Need holster recomendations and where to find same in Houston

If there is a better place to put this then please let me know, just figured any holster related question, needed to be in the Holster section.

Finally getting around to asking this, I need two Holsters for full sized 1911s to replace the "Blackhawk Serpa Sporter" types My wife and I have been using for the past year. Wife needs one becasue she absolutely hates the SERPA retention system, and also needs something that will better deal with her curves (offset needed??).

I simply want something that will be faster to draw from than the Serpa, since I am starting to shoot in local USPSA matches.

In addition to recomendations for type/style/design, I would appreciate any recomendations or leads from other Houston area members on where we can go to look at, fondle, try various holsters in the area. after Annie's experience with this last holster we'd both rather see what we're getting before laying out the cash, if at all possible.

anyway, thank you for your time and any advice or leads you can provide

In my holster hunting experience, most gun stores don't carry any holster I'd consider worthwhile.

Your requirements seem pretty simple, though. Kydex for a 5" 1911. Blade-Tech and Comp-Tac are two of the most popular kydex holsters. I know Blade-Tech offers a dropped and offset holster, though I don't know about Comp-Tac. Garrett offers leather lining for their kydex holsters. It is a pretty neat design that works well.

Blade-Tech http://www.blade-tech.com/home.php

Comp-Tac http://www.comp-tac.com

Garrett http://garrettindustries.mybigcommerce.com

Another you may want to try is

Hillsman http://www.hillsmanholster.com

Comp-Tac, Garrett and Hillsman are all made in Texas, though I don't know where in relation to your location.

Comp-Tac, Garrett and Hillsman are all made in Texas, though I don't know where in relation to your location

Hillsman and comp-tac are general Houston area but neither seems to have retail space located with the production site. Comp-Tac says their gear is sold at collectors and a few other places around houston (hopefully some place has more than The Arms Room did :rolleyes: )

Garrett is out in east Texas.

thanks for the leads :)


at this point I guess you could say that i'm looking to find a brick and mortar dealer that has a selection because i need to
Let my wife (and I for that matter) try the different i guess you call it "attatchment methods" because a standard no-offset holster just doesn't work for her
see just how "grabby" a variety of kydex holsters are (ie how strongly they hold on to the gun) to see if Annie (wife) will have issue there.
and really just see what we can see as far as options

Carter's Country and Collector's Firearms have the best selection I have seen. I got a good Galco holster from Carter's some years back. Collector's has a good selection too but a little pricey. I prefer leather for my holsters and they both have several to choose from. If you want something in plastic, like a Fobus, check Academy or Gander Mtn.

In my holster hunting experience, most gun stores don't carry any holster I'd consider worthwhile.
same around here
it just isn't cost-effective to stock 3-5 holster options for every handgun that goes through the door

get your holsters online or find a local leather/kydex craftsman, gun shops don't have good holsters

I make all types of custom holsters. Check out my thread in buy/sell/trade accessories section

Most kydex holsters, and all the ones I recommended, have adjustable retention, from "you really have to yank on it to get it out", to "it's really only held in by gravity". Without even really knowing your "Blackhawk SERPA Sporter" at all, I'd be willing to bet you'll like any of these holsters a whole lot more than the Blackhawk, unless you're one of those guys in love with that finger lock thing.

One advantage to Comp-Tac and Blade-Tech, especially for a 5" 1911, is they are so popular, even if you didn't like it, you'd be able to sell it without much trouble.

Some holster tidbits from The Cornered Cat
http://www.corneredcat.com/Straight_Talk_About_Curves/

http://www.corneredcat.com/Holster_Talk/

Blade-Tech DOH review
http://www.womensoutdoornews.com/2011/04/gear-court-blade-tech-drop-holster/

I'd be willing to bet you'll like any of these holsters a whole lot more than the Blackhawk, unless you're one of those guys in love with that finger lock thing.

I'll cover that aspect real quick. the reasons that I bought the two identical balckhawk holsters are that
was working for Academy at the time and got a 20% discount on what they carried
the holsters available in store that would fit a full sized 1911 were the Blackhawk and a selection of nylon "Universal pistol holster" (you know, cordura sacks requiring retention straps to hold a gun for longer than three steps)
once Annie decided that she wanted a 1911 of her own, I thought it would be better if our holster worked exactly the same.


So no i am in no way wedded to that finger lock. And in fact i can see why a number of training sites have banned the SERPA series holsters from their classes, all it takes is some bad initial instruction or a later brain fart to put a shooter on a short road to a ND.

It was always my intention to switch to a "better" holster down the line. It's just time to get it over with before we go looking for possible classes this coming fall/winter.

Went Up to Collectors shortly after making my last post here on tuesday. was frankly a bust as far as finding anything in the line we were looking for. closest we got was finding a Comp-tac paddle holster for a fullsize Glock in the bargain/clearance Bin over a Top Gun so Annie did get to see how the over design works..

other than that all of the shops in Houston we've been able to visit or contact seem to have weeded their selection down to IWB and similar concealment types, except for the same Balckhawk design we're trying to replace! while i understand the reasons (stock what sells), it still stinks.

at this point it looks like we'll likely buy one each from the Comp-tac online store.

May I suggest you buy a belt holster from Comp-Tac for yourself, and a dropped and offset holster for your wife from Blade-Tech, or Garrett.

You can then compare the products from both makers and figure out what you may prefer down the line for extra holsters or for accessories. I don't see you (or me or anybody else) just owning the one (or two) holsters. You'll end up buying more and this way you'll have more information for your subsequent purchases.