Trousers always being pulled down. Time to look at a shoulder holster again.

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Float Pilot

Float Pilot

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Back when I had to carry every day in uniform I got used to drawing from the belt with my right hand.
Later I went plain clothes and tried using a shoulder holster with the gun hanging horizontally, thus a straight forward draw. ( the original Miami Vice was probably on TV then )

Anyway, one day I was trying to arrest a couple dirtbags in front of a bank and when I finally got one of them on the ground my jacket came open with my 1911 swinging around for the perp to see. Of course his eyes locked right onto it and he went for it. Fortunately I had a M-19 snubby in the middle of my back, so things worked out ok.

I stopped using shoulder holsters from then on and went to a high as possible pancake belt holster for the next 10 years or so.

These days I am long since retired, but due to recent events have been forced to carry every day again. The difference now being that I cannot afford to have it being seen.

I have been carting around my 3 inch 44 Special or my 1911, and even Hi Power using holsters like speed scabbards or hi-rise pancakes. HOWEVER.... the weight continually dislocates my trousers. If I tighten the heck out of my belt it eventually makes my guts hurt. In fact the Doc told me to knock off the tight belt business.

So I may have to go back to a quality shoulder holster for my Browning.... OR maybe one of the newer deals that look like a giant Ace bandage.

I rather like the vertical type shoulder holsters that hold in pace better and are not pointing behind you all the time. Like the old Bianchi X15s. I guess they still make them, but nothing on their site explains which size to buy for a Hi-Power.

I heard there is now some European holster maker building vertical leather holsters. Amazon sells them under the name CRAFT HOLSTERS. Does any know about them ???
How About the body wrap looking things ? Has anyone tried those for every day carry ? They look like a good way to over-heat.
 
I found the Ace bandage style of holster uncomfortable, prone to shift around, and sweaty.
 
I think Safariland still makes the old Bianchi X15 shoulder holster. A company named the Cattle Baron Leather Company use to make the original Dirty Harry holster and I believe they made one for full size semi-autos too (the Marauder model?). Might look for one used. Also check out Ted Blocker for a vertical shoulder holster too.
 
I had a cross draw 2 gun holster made by Black Hills Leather in Texas for my Glock 20s. I paid an extra 40-50 bucks and can switch it over to have magazines on a side. It was about a 2 month turn around but well worth it.
 
Float Pilot said:
I rather like the vertical type shoulder holsters that hold in pace better and are not pointing behind you all the time. Like the old Bianchi X15s. I guess they still make them, but nothing on their site explains which size to buy for a Hi-Power.
Click to expand...
I've found most anything made for a 1911 works just fine for the hipower.
Or
Have you considered wearing suspenders?
 
Now that I'm older and carry owb a lot, suspenders work wonders on helping keep the pants off the ground. I'm retired LEO also. Had one of the Crockett Shoulder holsters with a S&W 645 in the 80's myself.
 
I tried a "Belly Band" it didn't workout, there was another type that went entirely below the belt line, then when you pulled the exposed tab, out it came, it lasted until I tried it the first time, had my son send it back.

Now I use a Alienware IWB, fully adjustable cant and depth, with Lifetime warranty. Have had mine about 7 or 8 years, daily wear, still working as it should. Although I do have some of the Belt sag.. Occasionally, I go OWB with custom made Leather, same sag going on...

I don't know of a Belt holster that wouldn't cause some sag... Maybe I should try the suspenders...

Good luck
 
Most all holsters made for a 1911 will work just fine for a Browning HP
Click to expand...

My belt holsters all work like that. But for some reason my Galco horizontal shoulder holster for my 1911 will not snap over my hi-power. Almost but not quite there...

I may have to try the John Wayne belt and suspenders together deal...
 
1911 holsters do fit Hi-Power, but not quite well - 1911 is about 0.45" longer and has a thicker slide.
Those holsters you saw at Amazon, at least from the pictures provided, look just like the Italian Vega holsters - http://www.vegaholstershop.com/. They are well made and reasonably priced, but do not offer a Hi-Power specific holster - they will offer you a 1911 holster. You have to consider that almost all of the companies that sell machine made holsters do not offer a Hi-Power specific model, because it's just cheaper to use the 1911 mold instead. That is not a big deal actually - with just a little imagination and skill one can make them a near perfect fit.
If you choose to go to belt & suspenders option, may I suggest to get the button attachment type - more hassle, but more secure than clip attachment.

