Uncommon Handguns and Holsters?

[21H40]

I'm interested in getting a new pistol, but the main reason I'm holding back is holster availability. My 1911 has lots of options, but where do you go for the less popular designs?

Specifically, I'm looking at this Tanfoglio and want a good IWB

 

[JTQ]

I do the same thing. Since I'm a serial holster shopper, before I buy a somewhat odd gun, I always look for holster options. This is often exacerbated by the fact that many holster makers either don't have a "guns supported" list, or don't update it very often.

A couple holster makers I've checked for odd-ball guns in the past, PJ Holsters ( https://pjholster.com/p/gun-models-available ), and High Noon Holsters ( https://highnoonholsters.com/ ) don't show that gun on their list.

The other problem with that particular gun is figuring out a cross reference for it. Tanfoglio is not common in the US, but EAA carried many of those guns under their Witness name. I don't follow EAA very closely, but it looks like they may have pared down their Witness guns. https://eaacorp.com/

Another option you'll often find is holsters sold by the gun maker. Kahr, Kimber, and Ruger, often have holsters for sale in their on-line store. These are usually from known makers, so the gun maker shows some style of holster, but it's not what you want, you can go to the holster maker with the understanding that they have a mold for that gun, and they can probably make a different holster for your gun. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if Tanfoglio sells holsters off their site. https://www.italianfirearmsgroup.com/ftitalia/

Another option, since Tanfoglio is a Euro Company, there may be some Euro holster makers that have holsters available in the US that support that gun model. Falco ( https://www.falcoholsters.com/ ) is one, they have a US distributor that several folks have holsters from, but the US Company name doesn't come to me right now.

Edit to add: Just as a point of reference, I've avoided even common guns like the Beretta 92 family since there are so many differences with the guns, such as straight/slanted dust cover, round/square trigger guards, railed/non-railed, standard/Vertec/Brigadier slides, etc., that figuring out what holsters would work with almost anything other than a standard M9/92FS is still somewhat of a mystery. Instead, I still picked a somewhat odd gun, the PX4, but it is a full size 9mm, and all full size 9mm PX4's are the same - rail, trigger guard, slide, etc. It's not a terribly common gun, but there aren't many differences within the model lineup.

 

[JTQ]

Doing an internet search for "Tanfoglio (whatever the gun model is) holster" or "holster for..." whatever the EAA name was when they carried it, and choosing "images", I find is a lot faster way to find holsters than looking for standard "hits" on a search. Modifying your search for IWB or OWB or leather or kydex or whatever also speeds up the search.

 

[JTQ]

Kramer shows the "Witness Compact" on their list https://www.kramerleather.com/collections/pistol/products/belt-scabbard

However, as I mentioned, I don't know the EAA line-up well enough to know if that is what you have or if the Witness Compact is a steel or poly gun, or has a rail or not.

 

[tarosean]

Seems to be a good time to learn to make your own?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Seems to be a good time to learn to make your own?

I second that -- it's not hard to make good holsters. And you can make four or five for what one "store boughten" holster would cost.

 

[somethingbenign]

My default for odd holsters is https://blackrhinoconcealment.com/
They are pretty decent and are willing to do about any design. Worst case I have heard of is you might need to send them the pistol so they can make a mold. Send them an email if you gun isn't listed and they will let you know what the options are. Unfortunately their lead time is a bit long right now.

 

[StrawHat]

Looking for a holster for an add brand is hard but try finding one for a fixed sighted revolver when there is also an adjustable sighted revolver of the same type! The two are not the same and the holsters should reflect the difference.


Kevin

 

[wayneinFL]

You might check around locally.

We had a guy at our IPSC club who custom made Kydex holsters, and wasn't real expensive. And there's someone at the gun shows now who makes custom leather holsters. I don't know what she charges for custom work, but her handmade holsters for common makes are not much more than what you'd pay for Don Hume.

 

[JTQ]

Looking for a holster for an add brand is hard but try finding one for a fixed sighted revolver when there is also an adjustable sighted revolver of the same type! The two are not the same and the holsters should reflect the difference.


Kevin

Since I'm not only a "holster hound", I'm also an "information hound". How would a fixed sight holster differ from and adjustable sight holster.

 

[MrShooter]

You might check gun stores, especially small private type shops. The other day someone came in looking for an oddball holster and my gun dealer pulled out 2 big ole boxes of various new and used holsters for the guy to try on for size.

 

[lee n. field]

I'm interested in getting a new pistol, but the main reason I'm holding back is holster availability. My 1911 has lots of options, but where do you go for the less popular designs?

That is the problem, isn't it.

If you have a Glock, a 1911, S&W J frame, or whatever the current hotness is (P365), you have lots of options. Got something that maybe was popular 20 years ago but not so much now, got some weird snowflake Euro import, not so much.

I've come to think that holster availability is something that's important to research before a gun purchase.

 

[JTQ]

I've come to think that holster availability is something that's important to research before a gun purchase.

Yes it is.

For all the dudes that want to slap a light on their gun and carry it holstered, I always tell them before you buy a light for your gun, to start at the holster. Find a holster that you like, that fits the gun you have, and then look at the lights they offer holsters for, and then choose one of those lights. Picking some odd-ball light because you got it cheap, can mean you'll never find a holster for your gun light combo. Usually, the holster makers will cover Surefire or Streamlight mounted lights, but if you pick something else you may be out of luck.

