I have always been a big fan of leather for 1911’s. Recently, the paddle holster bug bit me. So out of curiosity, I got a paddle holster from Edge Works. The holster is from their G Code line and is made of kydex.
In the past, I’ve worn a kydex holster made by Talon Tactical and knew that kydex is incredibly quick on the draw. In addition, there’s no worry about sweat or leather wearing out. Although I have no complaints about kydex, leather just always felt right.
Today, the G Code holster arrived from UPS. Inside were the paddle holster, accessory paddle and mag holder. My initial reaction was a big smile. The holster and accessories are very well built. There are no sharp edges and the holster was perfectly molded to fit a Government 1911. It has a sweat guard which also acts as cover for your 1911’s safety. Although it’s a bit on the extreme side, the paddle is nicely polished. Even though it’s not needed, the attention to detail is quite evident.
The paddle that comes with the holster is a straight drop. Knowing that my lean frame needs at least an FBI cant for proper concealment, the accessory paddle is ideal for my body contour. Furthermore, the mag holder comes with the choice of belt loop or clip. I opted for the clip due to quickness of removal.
With a Phillips screwdriver, I changed the straight drop paddle to the FBI cant. The mag holder also has 2 Phillips screws for ease of changing from belt loop to clip. All in all, it took less than a minute to change the paddle and clip. The holster also has a tension screw for adjusting the gun retention.
I attached the mag holder and paddle holster on my hip. It was definitely quick because I didn’t need to remove my belt or play with snaps to put on the holster and mag holder. In addition, one handed holstering with my full size 1911 was a breeze. I double-checked to be sure my gun was unloaded and practiced some draw and dry firing. If you’ve never tried kydex, it must be done at least once to experience the speed of the draw - it’s unbelievably fast.
So with a loaded 1911 and spare mag, I went on my daily routine. The paddle is formed perfectly to my hip. I wore a light polo style shirt over the rig as it sat next to my skin. After experimenting with placement of the holster, I drove to my buddy’s house, walked around a local gun shop’s open house sale, went and tried some new fly rods, took my dog for a walk, to the range to pattern a new choke tube and finally back to my house. After 10+ hours of wearing the holster, I’m confident to say it’s extremely comfortable. The perfect size paddle distributes the weight perfectly.
While my heart still has a soft spot for fine leather, this holster will definitely see some IDPA and CCW usage.
For more information, you can find Edge Works at http://www.tacticalholsters.com/
In the past, I’ve worn a kydex holster made by Talon Tactical and knew that kydex is incredibly quick on the draw. In addition, there’s no worry about sweat or leather wearing out. Although I have no complaints about kydex, leather just always felt right.
Today, the G Code holster arrived from UPS. Inside were the paddle holster, accessory paddle and mag holder. My initial reaction was a big smile. The holster and accessories are very well built. There are no sharp edges and the holster was perfectly molded to fit a Government 1911. It has a sweat guard which also acts as cover for your 1911’s safety. Although it’s a bit on the extreme side, the paddle is nicely polished. Even though it’s not needed, the attention to detail is quite evident.
The paddle that comes with the holster is a straight drop. Knowing that my lean frame needs at least an FBI cant for proper concealment, the accessory paddle is ideal for my body contour. Furthermore, the mag holder comes with the choice of belt loop or clip. I opted for the clip due to quickness of removal.
With a Phillips screwdriver, I changed the straight drop paddle to the FBI cant. The mag holder also has 2 Phillips screws for ease of changing from belt loop to clip. All in all, it took less than a minute to change the paddle and clip. The holster also has a tension screw for adjusting the gun retention.
I attached the mag holder and paddle holster on my hip. It was definitely quick because I didn’t need to remove my belt or play with snaps to put on the holster and mag holder. In addition, one handed holstering with my full size 1911 was a breeze. I double-checked to be sure my gun was unloaded and practiced some draw and dry firing. If you’ve never tried kydex, it must be done at least once to experience the speed of the draw - it’s unbelievably fast.
So with a loaded 1911 and spare mag, I went on my daily routine. The paddle is formed perfectly to my hip. I wore a light polo style shirt over the rig as it sat next to my skin. After experimenting with placement of the holster, I drove to my buddy’s house, walked around a local gun shop’s open house sale, went and tried some new fly rods, took my dog for a walk, to the range to pattern a new choke tube and finally back to my house. After 10+ hours of wearing the holster, I’m confident to say it’s extremely comfortable. The perfect size paddle distributes the weight perfectly.
While my heart still has a soft spot for fine leather, this holster will definitely see some IDPA and CCW usage.
For more information, you can find Edge Works at http://www.tacticalholsters.com/
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