What is the consensus on this outfit? I have heard of them before but don’t know much about them.

Are their holsters for show/costume or are they meant to be used? I see they are cheaper than Simply Rugged. Are they less quality?

Glenn

Imho they are among the very best makers.

Top quality

For less money you can get a quality holster from several of the custom makers on this forum.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Another vote in favor of EPS. I have one of their Tanker holsters for my N frame revolvers. Outstanding quality, very well made.

I think their quality is great. AAA in my book. Wk

Undoubtedly a top-notch leather company. I don't have price comparisons or holster-by-holster comparisons with Forum members but I can vouch for EPS for show holsters, cowboy rigs, AND EDC concealment holsters.

I can say much the same for Barranti on this Forum, or used to be, and there are others that I cannot come up with at the moment.

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Come and take it!!

I've got one of their holster for 2 3/4" Ruger Service Six. It seems to be good quality. I've also got one for a SIG semi auto that has held up rather well.

I can speak for their quality by observation...An occasional vendor at one of the local gun shows sells their entire line of products...The quality is evident......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Great quality, but be ready to wait sometime for your order..

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Always Stay Strong!

I have a half-dozen or so EP Saddlery holsters and accessories, and I just love them all. Highest recommendation!
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Ain't This Fun Though?

El Paso Saddlery leather goods are meant to be used. May not be good as they once was, but as good once, as they ever was.

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Lee Erickson

Just to "ditto" the other posts... I have bought a couple of different holsters from El Paso, and had them craft a custom knife sheath for me a couple of decades ago. They are absolutely a TOP CLASS outfit! I would never hesitate to buy from them, if they have what I want. And if the price is a little higher than some others, it will be well worth it!

El Paso Saddlery makes high quality designs, many based on famous holsters of the Old West. Very high quality. I do not know of any holster company that makes holsters “just for show.” Perhaps that is because I would never do business with a company like that.

If its from Texas its the best....everything else is from a waste land

I have had mixed experiences with them. I have ordered many custom holsters from various makers. EPS still has the record for making the worst one so far. But they did make a very nice one for me recently.

I'm not much help as my purchase from them of #77 & #88 for K, N & X frames was many years ago so now can't honestly vouch yay or nay. Haven't checked or compared their prices either but if prices are competitive, I would think their quality is still there. I don't recall seeing much used EPS stuff for sale.

My personal opinion is that they are worth the price of admission. The belt, buckle and holster are from EPS, the speed loader carrier is from another maker that I already had in inventory. The holster is holding my 629-5, 4" and it rides very comfortably.

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I have and use more than a dozen of their holsters and accessories. Some are special orders not found in the catalog. Not sure they still do special orders though. EPS and old Brauers are my go to's.

I have several, dating back to the early 80s. All still good to go. I really like their "Tortilla" model (a high-ride pancake style) for carrying a 4 5/8" Ruger .44.

This Tom Three Persons holster from El Paso Saddlery is high quality IMHO:


I also got one of their “1942 Tanker” holsters for a 1911. It looks nice and is an accurate replica, meaning the retaining strap holds down the grip safety instead of blocking the hammer. An expensive mistake for me that wasn’t their fault.

Good thing I was not drinking or eating anything when I read that line...

Anyway, I had some time to kill in El Paso one afternoon and was disappointed EPS had no public showroom.

Beto O’Rourke is from Texas… just sayin😉

I have several EPS holsters and they are fine holsters. For several years my "everglades" gun rode in an EPS with two speed loader pouches, also made by them. I won't bore you with stories of what the "everglades" rig went through but after several years it is still servicable and I will pass it on to one of my grand son in laws.

I have never been disappointed in a purchase from EPS. And yes, they are meant to be used.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

[QUOTE=DHernandez;142054961]Beto O’Rourke is from Texas… just sayin😉 you must be a follower to know that

lol well played!

Don't know if it still is available, haven't been down to the border for a few years you used to be able to enter the office at their location and there was a small area of holsters and accessories for sale.
Yandell Street.
Mostly orders that were not paid for, picked up or made for shows.

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LEX ET ORDO

We lived in El Paso for a while, and I was lucky enough to buy an original 1917 holster for the 1911 that was being used at EPS as a model for their replicas. It is the original drop-down style. A picture of it appears in my book 101 Classic Firearms on the very last page. They make good stuff.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I was there just before Covid and got the nickle tour. They even have some of the dies from Tio Sam hanging on the wall.

They were very friendly and welcoming. I bought a belt and ordered a couple holsters. They are very good quality for the money.

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On the Oak Savannah

Wait! Is he not the very best, I mean B E S T BEST! of the worst you ever saw?

See what I did there?

Go, Texas!

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Come and take it!!

I have several of their holsters. They make good stuff.

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213th FBINA

Is that the same guy who disavowed his Irish ancestry to pretend he's a Mexican to gain their votes?...The same one who, like his mentor WJ Clinton, never held a legitimate job in his life?...If so, then yes he is from Texas - far from Texas in fact, as he now teaches his anti-gun philosophy where it's appreciated, at the University of Chicago......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

That is disappointing to hear! I have always dreamed of being able to walk into a “Big 3” (Heiser, Myres, and Lawrence) showroom. Don’t laugh at me, because I laugh at myself, but whenever I receive an order from El Paso Saddlery, the first thing I do is open the plastic bag holding my leather and give it a DEEP whiff! There’s not much better than the smell of fine leather. I wish it came accurately in an air freshener. I figured the showroom of the Big 3 smelled like that, and I thought at some time, maybe I could experience that at EPS!

