MArooned Product Review: Pistol Pouch

Shortly after posting about receiving the e-mail from LaserLyte about testing out their RSL laser sights I got another e-mail. It was a "friend of a friend" sort of thing, a gentleman who does some impressive leather-working who started his own business and has branched out into the concealed carry arena. Dennis, the owner, cook, and chief bottle-washer of Dragon Leather Works, was looking for something "outside the box", as it were, and designed a holster that takes cues from the leather holsters of days gone by.

And thus, the Pistol Pouch was born:

Pistol Pouch

The design is very simple and clean, with no militaristic overtones or tacticool gadgets or accessories. In fact, this is almost a steampunk holster, given that it hearkens back to the US Cavalry and the Colt SAA holsters that would be cinched shut to prevent the wheelgun from falling out when ridden hard in the saddle. That imagery is quite fitting, as this holster looks like it would be right at home on a motorcycle.

The leather work is quite impressive, and looks like it will take years and years of abuse without dropping a stitch, popping a rivet, or even fading. The leather is thick, built to withstand pretty much anything an active gunnie could dish out and then some.

Here's a look inside the holster:

Inside the holster

Yes, that leather really is as thick as it looks. There is quite literally nothing flimsy about this holster. "Overbuilt" would be a good word to describe it, and that is a very good thing - this isn't going to collapse at the first sign of stress.

Here's a couple of shots of a Browning BDA-380 inside the holster:

BDA-380 from the side

BDA-380 from the top

And finally, here's the holster being modeled by your humble host:

Pistol Pouch in action

I know, I know; I'm not about to give up the day job to become a holster model...

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Now that you've seen the Pistol Pouch, here's my review. This is one well-made holster. I've seen (and done) a fair amount of leather work in my time, ranging from crudely put-together sweatshop rejects to top-notch pieces that cost more than some cars I've owned (which, given the clunkers I drove in college and grad school, isn't really saying too much...). The Pistol Pouch is one of the most durable-looking pieces I've had the pleasure of inspecting, made from saddle leather and put together with more rivets than your average Korean automobile...

The toughness of the leather led to one of my two concerns about this holster. The thickness of the leather, while providing a level of protection for the firearm that's hard to beat, makes for some sharp corners clearly visible around the flap and the cutout for firearm access. Dennis assured me that this was a prototype model and that all commercial units will have chamfered edges to address this issue. The other concern had to do with the latch and how easy it may (or may not) be to open under duress; however this is an issue that, for the moment, rests with the lawyers rather than the guys that make (and sell) stuff...

The last thing I'd like to touch on is the actual status of this holster in the CCW arena. Living in the Volksrepublik of MA, I doubt I'd wear this sort of holster very much out of concern that it might be identified as a holster, thus conceivably opening me up to an open carry charge. States like TX or FL that specifically preclude open carry might consider this to be an open carry holster, and it might be advisable to check with local authorities if you're not certain of the laws/attitude in your state/county/local area.

That said, for hiking, camping, any sort of activity that involves the great outdoors (and the four - and two- legged predators), this is an outstanding holster. It protects the firearm from jostling loose; it keeps it out of the elements; yet it's right there at your side like an open holster. For states that allow concealed carry and open carry, it looks like it would be just about the perfect thing to support both. While the gun itself is concealed, the holster is now; as such, it plants a foot in both worlds and brings them just a little closer together. And, not for nothing, in the realm of leather holsters this is an outright steal. When you consider that you get a choice of colors for the leather and a holster that can take lots of punishment, it's quite the bargain.

I like this holster quite a bit, and am pleased to give it an enthusiastic thumbs-up for superior workman, clever design, value, and durability.

That is all.

Obligatory FTC Disclaimer: Dragon Leather Works provided one Pistol Pouch to the proprietor of this blog for review.