Island Beretta
Member
I am 110% satisfied with my Blade-Tech holsters..more than worth the price!!
Fobus holsters
- Thread starter M-Rex
- Start date
- Status
sumpnz
Member
My Fobus Paddle holster destroyed the finish on the slide of my Ruger. Soon as I can I'll be getting it refinished and I'll be replacing that piece of crap with something decent that won't eat the finish off so fast. It took less than a year of occasional range and hunting (i.e. open carry) use to take the finish to bare metal.
SUPERMAN .45
Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2005
- Messages
- 38
I've got 1 Fobus and 2 uncle Mike's for my 1911,I like Uncle Mike' finish rather than fobus.When drawing I never encounterd any problem with this holster I use it as my duty holster and my daily carry holster, I also use it in IDPA competition. 
I stopped buying Fobus holsters after they exceeded the $16 mark.
For what it is, it was (past tense) a functional, economical, serviceable holster at its price point when synthetic molded holsters became "in vogue" for pistoleros.
Since Galco, UNcle Mike's, and a slew of other manufacturers came across injection molded Kydex, the price points at $20 became the standard for polymer shell holsters which are tougher, and better finished. This beat out Blade-Tech and Comp Tac's monopoly on $70+ Kydex holsters.
Now, Side-Armor and a couple of other recent additions like C-Tac make some really nice Kydex holsters and they are worth the dollars. DeSantis came out with their $30-35 price-point Kydex rigs which are also very nicely fitted and formed to the specific guns. Better than Uncle Mike's.
Fobus was cheap in the late 90s, because the Israelis made it out of PVC. It is the same stuff as roof gutters, lawn edge hedging material, or drain pipes for rain gutters. The rivets were an economical solution to assemble it. It was not really glued or thermo-welded. Imagine a soda pop container cut out for the flat portion of the material, flipped over, stapled, and heated to form the shape, and it was pretty danred close.
I am actually happy with the ones I have for the Glocks in 26, 23, 20, Beretta 92, and even the 1911.
They are disposable. If one cleans the inside with a wet paper towel from time to time before holstering, it keeps the grit from scratching the finish. PVC is soft, and gouges very easily. I see evidence on my hard-use 1911 holster. A little Armor-All on a wet towel inside the holster helps prevent static and lubes it a little. Silicone will attract more dirt.
These days, they are made in ankle, swivel, retention, etc. This is where they took a good thing and ruined it. PVC is limited in stiffness, with the current thickness gauge FObus is using. It is cheap. Vacuum forming is fast and cheap. The paddle tears off with hard use.
These days, a handgun owner has better options in the price range of $20, and the true Kydex materials can be had.
My preference for economical Kydex is the DeSantis offerings (Nitewatch, etc.). I know what is means to not have a lot of discretionary income, and one wants the best option available.
These days, Fobus is not the best option for the money. Your best bet is to raom the gun shows and gun shops in the used bins, and find a decent turn-in FObus for around $10, and try it out. This way, you do not lose anything, except one or 2 day's lunch money at a fast food restaurant.
For what it is, it was (past tense) a functional, economical, serviceable holster at its price point when synthetic molded holsters became "in vogue" for pistoleros.
Since Galco, UNcle Mike's, and a slew of other manufacturers came across injection molded Kydex, the price points at $20 became the standard for polymer shell holsters which are tougher, and better finished. This beat out Blade-Tech and Comp Tac's monopoly on $70+ Kydex holsters.
Now, Side-Armor and a couple of other recent additions like C-Tac make some really nice Kydex holsters and they are worth the dollars. DeSantis came out with their $30-35 price-point Kydex rigs which are also very nicely fitted and formed to the specific guns. Better than Uncle Mike's.
Fobus was cheap in the late 90s, because the Israelis made it out of PVC. It is the same stuff as roof gutters, lawn edge hedging material, or drain pipes for rain gutters. The rivets were an economical solution to assemble it. It was not really glued or thermo-welded. Imagine a soda pop container cut out for the flat portion of the material, flipped over, stapled, and heated to form the shape, and it was pretty danred close.
I am actually happy with the ones I have for the Glocks in 26, 23, 20, Beretta 92, and even the 1911.
They are disposable. If one cleans the inside with a wet paper towel from time to time before holstering, it keeps the grit from scratching the finish. PVC is soft, and gouges very easily. I see evidence on my hard-use 1911 holster. A little Armor-All on a wet towel inside the holster helps prevent static and lubes it a little. Silicone will attract more dirt.
These days, they are made in ankle, swivel, retention, etc. This is where they took a good thing and ruined it. PVC is limited in stiffness, with the current thickness gauge FObus is using. It is cheap. Vacuum forming is fast and cheap. The paddle tears off with hard use.
These days, a handgun owner has better options in the price range of $20, and the true Kydex materials can be had.
My preference for economical Kydex is the DeSantis offerings (Nitewatch, etc.). I know what is means to not have a lot of discretionary income, and one wants the best option available.
