Prefered Holster for 1911

[Dorado]

I've gotten myself a 1911a1 government. It's a Rock Island Armory GI model. I really like it and would like to start carrying it as my concealed carry gun. Problem is, I don't have a good holster so I'm looking at making one. I was wondering if y'all have a design that seems to work for you.

I'm looking at a few options:

1. IWB Kidney carry.
2. Shoulder
3. Appendix carry.

I currently use a smart carry holster with my Springfield XD40 service model. It works fine for that but the hammer on the 1911 digs into me so I'm leaning more towards kidney carry and the shoulder holster. I do want a shoulder anyways just for fun, but I'd like something easily concealable.

 

What are y'all's opinions?

[CaptQuirk]

Everyone has their own preferences, so you will get a lot of back and forth. So, that said, I'll throw in for a shoulder holster. Even the heaviest of pistols carry comfortably... and it won't drag your britches down.

 

[Dwight]

Take a look at the front page at www.dwightsgunleather.com  , . . . it and others similar to it are THE single most comfortable, . . .  all around.  

Seated, . . . you are more advantageous with a shoulder holster, . . . standing or kneeling, . . . this is the style.  

And if you look closely, . . . it is totally concealable, . . . yet only one extra movement, . . . you are  armed (pulling up the shirt, . . . out of the way).

I've worn shoulder holsters, . . . and personally (since I also own a Rock Island like yours) you will probably be like the rest of us, . . . shoulder holsters are fine if you are carrying a single stack plastic fantastic firearm.  All steel is better on the waist.  IMHO.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dorado]

Dwight, I like that Cactus design. I'd hate to just copy your design though. However that is along the lines of what I was thinking of for IWB carry. It would be a problem sitting though. That's why I was looking at multiple options. If I'm going to be seated a lot then I'd prefer the shoulder holster, if I'm going to be up and moving then the IWB. Wear according to what I'd be doing.

What I was thinking on the shoulder holster was something like the Galco Miami Classic with a strap to connect the holster to the mag pouches behind my back. That way if I do need to draw it'd be held in place and not pull forward. It'd also help if I bent over to keep it from rotating out. I would not attach it to my pants. I'd have three pockets, Two for spare mags and one for a flashlight as I'm always finding myself needing a flashlight. Even a small one would work.

[Dwight]

Wearing the Cactus or any other similar design at what is called 4 o'clock, . . . you will never know it is there.  I've got mine on, . . . look at the pictures.  It is also tucked inside the shirt, . . . so I can go to the door and no one ever has a clue.  

The one pic shows a red arrow, . . . indicating the front strap holding the holster to my belt.

Just a bit of info from the guy who not only makes holsters, . . . but has worn them for upwards of 50 years, . . . on and off.  A shoulder holster and a full size 1911 do not go together much of any real way, . . . and the Galco you mentioned is one of the poorer choices you could make.  It is great for a plastic fantastic handgun, . . . a .380 or a .32, . . . or a single stack small 9mm, . . . forget it for anything bigger.  Looks great in the movies, . . . but so does 007 knocking the bad guy off the water tower 1/4 mile away with his .32 Browning pistol.  Neither one is very practical in the real world.  

AND Amazon will only soak you about $175 bucks for it.  Good thing about it, . . . when you throw it in that bottom drawer in your dresser, . . . it won't eat much and won't have to be walked very often.

If you want to carry a 1911 (I've had one on and off since Saigon in 1966), . . . you need first a really good belt, . . . and no fiber, braided, or textile belt will be better than a dual layer leather, . . . 1 1/2 inch, . . . glued and sewn for the project.  A roller buckle is good for most people, . . . but not necessary.  

THEN you need the holster.  A pancake is 1st choice for OWB, . . . something similar for the IWB, . . . just different attachments.  AND, . .  a flat backed holster will be 5 times more comfortable unless you happen to be, . . .  (politely said), . . . of the "larger waisted" in size, . . . providing the extra padding.

Seriously, . . . don't waste your money on the shoulder holster, . . . if you lived close enough, . . . I'd bring one over to you, . . . let you wear it for a couple days, . . . you would most likely say thank you as you handed it back to me.

Edited to add:  I also just checked, . . . a Rock Island, full size 1911, . . . 2 ea / 8 rd Wilson mags, . . . in a Galco shoulder holster, . . . the entire rig is 4 pounds 10 ounces.  Three pounds of steel hanging under your left arm pit, . . . is the pits.

May God bless,

Dwight

 

Edited October 22, 2016 by Dwight

[Dorado]

Oh, I know the shoulder holster is impracticable. I more or less wanted to do it for shits and giggles. I do want one like the WWII issued shoulder holster. I have the Issued belt holster, I'd like to also have the shoulder model as well.

I'm getting the materials ready to do one similar to your Cactus design. I have some 8/9oz leather handy and I should have enough for one. Double layer on the inside and single on the outside that rides against the pants.

I've never wet molded something with detail like that. How would you suggest I go about that? Do I cut a rough pattern first then mold with it clamped to a board? Or should I mold first, sew, then cut off excess?

[Dorado]

As much as I hate to. Dwight, I think I'm going to copy your cactus design. I'll modify it a bit to make it my own. I'll try to taper the bottom a bit but leave it more open.

I'll be using my 8/9 oz leather. I may have enough to do the entire thing.

[Dwight]

By all means my friend, . . . it is said that the most sincere form of flattery is copying one's work.

It is made in 6 pieces:  

Back

2 straps

Stiffener (across the top of the front)

Leading edge 

Body / trailing edge

Holler if you run into problems, . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dorado]

Thanks Dwight, I'm hoping to get started on mine sometime soon. I have a couple of other things demanding my attention at the moment.

[Dorado]

Dwight, I've been working on mine using some left over leather from my gunbelt. I'm doing the best I can but it's not near as pretty as what I'd hoped it'd be. I didn't quite have enough leather for the main body and I had to cut out a bad section of leather after I had glued it. I got turned around and accidentally glued the bad spot on. So one side where the belt loops will go is thinner than the other. I'm going to start stitching it up soon and I'll use it until I get enough material to remake it properly. I've never had to reverse engineer something before. It was kinda fun but my results are gonna be ugly.