By John Markwell | Contributing Writer
Holsters for handguns run the gamut from cheap nylon sheaths to very expensive hand built exotic leather masterpieces.
In between these extremes are the factory produced leather and synthetic holsters as well as a fair number of small boutique shops offering “custom built” rigs often accompanied by long wait times and pretty high prices. Serious handgun users/carriers are a pretty opinionated bunch and will often argue the pros and cons of their preferred carry gear endlessly.
One of the most contentious discussions often pits the Custom holster folks against those who favor the Factory produced outfits. The former are generally more expensive and involve long wait times, while the latter are more affordable, and many are readily available and on the shelves in retail stores across the nation. Names like Milt Sparks, Rafter-L, Thad Rybka, and Barranti come to mind when talking about custom leather crafters. There are in excess of 100 holster suppliers listed in the current SHOT Show guide; some are small semi-custom outfits and others are full blown factories. From Alessi to Hunter, Bianchi, Safariland and Triple K, there is a design. material and price point selection that is really pretty mind boggling.
Within this mix is Galco (formerly known as the Famous Jackass Leather CO.). Galco became a household name among handgunners in the 1980s when their Jackass Shoulder System starred with Don Johnson as Sonny Crocket in the Miami Vice TV series. Galco has been a major player in the holster and leather goods marketplace ever since, catering to law enforcement, military, and civilian gun carriers alike. We have used Galco holsters, as well as some customs, for a lot of years and have enough opinions about leather gear to be labeled a “holster snob” by some of our cohorts. Whether toting a Wison or Bowen or Dan Wesson or a Glock, a quality holster is a must for safety, efficiency, and security. Here’s the rundown on a new offering in the leather market place.
The folks at Galco have raised the bar on gun leather with the introduction of their Masterbilt holster series. The Thunderclap model for 1911 Government Models and Commanders is the first holster in the series to come to the market and it is a winner in every regard. Galco bills the Masterbilt series as “best quality, premium grade holsters.”
Using 2 percent of Galco’s premium grade leathers, the holsters are built by Galco’s most experienced craftsmen. The Thunderclap is a fully lined premium steerhide holster that is hand boned, offers secure retention and a beautiful appearance. The detail of the of the holster’s fit is easily visible on the outside but the secret is on the inside. The smooth leather lining enhances not only the smoothness of the draw stroke and offers protection for delicate finishes, but offers 100 percent contact with the surfaces of the handgun for which it is fitted due to the proprietary final drying process used by Galco. This final drying process is done on innovative lasts that allow both the inner and outer leather layers to dry at commensurate rates insuring a smooth solid finish both inside and out.
Our Thunderclap sample was very firm yet relatively thin and light weight` for a double layer holster. Our tan sample, for a Commander Model 1911, required literally no break-in and was good to go right out of the packaging. Retention was secure, but not “yank the gun hard” secure, and seems to have changed little if any at during our initial time carrying and using the rig (so far about 84 hours).
We get enthused about new holsters and love wringing them out. Results are sometimes disappointing, but using the Thunderclap has been a very positive experience. Holster cant is a very personal thing and many gun carriers are wedded to one cant in particular, depending on the position at which they carry. Being right handed, we typically carry at the 3 o’clock, or 3:15 depending on belt loop position, whether using an IWB or OWB holster; been doing it that way for years and see no reason to change as it has always worked for me.
The Thunderclap has a slight forward cant that is not too far off vertical. We used the new Thunderclap shooting some drills on our range daily for about a week; sometime twice a day. Not lots of shooting but a fair number of sessions and presentations with different clothing depending on the weather. The holster allowed for good clearence of the middle finger when acquiring a firing grip and a solid locked wrist draw stroke was secure and relatively fast, for an older guy. The reinforced top of the holster made one handed re-holstering easy and eyes off. The holster rode solidly on our Galco 1.5-inch Fancy Stitched Holster Belt due to the metal -reinforced tunnel-style belt loop and the trailing slot helps with concealment by pulling the gun’s butt inward to the torso. The molded sight rail cleared all the front sights on our CCOs and left no “fuzz” on the gold bead fronts upon drawing. All told the new Thunderclap performed like an old friend.
Like most gun carriers, when going out and about in civilized circumstances we carry concealed. The Thunderclap concealed quite well under our normal Spring/Fall wardrobe which usually incorporates either a wool, or synthetic “puffy” vest from the folks at Filson. The Thuderclap rides high enough so the holster bottom is above the lower hem of these vests which are, by the way, about as innocuous as a cover garment can be. Whether at the bank, feed store or the food emporium, NO ONE pays attention to this type of vest or the guy wearing them. But, I digress.
The Thunderclap is just the first in the new Masterbilt line. In the works are models for Glocks (17/19) and an IWB model is also in the planning and testing phase. The Masterbilt line has a lot of potential to shake up the high end of the production holster market and if our sample Thunderclap is any indicator the line should be a great success.
Most specifically we like the “hard hand” of the leather as finished in this holster. It has been our experience that rigs with a softer finish stretch more over time than those with a “Hard Hand” and often require the addition of a tension device of some sort as they stretch. A simple Chicago screw or binder post usually does the trick but it’s nice when a rig retains the handgun adequately with just friction.
I think this will be the case with the Thunderclap. With an MSRP of $249 the Thunderclap ain’t cheap, but what is these days. Available in either black or tan, the thunderclap is as at home when worn openly at a barbecue with your best blaster as it is concealed as you goes about your daily business. The Masterbilt Thunderclap is a solid addition to our carry gear and we are looking forward to seeing how the series and future models evolve.
Galco is also offering a branded EDC flashlight to gun carriers. The Streamlight Pro Tac 1L-1AA is a handy and tough little pocket flashlight that runs on either a single CR123 or, conveniently, a single AA battery. Available in Coyote Brown or Black, the compact little light provides 350 lumens of light with the CR123 when on high and 150 with the AA battery installed.
The tail cap switch controls the Ten Tap technology that Streamlight is known for and has high, strobe and low intensity settings. Easy to use and as handy as can be this is the light we never leave the house without. Available with or without a saddle leather pouch. MSRP for the light is $49 and the saddle leather snap on belt pouch goes for $89.
For more info go to: www.galcogunleather.com
