Shoulder holster

imjin138

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After carrying a full size 1911 for awhile I am seriously considering a shoulder holster. I am looking at the A. E. Nelson Untouchable model. The last time I used a shoulder holster was a bianchi X 15 for an N frame 25 years or so ago.

Anyone use a shoulder holster?
 
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One of the ways I carry my .45 Glock is in a shoulder holster. It is a custom made leather from Fist Inc. It is a vertical carry holster with no thumb break or strap of any kind. It has a retention dimple behind the trigger guard. Very smooth one-hand draw and re-holster. conceals very well and I prefer it in jacket weather. I find shoulder carry a refreshing break from IWB/OWB.
 
I suppose since they are still being made today means that some guys still use them, but I personally never found them wearable for any length of time. I actually tried wearing one a few months ago and I never made it out of the house with it on.
 
I live a short distance from A.E. Nelson leather Co. and used their products since 1968. Ben is up there in age, but taught his son in law and daughter Kitty the ropes for a bunch of years and still goes to the shop every day. There are still PD's using leather duty belts here in Oregon, and most are Nelson Leather. Everything is handmade and there are no factory formats used, and you just can't go wrong if they are your choice.......

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Rodger
Retired LEO
 
Shoulder holsters are too much of a hassle. You always have to wear something over it, which is a PITA in the summer. Then there's the image... at least in my neck of the woods, you risk getting labeled a Starsky and Hutch wannabe by the other cops. I only know one guy who ever used one all the time; he carried two 6-inch S&Ws, one under each arm. But he was a local legend, so no one gave him any grief. Sadly, cancer did what the bad guys couldn't. But they say he married an 18-year-old on his deathbed to keep those pension dollars flowing....
 
Body type comes into play here. I have been lifting weights for 10 years when I bought my butt down rig from DeSantis. I had developed very large lats and that made the gun hang too far from my waist to conceal well. I did better with a belt holster.

My main issue was that the gun on the belt was pulling down my pants requiring constant hitching up of the pants. I resolved that by adding suspenders to the mix.

Nowadays there are Perry Suspenders that hitch directly onto the belt. If pants pulling down is your problem, then Walmart carries Perry Suspenders. I even have one in "flesh color" to wear under a shirt.
 
They work well for Harry Callahan but not so much for the rest of us....:)

I think it has to do with body type and apparel. Eastwood was fairly slender, and he wore sports jackets all the time.

Othe body types/sartorial types are probably better served with belt holsters.

I do have a problem with this image: http://media.photobucket.com/image/dirty harry/thangavealoo/ClintEastwoodDirtyHarry.jpg

How did he access the holster with the jacket buttoned?

Note: Finger on the trigger was OK back then--not criticism-worthy.
 
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I use one when I go camping but otherwise they are a PITA. What bothers me the most is that in the winter Im stuck wearing my jacket inside if I have a shoulder holster. And I have to have a semi auto so that the mags balance out the weight on the other side.
 
Harry was very fashion conscious, so after he drew, he button his jacket again so that it would hang properly.
OK. That explains that picture, but it runs aground when you consider that Harry wore Harris tweed jackets on several occasions. When the movies were broadcast on analog TVs the jackets would moire. (Less of a problem on hi-def.)
 
I sometimes wear an Eagle Industries nylon shoulder holster for my 4006 when working at the farm. I like it... except it's a fairly adjustable rig with velcro... and the loose velcro ends tend to mess up my shirts... :(

Hog
 
OK. That explains that picture, but it runs aground when you consider that Harry wore Harris tweed jackets on several occasions. When the movies were broadcast on analog TVs the jackets would moire. (Less of a problem on hi-def.)

Okay, what do broadcast problems have to do with Harry's sartorial splendor in historical documents?
 
I use shoulders holsters all the time. It's my preferred way to carry. properly adjusted they are very comfortable. I use mostly old school holsters from Bianchi, Clark or Bucheimer. You can still get them on auction sites and gun shows.

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I suggest checking out mernickle holsters and Diamond D custom leather these two holster companies both sell shoulder holsters.
 
. What bothers me the most is that in the winter Im stuck wearing my jacket inside if I have a shoulder holster. QUOTE]

How do you hide the gun in a belt holster? Larry

Same as in the summer. Shirt/sweater covers the belt and i carry iwb. Kinda impractical to pull a sweater over a shoulder holster.

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