I do a lot of research before I spend money on much of anything. When I decided to start carrying concealed, I studied the laws. Then I studied the guns. Then I studied the holsters.
The legal research was pure education. The gun research took more time. But what took the most time was the holster research.
Having settled on a full-size 1911, I spent a lot of time looking for a holster. I had heard early on that everybody has a drawer full of holsters that didn't work for them. I'm not inclined to waste money like that, so I set my mind on finding the right holster the first time. I visited forums far and wide; I pored over holster maker websites; I tried on different holsters at gun stores. It took a while.
Eventually I settled on the features I wanted. First I had to select a mode of carry. I found that a full-size 1911 is a bit long for OWB, unless you want to wear Hawaiian shirts every day, which I don't. That left IWB, which isn't as hard with a 1911 as you might have read. But it does take a holster that rides a little higher. I also wanted something tuckable, because I can't always wear a T-shirt and I don't care to have my shirttails hanging out all the time. I wanted a body shield between me and the gun; I don't get hammer bite when I shoot and it would be embarassing to have it on my love handles. I wanted leather. That combination meant that I needed to buy a custom leather holster. But I didn't want to wait forever, and I couldn't afford to spend an arm and a leg.
On this forum I read this thread about 1911 rigs. Dwight posted photos of himself wearing his Cactus holster both tucked and untucked with a 1911. I liked what I saw, so I got in touch with Dwight and ordered a Cactus and a heavy-duty leather gunbelt to go with it.
It was about two weeks from order to delivery, which is pretty quick for a handmade custom holster. I couldn't have been more pleased with what I found inside the box - a finely crafted, handmade, molded holster and belt that holds the gun securely and comfortably behind my right hip. It disappears both tucked and untucked and can also be worn OWB; the belt holds everything up, and after the gun spent I few inside the holster to break it in I get a good draw. It looks good, it feels good, it was built to last, and the whole rig was only $125 delivered. And did I mention it only took two weeks?
I only wanted to buy one holster for my 1911. Thanks to Dwight - and a lot of research - I have the only holster I'll ever need.
The legal research was pure education. The gun research took more time. But what took the most time was the holster research.
Having settled on a full-size 1911, I spent a lot of time looking for a holster. I had heard early on that everybody has a drawer full of holsters that didn't work for them. I'm not inclined to waste money like that, so I set my mind on finding the right holster the first time. I visited forums far and wide; I pored over holster maker websites; I tried on different holsters at gun stores. It took a while.
Eventually I settled on the features I wanted. First I had to select a mode of carry. I found that a full-size 1911 is a bit long for OWB, unless you want to wear Hawaiian shirts every day, which I don't. That left IWB, which isn't as hard with a 1911 as you might have read. But it does take a holster that rides a little higher. I also wanted something tuckable, because I can't always wear a T-shirt and I don't care to have my shirttails hanging out all the time. I wanted a body shield between me and the gun; I don't get hammer bite when I shoot and it would be embarassing to have it on my love handles. I wanted leather. That combination meant that I needed to buy a custom leather holster. But I didn't want to wait forever, and I couldn't afford to spend an arm and a leg.
On this forum I read this thread about 1911 rigs. Dwight posted photos of himself wearing his Cactus holster both tucked and untucked with a 1911. I liked what I saw, so I got in touch with Dwight and ordered a Cactus and a heavy-duty leather gunbelt to go with it.
It was about two weeks from order to delivery, which is pretty quick for a handmade custom holster. I couldn't have been more pleased with what I found inside the box - a finely crafted, handmade, molded holster and belt that holds the gun securely and comfortably behind my right hip. It disappears both tucked and untucked and can also be worn OWB; the belt holds everything up, and after the gun spent I few inside the holster to break it in I get a good draw. It looks good, it feels good, it was built to last, and the whole rig was only $125 delivered. And did I mention it only took two weeks?
I only wanted to buy one holster for my 1911. Thanks to Dwight - and a lot of research - I have the only holster I'll ever need.
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