[The Wiry Irishman]

I am a graduate student and I live a hectic, stressful life. I've got final projects and papers in my classes, a research project that gets me my funding, a research paper I'm trying to get published, and a project proposal for my thesis. I only slept 2 or 3 hours last night, and I thought today was shaping up to be a less than splendid day. That is, until I checked my mail, got my package from Comp-Tac, and saw this:

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~alowe/smarties.jpg

Comp-Tac gave me a free roll of Smarties with my holster. The concept of "FREE CANDY WITH PURCHASE OF FIREARMS ACCESSORY" actually made me laugh out loud. It made my day. There was even a hand written thank you with a cheerful little smiley face on my invoice.

Of course, free candy can't make up for a substandard product, but my first impressions of my new holster are top-notch. I ordered their 2 o'clock (http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=89) holster for my PPK/S. I was looking for something tuckable I could wear with dressy clothes, and appendix carry seemed like a good option for deeper concealment. I was unsure of how comfortable it would be, but I've been wearing it for an hour and a half now, all of it sitting in front of my computer, and it doesn't dig into my stomach or my leg. I'll have to wear it a bit more to make a real judgment, but it seems like a good, comfortable holster. Engagement on holstering is very positive and secure, and drawing is very easy. I usually prefer belt loops to clips, but the Kydex clip on this holster attaches very securely to my belt. I would rate the quality of the product at least equal to the Galcos and Blade-Techs I have, but Galco and Blade-Tech didn't give me free candy. I highly recommend doing business with Comp-Tac.

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~alowe/2oclock.jpg

ETA: When I placed my order, they quoted their production time as 9 days. My holster shipped 4 days after I placed my order.

[REAPER4206969]

Comp-Tac makes everyone’s day, they are the best!
Damn!:what: You’re carrying a Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell in a Comp-Tac holster? That is some Uber style!:cool:
ETA: you need to get a real gun belt though.

[The Wiry Irishman]

ETA: you need to get a real gun belt though.

Everyone tells me that, but I've yet to have any sort of problem with this one.

[REAPER4206969]

I can see it sagging just from the photo. A decent gun belt is only around $30 and your carrying experience will be a 1000x better. There is no sense in carrying a $500 pistol loaded with $25 ammunition in a $70 holster on a weak, floppy $5 belt.
http://www.lapolicegear.com/5ta1trbe.html

[Odd Job]

There was even a hand written thank you with a cheerful little smiley face on my invoice.


I got the same with mine, made me smile!

[WVleo]

Could not be happier with My Comp-Tac holster or there service ! .....WVleo

[Kind of Blued]

I'm not big on candy, but I am big on Comp-Tac gear. The monsterous pile of Smarties on my desk shelf supports this assertion. :)

+1 on the belt, and as a fellow college student who slept for 34 minutes last night, I feel your pain, brother.

[The Wiry Irishman]

I can see it sagging just from the photo

I had been shifting it around to see where it fit best, and had not yet tightened my belt. I am noticing a little shiftage when I walk, though. I'll have to give it a few more days and see if the belt's the issue.

floppy $5 belt.

Floppiness isn't the issue, if there is one, its well over an eighth of an inch thick (I know because I just measured it with my calipers, what kind of horrible nerd am I?), and has done just fine for the last two years with a 5" 1911. If there's a problem, it may be in the coarseness of adjustment. This holster and gun is so much thinner than the one I usually carry IWB that there may not be room to get it tight enough without hurting myself. We'll see.

A decent gun belt is only around $30

But that's 150 rounds of .45 ACP!

[chris in va]

So how comfortable is that IWB holster? I thought about getting one for my Kahr.

BTW, got a dog do ya?:scrutiny::D

[The Wiry Irishman]

So how comfortable is that IWB holster? I thought about getting one for my Kahr.

So far, very, once you find the pocket on your body where it fits.

BTW, got a dog do ya?

Two cats, one urban camo (black and white) the other all white.

[REAPER4206969]

I am noticing a little shiftage when I walk, though. I'll have to give it a few more days and see if the belt's the issue.


It is.

its well over an eighth of an inch thick

The thickness of a belt does not matter. What matters is the material the belt is made out of. A proper gun belt will be made out of stiff reinforced leather or reinforced nylon webbing with a Kydex stiffening insert.


