There's A pig in the press - Kolbeson Leatherworks Lined Kydex Holster Review

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There's a Pig in the Press
Article found at: UrbanTacticalGearReview.com
Article by: Eli Miller​

This is the 2nd version of the kydex IWB holsters that Josh Kolbeson of Kolbeson Leatherworks offers. This model differs in that the interior is lined with pigskin that is expertly mated with the rigid kydex shell.

I opened my review of his standard IWB holster with the following:
“I am going to just come out and say it. This is probably the most versatile kydex inside the waistband holster regarding placement on the market. The size, shape, and loop placement make this a 360 degree mountable holster. There are a few holster makers out there that have figured out the need for loops made to split around a belt loop, but their holsters are generally too wide horizontally to be placed in some positions on the body or any flat spot in general. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that holster makers are now taking into consideration that the body has curves, but again, it takes away from versatility when you are talking about placement. The wider the holster, the more curvature so to speak is needed to make it both comfortable and concealable. With Kolbeson’s kydex IWB, it is only slightly wider than the dimensions of the gun itself with very little excess material,  so no curve is needed to make it fit the body.”

This isn’t your typical kydex holster. The lining makes it very unique as only a handful of custom holster makers offer this as an option. You don’t have that audible, pronounced click in and out of a plain kydex holster. You have an extremely secure, hugging type feel around your handgun. I just have to say it again, its secure.

Let’s talk construction now. Kolbeson uses only 0.80 thickness kydex which is optimal for strength and comfort alike. It’s a single piece of kydex formed as a clamshell instead of two pieces mated by rivets which make the need for excess material on each side .The sleek, form fit shape adds to the rigidity of the holster also. This design greatly diminishes the chances of the holster cracking because there are less stress areas should a great amount of force be exerted directly on the holster in any situation. This particular version of his kydex IWB holster is lined with pigskin. Josh’s flagship products are leather goods so you know that the quality of leather he uses is the best available and that he works it to its full potential.

Traditionally I have always worn my primary carry gun at about 3:30 to 4:30 on the body and a secondary on the ankle or in a pocket. With the temperature rising and my dress changing, I have been carrying more and more between 1 and 2 o’clock. Carrying here leaves ZERO print when I wear a t-shirt. Through various training courses, it has been beat into me the need to also have better support hand access to a gun or even my secondary be on the support side. With this, I think another handgun positioned at 11 o’clock is optimal. If you decide to carry anywhere from 10 to 2 on the body, you need a smaller, flat holster. Some manufactures are placing an offset attachment as a means to secure them to the belt now. With the loop placement on the Kolbeson IWB’s, an offset attachment is not needed at all for any position you place it at. Put this holster where you want and you will not have a problem, it’s that simple. So far I have worn these holsters in multiple positions and have done so while being very active and going through my days. I have not had any discomfort at all in any position.

In the picture below, I tucked my shirt in to show what is beneath it from the above pic.

 

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Not a sturdy gunbelt, I know. Typically I wear an OSOE Cobra belt, but I had left it in my uniform here. Thats also why the loops are larger.

Just to touch on it a bit, appendix or carry anywhere from 10-2 has some great benefits. Depending on your frame and build, it may or may not work for you though. I find it very easy to conceal while just wearing a t-shirt, I can better access my pistol from here while in a car with my seatbelt on if I had to than if it was further back, and I do not have to worry about bending over and my shirt coming up revealing the handle of a pistol. A lot of professionals will also argue that carry here is a big plus in grounded combative situations. As far as seated though and especially in a vehicle, I still prefer a pistol on the ankle, but when wearing shorts you might get some strange looks in public.

Josh has customer service and ease of operation at the front of his mind, he ships all of his holsters that have adjustable retention with the proper size Allen wrench to adjust them. Once I found the retention I wanted, I was good to go. The cut of the holster is just what is needed to get a full fighting grip on your handgun from the start. The sweat guard is just right and is not too large nor does it have sharp edges. The sight channel is molded the entire length of the holster to make every draw snag free. All the exposed ends of the kydex are expertly sanded and blended leaving a very clean and snag free holster. On this lined version, you cannot even feel a seam where the pigskin meets the kydex.  Being the craftsman that he is, Josh will not let a kydex holster out the door without something he is known for; leatherwork. The loops with pull the dot snaps are leather instead of the normal plastic or rubber which you typically see. It’s a nice change that adds durability as well as aesthetics to the finished product.

I am more than pleased with all of the Kolbeson Leatherworks holsters I have at this time and look forward to all his new products as they come out. At this times, there are 2 IWB kydex holsters listed, the pigskin lined version shown here and the unlined model found here. Josh prides himself with his warranty and customer service, and for good reason: he wants you to be happy with your purchases. To top it off, he offers military and law enforcement a whopping 15% off discount on his 100% custom made products which is something no one else matches that I know of.

Now I just need a left handed version of this one.

Contact information for Kolbeson Leatherworks is:

Josh Kolbeson
Kolbesonleatherworks.com
Kolbeson Leatherworks Facebook Page
josh@kolbesonleatherworks.com

Disclosure: I am not an employee, nor have I ever been an employee of Kolbeson Leatherworks. The item reviewed was gifted to me by Kolbeson Leatherworks for the purpose of a product test and evaluation. The items pictured and reviewed are my personal property. The opinions and views expressed in the posting are that of my own and are not influenced by any outside sources.