Holster Recommendations Please

[dddddmorgan]

I have a Smith and Wesson Model 19 with a 2.75" barrel.

Absolutely love it at I carried it hunting last year (the main reason for purchase).

My problem is I'm on my second holster and I can't find one that I like.

I can't find anything on the shelf so I've ordered two different ones that weren't very good quality, my bad, I'll remedy this cheap mistake.

So I'll take the plunge and order something good, so I'm looking for recommendations from your real life use.

I'm after something that will stay tight up against me, hold the gun securely and won't wear out the finish with a rough leather inside.

I'm not opposed to a strap. And I've been looking at the Galco that allows strong-side or cross draw.

I can look at the pictures all day but I value the opinion of the experienced above all else. If you have a leather worker that you've used before then let me know.

Thanks

[Sasquatch-1]

I have a Smith and Wesson Model 19 with a 2.75" barrel.

Absolutely love it at I carried it hunting last year (the main reason for purchase).

My problem is I'm on my second holster and I can't find one that I like.

I can't find anything on the shelf so I've ordered two different ones that weren't very good quality, my bad, I'll remedy this cheap mistake.

So I'll take the plunge and order something good, so I'm looking for recommendations from your real life use.

I'm after something that will stay tight up against me, hold the gun securely and won't wear out the finish with a rough leather inside.

I'm not opposed to a strap. And I've been looking at the Galco that allows strong-side or cross draw.

I can look at the pictures all day but I value the opinion of the experienced above all else. If you have a leather worker that you've used before then let me know.

Thanks

Are you looking for a shoulder holster, in the pants, on the belt? Do you want leather, Kydex or ballistic nylon?

For a shoulder holster the leather Galco holster are very nice. I carried a G19 in a Galco modular holster for many years while working.

For in the waistband, I tend to go towards the soft leather. (In my older years I have gotten a little too portly for these.)

For outside the pants on the belt a nice leather pancake holster is nice.

Most better quality leather holster are lined with a soft glove type leather for protection of the firearm.

I have no experience with the Kydex style holsters.

[bosterr]

Look into High Noon Holsters. I have 2 OWB one for each of my 1911s. They're one of the few makers that use a synthetic lining. Get on their email list for occasional sales.

[dddddmorgan]

Sasquatch pointed out my omissions; I want leather, I don't care for Kydex, I'm sure it's fine but I prefer leather.

Don't want a shoulder holster as I'm always carrying my little backpack with survival gear and a water bladder and since I've already got that and a rifle I don't think anything else over or behind the shoulder would be good. Let me know if I'm wrong based on your experience.

[georgerkahn]

I have a Smith and Wesson Model 19 with a 2.75" barrel.

Absolutely love it at I carried it hunting last year (the main reason for purchase).

My problem is I'm on my second holster and I can't find one that I like.

I can't find anything on the shelf so I've ordered two different ones that weren't very good quality, my bad, I'll remedy this cheap mistake.

So I'll take the plunge and order something good, so I'm looking for recommendations from your real life use.

I'm after something that will stay tight up against me, hold the gun securely and won't wear out the finish with a rough leather inside.

I'm not opposed to a strap. And I've been looking at the Galco that allows strong-side or cross draw.

I can look at the pictures all day but I value the opinion of the experienced above all else. If you have a leather worker that you've used before then let me know.

Thanks

Best brand of beer? Best Pizza? Best... holster recommendation? :) :) :) Several years ago I bought a S&W 696 and was faced with a find-a-holster challenge, ending up with a "???" choice of one from Simply Rugged Holsters ( https://www.simplyrugged.com/ ). To say I was super-extremely-elated at what came might be an understatement! So pleased I was/am, I purchased a second from them for another revolver!
Vis both of these, it seemed as if each was adroitly custom fitted to each revolver; both are quite pleasing to the eye; and -- after wearing these in the field -- they surely seem to be holding up better than expected! (No scratches, dull spots, etc.)
Again -- this is MY experience... hope it helps.
geo

[ShooterAZ]

El Paso Saddlery makes some really fine leather holsters. I have several, and they are top notch.

https://epsaddlery.com/

[725]

I bought a cross draw chest holster from Galco (pricey). It can hang either of two ways per your preference. I occasionally hunt an area where my buddy was mauled by a grizzly and my thought is the chest rig will be front & center even if I'm falling backwards. Very comfortable and practical. Of course, it's in the way of my binos ~ I adjusted. It doesn't clash with brush as move through heavy cover like a hip holster can. Easier to use than a conventional shoulder holster when worn under an overcoat. It's different (at least from my experience) , so if you can deal with the worn pistol location, it might work for you, too.