Of course, it may be like something that happened to me in college. My fraternity was doing a fundraiser by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I volunteered to drive the hour to the store to pick up our order. It was bunches of dozens of their “hot and fresh” doughnuts. Immediately after loading my car to the very top with the load, I started back to Clemson. The smell was awesome! By the time I got to my fraternity house, the smell was terrible. I actually had to take a shower because I smelled like their doughnuts! Of course, they sold like CRAZY! Anyway, if I worked at a leather showroom, maybe the smell would disgust me quickly.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

I think I could stand it...

This reminds me, I need to visit the small showroom at Tucker & Byrd over in Porter...I need a fix......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

My only experience with them was a J Frame pocket holster made with horsehide. It was not a good product. Not only did it print, but it was also not molded to the gun and squeeked like crazy every time I moved. Can't remember what I did with it. Probably in a drawer somewhere.

I have six of their holsters including horizontal shoulder rigs for government 1911 and compact 1911, two Crosshairs OWB for 1911s, a Street Combat for 4" N frame and a Combat Express for the 1911. You can probably guess what I carry most, and I suppose that repeated ownership expresses my vote for them.

I have a Simply Rugged for a couple of Freedom Arms but doesn't see much use. The El Paso shoulder rigs are great for hiking and hunting.

When I hear El Paso Saddlery I think of Western style holsters for Colt and clone SAA revolvers, of which I have had a few. I know they do make other holsters for other guns and purposes, but the Western theme is what comes into my mind. They are decently made holsters and I'd buy another for Cowboy Action (SASS matches) but for CCW / EDC I personally believe there are better holsters to consider.

All,

Based on the reports from the group I have placed an order for a Tom Threesperson's holster for my 5.5" Blackhawk .45, as well as for a cartridge slide for same. Russet color with no embelishment.

Thank you all kindly.

Well, I have worked for a half century inside MANY gunleather factories and the truth is manifold: in the first place you're smelling more than the leather, you're also smelling the finishes; and then, after just a few days you can't smell it at all! It's why I very quickly gave up smoking a pipe when a teen: if you're not the smoker the smell can be heavenly; if you're the smoker you can't smell the tobacco at all.

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The Holstorian

I'm a big fan of EPS.
Have many of their holsters. All are top notch quality.
Matter of fact I have two on order right now.

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N frameitis :-)

*
Old but still valid saying: Good, cheap, fast. Pick any two.

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NHI, 10-8.

I once would have said El Paso Saddlery was great. But not now.

I have a full Military 1911 rig from them, holster, belt, magazine pouch. It was beautiful, I got it maybe 15+ years ago. I also have a double magazine pouch (friction mag pouch 2f) for 1911 mags that is my EDC mag pouch to this day.

However that was then....

Back in 2016 I ordered a "Double Agent" for my S&W 625 Mountain Gun. I also ordered another friction mag pouch for my M&P .45.

The mag pouch had two different sized pouches, one was too large for the magazines they just flopped around loosely, the other one was too small, couldn't even start to put the mag in. Plus the belt slots look like they'd been cut by a rat's teeth, and it was the rat's first day on the job.

That was bad enough.

But the "Double Agent", which mind you I had double checked prior to ordering it to ensure they could and would make it for a revolver and was told "absolutely yes."

Well the gun wouldn't even begin to fit. Instead of being for a N-Frame it seemed more fitted for a K/L frame, which would have been ok I have several K/L frame guns, except that the tension screw was where the barrel underlug went. No gun was ever going to fit in the holster.

Photo: https://i.imgur.com/5WHU3h8.jpeg

That is as far as the gun could be pushed into the holster.

I sent both back and El Paso said they would "reblock" the holster. They sent it back and it was quite clear that they'd done little or nothing to the holster, the tension screw was still in the wrong place.

They finally said that since it was a custom order, it was non refundable. I did at least get a refund on the magazine pouch.

All but one of my current EDC holsters are EPC. Not cheap, but definitely high quality.

Is that a 586? I was thinking of the same holster for my 686 snub.

Goes to show there's no absolutes...

ETA:

After reading someone's post about poor fitting holster and mag pouch, I do recall my first holster for a 4" M500 that also was undersized. Being years ago, and IIRC, they said something about it being their first one for that model and I think used modified dimensions from an N frame as a guestimate? Regardless, after returning it, they made it right.

During COVID, I needed a holster for a 544. I ordered off the EPS website, not sure it would be exactly rights, as 5" N-frames aren't all that common, and they were having trouble staying open (like many other companies). A few weeks later, it was in my mailbox and was a perfect fit. Absolutely perfect.

Have holster and matching belt from El Paso. Not cheap, but top quality leather and craftsmanship.

Have holster and matching belt from El Paso for 5.5 SAA. Not cheap, but top quality leather and craftsmanship.

El Paso Saddlery leather is nice, I have several. I would recommend thier leatherwork.