By John Markwell | Contributing Editor
The Rafter-L #1 holster carries the author’s Guncrafter Industries 1911 CCO at the balance point right at the ejection port and holds the weapon close to the body for enhanced concealment.
When folks refer to me as tradition bound, I have to plead guilty-as-charged. Having been seriously involved in pistol craft since 1977, my outlook on much of what is now marketed to shooters is viewed with a somewhat jaundiced eye. Most especially I have a hard time with much of the PC terminology used in that marketing. With that in mind, it was extremely refreshing to find Erik Little’s Rafter-L Combat Leather and his website (combatgunleather.com)
Erik is a leather worker from Buffalo, WY, who makes no-nonsense holsters and accessories in the traditional fashion. His holster and magazine pouch designs are drawn from some of the classics of the past and are modified with minor changes that bring them forward in efficiency and function. Like his leather products, Erik’s website reflects a reverence for the history of “combat shooting” and he pulls no punches in describing his products and their intended use. “Combat means a fight between individuals or groups, therefore combat shooting, as defined by Jeff Cooper, is when you use a firearm in self defense or in the defense of others. I know the term, combat shooter or combat leather, might be politically incorrect for some folks, but that is what I make. Combat Leather!’
I first saw a Rafter-L rig when I visited my friend Ken Hackathorn in Idaho during the summer of 2014. Ken was toting his Wiley Clapp Commander when I arrived. The holster, belt and mag pouch he was wearing were stunning and, at first glance, looked to be a Bruce Nelson outfit. That’s the short story. Soon after, I made contact with Erik and had him build me a similar outfit for my Guncrafter Industries 1911 CCO in 9mm.
This photo of the #1 magazine pouch shows the fine lines and details of Erik Little’s perfect stitching.
Perusing the Rafter-L Combat Leather website is both educational and somewhat like a step back in time. There is an article by Robert H. Boatman that delves into all the aspects of combat shooting and how they relate to the real world. This article is blunt, pulls no punches and should be required reading for all who seriously carry a firearm for defense of self and others. Another article is titled, Jeff Cooper Modern Pistol Technique. This treatise is a mix of the history and philosophy of combat pistol craft. Well written and thorough, it discusses the application of all the elements that make up the Modern Technique of the combat pistol. There is another article, by Detective Jay Johnston, which delves into the design of holsters and related gear. Due credit is given to Jeff Cooper and the development of the modern technique as it relates to handgun retention, holster design, fit and function as applied to the real world. We find it interesting how many younger shooters (Millennials?) have little or no knowledge of the origin of the ideas and philosophy that are the foundation of what they do with firearms today. The proper design, function and use of holsters, and related gear, is directly tied to that historical foundation. The above referenced articles will go a long way to fill that void.
The rig that I obtained from Erik Little has a very retro look and is based around his 1½-inch contour cut tapered belt. With a double row of stitching, that adds both a bit of class and increases rigidity, the belt is made from the back and butt area of the premium full grain vegetable-tanned hides that Erik hand selects. This leather is from the strongest part of the hide and resists stretching better than material from the hide’s shoulder. Erik uses only vegetable tanned hides from Wicket &Craig and Thoroughbred Leather.
After three months of being carried, the Rafter-L rig is starting to show a bit of character. Note the hand boning, tapered belt and the amount of the magazine exposed which allows for a very secure grip when reloading.
Erik’s holsters, mag pouches, and any other items requiring hand bone forming, are made from the shoulder area of the hides. The #1 holster I received is based on a Bruce Nelson design. The straight drop allows for either strong side (which I prefer) or cross draw carry. The reinforced top allows for one-handed re-holstering and the hand boning of the holster body provides for a very secure friction fit between gun and holster.
Spare ammunition is a must for the defensive handgun and the manner of carrying a spare magazine for the auto-loading pistol was codified long ago. The #1 single magazine pouch that accompanied my Rafter-L holster and belt was designed to have about half of the officer’s sized magazine for my Guncrafter Industries CCO exposed with the bullets oriented towards the front. This allows for a proper grip on it when re-loading.
I like buying a complete rig from one maker as the belt/holster/ mag pouch interface is pretty much assured when everything leaves the same shop at the same time.
The fit of the #1 holster and magazine pouch to the contour cut belt is, as it should be, quite snug. Closely fitting holster and mag pouch loops are important in that they keep the holster/pouch in place on the belt during the draw stroke and keep one’s equipment from flopping around during strenuous activities. Solid mounting of the holster/mag pouch also enhances concealment of the complete unit.
Rafter-L rigs are not designer leather. These Rafter-L outfits are carried daily. The author’s #1 rig carries the Guncrafter Industries 9mm (left) and Ken Hackathorn’s #5 with the Wilson Combat Hackathorn Special in 45ACP (right).
My 9mm CCO has been my daily carry gun for almost a year now and since March it has resided in the Rafter-L #1 holster. Carried on the strong side just behind the right hip, the #1 holster rides high enough to be easily concealed beneath the Filson wool vests that I wear during the colder months and yet does not ride too high, which would give the feeling of being unstable or sagging outward. The mag pouch rides solidly on the belt on my support side. Both the #1 holster and #1 mag carrier were an extremely tight fit to the CCO and its magazines at first. Wrapping the gun and a magazine in a plastic bag and inserting them into the leather over-night for about a week speeded up the break-in time. The final result is a very precise friction fit that allows quick presentations as well as good security for the weapon and magazine.
Rafter-L Combat Leather is first and foremost produced for folks who seriously carry and use handguns. Erik Little’s quality is such that one can truly bet their life on his gear and many do so on a daily basis. This is a one man shop and Erik refuses to sell any item that he would not use for his personal defense. Rafter-L has a no BS warranty; if, for any reason, the customer is not satisfied items can be returned for a full refund. It’s as simple as that! The outfit that Erik built for my 9mm CCO carries a price tag of $340 which, in today’s market, is pretty reasonable for gear that is totally hand crafted. Bear in mind that one man, building rigs one at a time, can’t equal the production of a big leather company. The wait for a Rafter-L holster, mag pouch and belt is currently about five months, but the wait is worth it.
If you need “professional combat quality gun leather that you can depend on when it matters most” I highly recommend Erik Little’s Rafter-L Combat Leather. Erik’s leather gear is impeccable and it is steeped in the non-PC history of the combat pistol. Good shooting!
