open carry holster that doesn't get in the way

[Skillet]

so i have searched and searched for an open carry holster (i am under the age of 21, so i don't want a CC) for my CZ 75B. every time i find one, it has slipped away. because it is either concealed carry or to big and bulky or way to expensive. since i am slimly built, i need a holster that does not get in the way, so the holster itself has to be slimly built. but only for open carry. a drop leg holster or a hip holster will work, and it has gotta be left handed. i need it to be readily accessible, none of that snap strap over the hammer junk. i would like, a pancake holster that isn't concealed carry(if they make those). but the problem is that i need it to fit my CZ. leather would be nice, but a tougher nylon would be pretty good as well. i am posting this in the handguns general discussions because i need more views on this. i get very few views when i post this in the holster section.
so can you help me out?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Make your own.

You can get leather and sinew or thread from Tandy Leather Company. In fact, you can usually get a half side (half a cow hide) pretty cheaply, and that's enough for a lot of holsters.

Visualize the holster you want, make tracings of the gun, and cut your leather. You can mark the stitch holes with a small-tipped screw driver -- simply place it on the stitch line, tap it with a hammer to leave an imprint, them move it one width and tap again.

Use contact cement to hold the holster together while stitching -- drilling the holes with a small drill will make it easy. You can make a nice welt by inserting scraps from your cutting so you have three layers of leather at the seams. Stitch all the way, then come back and re-stitch -- so you have no exposed leather between holes. Then back-stitch some more to finish off.

Make your holster on the small side -- don't panic if the gun won't go in. Wet the leather with rubbing alcohol, force the gun in, and rub with a toothbrush handle to make the leather conform to the gun.

Let it dry, then use die (if you choose) and Sno-Seal to sweat-proof the leather.

 

[Sam1911]

Not sure exactly what all of your concerns are, but there are relatively few holsters that are STRICTLY CC or OC. Any decent outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster should work really well.

If you want the best deal on real leather I've used, try Ray's Holsters. http://www.shado.com/vmchk/Holsters/View-all-products.html
Very nice leather gear, usually at around $35.

Regarding a thumb-break (that strap you mentioned). If you don't want one, that's fine. However, when open carrying instead of concealed carrying, they are not a bad idea. Not a "do-or-die" issue, but don't jump to a holster without a retention device of some sort without thinking carefully about it.

Regarding the drop-thigh holster style ... In my very humble opinion, "tactical" drop-thigh holsters are really not what you want. They aren't very quick on the draw. Are not terribly stable (they move around, ride up, bunch up your pant leg, etc). Are not very comfortable. And...(here comes the opinion part) they SCREAM newbie/fanboy/poseur/mall-ninja, etc. Unless you are in a SWAT entry team or some military unit that issues them, and there are specific reasons (usually related to interference with armor, other equipment carried on your belt, etc.) that you need to relocate your holster down off your belt, there are few compelling reasons to use one. They do not secure your gun as well as a decent belt holster. They are a compromise driven by issues that you as an average joe civilian don't have to deal with. Aviod them. (Unless, of course, you complete the look with bloused trousers, fingerless leather gloves, Ray-Bans, and a "Call-Of-Duty 4" tee-shirt. )

Good luck! And kudos to you for exercising your rights! (Now, go make sure you know EVERY inch of the firearms law in your state...you're going to need it!)

[EDIT:] Here's the perfect thing for your CZ: http://www.shado.com/Leather-Holsters/Bikini-Leather-Belt-Holster.html Not going to find a slimmer, less bulky OWB holster than that (the slimmed-down "belt-slide" version of a pancake holster). Available left-handed for the CZ at $30.

Or this: http://www.shado.com/Leather-Holsters/Sable-Leather-Belt-Holster.html Which is a more complete coverage (VERY good idea with Open Carry) tunnel-style holster and the one I use myself for my 629 in competition. Available left-handed for the CZ at $35.

Both are also available with the thumb-break, if you decide to take my advice and use retention when open carrying.

-Sam

 

[Skillet]

Both are also available with the thumb-break, if you decide to take my advice and use retention when open carrying.

is the Shado holster basically the same as the sable but it just has the thumbreak?

 

[Sam1911]

is the Shado holster basically the same as the sable but it just has the thumbreak?

No, not exactly. Here look at this: http://www.holsters.org/holster-design.htm

The Shado is a bit like the Desantis Speed Scabbard I use (a very archetypal "pancake" holster) for most of my OWB carry with a slim gun like a 1911. Basically that's two pieces of leather sandwiching the gun. Both pieces run forward of the gun and behind the gun and are stitched together. The belt loops are cut in those front and rear flaps, through both pieces. The belt draws the holster around your hip, tucking the gun up very tightly. Also, the outer flap of leather being pulled in by the belt makes the whole package very smooth and snag-free. That's what the "Shado" is, and it also has a top-break strap for retention. Not all do (the Speed Scabbard doesn't).

The Sable (which I use with the big revolver) is a "tunnel" style (also called a Bruce Nelson style, IIRC). The pouch the gun rides in is formed by a piece of leather folded all the way around the gun (instead of two pieces sandwiching the gun like a "pancake"). It has a very wide belt-loop running along the back of the holster (usually with a tab that extends forward a ways...you can see it peeking out from behind in the picture on the Sable page), and a smaller single "pancake" style belt loop to the rear (where the two ends of the pouch flap come together) to stabilize the rig. These are rock-solid holsters, and don't collapse when you draw the gun because there's no forward belt-loop pulling it shut. Most also have a stiffening piece of spring steel or at least some extra leather wrapped around the top of the holster to help it keep it's shape. The trade-off is that it doesn't pull the gun in as tightly to your body (which trade-off can make it even more comfortable to wear) and doesn't have the outer forward flap to smooth the gun's outline.

That third holster on the page I mentioned looks really cool in that it is a composite of the two designs. Expensive, though. $98...

If I were in your shoes, I'd pick the Sable. It will protect your gun better than the belt-slide "bikini" style, and you're not going for concealment value anyway. If you're going to wear it in public, the Sable looks a little ... dressier, more upscale ... to me.

-Sam

[EDIT] Now, if you'll be removing the gun very often throughout the day you might consider a "paddle" style holster. But they universally will not tuck in against your side as tightly as a pancake or even tunnel type holster, and so would be more bulky than you probably want.

 

[Dr_2_B]

I'm probably weird, but I've carried for so long (more than 15 yrs I guess) that I find IWB holsters to be pretty comfy. I wouldn't rule out an IWB for open carry. You'll be over 21 before you know it and you'll then be able to carry it concealed.

BTW, I've tried carrying the CZ75 concealed before though. Not easy to do.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

IWB is very comfortable. With a good belt and appropriately sized trousers, you don't even know it's there (especially with my holster, which puts leather between the body and the gun.) The pressure stabilizes the gun and keeps it right where you want it.

 

[bigfatdave]

Crossbreed makes one, they have a mold for your CZ.
I already pimped them in your other thread, but I'll add in that I also balked at the price of a custom holster, but someone pointed out that it was nothing in comparison to the cost of the gun and proficiency training, and that buying multiple non-custom models would eat up just as much money, except slower.
Get a good holster, and a good heavy belt (Beltman and crossbreed make affordable leather ones, 5.11 and Wilderness Tactical make good web ones), and you should be good to go.