High Noon Holsters

I have a few High Noon holsters, and the leather is good quality. The last one I bought was the Final Verdict for my LC9s. I was disappointed in the retention and had arranged to send it back. On impulse I decided to slip my SR9c into the holster and - boom - perfect fit. It remains in my holster collection.

I’ve had a few High noon’s and have never had a complaint. Every time my wife gets a new carry gun, she tells me to order her a new Mr. Softy, she loves them.
I’ve never had a quality shoulder rig, maybe one day I’ll order one up.

You're welcome. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ather-shoulder-holster-for-my-cz-p10s.882958/

JCBurns said:

Not thrilled about the price but after receiving it rather early I must say I don't regret the purchase.

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You have to remember with a shoulder holster, what you're getting is the equivalent of buying a gun belt, a holster, and a mag pouch. That usually puts the price into perspective.

I hope you enjoy it for many years.

I have an undertaker. The semi-synthetic bonded shoulder straps have mostly de-laminated at this point. I'm going to have to disassemble it and force them to fully de-laminate one of these days unless I want a bunch of shredded vinyl bits loosely dangling from an otherwise perfectly good holster.

I have a few High Noons... my daily carry piece is in a lined Slide Guard, it's fantastic. I bought an unlined Slide Guard for my 1911, to try to reduce bulk, and that was a dumb idea... I should have bought lined.

There was an exchange here eight years ago about High Noon. Customer had a problem and the response was less than smart. In fact, one of their reps got on here and tried to defend their behavior. I think they're overpriced and overrated. On searching for the thread, I also found the PM battle I had with Alex from High Noon. Very enlightening. A lot of stupid and misinformed comments from this person.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/high-new-holster-concern.734197/

I am happy with my undertaker, but I just re-visited the product page and I'm not sure I approve of this...

You'll Get a Premium Leather Shoulder Rig Holster
The Under Taker is a leather gun holster that is manufactured with a special "Made or High Noon Holsters Only" full-grain leather which gives it a luxurious look. You can see the beautiful grain jump out at you in the close-up pictures. The Under Taker is molded to the gun you order it for. This holster is quickly becoming the choice of professionals worldwide. It is the same rig as our Under Armor (a stocking Item) except for the detail molding. The system is built from premium saddle leather or horsehide and is shipped with holster, harness and double ammo carrier. One of the key features of our shoulder system is the Unique diamond-shaped swivel back plate, which allows all four points to pivot independently resulting in comfort and a precision fit for all body types.

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Note the bold part. The straps are 100% bonded leather. I knew this when I bought it, but I could see someone being irked. Proof:

Craig, that was a long time ago. And you know what? I remember it! Ever since I've probably shopped for a couple of dozen holsters. Every time, I come to High Noon, and every time I think of that exchange, and every time, I pass on by. I don't know who that Rep was, or if he's still there, or if he's the president of High Noon. I just know that that it was/is a clear demonstration of the old adage "A satisfied customer will tell 10 people; a dissatisfied customer will tell 100 people." Hopefully that was then, this is now. Regardless, I'll never opt to find out. YMMV

-jb, remembering being appalled

GJeffB said:

Craig, that was a long time ago. And you know what? I remember it! Ever since I've probably shopped for a couple of dozen holsters. Every time, I come to High Noon, and every time I think of that exchange, ...

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I also remember the thread, but the two things that come to my mind are the off center sight channel and 9mmepiphany's comments on price.

I've had good service from my High Noon products, and I'm on their mailing list. Every now and then I get an urge to try a horsehide holster in the form of their Need for Speed holster, which is a canted version of the Nelson #1 Professional (or Askins Avenger if you prefer), but I can't get that off center sight channel out of my mind, and the realization, that even with an advertised discount, it's probably going to cost more than a comparative holster from Sparks, Kramer, Ritchie, Davis, Lobo, etc.

I can't forget it and couldn't believe it's been that long.

The bonded leather straps are unforgivable. That stuff is used because it's cheap. Not because it's better for any particular purpose. The material is literally the cheapest part of a holster, even exotics. Use the best leather available and you won't have ten bucks worth in a holster. To skimp on the straps like that is insane. That rig is almost $200. Compare it to the El Paso Spyder rig, which is awesome.

https://epsaddlery.com/product/spyder-shoulder-system-complete-rig/


I'll bet this holster here is made from the same crap as those straps.

https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/bare-skin


Speaking of materials, the cost of exotics is ridiculous. I've made several holsters with shark skin. This one below has about $5 worth of shark on it, if that. I've thrown away bigger pieces. Also, IMHO, if you're going to vacuum form it like everything else, I don't see the point in using an exotic overly.

https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/down-under-shark


I hate to pick on High Noon this bad and I would normally just turn the other cheek but they asked for it. I have to take issue with the "hand crafted" bit on the website. I'd wager they're not dyeing anything but buying drum dyed leather. By their own admission in the thread above, they cut everything out with steel dies on a clicker press. Both of which is to be expected if they're doing any volume. Then they machine stitch everything together, I assume it's also glued but some shops don't. Then they vacuum form it, rather than hand boning. Then they sand the edges on a grinder. Then they paint the edges and spray on an acrylic finish. Where's the hand work? I guess what they mean is that the machines that do the work are operated by hand??? It's assembly line work and the guy who put both feet in his mouth in the other thread has never hand made a holster in his life.

Guess I shouldn't feel guilty about using a belt sander to even up my edges or stitching on a machine.

Full overlay, not a piece of scrap sewn on as trim. I made it for myself but if I made one for a customer, probably $150.

CraigC said:

I hate to pick on High Noon this bad ...