If there's a problem, it may be in the coarseness of adjustment. This holster and gun is so much thinner than the one I usually carry IWB that there may not be room to get it tight enough without hurting myself. We'll see.
That is why a good gun belt allows for infinite adjustment.


But that's 150 rounds of .45 ACP!


Every experienced Gunman knows that the belt is the most important part of the carry system. A good belt can make the worst holster reasonably comfortable, but even the best holster (which you now have.) can not make up for a poor belt. The initial investment you make in the purchase of a belt will be well worth it in comfort and safety. I have been wearing my 5.11 belt for five years now and it is still in perfect condition, so it is a good long term investment. We have given you advice from our own experiences with equipment failure and poor performance. It is well to give our advice serious consideration.

[Big Mike]

A sturdy belt has made even my mediocre holsters "better".

[meef]

Man oh man.....

I could never understand someone wearing a pistol in the "jewels o'clock" position.

:what:

To each his own, I suppose.


(though one may not have any own someday with that carry method.... :D)

[chuckusaret]

I have a Comp-Tac IWB holster and it worked well but it was never confortable to wear. I use a cheap(price $15) Uncle Mike's 7 days per week and at times forget I am armed. I have about three pages of holster dealers that I used to find the best holster for me.

[Floppy_D]

Floppiness isn't the issue

Why drag me into this? :D

[atomd]

Comp-Tac makes great stuff. I'm a big fan of the mtac line. Adjustable, comfortable, and stays put. Not to mention you can buy just the kydex shell if you wanna change your carry gun. I just got one of the spartan ones too a few months ago and it's been great. A little slimmer than the regular mtac..and cheaper too (no back layer of leather). Worth every penny.

[Lucky]

Liked my Minotaur fine, until 2 screws holding the body on fell out, while used once a week for league. Replacement screws are only $2:). Cheapest shipping is anout $10:banghead:. International duties and UPS broker fees another $20:eek:. Convert to Canadian dollars and it's about $40 for 2 screws.

When it came apart I'd got my hopes up as friends said Customer Service would probably take care of it for free. Might have been too much to ask, but for a product that fell apart, at least reasonable shipping. Ended up ordering a Raven Concealment holster instead, not buying the screws covers half the price.

[harrygunner]

I have three Comp-Tac holsters. They work very well.

For one of them, ordered on a Friday and the holster was in my mailbox the following Monday.

I am a graduate student and I live a hectic, stressful life. I was a physics professor for half a decade. Did not want you guys to get bored. :)

[Maia007]

I have two 2 O'clocks. One for my J frame and one for my PM 9. I have a couple of other brands as well.....so I have lived and learned. The only recommendation I might offer to Comptac is to consider offering a thinner kydex, if that is practicable.

Personally, my comfort spot is closer to the hip than to the midline.

Ditto on the belt. You won't know the difference until you experience the difference. Really.

I prefer a very stiff horsehide, such as that made by the Beltman (and others). But, for something both pretty good and cheap, consider the 5.11 tactical or their imitators.

[REAPER4206969]

The only recommendation I might offer to Comptac is to consider offering a thinner kydex, if that is practicable.




From Comp-Tac:
Choice of Material

Let's face it... Carrying a handgun can be a real pain. We've tried to minimize the bulk and size of our gear to provide as comfortable a solution as possible, especially on our IWB products. Whereas the standard thickness of our kydex material is .125", all our IWB holsters are made from .090" sheets. We found .090” to be the ideal thickness for our IWB holsters. Anything thinner is prone to breakage.

[nwilliams]

All my holsters are Comp-tac, they are great!

Comp-Tac makes a great product and their customer service is top notch!

[mitchg]

Comp-Tac is great, I had the same reaction when I received my first order from them. I ran into the marketing department where I work and showed them the personalized "Thank you" on the invoice and the Smarties (Which serves two purposes- it is a treat, and subliminally it lets you know you made a "Smart purchase").

Very smart marketing, It made me feel really good about spending a chunk of change on plastic.

So good in fact that when I placed a follow up (much) larger order, I got a baseball cap as well as the smarties. It made me feel great, and I wear it when I compete- they get the free advertising.

Great company, excellent products and smart people making decisions there. (Any other bean-counter driven company would have eliminated this practice).

-Mitch