Best,
Boris

P.S. It seems that Bianchi holsters are now part of Safariland group and are offered thru their site. That link should show you the X15 model for Hi-Power: http://www.safariland.com/products/...528&prefv2=none&prefn3=mountListText&start=11
 
I have found that admitting age and sagging are a fact of life. Buying pants with a larger waist size and a heavy stiff cow hide belt works for me. I use a plastic paddle for my Colt 1911 .38 Super all day no more tugging my pants up.:thumbup:
 
Sagging pants are generally a consequence of wearing trousers at the hips, instead of the waist. If you wear your pants at the waist (a bit higher) there's often no physical way for them to slide down, because your hips are larger than the waistband of your trousers. OTOH, if you wear them at your hips - your widest point - then only friction keeps them in place. A side effect of wearing trousers at your hips is that, once you get used to the feeling, it is quite a bit more comfortable.
 
You really need a better belt. A regular belt isn't stiff enough to hold up your pants with the iron attached.
If you really want a shoulder holster, look at the Uncle Mike's. Used one on occasion in the CF. Comfortable and inexpensive. Holds my BHP and my Colt 1911A1 with no fuss. Size adjustable too.
 
ATLDave said:
Sagging pants are generally a consequence of wearing trousers at the hips, instead of the waist. If you wear your pants at the waist (a bit higher) there's often no physical way for them to slide down, because your hips are larger than the waistband of your trousers. .
Click to expand...

Well that may be true for people in shape, but not all of us can say that.

Remember, round is a shape too.
 
I ain't exactly an ectomorph. Trust me, go up high enough, and you have a waist that is smaller than what is below. Talk to any real tailor (not the alterations lady - an actual make-suits-from-scratch tailor) about it - he'll tell you.

People have just gotten so used to wearing pants (mostly jeans) at their hips that they don't even understand what wearing pants at the waist even feels like.
 
entropy said:
I've said it in other threads. Perry Suspenders. No metal clips, side or Y attachment versions.
Click to expand...
+1, but get the dress version. Metal adjustment clips, not the plastic ones. Those are bulky and will flip off the belt. Perry has a good idea, but really needs a setup that closes all the way around the belt.
 
Back to the OP...The big headache with a normal shoulder rig is that you need to be relatively thin to get at the gun. John Bianchi's rule of thumb was that you needed to be able to touch the muscle behind the armpit to use a shoulder holster well. Personally, I think there's a market for a strong-side, butt to the rear, shoulder setup.
 
I use a heavy duty belt. AKA River Belt.
I am 73 inches and 218 lbs.
I used to be 235 pounds for awhile. Loosing weight gave me a flat ass and not enough reduction in belly.
I was born when Eisenhower was in Office. So I don't do the hip hugger deal.
Need to get back to work.
 
ATLDave said:
I ain't exactly an ectomorph. Trust me, go up high enough, and you have a waist that is smaller than what is below. Talk to any real tailor (not the alterations lady - an actual make-suits-from-scratch tailor) about it - he'll tell you.

People have just gotten so used to wearing pants (mostly jeans) at their hips that they don't even understand what wearing pants at the waist even feels like.
Click to expand...

Oh, they remember-when they're 85+ and living in Miami.....The only other 'style' I can think of in 'recent memory' similar is the Zoot Suit. I ain't no hep cat, man.
On me, where my waist is smaller than what's below would be called an "Empire" waist. I'm not a female in the 1830's either.
 
Retired LEO here. I lost about 30 lbs after I retired. I found that the weight of my weapon also would cause my pants to slowly come down. I started using a belt made of woven stretch cord fabric. This belt can be easily made tighter by snugging it up. It still allows for easy movement and keeps my gun riding high.
 
There's probably a business opportunity here. Suspender appendix holster. Puts the gun at about the 2 o'clock position, but higher than the belt. Wear a jacket/coat over it.
 
I recently heard theyre now making guns out of really light weight materials. Plastic even. Seriously, not kidding.

I use suspenders sometimes. Having a back injury, part of which affects my hip and sciatic nerve, light weight guns can help.
 
ATLDave said:
Sagging pants are generally a consequence of wearing trousers at the hips, instead of the waist. If you wear your pants at the waist (a bit higher) there's often no physical way for them to slide down, because your hips are larger than the waistband of your trousers. OTOH, if you wear them at your hips - your widest point - then only friction keeps them in place. A side effect of wearing trousers at your hips is that, once you get used to the feeling, it is quite a bit more comfortable.
Click to expand...


Be happy if your hips are your widest point, mine used to be, I use suspenders. Time and gravity change things. What once worked may no more.
 
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