Shoulder Holster

[warren5421]

I am buying a Red Nichol's Holsters G1963 "Charade" shoulder holster to carrie a Colt Rail Gun. Back is hurting so doc said to take weight off my belt line so will leave the STI 6" 10mm off my belt once I have the shoulder holster. I'm was looking at eight different ones. I own a Galco "*******", and a "horizontal", a Bianchi, and a Simple Rugged ( good for hunting). If you have used one of the ones I am looking at could you give some feed back as I own several different carry guns. I know a lot don't like, but used the old vertical spring clip Safariland and Bianchi in my younger days.

1. Aker Comfort-Flex Shoulder Rig and Holster
2. Craft
3. DeSantis "New York Undercover"
4. Galco "******* Shoulder Holster"
5. Kramer Handgun Leather Horizontal
6. Monarch Shoulder Rig and Holster
7. Red Nichol's Holsters G1963 "Charade"
8. Alien Gear ShapeShift Shoulder Holster

 

[Borderboss]

I regularly carry my Colt 1911 in a Galco Miami Classic II and like it a lot. I will sometimes get a little tightening in my neck/left shoulder after about 8-10 hours, but not all the time. I recommend it.

 

[WR Moore]

They nickname shoulder holsters "bras" for a reason. Ask your wife.

I had good service from the Bianchi X-15 (designed around the 1911), but don't have the rail.

 

[rednichols]

They nickname shoulder holsters "bras" for a reason. Ask your wife.

I had good service from the Bianchi X-15 (designed around the 1911), but don't have the rail.

Shoulder holsters have changed since JB believed that he'd revolutionized the style by making the X-15's yoke over the shoulder very wide.

It was Gallagher at Galco who did the revolutionizing: eschewing the traditional backstrap under the offside armpit, and even the double yoke of the better-known ******* style, he created a shoulder holster for the PPK in which a single backstrap (so, not a loop) actually reaches across the back, over to the front of the shoulder, then down to the waistline; to belt or trousers band. The trick, is to then clip that strap at 4:00; and to adjust the yoke quite close up to the neck. Which then requires a reconfiguration of the yoke.

I much admired the Galco version for awhile, and when I felt the calling to create a shoulder holster for the next Bond films, I built a horizontal system first for the 1911 -- and this harness construction really does transcend what we've been doing all these years; which was to simply hang the holster from the primary shoulder.

With the new paradigm the backstrap hoists the weight of the pistol off the primary shoulder and spreads it along the shoulder, back, and front of the off-shoulder. Magical results. I do believe that DeSantis has such a harness, too; though of course I think I've delivered the best version so far.

The setup looks like this; but don't make the error that one experienced buyer did and then adjust it conventionally. Instead, the yoke must go next to the neck (mine is sculpted there), the single backstrap must be attached at 4:00 along the belt and pulled tightly enough to keep the yoke next to the neck.









There isn't any other harness design (again, not my own, original idea) that can compare for comfort and with concealment, too. I do believe the Galco holster is discontinued and was only for the PPK anyway.

Shoulder holsters have attached to the belt on the off side since E.E. Clark's time but he didn't execute it in Galco's fashion.

 

[stansdds]

I've tried various shoulder holsters and found them to be of little utility for me. I have found that leather tends to work better than nylon and the Galco Miami Classic is about the most comfortable for me.

 

[Triggernosis]

Shoulder holsters have changed since JB believed that he'd revolutionized the style by making the X-15's yoke over the shoulder very wide.

It was Gallagher at Galco who did the revolutionizing: eschewing the traditional backstrap under the offside armpit, and even the double yoke of the better-known ******* style, he created a shoulder holster for the PPK in which a single backstrap (so, not a loop) actually reaches across the back, over to the front of the shoulder, then down to the waistline; to belt or trousers band. The trick, is to then clip that strap at 4:00; and to adjust the yoke quite close up to the neck. Which then requires a reconfiguration of the yoke.

I much admired the Galco version for awhile, and when I felt the calling to create a shoulder holster for the next Bond films, I built a horizontal system first for the 1911 -- and this harness construction really does transcend what we've been doing all these years; which was to simply hang the holster from the primary shoulder.

