Please define a “quality” holster.

[earlthegoat2]

There are untold hundreds of quality holsters out there that I will not use because of comfort/preference reasons.

I know leather goods, and leather holsters need to be made from thick leather and often times it needs to be reinforced in areas with more leather or steel, kydex, etc.

Generally a holster needs to stay in place at all times and in all positions including upside down. This can vary from person to person and holster to holster based on body type but can often be mitigated by a good belt.

Needs to perfectly fit the individual gun.

Protects the gun from external wear and tear. Including our corrosive sweat.

 

[JTQ]

Example: many people who carry strong-side IWB have a shirt over the holster. The normal draw in this case includes having the support hand come across the body, grab the shirt, and pull it up and clear of the holster. The primary (gun) hand then draws the weapon. Hence, two hands.

I suspected this may have been where you were going, but that is a cover garment issue and has nothing to do with the holster, whether good or bad.

 

[JTQ]

Here's a video from the late Paul Gomez on choosing carry gear.

 

[Gridley]

I suspected this may have been where you were going, but that is a cover garment issue and has nothing to do with the holster, whether good or bad.

Go back to the original test - the test is "can you draw one handed".

 

[JTQ]

Go back to the original test - the test is "can you draw one handed".

I'm still not clear on how that could be a comment on the quality of the holster, which is the topic, and not the significance of the cover garment.

For instance, lets say I have a Comp-Tac International ( https://comp-tac.com/international-holster-belt-paddle-drop-offset-holster-comp-tac/ ) holster. In June, wearing my tucked in t-shirt at the range, I can draw one handed with no trouble. Obviously, a quality holster. However, in January, wearing a parka, a sweater, and some fleece, I need both hands to get to the holster. Nothing changed about the quality of the holster, merely the cover garment.

 

[Gridley]

I'm still not clear on how that could be a comment on the quality of the holster, which is the topic, and not the significance of the cover garment.

For instance, lets say I have a Comp-Tac International ( https://comp-tac.com/international-holster-belt-paddle-drop-offset-holster-comp-tac/ ) holster. In June, wearing my tucked in t-shirt at the range, I can draw one handed with no trouble. Obviously, a quality holster. However, in January, wearing a parka, a sweater, and some fleece, I need both hands to get to the holster. Nothing changed about the quality of the holster, merely the cover garment.

Fair enough, I see what you're saying now.

However, I'd maintain that if you *can't* get your weapon out with your primary hand alone (unzip the parka, knock it back, lift up the sweater and fleece, draw) there is something wrong. That might be a fault with your holster, belt, cover garments, or some combination. True, it is unfair to automatically blame the holster.

 

[JTQ]

That is discussing how applicable a holster is for a particular situation. There are lots of good holsters, lots of bad one's too. However, even among superb quality holsters, not all are equally good for all, or certain applications.

For instance, small of the back holsters - no matter how well made - are generally a bad choice for most applications, but there are some applications, where they do shine. Conversely, the aforementioned Comp-Tac International is a great competition holster, but it is not particularly good as a concealment holster. These are not statements of the quality of the holster, just how appropriate a holster is for the required application.

 

[9mmepiphany]

However, I'd maintain that if you *can't* get your weapon out with your primary hand alone (unzip the parka, knock it back, lift up the sweater and fleece, draw) there is something wrong. That might be a fault with your holster, belt, cover garments, or some combination. True, it is unfair to automatically blame the holster.

Not only would it be unfair to blame the holster, it would be O/T in this discussion of "What defines a Quality holster"

If truth be told, the only "wrong" is the decision making process of how a CCW is carried