Yep, I'm a good one at re-learning the adage of "you get what you pay for".

Wanted a decent scabbard style ('Avenger'/Bruce Nelson design) OWB RH holster for my S&W M39.

Of course, this is a many-years discontinued pistol, so the offerings were few in the price range I wanted to go.

I had been using a 'Strong' brand thumb-snap pancake I'd found on 'bay but not really a big fan of pancakes and it was quite difficult to line the snap up and secure it while wearing the pistol on the belt.

Got an idea to try a 'Craft' brand scabbard style, probably due to a pop-up on FB. Their site showed the holster I liked the looks of as available for a M39.
Didn't find out until later that these holsters are made in Slovakia. Delivery time was almost 2 months.

It came yesterday. Yes - the M39 goes in it, but even with the equipped 'tension screw' cranked tight as it will go - the gun fits way too loosely.
Almost funny - the holster came with a free 'holster break-in kit' which is a small spray bottle of some sort of liquid, a cotton swab on a stick and a wipe-down cloth. This is for holsters that start out very snug, which I was hoping mine would be.

I even removed the tension screw with it's rubber bushing inside the holster, replacing it with a Chicago screw I had in order to close up the holster more in hopes for a better fit. Made it a LITTLE better, but still not acceptable.

I haven't even tried customer service yet, if there is such a thing. Hate to think what it may cost to send back.

Anyone here bought or dealt with Craft holsters?

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Never heard of them! Check El Paso Saddlery……..I’ll bet they offer holsters for your gun!

Contact Craft with your issues and see if they will make it right. They have a 30 day return policy

I have one for my 39 from this company:

Avenger Scabbard Holster (A-4) — MTR Custom Leather

wyo-man

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Live free or die

Good luck with your holster, I hope they make it right. I am one who does not own a box of holsters, a smart man told me to go with milt sparks and never look back. that is what i did. Now I should say I don't have a box of holsters I never use, yes I have a box of holsters. tried others but always sent them back, hard to save a buck and still be happy.

I have a couple of Craft Holsters.

I bought them to try a new carry style, or a familiar carry style for a significantly different gun, before committing to an expensive holster.

They’ve done the job and in one case I ended up preferring the relatively cheap Craft to it’s expensive custom successor.

I haven’t returned a Craft Holster, but I did have an exchange with their customer service when they had a question about an order. They exchange was professional and well handled.

I own several nice pieces from El Paso. Great products - I was just trying to stay with a lower price-point. That always comes at a cost......

I did email Craft CS, waiting to hear back. We'll see.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Check with Kramer. Well worth it in my opinion. Yes a little pricier than DeSantis etc. Yes takes a while to get after you order. Their MSP paddle is the best of the breed I think.

I have a box of old holsters so I just started making my own. I bought a template for the Avenger and have modified it to fit a few of my guns.

Finding a decent inexpensive holster is hard to do. Milt Sparks makes great holsters and you get what you pay for.

Soak you holster completely submerging it in warm water and dishwashing soap. Put your gun in a plastic bag or cellophane to keep it from getting wet and let it sit overnight.

You may now want to use the stick they provided and push it around to make the holster fit better.

Thanks Wyo - Just ordered a MTR scabbard for my M39. The price-point was in-line with where I wanted to stay, it's made in the USA and with shipping costs it ended up within a few dollars of what I paid for the ill-fitting Slovakian holster, which has now been returned.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Update on the Craft Holster customer service -

They quickly replied to my email advising my concerns over their lack of quality control and my desire for a refund.

They sent a return form to be completed and asked for pics of: #1 The M39 pistol, #2 the holster #3 the gun in the holster "Showing looseness".

I accomplished most of that but had to get inventive to show a photo depicting 'looseness'.
Finally, laid a white towel down on my loading bench. With pistol in holster and held in left hand I photo'ed from the rear and also with muzzle towards phone-camera. In each, you could clearly see daylight (white towel) around most of the pistol's slide. Figured that would "show looseness".

The provided a return authorization number and indicated they would provide full refund upon receipt of the holster back.

At Wyo-man's suggestion, I looked into MTR Custom Leather and found the design I was after and still around the price-point I wanted to stay.
Made in THIS country and price was within a few dollars of what I got from Slovakia.

My old-reliables of El Paso, Lobo and some others have had to necessarily increase their prices (who hasn't?) and I was just trying to stay at a slightly lower price point and retain decent quality.

Thanks for all suggestions.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275