With the new paradigm the backstrap hoists the weight of the pistol off the primary shoulder and spreads it along the shoulder, back, and front of the off-shoulder. Magical results. I do believe that DeSantis has such a harness, too; though of course I think I've delivered the best version so far.

The setup looks like this; but don't make the error that one experienced buyer did and then adjust it conventionally. Instead, the yoke must go next to the neck (mine is sculpted there), the single backstrap must be attached at 4:00 along the belt and pulled tightly enough to keep the yoke next to the neck.

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There isn't any other harness design (again, not my own, original idea) that can compare for comfort and with concealment, too. I do believe the Galco holster is discontinued and was only for the PPK anyway.

Shoulder holsters have attached to the belt on the off side since E.E. Clark's time but he didn't execute it in Galco's fashion.

Red, isn't what you're describing very similar to the Galco Executive holster like this? Galco Executive Shoulder Holster - Left Hand -

 

[rednichols]

Red, isn't what you're describing very similar to the Galco Executive holster like this? Galco Executive Shoulder Holster - Left Hand -

It absolutely is . Super idea out of Galco.

 

[Gene L]

I can't do shoulder holsters, with one exception. Got on for a 1911, when I wore it I couldn't get to the gun one handed, had to shift the holster with my off hand. And if you wear one, you can never take your jacket off if you want to carry concealed.

I do have one for my Ruger Redhawk, it carries across my chest because the gun is too heavy to carry in a belt holster.

 

[roo_ster]

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Red:

How thick (front to back) is the leather used for front & rear shoulder pieces? Those that directly support the weight of the gun.

 

[Gene L]

I may have posted this before, but I had a shoulder rig (can't remember the maker, could have been a *******) for my 1911. Almost parallel carry.
Anyway, coming out of a judicial hearing at the courthouse with me, the ADA, the defendant and his lawyer, walking down the marble staircase, the pistol fell out of my holster and bounced along the stairs. The lawyer, a good guy, said, "Glad it wasn't loaded," which of course it was and he knew it.

Later, the holster was fine. I guess it needed stretched a bit, but it put a prejudice on my appreciation of shoulder holsters. Oh, if you never take your jacket off, they're good to conceal, but applying them is slow. I was a victim of Miami Vice since I worked vice. Cool looking don't always mean great products.

I've got a chest holster for the Redhawk and I think I've got a Tanker 1911 holster, don't know.

 

[stansdds]

The original ******* holster canted the pistol with the muzzle up about 30 degrees or so, the modern ******* cants the pistol closer to 45 degrees. The early Miami Classic holsters canted the muzzle up slightly and the current version is designed to keep the pistol pretty much horizontal. As for the snap opening on it's own, I have found that the snap used by Galco, at least on the older holsters, can be a bit tricky. Often the snap seemed to fully close, but just the slightest tug on the thumb break and the snap would let go.

 

[Protected One]

I may have posted this before, but I had a shoulder rig (can't remember the maker, could have been a *******) for my 1911. Almost parallel carry.
Anyway, coming out of a judicial hearing at the courthouse with me, the ADA, the defendant and his lawyer, walking down the marble staircase, the pistol fell out of my holster and bounced along the stairs. The lawyer, a good guy, said, "Glad it wasn't loaded," which of course it was and he knew it.

Later, the holster was fine. I guess it needed stretched a bit, but it put a prejudice on my appreciation of shoulder holsters. Oh, if you never take your jacket off, they're good to conceal, but applying them is slow. I was a victim of Miami Vice since I worked vice. Cool looking don't always mean great products.

I've got a chest holster for the Redhawk and I think I've got a Tanker 1911 holster, don't know.

Sounds like the snap wasn't fully engaged.

 

[Protected One]

Red, isn't what you're describing very similar to the Galco Executive holster like this? Galco Executive Shoulder Holster - Left Hand -

That holster is no longer available from GALCO.
Wish I knew why.

 

[Moo Moo]

I've always found shoulder holsters alright for the winter but no good in the summer especially if you sweat like me. I would wear a shoulder holster when doing Dignitary Protection or when involved in covert investigations, they were good for surveillance duties when mobile in vehicles.