Would You Wear This Galco Holster Rig?

[Protected One]

I have that exact shoulder holster, purchased from a forum member for $60. Purchased the tie-down straps separately and I recommend them. I carry a 1911 Officers Model in it, but only when wearing a suit or jacket. It is very comfortable.

 

[LPD256]

The Original ******* Leather Co was the predecessor to Galco (Gallager Co). I had the original ******* rig for a Model 59 with two magazines and handcuffs on the side opposite the gun. It was balanced and comfortable. Carrying a full size gun, mags, cuffs, a flashlight and a radio while wearing a suit on a dress belt is not comfortable for several hour shifts. So it worked. I have a MiamiClassic now with a Kahr 9mm and two extra mags which is pretty concealable. I also have the re-released ******* rig for a 1911 which isn’t that concealable. Bigger gun leaves bigger imprint. Love them in the winter with a coat or jacket. Not so much with a shirt and no coat. I use other holsters or pocket carry for that. Hope this helps.

 

[stansdds]

I have tried the Bianchi X15 vertical shoulder holster and the Galco Miami Classic horizontal holsters, using my S&W 439 and my S&W 6946. I found the draw from the Bianchi to be easier and quicker, but the Galco was more comfortable to wear. Neither seem to compare well to the ease of carry, ease of concealability and utility of strong side IWB carry.

 

[BC38]

When I'm at my mountain cabin, that's how I'd roll since a jacket is the norm up there. I'm looking at getting the rig for 25% of retail (used of course). I believe in using a quality holster for everything you carry regularly which is why I wouldn't go buy a cheap one off of Ebay.

FWIW, the suggestion of the cheap one off eBay would be just as an inexpensive way to test the IDEA at the lowest cost - before investing more money into a good one that you would actually use.

If after you sink $50 into one you then find that (like me) shoulder holsters in general just don't work for you, you might wish you had tried something cheaper to start with to figure that out.

Just a thought.

 

[antilamr]

FWIW, the suggestion of the cheap one off eBay would be just as an inexpensive way to test the IDEA at the lowest cost - before investing more money into a good one that you would actually use.

If after you sink $50 into one you then find that (like me) shoulder holsters in general just don't work for you, you might wish you had tried something cheaper to start with to figure that out.

Just a thought.

I appreciate the advice. I'm looking to pay under $50 shipped for the Galco. (yes I'm frugal!) I was referencing some of the cheap $20 rigs from Ebay. Even at under $50, don't want to throw away the money to have it end up in my holster drawer.
That's why I appreciate all the comments from everyone in the S&W community. I can't even begin to list what I've learned in the short time I've been a member.

 

[jimmyj]

I used one with a Sig-Sauer P-229 .40. wore a light weight windbreaker. concealed well.

I now use a cross draw lobo holster designed by Mark.

 

[78bagger]

I got the Galco VHS (vertical holster system) a little while back. In another thread we had talked about it and the consensus was that the horizontal was waving the muzzle at anyone behind you. Also I believe the vertical carry will print less. I carry a Colt CCO so the longest dimension is the slide which in tucked into my side and the grip is officers length. It took a couple weeks of tweaking, but it's good now and I use it mostly under a jacket when I'm out on the Harley. Beats my usual IWB when sitting and can be worn under a loose shirt if you're mindful. I use a belt loop on the mag side to balance out the pistol weight.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I carry a 3913/PC Shorty-9 95% of the time IWB, 4 O'clock, in a good Milt Sparks Summer Special or Executive Companion.


For concealed carry the good horizontal shoulder rigs add a lot of leather to
to the gun that has to be concealed ...................... works under a suit coat in Miami Vice when you only wear the gun/holster in scenes where you are using a gun

I posted above ... but would add.....

Think OWB cross-draw... at 10-11 O-clock when driving.... pushed back to 7-8/9 o'clock when getting out of the car for a meeting.

I've had a lot of success with a Bianchi X-15 for a little 3" 60-10.....think mini -686..... have another "little horizontal rig" that I use to use with my Walther PPK and a spare mag on the off side.

The bigger the gun.... the more gun and leather you have to conceal .... the harder it is to conceal!!!!!

