Giagantic Cheap Plastic Holsters

[RV4driver]

Just an observation...all those fancy futuristic guns in Men In Black were made of metal, not plastic. Just sayin'. Maybe "natural selection" in action?

 

[shawn mccarver]

I am inclined to agree with Lefty on this one. A really good handcrafted leather or horsehide holster will last a career, if cared for properly. And the best ones improve with age. My Milt Sparks Summer Special is worn, but no worse in its usefulness than when first obtained in the dark ages. Same for the Yaqui slide. My Sparks stuff (Uncle Jeff's influence) is so old that much of it is not even in the current "online" catalog. Craftsmanship never goes out of style.

Three cheers for Lefty for doing his part to keep it alive.

 

[REM 3200]

Craftsmanship never goes out of style.

This sums it up very well.

 

[Arik]

It's all in how you view them. Are they something you deeply care about or are they just a secure place to carry a gun. For me its #2. My current holster is about 7 years old. If it breaks in the next 3 years then I'll spend another $60 for a new one. Assuming it breaks $60 in a decade ....ok. I'm not a cop so there is no carrier for it to last.

 

[Jhp147]

I've sort of moved away from leather to Kydex in the years like my guns went from metal to plastic. I love a nice leather holster, and admire their beauty and functionality. But, it's tough to wait months and tie up money when I can get a well designed high quality Kydex one in a week to three max for my M&Ps from either of my favorite Kydex makers. To me, quality Kydex does not mean one of these pizza box size Kydex sandwiches with more eyelet holes than two pairs of Converse high tops, though. I really don't care for them and don't see how one belted to my waist with the big gaps fore and aft could work for me. I still want and will soon buy a really nice leather Avenger type shark trimmed rig for my "keep from now on and carry after retirement gun," which isn't plastic and won't be carried in plastic. But for now, GOOD quality kydex-not Converse themed pizza boxes-has some value. I don't see good leather makers going out of business or wait times (or prices) going down. I think there will alway be a place for quality leather craftsmanship.

 

[Buford57]

Wait, what ? They make plastic holsters ?

Regards,
turnerriver

And guns to match.

I bought a plastic paddle holster for a Ruger P85 a few years ago. I didn't care for the fit or function. For about what I had paid for that I found a nice, used Safariland high-ride. Black Basketweave and lined. I think I could hear that old Ruger, which spent the first 10 years of its life riding in black basketweave, whispering "Thanks, Boss".

 

[Aticus]

This thread got my attention. I don't claim to be an expert on holsters even though I've bought and used nylon, kydex, and leather holsters over the years. I like a good quality nylon holster for large revolvers ( N frame) and open carry because of the weather resistance and not showing the effects of abuse. That's going to end in a few days. The Kydex I like for medium guns (1911) and OWB but they don't conceal all that well for me. They stick out too far from my Dunlap disease. That's why IWB is not a regular thing for me.

Now having said all that let me say this. The guns I regularly carry are carried in leather OWB including the medium frame guns. I've found over the years that a top quality leather holster meant for concealed carry in worth its price. They are comfortable, quiet, sturdy, secure and hold the gun tight to me without bothering the Dunlap disease. When I need IWB that is also leather for the same reasons.

It took years and the standard box full of holsters but here I sit having found out what a lot of people have known for years leather still works best and will for my future any way. (My next will be a Tom Threepersons style for a 6 1/2 inch N frame.)

Boy what a lot of typing, sorry guys.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

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

I just couldn't resist reprinting this piece of wisdom.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Wait, what ? They make plastic holsters ?

Regards,
turnerriver

All right John, who made them? Let's drift to a different direction.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I have said this a thousand times or more (much more) for those who expect a miracle in concealment or comfort and speed of presentation. We can do many things to conceal your weapon, we can do many things to make it more comfortable with your typical clothing/wardrobe, but we can't make YOUR weapon any smaller. Think about the weapon, before the holster.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Cbollo]

One of your inexperienced 'newbs' here. Yes, I bought a $39.99 Blackhawk Serpa CQC holster for my M&P 9(My first handgun). And I tried different types of holsters from leather to nylon. This holster had all the required characteristics I wanted.

Its small, extremely lightweight and adds little girth. It is easily adjustable for different belt sizes. I can't afford to go buy a new wardrobe just yet, so IWB is out of the question for now.

Having small children and the possibility of it falling out or me being disarmed required some kind of holster that locked the gun in place. Tried the button snap leather stuff, but with this one here, you push a lever, draw, and your finger is in the firing position as soon as it leaves the holster. I don't see how the benefits of having the trigger exposed in the holster could possibly outweigh the dangers.

Its also extremely weather resistant, which is never a bad thing, and the material itself seems pretty damn sturdy. And they had one in stock and hanging on the shelf. For $39.99. Sold.

Don't get me wrong, I admire the craftsmanship that goes into making a quality leather holster, and I respect the tradition behind them, but I would have been sacrificing quite a few important features to go with a more expensive holster that I'd probably have to wait for. I didn't choose it because it looks cool, or because I saw it in a magazine or something. It just seems to me that its a no brainer, solely based on functionality, which is really all I care about. Anyhow, just thought I'd give you a little insight into how I came to the decision to go with a polymer/carbon fiber holster. I'm sure there are people out there that just buy them cause they look cool or whatever, but not everyone. Some of us are just trying to be practical.

 

[eveled]

The real question in my mind, is how those gun rags are able to stay in print, in the current internet age.

I haven't bought one in over a decade, and to be honest they weren't that good back then. They were the only deal in town.

 

[turnerriver]

All right John, who made them? Let's drift to a different direction.

Cheers;
Lefty

All three are S. D. Myres holsters.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Rick_A]

The best deserves the best.

20140930_094813 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

I'll admit my leather holsters are reasonably priced, but look good and most importantly work well.

 

[sipowicz]

I mainly use leather. But kydex has it's place, especially with duty gear and range holsters.

 

[Arik]

I just couldn't resist reprinting this piece of wisdom.

Cheers;
Lefty

Stay classy Bell [emoji106], stay classy!!!

 

[SJ]

I wear one of Lefty's holsters every day (either a J or K frame) and I can tell you that Bell Charter Oak Holsters are the most comfortable and concealable holsters I own. Lefty made me an IWB holster for a short barrel N frame and it is not only comfortable but disappears under a cover garment. When you wear one for 8 – 10 hours every day, I find that leather is truly comfortable. Don't worry Lefty your customers will keep coming back.
SJ

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I wear one of Lefty's holsters every day (either a J or K frame) and I can tell you that Bell Charter Oak Holsters are the most comfortable and concealable holsters I own. Lefty made me an IWB holster for a short barrel N frame and it is not only comfortable but disappears under a cover garment. When you wear one for 8 – 10 hours every day, I find that leather is truly comfortable. Don't worry Lefty your customers will keep coming back.
SJ

Thank you sir, for your kind remarks. It is gentlemen like you who continue to motivate this old firehorse out to the shop week after week. Many of the rigs we craft are tough to execute, well. The short barrel N frames are one example, but have been a personal favorite before S&W woke up like a drunk from a three day bender, and realized what Chic Gaylord and I told them decades before. Back then, a custom gunsmith was about the only way you might have seen a 2 or 2 1/2 inch N frame. I lament the cost I sustained having Colt New Service 1917's and S&W 1917's "chopped and bobbed" to get what I wanted back then. Today, that's all over...and that is well.

Cheers;
Lefty