 

[JTQ]

Falco ( https://www.falcoholsters.com/ ) is one, they have a US distributor that several folks have holsters from, but the US Company name doesn't come to me right now.

It finally came to me - Craft Holsters https://www.craftholsters.com/

If that is an EAA Witness Polymer Compact equivalent, these are the options https://www.craftholsters.com/eaa-witness-elite-polymer-compact-holsters

 

[StrawHat]

Since I'm not only a "holster hound", I'm also an "information hound". How would a fixed sight holster differ from and adjustable sight holster.

I prefer holster that fit the revolver and hold it because they are properly fitted. The Sunday Scabbard and the ThreePersons are classic examples. The N frame revolvers that I favor come with fixed or adjustable sights. The adjustable sighted revolver are very slightly thicker from the top strap to the frame in front of the trigger guard. It makes a difference.

Here is a video I made to show the leathersmith how his holster did not fit the Model 22-4 for which it was ordered. He used a blue gun model of a Model 28-2 as the form.

Interesting, I can upload images but not videos? Okay, rules, I get it.

What the video showed was this scabbard, a black basket weave Sunday scabbard with the Model 22-4 inserted inside, when held upside down (grips toward the flor) retained the revolver for less than two seconds. Not good. The same holster, with a Model 625-6 Mountain Gun in it and the same test, would hold the revolver until my arm got tired. The only difference? The sights.

If that explanation is not clear, ask more questions, I will answer to the best of my ability.

The Sunday scabbard with the Model 625-6.



Kevin

 

[JTQ]

The adjustable sighted revolver are very slightly thicker from the top strap to the frame in front of the trigger guard. It makes a difference.

Thanks. I would not have thought of those dimensions being different, but it does make sense.

I also wasn't thinking of a ThreePersons type holster, and would have anticipated the cylinder and trigger guard as the primary retention points, which clearly a ThreePersons would not have retention at the trigger guard.

 

[StrawHat]

The ThreePersons and the Sunday scabbard, if correctly built, rely on the welt of the holster pushing against the frame of the revolver to hold it securely.


If you recall the story by Skeeter Skelton, Tom Threepersons took an existing holster and whittled away everything not needed. The holster he whittled on was not mentioned but if the story is true, it had to be the Sunday scabbard.


Kevin

 

[Blkhrt13]

The seems like a good time to hunt for local makers as has been said. Big makers want to stick to the most profit not truly support all of the community.

 

[Styx]

I'm interested in getting a new pistol, but the main reason I'm holding back is holster availability. My 1911 has lots of options, but where do you go for the less popular designs?

Specifically, I'm looking at this Tanfoglio and want a good IWB

View attachment 1146481

Have you done a Google search? I just checked, and I see two or three offerings for the Tanfogilo Force Compact F. I'd go with Craft or Falco Holsters (same holsters). They are made to order, and if you order from the Falco website, you can customize the holster as you wish and there will be more holster options. I've ordered from them before, and didn't have any issues.

Other than that, look for custom holster makers in your area. I have a custom kydex holster maker company not to faw from be that I can go there with any firearm, and they'll make the holster for me while I wait. I never been in a situation where I couldn't find any holsters for a gun I wanted, so holster options have never stopped me from purchasing a pistol I wanted. It's more difficult to find holsters for guns with lights, lasers, red dots, and other accessories attached than to find a holster for any base model pistol.

FYI: Nothing wrong with Tanfogilos. I know a few people who own one and speak highly of them. I seen a few members on the BrianEnos forum and Reddit mention they use them for competition shooting. Not a snowflake guns or brand at all.

 

[shafter]

I've come to think that holster availability is something that's important to research before a gun purchase.

This is the truth. For concealed carry the holster is just as important as the firearm. Lots of good firearms out there that don't have alot of holster options. That's a large part of why I carry Glock.

 

[lee n. field]

Have you done a Google search? I just checked, and I see two or three offerings for the Tanfogilo Force Compact F. I'd go with Craft or Falco Holsters (same holsters). They are made to order, and if you order from the Falco website, you can customize the holster as you wish and there will be more holster options. I've ordered from them before, and didn't have any issues.

I find g00gle, or any of the search engines, and Amazon, to be worthless for holster searches. I get page after page of stuff I know to be total crap. I'm far enough along in the game, and have been burned enough times*, to have a good idea of what works for me and what doesn't.

Somewhat more useful, is an image search, and visually scan the results for something that looks promising.

(*the Box of Regrettable Holsters is a real thing.)

 

[lee n. field]

This is the truth. For concealed carry the holster is just as important as the firearm. Lots of good firearms out there that don't have alot of holster options. That's a large part of why I carry Glock.

The gun is going to spend 99.9% of the time you wear it, inside the holster. The holster needs to be right. It needs to do all the things a holster needs to do, and be comfortable.

 

[Styx]

I find g00gle, or any of the search engines, and Amazon, to be worthless for holster searches. I get page after page of stuff I know to be total crap. I'm far enough along in the game, and have been burned enough times*, to have a good idea of what works for me and what doesn't.

Somewhat more useful, is an image search, and visually scan the results for something that looks promising.

(*the Box of Regrettable Holsters is a real thing.)

It works for me via image search and regular search. I've never had an issue with Amazon or Google searches. I ignore whatever results that don't work for me personally, and look at look at what does.