 

[snowman.45]

I have used the Galco rigs since they were from ******* Leather. I have used them with 4500 series autos and 1911's both on-duty and off-duty. They always worked well for me. As was stated above several times, you need to cover with a jacket heavy enough to conceal them and tie them down to the belt.

 

[antilamr]

I carry a 3913/PC Shorty-9 95% of the time IWB, 4 O'clock, in a good Milt Sparks Summer Special or Executive Companion.


For concealed carry the good horizontal shoulder rigs add a lot of leather to
to the gun that has to be concealed ...................... works under a suit coat in Miami Vice when you only wear the gun/holster in scenes where you are using a gun

I posted above ... but would add.....

Think OWB cross-draw... at 10-11 O-clock when driving.... pushed back to 7-8/9 o'clock when getting out of the car for a meeting.

I've had a lot of success with a Bianchi X-15 for a little 3" 60-10.....think mini -686..... have another "little horizontal rig" that I use to use with my Walther PPK and a spare mag on the off side.

The bigger the gun.... the more gun and leather you have to conceal .... the harder it is to conceal!!!!!

It's been 35 years since I was carrying my 1911 as an off duty gun. Young and clueless so IWB in the small of my back every where I went. Mostly rode my Harley back then. Never had issues (25lbs lighter and BMI of 18% back then). Oh how I miss those days
I would love to carry my 60 no dash or PPK/S (would solve my concealment issues) but both are NIB safe queens and I can't get myself to shoot them. I'm starting to re-think this shoulder holster for carry for my 1911. Would only be used for 2-3 months out of the year. Unless I'm able to find a holster for my 3913 to use with this rig for a decent price, that would allow usage year round.

 

[antilamr]

I got the Galco VHS (vertical holster system) a little while back. In another thread we had talked about it and the consensus was that the horizontal was waving the muzzle at anyone behind you. Also I believe the vertical carry will print less. I carry a Colt CCO so the longest dimension is the slide which in tucked into my side and the grip is officers length. It took a couple weeks of tweaking, but it's good now and I use it mostly under a jacket when I'm out on the Harley. Beats my usual IWB when sitting and can be worn under a loose shirt if you're mindful. I use a belt loop on the mag side to balance out the pistol weight.

If the Galco I'm looking at was a VHS I wouldn't have started this post ( I agree on it being able to conceal better). I've also thought about the muzzle pointing issue
but am confident in safety systems built into my 3913 & 1911.
Muzzle pointing backwards would only be an issue for those standing behind me that were aware of me carrying. I might pick up a 3" 1911 locally which would be easier to conceal with this holster system.

 

[roo_ster]

I own a Galco Miami Classic II, the holster in the photo. I use it for GM, Cdr, and OACP 1911 variants.

It works, with all the caveats folk mention above. I usually conceal it under an un-tucked Dickies, camp, or Hawaiian shirt. Concealment under a jacket is no whoop.

I also own the Galco VHS for a SW629 4" bbl.

Shoulder holster is another option. I wear an OWB Tortilla holster from EP Saddlery 7/10 times, MS VM2 2/10 times, and the shoulder holster 1/10 times.

 

[10ring]

I used a shoulder holster as a cop during a particular assignment many years ago and found it comfortable, but did not like the need to always have a coat on. It was one of the old upside-down Safariland holsters, with the muzzle up in the armpit area. It may not matter to you, but I can't think of a law enforcement agency around here today that permits shoulder holsters, for safety reasons. Showing up at the PD range with one would cause a real problem. Most or all of the private indoor ranges around here prohibit them. The reality is that one way or another when drawing from a shoulder holster, you have to point the gun at yourself or others. I am confident that could safely use one, but would probably be a bit uncomfortable around someone else with one unless I was confident of their competence. Hunting and other "wilderness" usage is a different matter.

The Galco looks nice, though. Looks like it wold be comfortable and conceal well if you can get over the other issues.

There are a couple of reviews on Youtube and elsewhere if you do a search.

 

[sipowicz]

They go well with a pastel t-shirt, unstructured sport coat (with sleeves bunched up), convertible Ferrari Daytona and 2 day beard growth.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

If I am not mistaken Galco was the successor to the original ******* shoulder holster design

The Original ******* Leather Co was the predecessor to Galco (Gallager Co).

