1911 holster

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ussmarshall

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What is the best 1911 holster you guys know of? Most comfortable and able to distribute all that weight the best.
 
IWB, OWB, SOB, Thigh, Shoulder?

I run Macdaniels II's from Andrews Leather as my prefered IWB 5" 1911 holster. I have a Milt Sparks VM2 somewhere that was comfy, I just didn't like how much space it took up on the belt.

OWB, any good pancake holster does a good job. I have my eye on a couple custom's to try if FL ever get's OC, but I just use a Wilson Combat OWB pankake (Lo Profile I think) for my 1911's, and it's perfectly comfy.

Either way I think a good belt has more to do with weight distrabution then the holster attached to it.

ETA: Also the holster sub-forum might get this viewed by the resident holster makers and the like.
 
Holsters....

You might get a few forum responses to this topic post.
:D

I'll start by saying what's best is very subjective. I'd say what you might call #1, some other gunner may trash. What they say is best, you might dislike.
In short, there are a few well engineered brands & styles that sell very well or are in use with armed professionals(SWAT, spec ops, PSCs, bodyguards, PIs).
I'd look at these brands or sites for more details. Note; before you buy, contact the maker or firm to make sure they can provide the holster or gear you want in a timely manner. Some makers are delayed weeks or months due to high demand.
Some shooters & armed agents prefer the horsehide rigs. They aren't cheap but will hold up longer.
I'm not a fan of the IWBs or Cross-Breed/King Tuk styles but they are very popular.
Some holsters like the Safarilands, SERPAs & Blade-techs can be adjusted or carried different ways. I used to like the FBI cant but now prefer the straight draw type strongside. Some like the "high-ride" but I think it's a awkward draw from concealment & puts the gun in a weird spot while you sit or drive.
The shoulder rig is good but it has limited applications. It is hard to re-holster quickly & it can have weapon retention issues. They are good for extended details(desks, aircraft, boats, driving) or low threat areas.

Here are a few 1911/1911a1 holster(s) to review; www.highnoonholsters.com www.blackhawk.com www.usgalco.com www.bianchi-intl.com www.blade-tech.com www.alessi.com www.tedblockerholsters.com www.mitchrosen.com www.miltsparks.com www.donhume.com www.mernickle.com www.comholsters.com www.safariland.com .
Kramer gun leather, Ken Null, Andrews Leather, Del Fatti, DeSantis also have good pistol holsters.
 
Read post #2.

Then tell us a little bit about yourself and what conditions you plan on carrying. By "1911", you mean a Colt Govt. sized pistol? Are you thin, fat, tall, short? Do you work & live in wet weather, humid, dry, near the ocean? You wear jeans, a suit, a dress? Everything is a factor when making a choice.

BTW, there is no such thing as "best", it is always subjective to an individual's opinion. anyone believing in "best" is asking to have their money fleeced.

It is better to explain your situation and then ask for suggestions.
 
Full size 1911, I am tall fat at times not to bad right now but still have soft bulges that get gouged around the middle. I work inside and live in the south humib warm summers mild wet winters. It is an inland state.(Arkansas) I never wear suits but mostly cotton slacks with a polo or button down tucked in (with suspenders) . I would want the weapon to be concealed under a jacket or possibly a shirt un tucked.
 
Anyone have experience with the blackhawk serpa.
Click to expand...
The SERPA is not a concealment holster. It's not a very good range/training holster either.

Try Milt Sparks. For IWB their Summer Special/Summer Special II and the Versa Max II (VM II) are the industry standards. They also offer the 55BN and a few others as excellent options for OWB carry.

http://www.miltsparks.com

Mitch Rosen is another maker that should have everything you need. His Express Line is a good option if you are on a budget. http://www.mitchrosen.com

Both makers offer belts and mag pouches too.
 
Another vote for Milt Sparks. Galco's Royal Guard is also very comfortable. But you have to use a good heavy belt.
 