These days, Fobus is not the best option for the money. Your best bet is to raom the gun shows and gun shops in the used bins, and find a decent turn-in FObus for around $10, and try it out. This way, you do not lose anything, except one or 2 day's lunch money at a fast food restaurant.
M-Rex
member
Excellent advice. In my research, I've discovered some of the other companies. I might take a look at the Galcos and Uncle Mikes.
Hobie
Member
When I got the Fobus paddle holster for my Pistolet Makarov it was the only game in town. It works well for carry but not concealed carry, hasn't worn the finish, hasn't pulled up my pants, broken, etc. It is a good usable holster for a good, inexpensive but serviceable pistol. For CCW, it is a M13 3" in a Bianchi Pistol Pocket or a Combat Commander in a Galco IWB.
BluesBear
member
Fobus is... how can I say this delicately with honestly?
Fobus is crap!
BladeTech makes a far, far superior product.
Fobus is crap!
BladeTech makes a far, far superior product.
M-Rex
member
I'm intrigued. Can you provide specifics?
Old Dog
Member
Fobus holsters are what they are ... I actually used a Fobus paddle holster (with a Glock 23) for a pretty intensive handgun course. The holster acquitted itself well. I would make no claims as to the durability of the Fobus, but I've used a couple (still have 'em; they're in good shape) and I kinda like the one I have for a Smith j-frame ... Plus, with the weather up here, I have no problem with a plastic holster (so long as the gun fits securely and the holster does also -- which Fobus provides).
Blade-Tec, on the other hand ... A Blade-Tec plus sand is not good. I have some dismaying scratches on a Springfield Armory Black Stainless (gorgeous pistol, by the way) slide which I attribute to a dusty day on the range with a Blade-Tec. I no longer use the hard kydex holsters with handguns on which I want to protect the finishes ...
But, plastic holsters + plastic guns will work for me.
Blade-Tec, on the other hand ... A Blade-Tec plus sand is not good. I have some dismaying scratches on a Springfield Armory Black Stainless (gorgeous pistol, by the way) slide which I attribute to a dusty day on the range with a Blade-Tec. I no longer use the hard kydex holsters with handguns on which I want to protect the finishes ...
But, plastic holsters + plastic guns will work for me.
BluesBear
member
Specifics?
You mean such as I have never personally seen a broken Blade-Tech holster? Of an Uncle Mikes for that matter.
But I have seen a few broken Fobus.
That video that has made the rounds is true. Put on your Fobus paddle. have somecome up behind you and grab your gun. If the push down hard whild twisting the gub butt away from your body, the holster, with the gun still in it will snap right off of the paddle.
I saw one break when the officer who was wearing it got it caught in the arm of a wooden chair while sitting down in a restraunt. The chair arm went right up under the holster body and snapped it clean away from the paddle. His Sig fell out right in the middle of the floor at Billy McHales in Lynnwood.
One the positive side, the gun did stay in the holster.
You mean such as I have never personally seen a broken Blade-Tech holster? Of an Uncle Mikes for that matter.
But I have seen a few broken Fobus.
That video that has made the rounds is true. Put on your Fobus paddle. have somecome up behind you and grab your gun. If the push down hard whild twisting the gub butt away from your body, the holster, with the gun still in it will snap right off of the paddle.
I saw one break when the officer who was wearing it got it caught in the arm of a wooden chair while sitting down in a restraunt. The chair arm went right up under the holster body and snapped it clean away from the paddle. His Sig fell out right in the middle of the floor at Billy McHales in Lynnwood.
One the positive side, the gun did stay in the holster.
M-Rex
member
Yes, quite. Thank you. I saw the Breaking Fobus video. Very interesting. I'm leaning towards the Uncle Mike's.
bpisler
Member
The fit of the fobus holsters vary
from holster to holster.I tried
3 made for my MK-9,the first one
was tight it took two guys to get
the gun out.The thing is it went in
just fine.The other two just didn't
fit well,very sloppy and loose.The
one i bought for my XD-9 fits just
fine as the one for my sigma,go
figure.
from holster to holster.I tried
3 made for my MK-9,the first one
was tight it took two guys to get
the gun out.The thing is it went in
just fine.The other two just didn't
fit well,very sloppy and loose.The
one i bought for my XD-9 fits just
fine as the one for my sigma,go
figure.
Jenrick
Member
Just a thought on the breaking Fobus holster video that's always mentioned. If the only thing your doing to prevent your gun being taken away is pushing down on it to keep it in the holster, your asking for trouble from most holsters. You should be turning and fighting, not just trying to hold the weapon in and standing there. I'm not saying an Uncle Mike's or Bladetech would fare the same (actually if someone wants to provide me some holsters, I'll work them over and tape the whole thing), just saying you shouldn't really on the holster and one hand for retention.
-Jenrick
-Jenrick
- Status
