Reinforcing Mouth Of Iwb Holster

[Lobo]

Idle thoughts from a really old guy who has been carrying daily for 52 years and was making holsters 49 years ago:

1. Metal is described by "gauge", a term generally referring to how many layers of a particular thickness will equal a total of one inch. 20 gauge metal is about 0.05" thickness, 10 gauge metal is about 0.10" thickness. "Gauge" and "millimeters" are not equivalent, or even within the same standards of measurement.

2. Everything in holster design involves compromises among the 4 basic factors of comfort, accessibility, security, and concealment. Whenever one factor is emphasized there will be compromises among the other factors.

3. IWB-style holsters tend to emphasize concealment by keeping the bulk of the holstered handgun inside the waistband. Security is also emphasized by applied pressures exerted on the holster between body and waistband/belt. The compromises necessarily fall on accessibility (limited by close contact with body and clothing) and comfort (many people cannot tolerate the bulk of holstered handgun inside the waistband for extended periods of time).

4. Reinforcement of the holster mouth area (whether by leather, metal, or other materials) requires increasing bulk, further aggravating comfort and to some degree affecting concealment. Short version: this is the quickest method known for overcoming any advantage of IWB-style carry.

5. For customers demanding ease of one-handed reholstering my first response has always been to choose just about any holster type except IWB-style.

6. Although I have been fully retired for nearly 6 years now, I am sure that the Holster Genius Academy continues to graduate another class every week or so, each of whom believes they have an idea in mind for the "perfect holster". A few of them are trying to make it themselves, but most are looking for someone to turn their dreams into reality. A very few will break new ground and create useful improvements in holster design or production methods. Those who convince a holster maker to take on their projects will probably never remember that the stupid ideas were their own, but they will always remember the dumb-azz holster maker who failed to make their stupid ideas work as they thought they should.

By the way, the requirements for graduating Holster Genius Academy include reading two or more popular gun magazines or at least 5 internet forum posts. Diplomas provided upon request and proof of performance.

Smile! I'm not really all that smart!