I use Fobus holsters for just about all of my guns. I have one belt set up with a Fobus belt holster and double mag pouch for my 1911. Just the right amount of retention, inexpensive and super light weight.
I use their paddle holsters for concealed carry. Just slip it in your waistband and out you go. Fobus paddle holsters make daily carry convenient and comfortable.
 
Kirkpatrick Leather or R. Grizzle has some nice leather holsters and belts. I got a Kirkpatrick Texas Strong Side holster and a Ranger belt coming soon. R. Grizzle also has some nice leather trimmed in exotic that look real good as well. Like has been mentioned before, there are a blue million options.
 
Serpa....

The SERPA holster series is fine. :D

The hype & haters just don't like the design. It's not good for all types of pistols but with proper training & a bit of common sense, you'll be a-ok.
I got a M&P SERPA holster & had 0 problems with it. I used a full size M&P 9x19mm & a .45acp compact in 2013.
I used both open carry & concealed. The SERPA in regular matte retails for $25.00 to $50.00.
If that's not your bag, Id wait for Safariland to roll out the AS7 style for 1911s.
They are only for Glocks & M&Ps right now(06/2014).

Rusty
PS; Blackhawk markets a holster without the trigger security system. I'd look at that too. It's $25-35.00 USD.
 
Normally, I'd agree with Milt Sparks, but the waiting list is 4 months out. The Versa Max II has a reputation that has been earned over decades.

For IWB, I was introduced to Comp Tac holsters by members here and am a believer. I really like the C-TAC and Minotaur holsters. Minotaur for solid pistol retention and concealment and C-TAC for humid condition wear.

I also like Blade Tec holsters, they use a grade of kydex that is thicker than anything I've ever seen. I'd consider them if you want to carry OWB.
 
Normally, I'd agree with Milt Sparks, but the waiting list is 4 months out.\
Click to expand...

You can get a VM II as fast as it takes the UPS or FedEx guy to get to your house. http://www.topgunsupply.com/vm2-black-r-hand-1-1-2-belt-loops-5-1911.html

If you'd rather have a Summer Special II, you can have that just as fast. http://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...ters/semi-auto-summer-special-2-prod9922.aspx

I also like Blade Tec holsters, they use a grade of kydex that is thicker than anything I've ever seen. I'd consider them if you want to carry OWB.
Click to expand...
For clarity, I'm pretty sure Comp-Tac uses a thicker kydex OWB than Blade-Tech uses. Comp-Tac uses .125" kydex for their OWB holsters. I think Blade-Tech is using .090" kydex for their OWB holsters.
 
I'm fond of Milt Sparks work but as noted their lead time has gotten long. The other holster I really like is the old Bianchi Askins Avenger that is no longer made. The holster judgedelta referenced in post #7 is very similar.
 
JTQ said:
You can get a VM II as fast as it takes the UPS or FedEx guy to get to your house. http://www.topgunsupply.com/vm2-black-r-hand-1-1-2-belt-loops-5-1911.html

If you'd rather have a Summer Special II, you can have that just as fast. http://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...ters/semi-auto-summer-special-2-prod9922.aspx


For clarity, I'm pretty sure Comp-Tac uses a thicker kydex OWB than Blade-Tech uses. Comp-Tac uses .125" kydex for their OWB holsters. I think Blade-Tech is using .090" kydex for their OWB holsters.
Click to expand...
I didn't know about Milt Sparks availability, so that is good.

Regarding my comments, I own at least one of everything I've commented about.
 
I'm fond of Milt Sparks work but as noted their lead time has gotten long.
Click to expand...
At the risk of being called a Milt Sparks homer, and I don't even own a Sparks holster, their lead times are probably shorter now than they've been at any time in the past five years. You can certainly get a Comp-Tac faster than you can get a Sparks holster, but Sparks lead times have been reduced quite a bit in the past year or so.
 
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