OLDER VS NEWER LEATHER CCW - OWB HOLSTERS

[chief38]

For those here on the Forum who sort of know met through my frequent posts, know I am slow to change, always much prefer vintage firearms, tools equipment etc. although I do have a few exceptions.

I'd like to post here what I believe to be true about modern day leather holsters vs leather holsters of yesteryear.

Like many here, I've got draws, closets and boxes full of leather holsters, cartridge carriers, mag. pouches, belts etc. that I've accumulated over the years. Many of these have been custom made, although in the beginning (40+ years ago) I mostly bought off the shelf leather from famous Maker's such as Safariland, Strong, El Paso, Bianchi, Lawrence, Heiser, DeSantis, Bucheimer and a slew of others that don't come to mind immediately. Not only do I have the holsters I bought myself but I inherited a slew from my dad too. Those older designed holsters were basically "leather pouches" softly molded to a specific gun although many were multi-model holsters and multi positionable. Many of he revolver holsters were designed for open triggers and required straps, snaps, retention screws, springs, velcro, etc to safely retain the firearm. At the time they seemed to be good quality and state of the art although somewhat bulky.

Fast forward to the last 10+ years and we now have many custom leather holsters available that are extremely well molded and detailed boned precisely to a specific model gun, - made stronger and lighter than the older ones, and the designs are just so much safer and better. My EDC OWB holsters are made of Horsehide, extremely strong and stiff and retain the pistol or revolver without the use of any straps, snaps, screws, springs etc. The new holsters are just so much better and safer than the older ones, I never use the vintage holsters unless it is for a "Range trip" or "woods walk" only. Even then, sometimes I do not feel I made the right choice! Sometimes I'll wear one of my Dad's holsters when just going to the Range for Nostalgia but now I see just how antiquated those old designs really are.

So leather holsters are one of my biggest exceptions to vintage vs modern and I think so highly of the new holsters that the old ones are rapidly becoming curios & relics.

While I do agree that Kydex holsters are the way of the future for many guys (cost effective, durable, available in any color for any gun, light weight and have excellent retention qualities) I have not yet warmed up to them. That is why I am posting here only about leather holsters. Maybe in another 10 years or so I'll be able to accept Kydex - as it really is an excellent product, just CHEAP & UGLY looking to me.

So as stubborn and change-resistant as I am (for the most part), other than for nostalgia my older vintage leather holsters are now little more than decoration. One day I may part with them, but for now I do enjoy looking at them occasionally. So that's my take on vintage vs modern leather for guns. What say you?

 

[MyDads38]

I'll admit, I am a sucker for older leather holsters; it's what I grew up with and used on duty with the Dept. of Corr. Nobody seems to want leather holsters anymore, (except us "vintage" guys & gals) and only want kydex.

I have more older leather holsters than I do newer, and I do have a few kydex, since I own so many polymer/striker fired pistols. My revolvers ALWAYS ride in a nice leather holster; the poly have both, but mainly ride in leather also. I bet I have at least 6 holsters for every handgun I own, lol-leather and kydex

To me, nothing beats a good quality leather holster and belt. I am proud of the handguns that I own and shoot, and you should be proud of what you carry them in! Guns and holsters are works of art to me, and I admire quality craftsmanship in what I own

 

[DevilDog72]

yup

Wow, it is almost an addiction. I have between 3 and 6 leather holsters for each of the 8 sidearms I own as well, with the exception of my Glock 17. It has but one, a well made, sturdy leather pancake made in England. I barley know it is there when I carry it.

I have both vintage and custom made units and use both as the occasion arises.

 

[chief38]

Wow, it is almost an addiction. I have between 3 and 6 leather holsters for each of the 8 sidearms I own as well, with the exception of my Glock 17. It has but one, a well made, sturdy leather pancake made in England. I barley know it is there when I carry it.

I have both vintage and custom made units and use both as the occasion arises.

The reason for the so called "addiction" is up until I found the Horsehide Holsters none of the ones I owned were perfect and I was always in search for a better one. Today (for CCW/EDC's), I will only buy Kramer's Horsehide Leather goods and I never have to look for an upgrade.

They are not cheap - but nothing on the top shelf ever is.

 

[4011]

Snubbyfan fan made me a right side on the belt holster. It has a forward cant and rides about level on my belt. Been wearing it everyday since I got it. Doesn't print bad under any of my shirts are jackets. The weak side cross draw for driving is equally as good.

 

[rednichols]

There is a large body of research on the holstory of the 20th century, which is when all innovation was done in gunleather. Any leather holster made today is a copy or derivative of these early designs. There has been zero innovation in gunleather since almost precisely 1985.

Based on that research, and a half decade of personal experience with all the major makers of the world from that century, I invite the OP to revisit the premise that hard holsters that are strapless and finely detailed (it is not called 'boning'; that was a term for slicking the interior of the holster for a quick release). P.S. the purpose of detail molding (again, it is not called boning) is not for retention; it is to keep the finish from being worn, and especially aluminium frames like the Commander, the Centennial, the M39, the Walther, etc.)

All these features began in the 1950s with Chic Gaylord; were made made 'cool' by Paris Theodore in the '60s; and were popularized by Bianchi in the '70s; and emulated by Galco in the '80s. Holster makers spent decades explaining to consumer why gunleather was suddenly stiff and well-moulded! General-fit, soft holsters were things of the first half of that century and of the makers like Brauer and Bucheimer.

The first of the strapless leather holsters were the Brills; that's more than a hundred years ago. Thin and soft? How do we know, surviving examples are ancient; we should look so good at a century. Myres and Heiser both made strapless, stiff holsters -- heard much about the Threepersons? Made popular beginning in the 1930s for the FBI during the gangland era. Jelly Bryce himself admitted to killing 23 men from his Myres 614 Threepersons; one of them with a group of five .44 caliber shots to the head.

Here's the epitome of the Eastern school, made of thin, rigid horsehide; precisely moulded; strapless: a Seventrees for Paris' ASP in the round-guard version. There are NO modern makers who have improved on this one, circa 1970:





Covered triggers on revolvers? No present-day rocket scientist thought of these for you. They simply weren't "allowed" on revolver holsters until close to the end of the century. Did they exist? They sure did, all throughout the 1900s. But folks wouldn't buy revolver holsters that covered the trigger -- access was a minimum requirement until the 1980s.

Autos are another matter. Covered triggers since the 1916 military holster but normally uncovered for civilian and law enforcement until the late 1960s. Bianchi, Seventrees, Safariland, Anderson, everything changed over in that era. Cocked n locked became popular then, too. No straps? We only make them that way because you consumers let us! Prior to the 21st century a strap was only rarely left off; they were even ADDED to Bianchi strapless holsters due to customer demands.

 

[caduceus]

Well Chief38 since you like good leather do a search for Coronado leather . Feast your eyes on some of their carry wear. I purchased the bison vest several years ago. Has two hidden inside pockets . Find revolver carries well. Might get you a solid belt while you shop. Those leather jackets oooh��

 

[Truckin]

I love old and new leather. The old holsters with the lacing on it is beautiful and I don’t know why I buy so many Basketweave holsters. I have many for guns I have never owned. All my blued guns ride in leather and mostly newer leather. All my IWB holsters are kydex because they allow for easier reholstering. I have a Garret kydex lined in leather for my 1911s. I think newer leather has better retention and the current craftsmen out there are wonderful but when I am at a show I’m reaching for the old holsters on the table.