Know Your Self! – How to Avoid the “Holster Drawer of Doom!” Series

The old adage of “know your self” applies to holsters and how they work or don’t.

Here is an example:  If you barely can button your pants because of “Dunlop Disease” a large gun in an IWB holster is not for you.

Questions and their impact to your holster choices:

1. Do you have physical problems like shoulder, arm or back problems that make a particular holster type or cant out of the question?  These will impact your holster option that will work for you where custom solution might be the only way to meet your need.
2. Do you need to disarm often?  Will an easy to remove or put on holster be very important.  If yes, then a slotted pancake OWB holster (The Slide) is not the best choice unless you like to remove half your belt.  A snap on and off OWB holster (The Snap) or leather loop with snap IWB (Double Snap) or with clips (Double Clip) would be better choices.
3. Because of physical problems or that you hate any thing around or on your belt? Any normal OWB or IWB is wrong for you so look to shoulder or pocket carry (Rough Out or Rough Wallet) as the answer.
4. Do you need to wear business or fashionable clothing that may preclude any normal cover garment?  Deeper concealment is the only good answer or maybe tuckable if you can get away with clips or loops showing.  If not, look for pocket, Belly Ban, crotch (Smartcarry) or ankle carry.
5. Appendix carry works for many women and skinny men but those of use who have the dreaded “Dunlop Disease” it won’t work well and will not be comfortable or even stable way to carry a gun especially with smaller guns.
6. Appendix carry with a wide holster usually dual connection type of holsters may not be the best solution.  A much better option is a single connection solution like a Minimal Clip, Minimal Snap, Quick Clip or Quick Snap because it small and thin but still holds the gun securely and allows for some movement of the holster for bending or sitting.
7. You want to carry SOB just like in the movies? It might look good in a movie (I guarantee that the gun and holster are not there when the stunt person goes crashing into a wall or slammed into the floor) but carrying SOB (Small Of the Back) with the gun over the spine is not a good plan.  If you live in snowy or icy conditions, imagine falling on your back and how good the steel will feel while impacting your spine.  I do not make a dedicated SOB holster and recommend people don’t carry that way.  Heck move it to 5 or 4 o’clock carry (your belly button is noon) so the gun is not over the spine and you get all the benefits and none of the draw backs like injuring your back.
8. Are you willing to make a change in what you wear and the gun to enable carrying a gun a certain way?

Bottom line is: Know what makes you different than most people and tailor your approach to carrying a revolver or pistol (or multiple) to fit with that need.  The questions or requirements listed above have been asked of me many times and hope this might help you think of more questions… If you do please post below and let me know for me to try and answer.

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