Side Guard Holsters Blog - Holsters for Real People

Side Guard Holsters is going to Shotshow 2012

sghblog — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:13:48 +0000

Side Guard is going to Shotshow to meet with gun manufactures and see what it might take to go to the next level.

New Side Guard Blog Look and Feel

sghblog — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:16:53 +0000

Decided to change the template used and added social networking links.

June 29 Lead Time Update

sghblog — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:15:16 +0000

I am running 7 to 9 weeks for my orders. Let us know if you have any questions.

New Gun Forms for Side Guard Holsters

sghblog — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:35:34 +0000

Just got a batch of forms in so now I can make any of my holsters for the following guns.

Colt Pony and Colt Mustang
Diamondback 380 and 380 with CT Laser
Kimber Solo
Ruger LC9
S&W 3913 LadySmith
S&W 4040PD
S&W Sigma 9/40VE with CT Laser
S&W 9/40SD
Taurus 709/740
Taurus 709/740 with CT Laser

Take a look at my site and the new list will be updated in a few days.

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

sghblog — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 06:39:24 +0000

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:

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Back to main page: How to Avoid the “Holster Drawer of Doom!”

Get a Good Belt! – Avoid the Holster Drawer of Doom Series

sghblog — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:05:32 +0000

Get a Good Belt! – Key to avoiding the “Holster Drawer of Doom”

A great holster with a woven leather or fabric belt will doom the best holster to the “Holster Drawer of Doom.”

We go to gun shows locally in Minnesota and always amazed at the belts that pass for carry belts. Several times I have sold the belt I was wearing to get the customer a good carry solution and create a customer for life.

What does NOT make a good gun belt?

Mass produced dress belts
Fabric belts
Woven leather waffle belts
Belts with widths less than 1.25 inch
Belts that bend very easy via twisting or width compression
Belts made with clothing leather

Now that we talked about what to avoid how about: What to look for in a good gun belt?

Leather that is thick and firm. How to check for this is try to crush vertically (the width) your belt and if it folds over it is not a good carry belt
Veg tanned leather belts because chrome tanned are made to be soft (think store belts or dress belts) and leather jackets. Plus the chrome tanned belts will rust your gun if they touch the gun and add water even stainless steel.
Single thick or double thick gun belts and which one to choose? Look at your pants you normally wear and see if a double thick belt will even thread through your belt loops. You can get good single thick gun belts that will work but long term double thick belts are your friend.
Reinforced. Two main types are double layer leather cemented and stitched belts and belts with an additional reinforcement material like plastic to keep the belt stiff.
Do you need a 1.75” or wider belt for it to work well? NO. 95% of the time most of my customers use 1.5” belts, 4% 1.25” belts and 1% 1.75” belts. Why? Most pants don’t work with 1.75” belts. Most generic or mass produced holsters have 1.75” or larger belt slots that allow the holster to fit 100% of the belts time but makes the holster move all around over the belt and worse yet flop around or out.
What do gun belts cost? Basic single thick gun belt would be $30 to $60 and double thick or reinforced run $60 to $120.
You can find non-leather gun belts but many of these are very thin so metal clips may not hold on to the bottom edge of the belt. With my new standard security clip this is not a problem any longer for me but something to consider with other holsters.

Spend the money on a good real gun belt and it will save you in the long run and help keep the “Holster Drawer of Doom” as empty as possible.

SGH Double Thick Belt

Link to original Avoid the Holster Drawer of Doom series starting post.

Next post in the series. Know Your Self!

How to Avoid the “Holster Drawer of Doom!”

sghblog — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:27:01 +0000

I have read time and time again about the holster drawer or box where people try something that does not work and drop it in there to collect dust. Before I started creating my own holsters my drawer was collecting a large assortment of holsters. Because of the lack of holsters that worked for me, I started making my own about 5 years ago and now is a thriving business.

So please check out my How to Avoid the Holster Drawer of Doom series below over the next few days to help you save time and money.

In this series of posts, we will talk about how to break the cycle of holster madness. Post topics include:
1. Get a good belt!
2. Know your self.
3. Where on your body do you carry?
4. One size fits none!
5. Mass produced holsters made for a gun.
6. Why custom might be right for you?

Check back for more updates on this in the coming days. Subscribe to my feed and let me know your thoughts, stories of good and bad holsters and suggestions in the comments below.

ReadyShot – Personal Firearms Training System

sghblog — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:04:50 +0000

ReadyShot – Personal Firearms Training System.

Met the owners at a local Minnesota gun show of this at home training system that is fantastic. You use your real gun and swap out a laser barrel to practice at a reactive target. Very cool solution and I may have to pick one up.

GunRightsMedia – Powered by vBulletin

sghblog — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:39:59 +0000

GunRightsMedia – Powered by vBulletin.

Oleg Volk has transformed his THR.us into a new website focusing on gun rights and other gun related topics. Please check out the new site.

Take the New Side Guard Holsters Poll!

sghblog — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:44:02 +0000