My carry gun & holster *fell out* of my pants!

[Trebor]

I thought I'd share this in case someone else can learn from it.

I had my carry gun, with holster, *fall out* of my pants last night.

The gun is a S&W Model 65 with a 3" barrel. The holster is an Alessi Talon. This is a very nice, very well made, clip-on IWB holster. I usually carry at the appendix carry position, just in front of the right hip.

I've used this set up for a couple years with no problems... until now. I was grocery shopping and noticed that the gun "felt different" so I reached under my jacket to check it or adjust it as needed and the whole thing went clattering to the floor! I know I didn't pull the holster off my waistband as I'd barely touched it when it fell out. It must have already worked itself loose and my touching it disturbed the equallibrium.

It hit the ground with a loud clank and I quickly scooped it up and stuck it back in my waistband and under my jacket. There were people nearby, but no one seemed to notice exactly what it was I dropped or if they did, they didn't care.

The clip is OK and still seems to have tension, so I don't think it was a holster failure. The only thing I can think of is that I must not have made absolutely sure it was secure when I holstered up and it worked loose while I was out. I'll be keeping a closer eye on it for awhile and double checking that it's secure before I leave the house.

It's also possible that I accidently unclipped it from my pants by adjusting it for comfort when I got into my car. I don't specifically remember adjusting it that time, but it's fairly common for me to move it around just a little to find the "sweet spot" where it's comfortable both standing and sitting. I'm talking about just an inch or two either way here.

The funny thing is I finally remembered to take a couple pics of the gun and holster set up earlier that day. I know it's not related, but now I consider it "bad luck" to take a picture of my carry gun!

Here's a pic of the gun in the holster and a couple pics of just the gun. These were taken before the fall, but I didn't notice any damage to either one when I inspected them later.

So, anyone else have anything similiar happen?

 

[ChristopherG]

Were you wearing a belt?

 

[Husker1911]

I've a Levis jean jacket that's just waist-length. It has a nasty habit of pulling the clipped knife from my front pocket. The jacket hem is just the right length to snag the belt clip.

 

[Trebor]

Were you wearing a belt?

Good question.

Yes, of course, but that's a logical question.

I was wearing an Aker 1 1/2" "dress" gun belt. It's leather with a kydex reinforcement liner.

I clip the holster to my pants, IWB, and then put the belt over the clip. That's always been secure in the past.

I have noticed that I sometimes miss a belt loop, and that would affect the stiffness of the set up. I wouldn't think it would make *that* much of a difference, but it's something else to be aware of in the future.

 

[blutarsky]

funny -- i had the same thing happen for the first time at home just about 2-3 hrs ago with a 3" gp100 and a relatively cheap 'bianchi 6D' holster (my sometimes at-home only carry setup). i was just lounging around and making dinner after walking out in the woods when i noticed everything suddenly sliding down the back of my leg.... luckily for me i was at home in my kitchen, and not in public, but it made me think long & hard about my next holster choice (perhaps NOT one with a clip, and instead one with loops to positively secure to a belt).

 

[dmazur]

When I used IWB holsters, I found that most of the metal clips had to have an "edge" to lock against, like a stiff belt. It's just possible that putting the belt over the clip isn't as secure as if the clip went over the belt...

 

[ChristopherG]

putting the belt over the clip isn't as secure as if the clip went over the belt...

That would be my thought, as well. I've used a clip holster only a little--but I think I would want the clip to have a good mouthful to grab.

Sorry for the awkward and potentially dangerous moment, and hope it doesn't happen for you again. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I have only ever used a pocket holster. I don't worry about shirt tail length, access while wearing a coat or it falling out unless I stumble into one of these.

 

[Soybomb]

I clip the holster to my pants, IWB, and then put the belt over the clip. That's always been secure in the past.

Nevermind I was going to say to wear it over your belt but I might be mistaken, I think lou alessi's clip is meant to go behind the belt

 

[Robert Hairless]

My sympathies, Trebor. I've used Alessi's Talon Plus for years without such an accident. I've never used them for appendix carry, though.

Is it possible that what happened was the result of several factors combining? If the holster was just a bit askew, perhaps your thigh pushed it up just far enough so that any additional shifting around loosened it completely.

Folks, this Alessi holster clips directly on the waistband, under a belt. I've sometimes worn the holster without a belt.

 

[Trebor]

Is it possible that what happened was the result of several factors combining? If the holster was just a bit askew, perhaps your thigh pushed it up just far enough so that any additional shifting around loosened it completely. [/quoe]

Oh yeah, I'm sure there were several things going on at once that made this happen.

I can think of a few things that might have contributed right off and I posted those.

I figure it has to be a combo of factors since I've been carrying this way for two or three years and never had anything remotely like this happen before. The clip still looks good, so it wasn't a holster failure per se.

I'll just be keeping my eye on it for the future.

 

[Harpo]

I've had similar problems with clip type holsters, and cell phone holders, for that matter. Any pressure from the bottom can unclip them. A good stiff belt (the leather kind, lol) helps. Triple K and others make some that are 1/4" thick, and do a much better job of retaining clips than the average dress belt.

But the best cure is to use a holster with belt loops!