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Somewhat in High Noon's defense as I posted in that other thread...

On the other hand, whenever I see somebody join a forum to complain about a product, I get a little suspicious.

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The OP joined the forum to complain about High Noon, posted in two other threads over a one month period, and hasn't posted on the forum since 2013.

In this day of on-line forums and social media, I've got to believe it would be difficult for nearly any company to avoid being smeared by just about anybody, whether legitimate or not.

I've seen complaints against nearly every custom 1911 maker and holster maker across several gun forums. Most are only from one side, and many make me wonder if they are even legitimate complaints.

Some forums even have a "no grievance" policy, since most makers won't have an opportunity to properly defend themselves.

I understand that. I don't know if the above is a quote from me but it could've been. I've always opined that people abuse forums as a soapbox to vent their grievances and that they are often exaggerated and/or taken out of context. This one's a little different because we actually have both sides of the story. I don't judge so much by the original error but in how it was handled and the behavior of their representative. He could've done damage control and made it right. Had he done that, we wouldn't have remembered it and wouldn't be having this conversation, 8yrs later. Instead he chose to defend it, make excuses for it and attack the critics. The bit about the leather stretching differently on the two sides and getting the sight track that far out of alignment is downright comical.

CraigC said:

I can't forget it and couldn't believe it's been that long.

The bonded leather straps are unforgivable. That stuff is used because it's cheap. Not because it's better for any particular purpose. The material is literally the cheapest part of a holster, even exotics. Use the best leather available and you won't have ten bucks worth in a holster. To skimp on the straps like that is insane. That rig is almost $200. Compare it to the El Paso Spyder rig, which is awesome.

https://epsaddlery.com/product/spyder-shoulder-system-complete-rig/


I'll bet this holster here is made from the same crap as those straps.

https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/bare-skin

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The holster you linked to advertises that fact on its product page. Nothing sneaky about that, and nothing wrong with offering different materials at different price points.
The undertaker product page is what is misleading. Nowhere is strap material advertised as anything but 'saddle grade / full grain leather'.

I didn't say that one was sneaky and I guess I was right, it is made out of the same crap as the straps.

CraigC said:

Full overlay, not a piece of scrap sewn on as trim. I made it for myself but if I made one for a customer, probably $150.

View attachment 987295

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Pretty.

I have to admit, I'd cover the trigger a bit more, but to each his own.

Larry

You think a gremlin's gonna sneak in there and mash the trigger, while his friend jumps up and down on the grip safety?

CraigC said:

You think a gremlin's gonna sneak in there and mash the trigger, while his friend jumps up and down on the grip safety?

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Just a preference; unlikely things do happen. I prefer absolutely no access to a trigger in a holstered gun. There are certainly millions of holsters that have safely carried guns millions of miles with uncovered trigger guards; I just prefer complete coverage.

Larry

I have had excellent luck with High Noon, still wearing my Rock Steady gun belt and carrying my P-10C in my Stingray rig. Love it.


I have had some pretty neat ones over the years, like this P-09 Bison Side Guard.



Even this kydex combo rig is still around, originally made for the P-09 but oddly enough fits my P-10C like a glove when I want to go IWB.



I've used other brands, but I have zero complaints with High Noon.

I had the cheaper version, the Under Armor, which was returned with extreme prejudice. I bought it during one of their current sales thinking it would be just the thing for my P239. I messed around with that rig for over a month and finally just returned it.

I hope the more expensive real leather one came with better instructions, because what came with the laminated mess was incoherent. I had a lot of help from customer service, but it still never fit right.

Anywhere a strap bent more than 45° the laminations came apart. The plastic "keepers" were too small to fit the thickness of the straps, which made set-up an aggravating affair.

The magazine holster was gigantic and the P239 mags rattled around inside even with the screws smoked down as far as they'd go. On one of the many calls to CS they promised to send another magazine holster, but when it arrived I was disappointed to see it was the same mag holster with the rubber spacers cut down. The screws were the same, so they stuck out on the body side of the contraption. The mags had one thickness of material against the body, and two on the outside- so thick it was absurd.

Hands down the worst holster I've ever purchased, even on sale.

That said, High Noon customer service was outstanding and I have never had any problems with any of the belt holsters I've bought from them. I would not hesitate to buy from them in the future either.

FAQ
23. Why do you use full grain leather on your shoulder holster harness, when other manufacturers tend to use suede harness or nylon?

Most of the quality holster manufacturers use full grain leather harnesses for a number of reasons. First, we call suede harnesses the one year rig. Suede absorbs everything it comes in contact with, which is mostly body perspiration. If you do not believe us, put a drop of water on it and see where it goes. After a while it gets a perspiration stain that smells like your under arms after you have sweated all day long. It does not come out even if it is washed. Second, although full grain leather is much more expensive to stock than suede it has the strength to support the largest of handguns in a shoulder rig. Third, our full grain harness repels moisture; it will last a lifetime and will not absorb your body perspiration. Also, nylon is too slippery and will slip and slide on the shoulder and which creates an unstable situation.

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Oops.

Harness leather is so-called because it's what they use for horse tack. It's saturated with wax and oil to resist horse sweat and urine. That in your picture above is not harness leather. Real leather does not separate like that, ever.

I knew it was a bonded leather harness when I ordered it because it was mentioned in some online review. Their incorrect website claims are no bueno, however.

Although the fact that they have the statement "Most of the quality holster manufacturers use full grain leather harnesses for a number of reasons." on their own website is at least a bit amusing. A bit of a marketing misstep.

My question is, how would they respond if you cornered them about it?