[Shawlerbrook]

I agree for carrying a backup pistol while in the woods, the chest holster is the way to go. There are a few different ones and picking the best is like picking Chevy or Ford !

[TMB]

I made my own, plain nothing fancy western style holsters out of heavy leather rough side out and use leather shoestring to slip over the hammer to hold gun in. Have them for Charter Bulldog 44 special, Ruger Blackhawks 41 mag & 45 Colt, and New Dakota 45 Colt. The two oldest holsters are for the Bulldog and the New Dakota made 25 years or so ago, the outside now is dark and smooth after all these years, used no dye on them. Newer holsters I just made not long ago also ruff out, but I dyed them. Also made a couple rifle scabbards.

All you need is sharp knife, leather punch, large needle and/or sewing awl, heavy-duty waxed thread or nylon mason twine and large enough piece of leather for whatever you are making. If you don't have a pattern you can trace around your gun on cardboard, then fold it around your gun until you get what you want before cutting the leather.

[Outpost75]

El Paso Saddlery makes some really fine leather holsters. I have several, and they are top notch.

https://epsaddlery.com/

Hard to beat for either concealed carry or field use is El Paso Saddlery C-Force. IWB with reinforced opening which permits 1-hand reholstering. Work as well for 4-inch N-frame .44 Magnum as it will for your Model 19 snub. Protects the gun well, doesn't print, comfortable in the car and good retention.

[454424]

I like El Paso Saddlery holsters.

[badguybuster]

Bitterroot Gunleather (caleb koller) is my "go to" holster maker.

[Walks]

EPS hands down.

[NC_JEFF]

For comfort on an all day carry I recommend a pancake style holster. A belt from 10-12oz, full grain leather, 1.5" wide would also be a plus. I carry one of these and find it to be a great asset. I have mine in a straight up and down configuration

[LIMPINGJ]

https://www.simplyrugged.com/
Sturdy and not very expensive.

[elmacgyver0]

The only way I seem to be able to get a holster I like is if I make it myself.
The last holster I made was for a friend that has done multiple favors for me.
I made him a nice, tooled leather holster for his P365.
Leather craft is a fun and rewarding hobby, but it would get tiresome as a job.

[pietro]

.

Try Rick Jorgensen @ Desert Gun leather and discuss your wants - he's known for making whatever a customer wants at reasonable prices:

https://desertgunleather.com/

[W.R.Buchanan]

I'm into Mernickle holsters. I have two and both fit the guns perfectly and give you two options for carry IE: standard Strong Side Carry and Cross Draw. For the gun you have you will probably want a Thumb Break style holster. The Thumb Break is easy to disengage as you go to count one of your draw.(Establishing your grip on the gun)

https://www.mernickleholsters.com/

Here's a pic of mine for my S&W 696 with a 3" bbl.. Look in the "Concealed Carry" or "Hunting" portion of their website.

They also have really nice super heavy belts that are 1/4" thick and can be used as a Gun Belt for their Holsters, I have one of those too.

Their Prices are very reasonable and their Quality is top notch.

Randy

[NSB]

https://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/products/guides-choice-chest-holster
My choice. I’ve got one coming Monday. My friend has one and to date it’s the best I’ve seen as far as comfort and keeping your hands free.

[Rick R]

I joke that the Simply Rugged Sourdough looks like a leather cow patty when you take it out of the mailing envelope. The Sourdough completely covers the whole gun except the grips. Nothing damages your gun, plus the gun doesn’t damage your hide. I have a couple SR Sourdoughs and a Shootist, they’re all well made.

I’ve never noticed the rough inside harming any of the finish on my guns. Also I’ve always been told that the soft leather liners hold dust and grit sanding the guns finish worse than unlined holsters. Simply Rugged offers a way to attach “Chesty Puller” straps to the Sourdough making it a chest holster.

The Mernickle holsters are nicer looking than Simply Rugged and don’t hold the gun as close to the body, but they are well designed, well made and comfortable.