 

[jrfoxx]

bummer. Hope you figure out what happened.

On rare occasion I carry a S&W m637 in a cheap Uncle Mike's IMB holster, and while neither it, or the gun have ever even started to slip out/off, I have always been leary of a clip-type iwb holster for that reason, so I carry 99% of the time in a regular OWB retention holster. But, I know thta is not an opion for some people, or it simply isnt thier preferance. I just find it more secure, more comfortable, and in OR, I dont have to worry legally about printing, "flashing", open carry, or being well concealed, and for personal preferance, I dont care how visible or invisible it is, except in VERY rare, circumstances. Thats just me though. YMMV.

Seems odd a good quality holster with a metal clip would be likely to come loose if it was put on "properly" at the start, but stranger things have certainly happened.it was probly a fluke deal with lots of factors that just happened to add up the right way, at the right time.

 

[bogie]

Since when did THR become...

"I'm such a numbnuts that I did something stupid, so I'm going to brag about it to the world, Brady, and Chuckie Schumer!"

Sheesh.

 

[Zedicus]

Not exactly the best IWB to use for a Revolver....

 

[bogie]

This is neither Youtube or Break.com... We do not reward our members for figuratively riding a skateboard halfway down someone else's expensive set of stairs, and then ensuring a darwinian trip to the emergency room either.

 

[jrfoxx]

I'm confused. How is the OP a "numbnuts" who "did something stupid"? isnt that holster designed for IWB use, with a revolver? sure looks like it. Appears to be revolver shaped, not auto shaped to me. It's obviously a good fit also, since the entire holster fell out, not the gun out of the holster, even when it hit the floor (unless it fell out then and the OP doesnt mention it).

Looks to me like he used a holtser designed for IWB, in the manner in which it was designed, with the type of gun for which it was designed, and had a random moment of fluke, bad luck. How is this "stupid", and how does this help "Brady, and Chuckie Schumer!", and how is it in ANY way related to some kid riding a skateboard down someone's stairs and posting the video online? I also dont see him asking for any "rewards" from us, nor do I see anyone giving him any "reward" for his incident.

Am I missing something in the OP that you read, Bogie?
sheesh!

As to not being the best holster for a revolver, I have no idea, and generally best is very subjective, but Zedicus could be in the majority, and thus effectively correct on that. Still doesnt seem like the problem was wrong gun/holster combo to me.....

 

[moooose102]

i have bianchi holsters, the clip on them is so strong, and of such a design, that you would loose your pants way before your holster would come off. next time you are in a gun store, check them out, and pay particular attention to the clip. it has sort of a double lock system on it. you can still slide it side to side, but you have to work very hard to remove it from your waistband. you may want to get one of them! i absoloutly KNOW that the holster will be there, ALWAYS.

 

[AndyC]

I'm not familiar with the exact design of the clip on the Alessi, but I haven't owned an IWB holster with a clip for at least 20 years now - I had an embarassing experience at a club-level competition where I drew and the whole flippin' thing came out. Lesson learned.

 

[.cheese.]

I have Galco IWB holster for a Glock 27 with a similar clip from what it looks like and I've never had this kind of problem.

I'm wondering if maybe the smooth surface of the leather on the OP's holster made it easy for the gun to move around and become more loose than if the holster had been some rougher type of material like center cut steerhide.

Like this:

 

[A-190]

Never did nor do like those clip on's
I have seen numerous cops loose their weapons that way. FOr security purposes, get a standard belt and hook it to a holster. Beats the worry other wise.

 

[Spenser]

I had it happen with a pocket holster while wearing a suit. I was sitting down in a restaraunt and heard metal plunk onto the carpet. I was sitting with my back to a wall and behind the table, so nobody saw the thing. But it was highly embarrassing, to say the least.

I no longer use the pocket holster when I wear a suit. There's not enough heavy fabric to keep the thing in place, even with a good holster. Lesson learned.

In this case, it was a bianchi pocket holster and a Sig 232.

It's another underscoring of the awesome responsibility we have if we undertake the bearing of arms. It's more serious than dropping your cell phone, that's for sure. This WILL NOT happen to me again.

 

[Dravur]

"I'm such a numbnuts that I did something stupid, so I'm going to brag about it to the world, Brady, and Chuckie Schumer!"

Or to put it another way and into perspective.....

I'm such a numbnuts that I did something stupid. Here is what I did. Learn from my mistakes. What could I have done differently and moreover...learn from my mistakes.

There, fixed it for ya.

 

[daddyo]

I had this happen with an Uncle Mike's IWB and a Rossi .357 . At the time I attributed it to the cheap plastic clip on the holster. Then the same thing happened with the Bianchi I got to replace it. The clip is so tight on it it cuts my fingers somewhat to get it on. After a little research I determined that the clip has to encompass the seam that runs along the belt line. Plain fabric will slip right through. If there's no seam available (dress pants) I clip it over the belt. Either way, you have to have something substantial in the clip that can't be easily removed. Easy-on means easy-off.

 

[Claude Clay]

the metal clip MUST have a -- j -- hook at the bottom and the belt must fit between the top and inside the j. 100% retention
this style clip rather requires that you thread the belt through it to put it on.