ETA article about El Paso Saddlery BBQ rigs.
Kydex is a great material for holsters and I have zero reservations about it (except I think sometimes it’s a bit hard on a guns finish). But, for some reason, I still like leather holsters for some applications. My usual go-to guys for gunleather are, first, DeSantis and then Bianchi. Between those two I can usually find the holster I want. There are, of course, some exceptions. For my BBQ gun I want something with a lot of style and eye-catchiness. For that, I wound up going to El Paso Saddlery. While I was there, I also picked up something I have always had a fondness for – a classic leather flap holster. You know, just like Indian Jones and every other adventurer. Since my running around in the woods gun is either a .44 revolver or a 10mm auto, I need a flap holster for those. The flap for the 10mm arrived today.
I must say, new gunleather has a pretty distinctive smell to it.
Nice, eh? Might take it to a saddlemaker in town and get my initials stamped in there or something.I also, by the way, have a tanker holster from these guys as well.
When needing a flap holster, I’ve found that the USGI M12 functions very well and is inexpensive. It fits all of my medium to full-size autos and rides nicely on my hip or pack.
Glock 40 calls for a somewhat larger rig.
For my 4″ GP-100 I mostly use a “flyer’s holster”. A remake of the chest rig aircrew used in WW II. I believe the company was Pacific canvas and leather, they advertised quite a bit in the old shotgun news. They may not even be around anymore. The tanker/flyer type holsters are comfortable for all day (IMO) and keep your handgun easily accessible for R or L hand as well as under your coat for hunting or woods walking in inclement weather.
A flapped holster is a good choice as a field holster. When carrying while working, you aren’t paying as close attention as when hiking or hunting, so some inevitable bumps are bound to happen. Too, the weather isn’t always clear and pleasant.
If a fast draw isn’t required, a flapped holster makes a lot of sense.
i had a bad experience with El Paso Saddlery. i ordered a tanker holster and was billed promptly but was told it would not be shipped for three + months, not cool in my book. i found one on amazon for 30 bucks and it’s great, arrived 4 days later.
i am not someone with more money than common sense.
Meh. I ordered custom gunleather from them and they billed me up front and told me it’ll take at least a month or two to get it done. Fine by me. Only an idiot would take a custom order without getting at least some of the money upfront. Otherwise you spend time and resources on something and then the customer flakes out and says he changed his mind or something and the vendor is then stuck.
These folks have been around awhile. Always had a great reputation.
Leather is mostly a more “experienced” person thing but it is a excellent choice for the right application. Bought some old leather pouches (1952 surplus) to use as possible pouches for a black powder pistol and found them almost rock hard,dry,brittle got some conditioner and a little work they are soft,supple and a darker finish without dye and should be water resistant. Am also learning to mold kydex for projects but only so much time.
Some years ago I attended an emergency management conference in Texas….lots of LE there, and it was easy to tell who the chiefs were, vs. the worker bees. The chiefs might have regular duty guns, but they all had “Sunday Church” holsters, all nicely detailed leather.
A few carried “Church Guns”, too.
Mongo like.
For leather and/or oddball/rare holsters, check e*bay. I’m seeing lots of apparently good things there. Sometimes the prices are stupid, but generally they seem okay. Used or new-in-package can be found.
For a better quality, generic fit shoulder rig, i like the Bianchi X-15 for vertical carry. Available in various lengths, and can work well for revolvers and autos. If the barrel isn’t too fat, you can pull it through the front split, otherwise it has to come out the top opening. You can conceal it under a jacket, in most sizes.
CZ, doesn’t your leather shoulder rig with the four mag carrier still qualify as a BBQ rig? I don’t recall what gun it was intended for, though.
That was my wedding holster rig. Got married in it. I suppose your BBQ rig could be ashoulder holster but I think thats a bit riccoco. I think a strong side belt holster is the way to go.