Holsters are like rifle slings, you need one and would prefer one you like but often you end up settling for what does the job. For me at least, my concealed carry woes are gone thanks to 1791 and their new line of Light Bearing Leather Holsters. The size 4 fits my light-bearing Glock 30 perfectly and is the most comfortable concealed carry holster I’ve ever worn. The 5S fits my Glock 41 and is just as comfortable, albeit a tad less concealable as the Glock 30, but it gets the job done through no fault of the holster. I unpacked them and gave them a quick look here:
I’ve settled for many holsters over the years, some weren’t bad since I’m a “function over form” type of person but some were uncomfortable and others were just useless to the point where I had to go and buy my own. Outside the Waistband (OWB) holsters that required a jacket and usually rode up so high it was difficult to get the gun unholstered with my long arms, Inside the Waistband (IWB) holsters that had edges sharp enough I put a neoprene elbow brace under them and just endured the sweat. I was once issued a shoulder holster that could fit a .50cal Desert Eagle and a single stack compact 9mm pistol and told to “make it work kid”. Word of caution, don’t EVER tell a Sailor like me that because we will and you might not like the result.
All past woes are now gone, thanks in part to being able to select my guns, and the awesome support from 1791. They market this series of holsters as “The most comfortable, soft and breathable leather holsters on the market” and although I haven’t been able to work with and/or test all leather holsters I agree these holsters are very soft and very comfortable. I often wear mine all day whether I’m leaving the house or not because it is so comfy, it doesn’t ride up, it doesn’t dig into my side or my hip bone, no rough edges, and I don’t feel the edges of the gun either. The keys and knife in my pocket cause more discomfort than my Glock 30 and light in the Light Bearing IWB size 4 Holster.
The size 4 holster is Cowhide leather, the 5S is Fair Chase leather, both are thick enough to protect you from any sharp edges on the gun but soft enough to wear all day, paired with a soft suede lining that protects the gun from the scratches of repeated drawing and holstering. They are Optic ready and accommodate most rear mounted red dot sights and rail mounted lights and lasers. They have a strong beveled steel clip for safety and retention, and an open top design to allow for a fast draw. Or at least as fast as an IWB holster will allow you to draw a gun with a rail mounted light!
The craftsmanship of the holsters is top notch as well. There are no loose threads, no rough edges to the leather no knicks or cuts anywhere, everything speaks of quality workmanship that you can feel and see.
In the end, an IWB holster is about concealability and comfort, you need the first and you hope desperately for the second or you buy a 1791 size 4 or 5S Light Bearing Holster and get both.
And that company that gave me the oversized shoulder holster with the undersized gun? I took them both to my local Parachute Rigger shop and had them do a sewing job on the holster. Very professional work and they made it fit perfectly, but somehow the company armorer didn’t agree with that assessment.
I wonder why they never called me back….
Garfield out.
