Leather Holsters

[wcd]

I have a Galco 3 slot for my 1911. Seems like lately I have noticed the leather has become somewhat soft. It's about 2 years old. Today I checked it turned it upside down with a clear 1911 in it and shook it the pistol stayed in place. So I am thinking all is good? Assuming as long retention is good it's fine?
What is the average service life of a holster?

 

[croy]

I have a Galco 3 slot for my 1911. Seems like lately I have noticed the leather has become somewhat soft. It's about 2 years old. Today I checked it turned it upside down with a clear 1911 in it and shook it the pistol stayed in place. So I am thinking all is good? Assuming as long retention is good it's fine?
What is the average service life of a holster?

I can't answer your questions because I use kydex. But if you're looking for a spare/replacement I've seen some stoner holsters lately that look really nice.

 

[Vigilant]

I have a Galco 3 slot for my 1911. Seems like lately I have noticed the leather has become somewhat soft. It's about 2 years old. Today I checked it turned it upside down with a clear 1911 in it and shook it the pistol stayed in place. So I am thinking all is good? Assuming as long retention is good it's fine?
What is the average service life of a holster?

A quality leather holster will last years, I’ve a 10 year old Milt Sparks that is as strong now as it was then. Proper care is essential, no leather softeners at all. 2 years is way to soon for a Galco. Call them, they will help you out.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Depends on quality of materials, design, and use. I've got revolver holsters from the 1950s that are in excellent shape, but they are simple designs with low stress on the components and quality leather.

 

[wcd]

A quality leather holster will last years, I’ve a 10 year old Milt Sparks that is as strong now as it was then. Proper care is essential, no leather softeners at all. 2 years is way to soon for a Galco. Call them, they will help you out.

I have never really done anything to it other than wipe it down a microfiber towel. No cleaners etc. The belt loops are rigid. So I am not sure if there is an issue?

 

[wtburnette]

If it collapses when you draw that would be unsafe. I can draw and reholster with no issues with my Galco Combat Master. It closes slightly when the gun is out, but not enough to make it dangerous when reholstering if I'm being careful. I can even do it one handed without problems. If it closed any further or collapsed so that the material interfered with holstering the gun, I'd stop using it and send it back to Galco.

 

[Leadeye]

Still using Heiser leather made back at the turn of the century, quality and how well it's cared for are everything.

 

[drillsgt]

Galco is very good at marketing and packaging and their stuff does look nice but as you see they don't have very good longevity. They do tend to get soft around the holster mouth which is exactly where you don't want it. Unfortunately for leather you have to buy quality, there are many good companies out there, just a few are Kramer, Alessi, Milt Sparks, and Mitch Rosen. Really though with some of the Galco stuff bringing more $$ than they used to you can go to a higher end company for not much more.

 

[deeno3432]

I got a used tagua iwb holster 3 years ago and used it for a glock 26 5 days a week for a year then it sat for another year and its been used again for a sccy cpx2. It has lost some retention over time but still not an issue. I personally like leather for iwb.

 

[red_zr24x4]

I've got the Galco 3 slot for my 1911 also. Not an issue with it .
I've got the C.O.P. model for a Sig 226 that's every bit of 15 yrs old. Carried it almost everyday for the last 12. Still firm and holds the gun secure.

 

[Vigilant]

I got a used tagua iwb holster 3 years ago and used it for a glock 26 5 days a week for a year then it sat for another year and its been used again for a sccy cpx2. It has lost some retention over time but still not an issue. I personally like leather for iwb.

Why in the world would you use a FITTED leather holster for anything but the gun it was FITTED FOR? Did you stuff it with wadded paper to regulate the SCCY?

 

[Vigilant]

Galco is very good at marketing and packaging and their stuff does look nice but as you see they don't have very good longevity. They do tend to get soft around the holster mouth which is exactly where you don't want it. Unfortunately for leather you have to buy quality, there are many good companies out there, just a few are Kramer, Alessi, Milt Sparks, and Mitch Rosen. Really though with some of the Galco stuff bringing more $$ than they used to you can go to a higher end company for not much more.

I would have to disagree, although I don’t use Galco holsters any longer, they and Desantis, are the best OFF THE SHELF fitted leather holsters money can buy. No other companies have the detail Galco does in a mass production holster. While they aren’t the best, at their price point they can’t be beat for walk in with a gun and walk out with a holster. The tanning is excellent, the stitching and materials are top notch, and their warranty is above reproach. I have had a defective Galco in the past, and it was remedied immediately. Again, these are OFF THE SHELF holsters, and my Rosen, Sparks, Kramer, Alexssi, or Arrotoonian holsters beat any mass produced example hands down. For what they are, the average gun owner is doing well to purchase one.

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

I prefer leather, I own (and actually use) Galco, Tagua, and TT gunleather. All are quality and each serve their purpose well. I expect the $40 Galcos and Taguas to wear out faster than the $120 TT gunleather but that's usually the nature of the business and all that.

 

[croy]

I would have to disagree, although I don’t use Galco holsters any longer, they and Desantis, are the best OFF THE SHELF fitted leather holsters money can buy. No other companies have the detail Galco does in a mass production holster. While they aren’t the best, at their price point they can’t be beat for walk in with a gun and walk out with a holster. The tanning is excellent, the stitching and materials are top notch, and their warranty is above reproach. I have had a defective Galco in the past, and it was remedied immediately. Again, these are OFF THE SHELF holsters, and my Rosen, Sparks, Kramer, Alexssi, or Arrotoonian holsters beat any mass produced example hands down. For what they are, the average gun owner is doing well to purchase one.

I have yet to find a readily available ankle holster that can beat a galco.

 

[Vigilant]

I have yet to find a readily available ankle holster that can beat a galco.

There isn’t one, the only other is Alessi, and they take a minute.

 

[croy]

There isn’t one, the only other is Alessi, and they take a minute.

While I don't have any hands on experience with the alessi. It seems that with it being more leather it would be hotter. Couple that with the 6 month + wait and almost double the price tag I'll stick with galco.

 

[Trigger Time]

I love my galco and desantis holsters. I have several galco iwb or belt holsters and also galco ankle holsters as well as desantis ankle holsters
The desantis ankle holsters are very good too and I carry an ankle holster every day.
For IWB I use kydex anymore not leather

 

[mcapo]

I have a couple Wright Leather Works holsters on order.

I will let you know how I like them in 8 to 12 weeks when they arrive...

 

[Vigilant]

I love my galco and desantis holsters. I have several galco iwb or belt holsters and also galco ankle holsters as well as desantis ankle holsters
The desantis ankle holsters are very good too and I carry an ankle holster every day.
For IWB I use kydex anymore not leather

I ankle carry a 26 in the colder months, but quit during the summer months because people laugh and point because they say it looks “weird” with shorts?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I ankle carry a 26 in the colder months, but quit during the summer months because people laugh and point because they say it looks “weird” with shorts?

Well that, or they may think it looks like you are on "house arrest".