols for the last twenty years. Like many, I started out thinking I needed to carry a tiny gun so it would be easier to hide. I was constantly worried I might "print" and would have to produce my permit to an anxious police officer who had been called by a worried on-looker.
I gradually began to realize two things, first by using an IWB holster strong side (at the 3 or 9 o'clock position) instead of the more common advice of wearing an IWB slightly behind the hip, I could easily bend at the waist without having the butt of the pistol stick out for all the sheep to see.
Second, most folks you encounter out in public (at least in the United States) are so absorbed in their own world (and their damn "smart" phones) that they would never even notice a sawed off shotgun stuffed in your waistband much less a discretely carried pistol in a proper holster.
It's for these reasons I much prefer to carry full-sized service pistols. The Treadstone came with an interesting feature that I have never encountered before. As you can tell by the photos of the holster I am left-handed. I don't usually have a problem bumping the mag release while the pistol is in the holster but usually I am carrying a Glock 17 or 21, which in the 3rd Gen models I use have smallish mag releases. The M&P 40 has what I would call a large mag release and it protrudes outward to an unusual amount. Using another brand of IWB holster I have dumped the mag several times in this pistol when I leaned back into a metal framed chair. I went so far as to reshape the release button with my dremel tool to lower it's profile.
What The Treadstone offers is a covered mag release which protects the button from being pushed in. A great idea in theory, but as I discovered it was not without a price.
I found that while the extra kydex covering the mag release button did protect from bumps, it also pinched the skin of my hand when I placed the pistol into the holster during drills. After studying the design for awhile I noted that if the kydex around the FRONT of the mag release were cut away, while leaving the kydex on the back side of the holster covering the back of the mag release, this would eliminate the pinch point while still keeping the release button from being pushed in. I think this is a simply modification the end user can make or you could probably ask Ian at Overwatch Holsters to do it for you. I should mention that I believe Ian builds in this covered mag release on left-handed holsters only as he believes southpaws are more prone to accidentally hitting the mag release.
That is the only thing I could find to criticize on this rig. The release tension was set perfectly, and there is good clearance built into the sight tunnel to clear any oversized night sights you might prefer. The Treadstone offers a good speed cut and the bottom is of a closed muzzle design with enough room to let moisture drain out.
I left the best part for last. The Treadstone currently sells for a very reasonably $40 plus shipping, and the cool colored kydex is a no charge option. Order turnaround currently is listed at a very fast 3-4 days.
The Treadstone can be found here:
The Treadstone ? Overwatch Holsters
Recently I have been testing a new kydex IWB clip-on holster for my M&P 40 FS, it's called The Treadstone, from Overwatch Holsters.
The Treadstone is built from .080 thick Kydex with a sturdy ABS type belt clip which holds the rig securely to your belt while still allowing you to quickly remove it for those time you need to enter a "sheep" (gun-free) zone. I have seen this clip used on several other makers holsters and know it is quite popular. One of the nice things about Overwatch Holsters is that they do not charge extra for colors other than black. Currently you can order one of their rigs in black, coyote tan (pictured here) coyote grey, and blood red. The Treadstone can be ordered with a straight drop (as pictured here) or a forward cant but is not user adjustable so you need to decide when you order.
I am fortunate that I have lived in areas of the country that recognize a citizen's right to self-defense and have been carrying concealed pistols for the last twenty years. Like many, I started out thinking I needed to carry a tiny gun so it would be easier to hide. I was constantly worried I might "print" and would have to produce my permit to an anxious police officer who had been called by a worried on-looker.
I gradually began to realize two things, first by using an IWB holster strong side (at the 3 or 9 o'clock position) instead of the more common advice of wearing an IWB slightly behind the hip, I could easily bend at the waist without having the butt of the pistol stick out for all the sheep to see.
Second, most folks you encounter out in public (at least in the United States) are so absorbed in their own world (and their damn "smart" phones) that they would never even notice a sawed off shotgun stuffed in your waistband much less a discretely carried pistol in a proper holster.
It's for these reasons I much prefer to carry full-sized service pistols. The Treadstone came with an interesting feature that I have never encountered before. As you can tell by the photos of the holster I am left-handed. I don't usually have a problem bumping the mag release while the pistol is in the holster but usually I am carrying a Glock 17 or 21, which in the 3rd Gen models I use have smallish mag releases. The M&P 40 has what I would call a large mag release and it protrudes outward to an unusual amount. Using another brand of IWB holster I have dumped the mag several times in this pistol when I leaned back into a metal framed chair. I went so far as to reshape the release button with my dremel tool to lower it's profile.
What The Treadstone offers is a covered mag release which protects the button from being pushed in. A great idea in theory, but as I discovered it was not without a price.
I found that while the extra kydex covering the mag release button did protect from bumps, it also pinched the skin of my hand when I placed the pistol into the holster during drills. After studying the design for awhile I noted that if the kydex around the FRONT of the mag release were cut away, while leaving the kydex on the back side of the holster covering the back of the mag release, this would eliminate the pinch point while still keeping the release button from being pushed in. I think this is a simply modification the end user can make or you could probably ask Ian at Overwatch Holsters to do it for you. I should mention that I believe Ian builds in this covered mag release on left-handed holsters only as he believes southpaws are more prone to accidentally hitting the mag release.
That is the only thing I could find to criticize on this rig. The release tension was set perfectly, and there is good clearance built into the sight tunnel to clear any oversized night sights you might prefer. The Treadstone offers a good speed cut and the bottom is of a closed muzzle design with enough room to let moisture drain out.
I left the best part for last. The Treadstone currently sells for a very reasonably $40 plus shipping, and the cool colored kydex is a no charge option. Order turnaround currently is listed at a very fast 3-4 days.
The Treadstone can be found here:
The Treadstone ? Overwatch Holsters
