Qustion about pancake holsters.

[Gato Montés]

Hello friends!

Currently I'm trying to find a decent holster for a K frame. I already have a Bianchi 5BH, but the problem with that rig is that it tends to pull the belt away from my body, both sagging my pants and flopping around when I move. I have a wilderness tactical instructors belt that fits well, so it's not the belt.

I was wondering if a pancake holster would do a better job of spreading out the weight of the gun, having two connection points to the holster versus one, thus reducing the amount of sag.

I'm a rather rotund fellow (5'10 ~ 260pd), and I'm sure that is also helping create the problem.

Any thoughts?

 

[Zundfolge]

Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the pancake is the best design.

It holds the gun close to the body and doesn't rock forward and back like other designs do.

For your K frame I'd recommend a Simply Rugged Sourdough. If it can comfortably carry a 6" N Frame it'll carry a K frame easily.

I have one for my Dan Wesson 14-2 (which is a hair larger than your K frame...more like an L frame).

Of course if you're wider above the belt line than below it, you may still have some sagging problems (which is why some guys that pack large guns add suspenders to their belts) but with a pancake it should still be better.

But if you look here, the ole boy modeling the Sourdough looks like he might be built similar you your description.

 

[Gato Montés]

HA! That's the EXACT holster I was contemplating! I just need some feedback on the pancake design before I drop $60 on a holster.

Tell me, did you get the IWB straps as well?

 

[Zundfolge]

No I didn't get the IWB straps, but that's because I modify all my pancake holsters to IWB using steel spring clips and chicago screws.

I've bought a lot of leather over the years. The Sourdough is worth the $60 and if you don't want to go to the trouble of modifying spring clips like I did, the IWB straps are worth the extra $15 (actually buying the parts to do the spring clip thing will cost you more than $15, but you'll have enough parts to do 2 holsters).

 

[Jimmy10mm]

I was studying that very holster myself for a recently acquired S&W 386PD. Where do you find those spring clips that you show ? TIA.

 

[Zundfolge]

I got the spring clips here. I ordered 4 of them (because he has a minimum order) and with shipping they were $15 ($8 for the clips $7 for shipping).

Then you use some Chicago Screws (you can usually get them at leather-work supply stores, I got a package of a dozen for ~$4)) and a couple washers (from Ace Hardware...actually mine were spares I found digging around my boxes of small parts in the garage).

They go together like this:

Note that drilling the holes in the spring clips is tough ... spring steel is tough ... a drill press works best, but I've drilled small pilot holes and used a cone shaped grinder tool on a Dremmel in a pinch.


Honestly though, I'm weird and picky so for most of you guys the loops you can get from Simply Rugged will work just fine.




On a side note, and to confuse the issue further, for a K-Frame there is another holster maker that makes real nice leather; Lobo Gun Leather

Check out Los' review of his for a J frame here.

I bought one from Lobo for a full size CZ75 (which is probably as heavy if not heavier than a 4" K frame) and its great. You can see my review here.

 

[EVIL]

To answer your question...yes! Pancake holsters hold the gun nice and tight & do not flop around like a holster with a single loop on the back. I can't stand a gun flopping about...

If you have any ability at crafts at all you can make one your self for about $30 in materials. Apancake is real easy to make by making a pattern out of card board and going from there. All you need to get started is some 7-8 OZ leather, a handdrill and small bit, waxed cord, some leather stain, and a tack needle. Yes, there are other "fancy" tools too, but what I listed is the minimum...Just google making a pancake holster and you willfind a bunch of tutorials on the net. I recommend this strategy because this way you will not have to drop $80 every time you get a new handgun...in a bout 2-3 holsters and they will start looking good as well being utilitarian.

here is one I made for a Glock 27...

 

[wuluf]

I use the same sourdough pancake for a 4" Ruger Redhawk when in the woods. I like that i can carry cross draw as well if i choose. Great product, great company.

 

[CajunBass]

A pancake holster is about all I use. The biggest thing I like about them is the fact that I can straddle a belt loop with them. With a single loop I always find that there is always a belt loop right where I want the gun to go.