Your latest post on the SW1911 brought a question to mind. I carry a Kimber Ultra and am still on my quest for that ideal holster fit. I was wondering what yours is in?Wanting to give support to a local I started with Tucker Answer. Then I tried a Kydex IWB. Currently I attempted to roll my own as a cross between the Answer and the Super Tuck. Trying to decide my next purchase or creation. Also finding a good IWB mag pouch is tough.I find getting a good fit that doesn't printhard at 5'6" 185lb. So I'm not fat but am carrying a spare and i'm not talking about a magazine. (yes I know the masses are clueless but my 5yr old boy isn't and doesn't have a strong grasp of think before you speak, my 2yr old is sneaky and pulls on everything)
Man, do I know what that's like. I've had TheBoy suddenly decide that he loves his old man and wants to show it RIGHT NOW in a store and give me a big hug, only to look up at me quizzically... Concealed means concealed, of course; however the rules go out the window when your kid wants a hug. Having a good, solid holster that stays in place and doesn't move when someone of the small person variety happens across it is a very good thing.
I carry my 1991A1 in a JMG IWB 3.2 holster that I originally picked up for my Glock G30. Interestingly enough, it's quite comfortable and carries very well, with the caveat that I need a decent cover garment or it sticks out too much for my liking. I know there's about as many IWB/CCW holsters as there are flavors of 1911s out there, and have very little experience with anything other than what I'm currently using. I've thought about getting something a little more contoured to the Officer's 1911, so Patrick's question couldn't have come at a better time.
So, to those of you who carry one of John Moses Browning's greatest creation, what do you carry your 1911 in?
That is all.
I carry my 1991A1 in a JMG IWB 3.2 holster that I originally picked up for my Glock G30. Interestingly enough, it's quite comfortable and carries very well, with the caveat that I need a decent cover garment or it sticks out too much for my liking. I know there's about as many IWB/CCW holsters as there are flavors of 1911s out there, and have very little experience with anything other than what I'm currently using. I've thought about getting something a little more contoured to the Officer's 1911, so Patrick's question couldn't have come at a better time.
So, to those of you who carry one of John Moses Browning's greatest creation, what do you carry your 1911 in?
That is all.
21 comments:
Oh please. Please let a anyone chime in....
I have a CPL, and a 1911, but I haven't carried yet (I know. BAD!), and the main reason why, is because it doesn't fit on my person. I weigh 130lbs, 5'4", and whatever I do you can totally tell that I am packing a hand-cannon. Appendix carry? Nope, you can see it. Shoulder holster? Only if I want to wear a bulky jacket (Not going to happen in July/Aug/Sept in my neck of the woods). I guess I could open carry, but the police around here are known to be incredibly corrupt, and I would rather not deal with the harassment.
Anyone? Any man or woman want to give me hints? I don't want to carry it in a concealed carry purse because my back is kinda messed up and it hurts my back to carry it in a bag.
What should I do, short of buying a Kel-tec 9mm? I want to carry my .45
Thanks in advance!
I carry a 9mm Springer EMP in a Bianchi Model 100, size 10. It is inexpensive (50 bucks), well made, and was readily available when I bought the EMP. It is clip-on, so it is easy to remove when I have to go into the kiddoes' School or the Post Office. It is IWB, very thin... conceals well, and with a good belt is so comfortable to that I have actually forgotten I was Carrying and had to turn around on a walk to School .....
.... my only complaint is that I wish it had a little forward cant, so that the butt of the gun would not print so badly if I bend at the waist. Someday, when I have fewer dependents and more money, I may figure out a different, more perfect solution.... maybe have that Evil Robot guy make me a custom rig.... for now, I just bend at the knees.....
It is not hug proof, but all the people in my life that I would allow a hug from already know I Carry a gun all the time and know that they do not talk about Dad's gun.
My 1911SC rides around, most of the time, in a K&D Holsters IWB Defender.
http://kdholsters.com/iwb-owb-defend.php
Scroll down to Thunderbird Defender (IWB/OWB) for the closest thing he stills sells to what I purchased. It's basically exactly like what he's selling now except I have no slits for OWB carry.
It's the 2nd holster of that design pattern I've purchased from him, the first being for a CZ RAMI. Seems he updates the design every year or two and in my experience they just keep getting better. I have two other OWB rigs from him too that are rarely used. Not because there's a problem w/ the holster but because I rarely carry those guns.
And, yes, the rig is comfortable. You can adjust the cant all you want. The backing keeps it from sliding all around (unlike some of my other rigs) and it's a tuckable design.
I also carry my 1911 in an OWB getup from Galco. I often find the K&D rig more comfortable. Only when I'm wearing a really long shirt and tight pants does the OWB rig come out.
K&D is my 1st stop when I've got the time to wait on a holster. The price is nice, quality meets my expectations, customer service is friendly, turnaround time isn't bad and it's always on time.
Plus about 6 years ago I put out a request on a forum asking for suggestions on a holster for a buddy running around in a tank in Iraq. Supply chain issues meant he was carrying his M9 in poorly made nylon local junk that kept breaking. Kevin from K&D mailed me a nice OWB rig with my buddies initials on it free of charge and had it in my mailbox within a week. Yeah, he gets my business.
Eye? That a full size 1911? Steel frame? You female?
You'll have to dress around a gun that big.... even as flat as Ol' Slabsides is, seems most womenfolk want as small a waistline as possible. Adding 2" is usually out of the question....
When I carry my Springfield MilSpec (Gov't size), it goes in a Lobo Gunleather IWB, underneath a baggy t-shirt. I keep it at around 8:30 or so (lefty!). I'm 6'2/180. It'll poke me in the buttcheek if I sit funny, and I have to double check when getting out of vehicles that my shirt hasn't caught on the grip, but it works. The holster is pretty comfortable.