[rintinglen]

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This is the style I prefer for belt carry of 4 inch or shorter revolvers or service size auto pistols, unless I am carrying a rifle on a sling. A pancake holds the gun snugly and tight against the body, while allowing a swift draw. Virtually all the top makers produce one, but I can recommend the Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake. I make my own leather goods and I know quality workmanship when I see it. Simply Rugged Delivers.

[Char-Gar]

For years I lived in El Paso and El Paso Saddlery was a regular hang out. The owner was Bobby McNellis and was a find human who made find leather gear. He died of cancer some years back and the quality of the product and service has declined. There is a back story to why this has happened.

These days I recommend either;

Simply Rugged....Rob Leahy is a fine guy who makes top quality holster that last and are of very good design. You can't go wrong with one of his holsters.

Barranti Leather ...Mike "Doc" Barranti" takes leather work to the next step and produces classic designs of all types of the very highest quality. Mike is in the process of moving his shop and business to Dunn Texas.

[RKJ]

I like Winthrop Holsters the best for my 1911's and a Hi Power I have but for my Smiths' I like these folks leather. Azula Leather You can find them on Amazon (and I'm sure other places). They seem very well built and are very comfortable. I use them for a 6" 629, a 4" 28, 4" 66 and a 4" 25-7. As I say I really like them.

[txbirdman]

Lots of good holster makers listed so I’ll add another DM Bullard. He use to be in Azle Texas but I think he moved somewhere in North East Texas. I’m sure you can find him on the web.

[sailcaptain]

I like my Urban Carry Holster. Designed for concealed carry but comfortable and very easy to get at. They have models for, I believe, most calibers. Check them out.

[OKMike]

I love my gunfighters inc chest rig, it’s kydex though


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[Der Gebirgsjager]

Lots of good recommendations here as to quality makers. I carried a 2 1/2" Mod. 19 for years in an upside down shoulder holster under a jacket, but wouldn't recommend that for hunting. In fact, very honestly, there are few if any good solutions to your problem.

Let's assume that you're right handed (if not, just turn this advice and these observations around!) and that you hunt with a rifle. If you were a handgun hunter we wouldn't be having the conversation. No doubt you have a sling on your rifle. There are those folks who don't use slings, but not so many, and if you carry a back pack, water bottle, etc. you must range over long distances and a sling would be almost essential.

So, if you're right handed and wear a belt holster on the right side, you'll likely experience conflict with carrying the rifle slung over your shoulder, going bang, bang, bang against the butt of the handgun as you hike along, and may actually experience a situation where you rapidly take the rifle off your shoulder and it gets hung up with the sling snagging the pistol's butt.

If you wear an inside the pants model holster, again right side, then you have to pull your belt very tight to retain it snugly against your body. The sling can still snag, and walking miles with a very tight belt can hurt your back.

Move it over to a cross draw, now the butt is forward and available to snag on bushes, etc. I do know of one fellow who is right handed and carries some of his handguns in a left handed belt holster to avoid the rifle/handgun conflict, but I imagine it takes some fancy shuffling to get the revolver out with the left hand and switch it over to the right hand while figuring out what to do with the rifle. But-- he's a Texan, and they know about such things.

You already seem to have ruled out a shoulder holster, but if you could come to an accommodation of the shoulder harness and the back pack straps, a butt forward horizontal Galco-style might be a solution, especially with a short barreled revolver.

Then, there's the chest carry which has something going for it, but I've always found it to be in a bad location for exposure and snagging as well. I think the U.S. G.I. so-called shoulder holster might be the best way to go, located low left side of the abdomen. Won't interfere if you shift the rifle from a right side carry to the left side, is higher than the belt, lower than the armpit, doesn't interfere with sitting down, less likely to snag on branches as the butt is not oriented directly forward--kind of at a 45 degree angle to the front right side.

Problem is, of course, that these holsters were/are made for large frame semi-autos, so one for a 2 1/2" S&W would be strictly a one off custom job. If you want to change handguns to a 1911 or M9 they're readily available at reasonable prices.

Depending on what your perceived role for the handgun is, you might do better to carry it in the back pack.

I'll give a fellow Forum Member a plug here-- there's a member that goes by the user name of Springfield and who has a business, Whyte Leather Works. I've purchased 3 holsters from him over the last maybe 4 years and all were satisfactory.
Strictly custom-- 2 are vertical shoulder holsters, one each for a 1862 C&B revolver and an 1873 SAA-type revolver, both of which involved shoulder harness, etc. The other (3rd) is a very high quality belt holster for a 1911, OWB conventional sheath type. Custom holsters are what he does, and seldom makes the same one twice. Look at www.Whyte Leather Works.com (sure hope that works--I'm a lousy linker, but that's how it appears on his business card), where he has a big display of the many different holsters he's made. He can get backlogged, so I'd ask about that.

