BRUCE NELSON COMBAT LEATHER

Some General Thoughts on Holster Selection

Why does a good holster make a difference? The first thing that should be said is that sometimes it doesn't. Does this sound strange coming from a holster maker?  Well, consider this: You first need to ask yourself what you want your holster to do. If you just want a container for your pistol that provides some protection and allows you to carry it on your belt for short term, non-critical use, you can find many factory produced economy models in gun and sporting goods stores that will fill your needs. Much of the precision in design and construction spoken of in this catalog is only noticed when you utilize a holster in the upper levels of performance.

A holster is a component of a system to be employed in critical use situations. These situations include defensive and competitive use as well as hunting and wilderness survival. In all situations, it is necessary to understand the mission of the pistol. In defensive use, for example, as the term implies, the pistol stops an often unexpected fight that someone else has started. The degree to which the pistol is "at the ready" will determine if hauling it around was worth the trouble. Having a pistol that is ready without restricting normal daily activity is precisely the mission of the well-designed holster. Since the necessary qualities of different types of holsters vary with their intended purposes, specific information is more easily covered under model descriptions in this catalog. Certain principles of design follow as they are common to proper function of most holsters.

Proper Firing Grip

It is axiomatic that inconsistent grip creates inconsistent results downrange. It reasonably follows that any holster which, by its improper design, does not allow a full and final firing grip upon first contact with the weapon, is to be avoided. Unfortunately many holster designs do not incorporate this basic concept.

Holster Balance/Pistol Weight Distribution

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Holster Fit and Weapon Retention

A good holster should retain the pistol during reasonable physical activity. Of course, if a holster would retain the pistol during any activity, it would be so secure as to prevent drawing also. If draw speed were not an important component of the pistol/holster system, the solution would be relatively simple--multiple positive closure devices. When the "utilization at upper performance levels" comes into play, functional clarity and design precision are critical. Experience in practical shooting has shown that absent some special purpose, the unfastening of a retaining device is best avoided. As well as being generally time consuming, retaining straps in many cases interfere with proper firing grip to some degree even when well designed. The fit of the holster therefore is important. In all cases holsters should be precisely fitted to the pistol they are intended to carry and should be used for only that pistol, or a pistol with identical dimensions. The practice of selling holsters marked "Medium Auto" or "Large Revolver" is common but unacceptable if serious use of the holster is intended. A holster which fits many pistols is not likely to fit yours very well. In fact, a new holster should fit like a new pair of shoes. When broken in, it should then be just right. Heavily oiled holsters should also be avoided since the good fit they initially may have will last only a short time, after which they will become soft and pliable. Other traditional retention devices such as thump-snap straps and adjustable tension devices are called for or even required under certain conditions and will be more fully discussed in the model description section.

Holster/Belt Fit

Consistent presentation of the pistol from the holster demands that holster and belt fit snugly to avoid any wobble or shifting of holster location. Belt loops which are slightly too tight when new should break in to proper fit. It is probably best to purchase both holster and belt from the same maker and to specify belt loop size to match your belt, since there are variations from one maker to the next. The same principle, of course, applies to magazine pouches.

Durability

When you buy good leather gear, you want and expect it to last. How long it will serve you depends on several factors, namely, the quality of design, the work and materials used, the frequency and conditions under which it is used, and the type and degree of care you give it. The truth about leather gear, any leather gear, is that it is not going to last a lifetime unless it is not used or used very little. It is made of natural materials, not stainless steel. However, it can last many years if it is well made and receives care and maintenance. You will receive complete instructions for breaking in, caring for, and maintaining your leather equipment with your order. I highly recommend that you read and follow this information for best results.

It would fill a book if I attempted to describe all of the design and material choices which must be made. It should suffice to say that factory produced holsters must and do make compromises in their designs. Even if the designer of the mass produced holster has any firearms background, he is usually required to design for one factor that has nothing to do with what the holster's function--this factor is ease of production. A holster factory is made up primarily of people who have no interest in shooting. They usually are trained on the job with no previous background in leather work. The holster then can be no better than the least skilled people who build it. This is a prime restriction on the functional sophistication of most holsters produced in a factory environment.

The second restriction on quality is that the very best materials are expensive and in some cases hard to obtain in quantity. When a mass produced holster is discounted up to 50% for the dealer, costs have to be cut somewhere to make a profit. I am constantly contacting tanneries throughout the world to obtain samples for experimentation. Even when you find the dense, tough leather that makes an exceptionally durable holster, the supply may not remain constant in its quality. It is therefore, a never ending effort. The same effort must be made for finishes, hardware etc.