I think an officer-sized 1911 is in the future for me.
FWIW those of us who still worship at the alter of JMB have been offered a new option recently.
ATC(?) out of the PI has a six-shot OM-sized version out that is really nice. My local store is selling it at at a little over $500.00 which means it can probably be had for less... Good sights, nice trigger, and all steel.
Eyehaightewe,
Breda just posted a very handy primer on what to wear that's well-worth a read...
jimbob86 - Yes. Full-size GI issue Springfield Armory M1911A1. I call it "the husband". I have a "boyfriend" too, in the form of a Mossberg 500 (Yeah, I know. I was stupid for not investing in the 590 in the first place. Such a pain in the ass to get a bayonet lug on the 500).
JayG - Just read it. Bummer deal though. Looks like I'm going to have to do some clothes shopping this weekend.
At 6'6" and two hundred and mumble-mumble pounds I've no problem with a full size 1911.
Summertime holster is a leather IWB by a local maker. Carried at 4 o'clock. Spare mag in horizontal pouch on left side. Both covered with loose shirt.
In cooler weather I use a OWB Galco FL212B covered by a jacket.
I switch to a Galco Jackass shoulder rig for long distance drives. Bolster on car seat pushes 1911 into hip and causes major pain after 200 miles or so.
I rock my 1911Sc in a Miami Classic II shoulder rig. In cool weather its easy to conceal with a flannel shirt or a zip-front sweat shirt. In summer a light cotton button-down actually does a decent job but not as discreet as say my pocket holster for my J-frame.
I tote a Colt in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2, which I've found to be a very nice IWB for the two years I've used it. I'm 5'10", 170, and a normal (not tight) untucked T-shirt will hide it just fine.
Rather than wait months (and months) to get it from Milt directly, I picked it up at Brownells, who had them in stock at the time (they're on backorder now, tho).
When concealment used to matter, I carried in a Galco NSA II.
I didn't like how the holster would let the pistol rotate forward, but it sure did conceal well. It's important to pay attention when getting the single belt hook in place, and wear the belt tight, or it's possible to pull the holster out with the pistol when you draw. However, I must have done tens of thousands of draws from that holster, and as long as I was wearing a proper gunbelt I never had issues.
I've had several other IWB holsters but they were all noticeably bulkier and less comfortable. I'd like to try a Comp-tac MTAC at some point though.
Oh, and I was searched by a cop once wearing a full size 1911 in my Galco NSA II and the dude missed my gun. I mean, I told him I was carrying and he missed it! He found my mag though. Yes I was carrying legally, it's a long story.
As a cheap option, an Uncle Mike's Sidekick really does work well. I keep a few around in case I need to carry a pistol I don't use enough to justify a real holster for. I find I'm using a Sidekick a lot lately to carry a Kahr P9 or Colt Detective Special. They're comfortable, stay in place (I use them mostly when I'm riding my mountain bike), and the pistols sit low in the waistband so there is no real printing, but I can still draw fairly quickly. The one I use regularly I've had since 2006, and it has probably seen about a year's worth of carry in that time and isn't falling apart or anything.
I took a chance on the Bianchi 120 Covert Option recently. It's stiff and bulky, but actually conceals fairly well unless you're wearing a tight shirt. It stays in place just fine, but it's kind of hard to put on. It's possible to deactivate the thumb safety when holstering, so that's an issue. I'm happy enough with it, for my purposes, but I wish I had bought an MTAC instead.
- Weambulance
Weambulance - I'm an MTAC lover. In fact I just bought another one since their 10% off sale ends today!
I carry my Kimber Ultra Raptor in a Don Hume PCCH. It's comfortable and holds the pistol securely. I did a review of it here.
This: http://www.bestbelt.com/product/gunleather/1337.html
From the few reviews I found, it's comparable to a Milt Sparks VMII, but I didn't have to wait six months to get one.
Built well, and carries a full-size steel 1911 comfortably on my 5'11 160-pound frame.
+1 on the Milt Sparks. Worth the wait.
DeSantis outside the waistband Thumb Break Mini Slide.
http://www.desantisholster.com/storefrontB2CWEB/browse.do?action=refresh_browse&ctg_id=984
Not a full scabbard but it allows me to carry either my full size Kimber or my four inch.
Carried just behind the hip, southpaw, with an open workshirt over it. 6-3 and 250lb so conceals easy.
Sometimes I wonder if holster thread shouldn't just be people listing what they've found doesn't work.
It's one of those things where once you find a solution for you there's no point in looking any further. For instance I bet a Comp-Tac rig similar to my K&D would be just fine, but I'll never buy one because I don't feel the need.
With that in mind, holsters (although not for a 1911) that don't work for me:
- Uncle Mike's Kydex paddle holster. Slides around too much and makes noise.
- Fobus Kydex OWB. Clunky, no cant adjustment, and it'll give me a wedgie any time I draw from it.
Shoulder rig from A.E. Nelson [thanks for the tip Farmer Frank].
In summer a light overshirt, no print.
Retention is great and if your hackles get up a simple thumb flick and your in clamshell, very fast.
I'm only 5'4" 150lbs, but have no problem with my Kimber Custom Compact in either a Galco summer special IWB or Wild Bill Concealment IWB at the 3/4 o'clock position (depending on belt loops). I wear a t-shirt tucked in and a button down sports shirt over the top (5.11 or North face, etc.). For me, the key is wearing dark colors on the over shirt and watching how I bend over (at the knees not at the waist).
The feedback is great.
For me shoulder holster is out. It sounds like everyone oves the Summer Special style and various double loop styles. May try to pick up something in the summer special styling.
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