English is fun. Those two sentences mean exactly the same thing.

However, neither is correct. Richard Gallagher formed the company in the late 1960s as the Famous ******* leather Co or something like that and a decade or so later they changed the name to GALCO International - but it was/is the SAME company. Neither a predecessor nor a successor but merely a name change.

That said, I used to carry an El Paso Saddlery shoulder rig with a 2.5" M686+ when I was hunting feral hogs down by the Rio Grande. I liked it because it kept the gun on my left side out of the way of my rifle that I carried on my right shoulder.

I admit I never tried to use it for concealed carry in town; I might have to give it a whirl, bearing in mind the warning above in re having to "sweep" someone when drawing it from the holster. The gun points rearward so you are sweeping everyone behind you all the time, anyway.

 

[Borderboss]

I wear the Galco Miami Classic II all the time with my Colt 1911 steel frame Officers that has a carry comp, so it's the size of a Commander. It's a great shoulder holster that is comfortable for hours of wear.

The issue of where the gun is pointing is nonsense. Every holster is pointing the gun at some body part of somebody at some time. Who cares. All that matters is that you make a safe draw, meaning keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you're ready to engage. If the user can't do that, they have no business owning a gun regardless of what kind of holster they want to use.

 

[safearm]

Richard Gallagher formed the company in the late 1960s as the Famous ******* Leather Co or something like that and a decade or so later they changed the name to GALCO International - but it was/is the SAME company. Neither a predecessor nor a successor but merely a name change.

The Great ******* Leather Company started in Glenview, IL. Their factory was on the road to the main gate of Glenview Naval Air Station. Their retail shop was a gun store (long gone) on Hwy 43/Waukegan Road in downtown Glenview. When they outgrew the Glenview factory, they moved to Chicago where the name was changed to the Great American Leather COmpany, or GALCO. They later moved to Phoenix but kept the GALCO brand name.

I have an original ******* shoulder rig for a S&W K frame revolver that I picked up at their factory in 1978. I've carried it and the follow-on Miami Classic for years, and with many different guns, both revolver and semi-auto. I think it's the perfect rig for long driving trips; conceal it under an open shirt over a t-shirt and no one is the wiser.

 

[CH4]

FWIW I have Galco shoulder rigs for all smith frame sizes, Sigs and 1911s. I use them more than any other system. For me a shoulder rig provides the most utility for my needs.

 

[torizus]

The Great ******* Leather Company started in Glenview, IL. Their factory was on the road to the main gate of Glenview Naval Air Station. Their retail shop was a gun store (long gone) on Hwy 43/Waukegan Road in downtown Glenview. When they outgrew the Glenview factory, they moved to Chicago where the name was changed to the Great American Leather COmpany, or GALCO. They later moved to Phoenix but kept the GALCO brand name.

I have an original ******* shoulder rig for a S&W K frame revolver that I picked up at their factory in 1978. I've carried it and the follow-on Miami Classic for years, and with many different guns, both revolver and semi-auto. I think it's the perfect rig for long driving trips; conceal it under an open shirt over a t-shirt and no one is the wiser.

I too bought my original ******* rig there,carried my 5" Colt 70 series daily for almost 10 years with never a problem. I do recall some minor wear & tear on the inside area of my leather uniform jacket. It provided may hours of head comfort as the 1911 was always the goto gun while working.
Summer time shifted all the weight to the waist along with the required 4" Trooper.
Doubt if I could even stand up today wearing it. Also bought my first vest there,Second chance,when we had to buy our own.
Can't go wrong with the Galco line.

 

[flagman1776]

I found my original ******* Miami Classic carried my 39-2 under a short patrol jacket very well. You can't leave the straps too long. It does move little with you / your cover garment but that improves concealment. A holster that didn't move would print (from the rear) when you bent forward. Any holster / harness will print under very light fabric like a T shirt.
Comfort is more about how you do with weight on your shoulders for X hours. I never tried.
Yes, drawing any cross draw requires finger discipline because the muzzle must cross your left arm.
When on a lonely outpost, various civilians would engage in conversation... their eyes glued to the big stainless pistol on my belt. I could stand with my arms crossed & my fingers on the grip of the 9mm.