Giagantic Cheap Plastic Holsters

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

You know, I sit here after near 50 years making premium gun leather and have the gun magazine advertising sales people harass me constantly to advertise in their magazines. We "Bell Charter Oak" advertised in 6 or 7 rags for an eternity. We spent thousands of dollars each month (especially before the internet was common) and that came right off the top, for maybe 30 years or more. We struggled to produce a top notch "American Made Product", made by Americans, from American sourced material, leather, and the damn best and most expensive domestic leather bends on the face of the earth.

Today, we are faced with arm folded, tatooed bald headed, bearded plastic kydex jockeys, and former gun leather mass manufacturers who have yielded to their competitors, selling for $38.95, for a holster for concealment bigger than a 9 inch pie plate!

Yeah. that's concealement and comfort for 8 to 12 hours!

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[10mmauto]

I've carried a gun for 35 years and never once even thought about using one of those "insert name here" Tuk holster thingies.

Although I am an Alessi (now Ritchie) fan, the idea is to give me a good American made leather holster any day.

 

[M29since14]

All I can say is, "I know how you feel."

I'm not sure if you are blowing off steam or just what, but if you are looking for encouragement, I can offer a sincere, "Good luck, sir!"

 

[stitch45]

I know of what you speak, I've been in the gun leather business for almost 30 years, I work my tail off, use only premium USA tanned hides (Wickett & Craig) do my damnedest to produce the best quality I can out of the best materials I can find only to have to compete with cheap plastic stuff that makes me go ... Really ??
I work hard to educate consumers on the benefits of quality leather gear over plastic stuff ... And that is what I have found the key to be ... Educate the consumer / User, Not all will see the light but many will.
I'm lucky that I still have a booming business and a couple of very busy gun stores that almost exclusively sell my products.
It's all about information, We live in weird techno age, you have to make sure to let people see and feel the difference .
Hang in there, Adapt, Innovate, Overcome .. Good luck to you !

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

All I can say is, "I know how you feel."

I'm not sure if you are blowing off steam or just what, but if you are looking for encouragement, I can offer a sincere, "Good luck, sir!"

Thank you for your kind remarks.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Iggy]

I ain't never resorted to plastic in guns or holsters..

I'm gonna die honorable!!

 

[snubbyfan]

Yeah, it's leather for me.

 

[gregintenn]

People no longer appreciate quality craftsmanship. Those few who do are reluctant to pay for it. Sorry to say, but I don't see it getting any better.

A plastic holster compliments a plastic gun.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I know of what you speak, I've been in the gun leather business for almost 30 years, I work my tail off, use only premium USA tanned hides (Wickett & Craig) do my damnedest to produce the best quality I can out of the best materials I can find only to have to compete with cheap plastic stuff that makes me go ... Really ??
I work hard to educate consumers on the benefits of quality leather gear over plastic stuff ... And that is what I have found the key to be ... Educate the consumer / User, Not all will see the light but many will.
I'm lucky that I still have a booming business and a couple of very busy gun stores that almost exclusively sell my products.
It's all about information, We live in weird techno age, you have to make sure to let people see and feel the difference .
Hang in there, Adapt, Innovate, Overcome .. Good luck to you !

Every decade or so, there is a trend of some kind in the gun biz. Presently, we have had a few decades of polymer frame autos which have surpassed revolver sales by a long ways, first in the law enforcement market, later in the private citizen sales arena. Law enforcement has been a pivotal champion of the hi cap DA auto and I take no issue with that and even applaud their good decision to better arm our brothers and sisters in harms way.

Holsters can be tricky. Agencies generally bid their purchases and a traditional leather maker simply cannot compete with a manufacturer using nylon or plastic for the lowest bid. It's just that simple. The private sector of consumers, especially in light of the "shall issue" phenomenon of the past decade where many states now issue permits for CCW, who never did, are persuaded by advertising and cheap price, that these accessories are a panacea. Many of these consumers are first time gun buyers, with little or no experience.

Now, when you couple those factors with a poor economy, astronomically rising gun prices and a few other factors I will not mention for brevity, consumers gravitate to what they feel is a bargain priced solution. My observation is that the majority of these abominations are grossly oversized, which does not aid in concealment and the nylon shell with neoprene padding serves no purpose other than protecting the wearer from prolonged discomfort from the rigid kydex or other plastic material holster that would otherwise provide hours of agony for the user. Eventually, the padding will deteriorate/wear out long before any leather rig, if worn every single day. Wear and perspiration will take care of that.