I've carried handguns and rifles together in various capacities under different conditions for many years, and it's proven to always be either inconvenient or uncomfortable. I've got two large boxes of holsters that didn't work out or which became obsolete as circumstances changed.

Best of luck with this.

DG

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Maybe try it as www.whyteleatherworks.com

DG

[almar]

Falco! Im really happy with mine. Handmade leather holsters and customized to you liking. Its a little bit of a wait time but they are quite worth it for a nice pistol.

https://www.falcoholsters.com/

[Murphy]

I've known Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters since he was cranking them out on his kitchen table top in Alaska. That's been a few years ago. He moved to Arizona and his holster making operation began to grow. I have probably 6-8 of his holsters. Rob stands behind his products and his word. I've had the pleasure of meeting Rob at a few get togethers and you won't find a finer man. The other makers listed I'm sure build good products. Mike 'Doc' Barranti is a leather maker extraordinaire and artisian rolled up into one. I'm not currently in need of a holster, at the age of 68 I've got what I need and works for me. You stated you wanted a holster that holds the gun close to your body? My mind goes straight to Roy Rogers (long out of business) who started it all when he produced the first pancake holster that I am aware of. He lived within 50 miles and I saw a lot of (and have a few) of his holsters). Simply Rugged sells their 'Tribute' model to Roy, you may want to take a good look at it before purchasing your new holster. As Skeeter Skelton once stated, "My holster maker is as important to me as my doctor". Good luck on your search.

Murphy

[nicholst55]

I've known Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters since he was cranking them out on his kitchen table top in Alaska. That's been a few years ago. He moved to Arizona and his holster making operation began to grow. I have probably 6-8 of his holsters. Rob stands behind his products and his word. I've had the pleasure of meeting Rob at a few get togethers and you won't find a finer man. The other makers listed I'm sure build good products. Mike 'Doc' Barranti is a leather maker extraordinaire and artisian rolled up into one. I'm not currently in need of a holster, at the age of 68 I've got what I need and works for me. You stated you wanted a holster that holds the gun close to your body? My mind goes straight to Roy Rogers (long out of business) who started it all when he produced the first pancake holster that I am aware of. He lived within 50 miles and I saw a lot of (and have a few) of his holsters). Simply Rugged sells their 'Tribute' model to Roy, you may want to take a good look at it before purchasing your new holster. As Skeeter Skelton once stated, "My holster maker is as important to me as my doctor". Good luck on your search.

Murphy

That was Roy Baker, the Pancake Maker.

[dddddmorgan]

Great advice all, thanks.

I am right handed, and I do use a sling, I cover a lot of miles.

The brush/snagging thing isn't terrible here in Idaho.

I'd thought a lot about a cross draw holster. The chest holster is a negative for me as I carry my binoculars in a harness there, I do a lot of glassing too.

The under the arm or the cross draw might be the way to go. I'm going to look at the manufacturers recommended.

Thanks again.

[Murphy]

That was Roy Baker, the Pancake Maker.


I stand corrected. Oddly enough, I had a feeling as I typed Roy Rogers something wasn't right. Oop's, my bad.


Murphy

[Prairie Traveler]

Being a little budget conscious, I picked a 1791, for my old S&W Victory, 3". It's curved to fit close to the body, and holds the firearm securely.

[TNsailorman]

Prairie, I have a S&W Model 13-3 round butt in 3" barrel and I have been unable to find a holster that will hold the butt close to my body. Exactly what is a 1791 and from what company? A picture would be nice. james

[Beerd]

Prairie, I have a S&W Model 13-3 round butt in 3" barrel and I have been unable to find a holster that will hold the butt close to my body. Exactly what is a 1791 and from what company? A picture would be nice. james

https://1791gunleather.com/holsters/
..

[Prairie Traveler]

TNsailorman: Beerd got it right. That's their web site. I happened to find mine at one of the LGSs, here in the Tulsa area.
Although I haven't worn it much yet, I like the way it feels, and it secures the Smith well. It is a little long for the 3", but it can be "adjusted" with a little TLC.

[Prairie Traveler]

Oh yea; pics:
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