My New EDC Holster

[StrawHat]

For the last 2 decades, plus or minus, I have been using custom made leather for my EDC. It started when leather makers started to cheap out and make buckets that accepted multiple firearms rather than fitting each holster to a specific handgun. It makes their inventory easier but craps on the customer.

Anyway, this is my newest, a near perfect copy of a Sunday holster as used by the Texas Ranges in the early part of the last century and popularized by a retailer named A W Brill.

Similar to the originals, this holster is laminated of two thin pieces of leather with a half lining that goes from inside the holster to over the flap that forms the belt tunnel. This lining was to protect the clothing of the Ranger from the abrasion of the rough leather. The Sunday holster relied on the welt to hold the handgun securely in the holster and did not need loops or such to do so. The properly fitted welt pinched the handgun securely in the holster yet let it immediately free when snatched by the wearer. The Threepersons holster also sed this style of retention. This welt also keeps the holster from shifting in the holster and wearing away the finish. The toe of the holster is sewn to the back skirt. This pulls the handgun snuggly to the side of the wearer aiding concealability. Black basketweave was the traditional finish and one I like. Original basketweave used a slightly smaller stamp but my maker was not aware of this fact.

So, without further explanation, here is my latest Brill-a-like with my customized Model 28-2 Foothills Revolver and a second shot with my Model 625-6 Mountain Gun.



Kevin

 

[Reinz]

That’s one purdy rig! The gun too.

Congrsts!

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

That looks so sweet, it'll probably dissolve in the rain!

Nice!

 

[WheelGunMan]

Nice looking holster! I have an old S&W holster with similar tooling for my Ruger Security Six.

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

Where can I find one?

 

[If1HitU]

Sweet looking holster.

 

[StrawHat]

Where can I find one?

Several leathersmiths will craft you one. The fellow who did mine is not sure he will ever make another one! It was not easy.


Kevin

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

Several leathersmiths will craft you one. The fellow who did mine is not sure he will ever make another one! It was not easy.


Kevin

My search begins.

 

[StrawHat]

Here is the first copy that I bought and used for a short while. Made of two plys of thicker leather and lacking some other refinements, it is more a copy of the holster made by the saddlery on the King Ranch for use by their cowboys. A good holster but not a Brill.

The holster was made for a Model 22-4.



Next is a similar holster for my 3 1/4” Hand Ejector.



Again, more a copy of the King Ranch holster.

Here is one I had made for a 1911. A bit closer to a Sunday holster but not yet there.
Hmmm, can’t find that photo. When I get back home, I will take another and post it.

Factory versions exist. This is one by the George Lawrence Company. Not perfect but close. With a Commercial 1917 in it.




If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Kevin

 

[TarDevil]

Those are some sweet packages!
I'd love one for my Colt Police Positive.

 

[Craig_AR]

Those are all beautiful pieces of leather work, and quite nostalgic. However, how do you reconcile wearing them in light of modern safety advice that a proper holster should cover the trigger, an essential feature to minimize ND while in the holster or in a hurried draw?
Or do you only use such a holster with a single action revolver? In that case, I guess the trigger protection is less essential?

 

[DT Guy]

Those are all beautiful pieces of leather work, and quite nostalgic. However, how do you reconcile wearing them in light of modern safety advice that a proper holster should cover the trigger, an essential feature to minimize ND while in the holster or in a hurried draw?
Or do you only use such a holster with a single action revolver? In that case, I guess the trigger protection is less essential?

They're beautiful (especially the first one), but that was the first thought I had. I just can't reconcile myself with a design that would allow the gun to be fired in the holster.

Yes, I know we used those holsters for decades, and folks didn't routinely perforate themselves and their dance floors...but I can't see the downside of having the trigger covered, and a great deal of upside.

Larry

 

[StrawHat]

Still not able to post my photo of the 1911 in a Sunday holster so I will post this photo I borrowed from noelekal.



Note how the trigger is exposed yet the triggerguard is embedded in the body of the holster. This holster was sold by A W Brill.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

They're beautiful (especially the first one), but that was the first thought I had. I just can't reconcile myself with a design that would allow the gun to be fired in the holster.

Yes, I know we used those holsters for decades, and folks didn't routinely perforate themselves and their dance floors...but I can't see the downside of having the trigger covered, and a great deal of upside.

Larry

Those are all beautiful pieces of leather work, and quite nostalgic. However, how do you reconcile wearing them in light of modern safety advice that a proper holster should cover the trigger, an essential feature to minimize ND while in the holster or in a hurried draw?
Or do you only use such a holster with a single action revolver? In that case, I guess the trigger protection is less essential?

It all boils down to training. I learned NOT to put my finger on the trigger while making the draw. It is the way I was taught. Some folks can’t seem to do that. Police departments must train at the lowest level so holsters that cover the trigger became standard. Companies don’t like multiple SKU’s so simplify as much as possible so the covered guard became “standard”.

If that is what you like, great. Many companies out there cater to that type of holster.

They just don’t work for me.

Kevin

 

[bannockburn]

Kevin

Some mighty handsome looking rigs you've got there along with some very fine shootin' irons! Thanks for sharing!

 

[StrawHat]

Kevin

Some mighty handsome looking rigs you've got there along with some very fine shootin' irons! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, been lugging some kind of revolver around for a long time. Decided it should be a 45 ACP in the 80s. Took S&W a while to figure it out!

Kevin

 

[JTQ]

It all boils down to training.

Will those holsters even allow the cylinder to rotate? If the cylinder won't rotate, you can't get the trigger to pull, so the fact that the trigger is not covered makes no difference.

Folks have lived so much of their lives in the striker fired universe, they often forget not all guns are striker fired, and what works for one gun doesn't always work for another.

 

[StrawHat]

...Will those holsters even allow the cylinder to rotate? If the cylinder won't rotate, you can't get the trigger to pull, so the fact that the trigger is not covered makes no difference...

Correct, these holsters are built snug enough to prevent the cylinder turning. As a properly built holster should do. You can insert the revolver and suspend it upside down. You arm will tire before the revolver will fall out.

...Folks have lived so much of their lives in the striker fired universe, they often forget not all guns are striker fired, and what works for one gun doesn't always work for another...

Thank you, a good point. What works for on... That is why there is more than one horse in a race.

Kevin

 

[Iggy]

Kevin,
You got yourself a mighty fine hide bender there. He does some really nice work.

The point about the cylinder not turning in the holster is very true.
An awful lot of old lawmen including me carried a revolver in that style holster for a lot of years without shooting themselves in the butt.
Fifty years for me. So far, so good.

 

[StrawHat]

Kevin,
You got yourself a mighty fine hide bender there. He does some really nice work.

The point about the cylinder not turning in the holster is very true.
An awful lot of old lawmen including me carried a revolver in that style holster for a lot of years without shooting themselves in the butt.
Fifty years for me. So far, so good.

Thanks, hope you can extend that run another decade or three!


Kevin