I suppose if I just bought a polymer framed handgun for todays money those "E.T. and E=MC2" holsters certainly are a bargain, even though you might have to replace them from time to time. To each man his own poison. Just another reason I'm glad I'm old. I just hope I live long enough to own one of those guns featured in MEN IN BLACK.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Iggy]

Lefty,
I just hope I live long enough to own one of those guns featured in MEN IN BLACK.

You gonna build a holster for'em??

 

[Bigdog357]

Hey Lefty, here a perspective from someone in the middle. I own several leather holsters and several combo leather and Kydex holsters, heck I even have a couple cloth type holsters both IWB and OWB. They all perform reasonably well, of coarse some better than others. I myself am partial to leather. Now I also own some Tupperware pistols along with several steel revolvers and steel semi autos and they are all fine shooters. I try to love all my guns equally, but am somewhat partial to my wheelguns. So in my world I have a variety of holster types and gun types and their is room for all. I just received a new leather holster and had to wait five weeks, most quality leather manufactures have quite a backlog of orders. So I don't really know how much the plastic holster guys are having on your bottom line. With the internet age upon us it sound like you don't have to pay for advertising in the rags, hence your bottom line should be looking pretty good.

 

[326MOD10]

I would agree with what Bigdog357 said in that I love to shoot my revolvers but, with the exception of my 642 on occasion, I carry a lot of plastic.

With that said I have a very nice leather holster for all my revolvers but I carry a pie plate on my hip when I have my carry gun on. The pie plate was just as costly as some of the leather I have purchased from Lobo so it isn't a money thing, it is just a comfort thing.

I have tried IWB before and could not find something I liked (ie: something that was comfortable for me) until I settled on the N82 Tactical rig. I love it for my Shield. With that said I also have a leather OWB rig for it in the winter and am in the process of picking up a leather OWB rig for my Glock 43. But come next summer the pie plate will go back on my hip and it may be a new one for the Glock.

I love the craftsmanship but sometimes it is just practicality that wins out.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I don't really know how much the plastic holster guys are having on your bottom line.

None. Our client base is extensive, very loyal and long term. What prompted my initial remarks were the annoying soliciting from magazine sales people who expect us to advertise while they promote cheap goods.

I don't want our good name on the same page. People's lives depend on my products and I know that. Anyone who imagines that a $38.95 priced holster that they carry a $500 or $800 or $1500 quality handgun is a bargain may be in for some disappointment, maybe for worse. I truly hope not. But the holster won't be one of mine and I'm not paying some rag who exploits the inexperienced to make a buck.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[fordson]

A fine LEATHER holster for a fine metal gun with wood grips. Why would you use anything else? ��

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I carry a lot of plastic.

Me too....in my wallet. Best regards to you.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Lefty,
I just hope I live long enough to own one of those guns featured in MEN IN BLACK.

You gonna build a holster for'em??

Iggy;

Probably, out of Stridex.....oh wait, that's pimple cream? Well you know, maybe that stuff they make out of recycled pop bottles? Why don't we go Alien chasing for the good of the Universe? I got two of those pens that erase your memory like the one in Men In Black....one is called Jack Daniels, the other, more effective, Everclear. Best to you my pard!

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Pbchucker]

"....arm folded, tatooed bald headed, bearded plastic kydex jockeys,...."

And don't forget the dark sunglasses and the Billy Bad "Apple" frown.

There is a gun video advertisement (forget which company) with a guy that perfectly shot a set of targets, and he walks away almost like he is mad at something. Come on dude! You have a dream job and you just performed flawlessly. If you can't smile after that, then something is wrong.

But anyway, the holsters. Yes, please don't get discouraged. You have a product for people who want something better. Twenty years ago, the masses bought cheap nylon cloth holsters, today it is kydex. Hang in there.

 

[Arik]

!

Yeah. that's concealement and comfort for 8 to 12 hours!

Cheers;
Lefty

Yea it is. Sorry. I get you're venting a little and that's cool. But yea those dinner plate holsters are comfortable. Been wearing one everyday for the past 7 years or so. The same one. I tried other iwb leather holsters and dont find any if them comfortable. I can't properly describe why ans I can't draw on here to show you what I mean. But basically a regular leather iwb holster feels like sticking a brick or a tennis ball in my belt line. Not buy weight but by shape. All that mass is concentrated in one spot and pushing into me. The hybrid style large leather back is flat against my side and the kydex shell pushes slightly out. And it doesn't stick up out of my pants much....with a t-shirt over top it conceals perfectly

 

[silentflyer]

Plastic guns and plastic holsters? Not for me. Make mine steel,wood, and leather....What would Skeeter say??

 

[turnerriver]

Wait, what ? They make plastic holsters ?

Regards,
turnerriver