Thoughts on holsters.........

[bobwright]

I've got a holster ordered from CraigC and I've tried to convey to him what I want in my holster. Been sort of thinking and here are a few observations.

Color. For field used color doesn't matter. But for daily concealed, or open, carrying, light tan and black seem to be attention getting. Medium to darker browns seem to blend in or pass for Cell-phone cases or utility cases. Fancy floral carving, basket stamping, or fish scale stamping likewise seem to stand out. And laced edges shout "Gun Holster!"

As far as retention devices, I don't use them. I don't care for snap straps nor thumb breaks, especially since I carry a Single Action. Nor do I like those thongs. (On holsters) Now if I'm outdoors for hunting or woods walking, certainly a snap strap is in place.

I am currently carrying a Bob Mernickle PS-6SA which I like very well, with one exception-if I twist the gun in any way in drawing the gun binds. This due to being very closely molded to the gun's ejector rod housing. Craig has told me he gets good retention without being to tightly formed.

I reckon if I carried openly, without a covering garment, I'd prefer a retention strap, but I keep my holster covered, either by coat, jacket, or in the summer time, a vest. Even so, I avoid a crowd in which there is a tight press of people. I kep my distance from crowded places.

When necessary to use public restrooms, I always use one of the stalls, with a secure locking door.

So, there's my thoughts. Any comments or arguments would be welcome.

Bob Wright

A couple of my favorites:

[jayhawker]

Open carry. color, finish (carving, basket stamp, etc.) are insignificant. You are openly carrying a gun, people will notice. The holster will not draw attention.
Concealed is concealed, no one should see it, if they do, they will see the gun. Just the toe of a holster showing will not necessarily scream "GUN". Again, I do not think configuration matters. I do not want any type of strap or thong retaining the handgun in a concaeled holster. However, correct adjustable tension devices with open top holsters work well (Milt Sparks).
The Mernickle is a personal favorite with a short barrel SA.

[bobwright]

Well, I didn't make myself that clear about open carry. I cover my gun with my jacket or vest. At times my holster is visible below the waist line of the garment. At those times, my holster seems less noticed than if it were carved, fancy or black. I do not walk around Memphis with my holstered gun fully exposed. It gets "What's that man got, Daddy?" type of reaction from kids. Or, "Mommy, that man has a gun!"

And, yes, I've had light tan holsters that did attract attention. Usually simple questions like "You packing heat?" but it lets me know I've drawn attention. I've been carrying this dark brown holster for three years now and only one query.

Bob Wright

[t5malibuwagon]

Can I get some more pictures of that smith holster. It looks like it would be real nice to carry.
Here in Texas we don't have open carry and living in the suburbs of Ft Worth, around so many eyes, I feel I have a hard time not printing with anything. I got my chl last year and it is probably just me being overly aware of carrying a side arm in public for the first time. I've packed a kel tec 380, an xds 45,smith 360 ti kit gun, and now carry a 36-6 j frame with warm 38's. All have been carried iwb with tuckable holsters that I made, but rarely do I ever tuck because I feel it stands out too much. I have no clue how i would try and conceal a N frame or Blackhawk. I hope that the laws will change to open carry, although I doubt that I would openly carry I wouldn't care if someone saw leather either.

[CraigC]

I have to agree about the light tan, Bob. Depending on how dark your pants are, it can make it stand out like a sore thumb, especially if you're wearing a jacket or vest and the gun itself is not visible. I don't know why darker colors are not more popular. Most makers, even those like El Paso Saddlery only offer tan and black. What is most interesting to me is that most of my orders are for oxblood, with a few dark browns, a couple light browns and no tan. No black either. I've got a 1911 rig on order in black elephant but I typically wear dark blue or black jeans.

I like my PS6 too, which is in mahogany but agree again that it 'may' be a bit too tightly boned. At least around the sight channel and ejector housing.

Agreed on retention, or lack thereof.

[justahunter]

I have the the Mernickle also. The only thing I don't like about it is like you said, if you twist it just a little it is not coming out. For that reason I know I am not going to lose it while hunting or hiking. It does retain my Ruger well, but should I need it in a hurry I can forget about getting it out. As far as consealing I went to longer coats/jackets to help cover and IWB type holsters. I really don't think it matters what the color is.

[bobwright]

t5malibuwagon,

Here is a shot of my Model 19 in a Don Hume holster, a H171OT, I believe is the model:



And the same model holster for my Model 586:



And as worn: (This is not worn by a professional model)




Bob Wright

[t5malibuwagon]

Thanks Bob, I've got a 17-6 and a 19-5 that are both in the need of one of these.

[Frank V]

bobwright
Thanks for a thought provoking thread.
Holsters are possibly as subjective as your defense gun.

I have two Mernickle PS6-SAs & they get a lot of use, I really like them & they will go strong side or crossdraw. I've found the same thing as you have about the gun binding if it's twisted even a little. They are almost a level 2 retention holster without any straps.
I also have a couple of Simply Rugged holsters that get a LOT of use. These are simple, rugged, well built, attractive, & with the inside out straps do double duty as an IWB & OWB holster. They are very useful.
I also have a couple of Old West Reproduction holsters that are in keeping with the 1880s era that I like really well.
It's interesting to see what other folks like for holsters.

[robl]

A Pancake...Great Idea!

[savit260]

Speaking for only myself... most of my cover garments are black, dark grey or very dark blue. Dark color shirts are pretty much a necessity for my job as lighter colors end up looking filthy in very short order. As most of my shirts do double duty as work and personal wear, I like to have my holsters in dark colors. Black against black obviously works best (even though I know RobL who has made most of my holsters dislikes black ) or a very dark Oxblood, or I suppose dark brown would work too.

My belts are also black leather, so black straps for the IWB holsters blend in well. I LOVE the look of some of the tan, and lighter colored holsters but feel like they're jumping out against the darker cover garments.

I absolutely love the look and style of the Threepersons type holsters, but they just don't ride high enough for an untucked shirt to fully conceal. The bottom of the holster always seems to be peeking out whenever I've tried to use this style. Just doesn't seem to work with my body structure.
Sure wish that they made them ride an inch or so higher, and nice and tight to the body.

I've flirted with trying the PS-6SA but figure I'd have the same issue with those as the Threepersons from the pics I've seen. Even with a 4 5/8 sa it appears the bottom would be peeking out from under my shirt. Around here concealed means concealed. A holster poking out would likely cause a lot of grief.

Robs Simply Rugged holsters with IWB straps have worked very well for me.