Kydex pocket holsters?

[Perd Hapley]

I finally bought the LCP Max I've been mulling for a few months now. I figure a kydex holster will be thinner/less printy in the pocket than the cloth or leather type. Right?

Looking at this one.
https://www.vedderholsters.com/pocket-locker-holster/

I like that that one can be ordered with a "tab," an extension to the sweat shield, so the holster can be pushed off with the thumb.

[lee n. field]

I finally bought the LCP Max I've been mulling for a few months now. I figure a kydex holster will be thinner/less printy in the pocket than the cloth or leather type. Right?

For thin and unprinty, check out Mika.

Looking at this one.
https://www.vedderholsters.com/pocket-locker-holster/

I like that that one can be ordered with a "tab," an extension to the sweat shield, so the holster can be pushed off with the thumb.

[Perd Hapley]

For thin and unprinty, check out Mika.

How are those made?

[K Frame]

"For thin and unprinty, check out Mika."

Uhm... Da fuq?

It asked me for the MAKE of my firearm...

I typed in Smith & Wesson and hit enter....

It added a holster to my cart.

Uhm... just WTF fits in that holster? It never gave me options for a model.

[K Frame]

Same thing with the waistband holster... No ability to pick the freaking model of the gun that you're going to stuff in the holster.

It must be a technical problem with the website. At least I hope to hell that it is.

[BobR]

Same thing with the waistband holster... No ability to pick the freaking model of the gun that you're going to stuff in the holster.

It must be a technical problem with the website. At least I hope to hell that it is.

Or they are just assuming you are going to be carrying a J frame instead of stuffing an N frame into your pocket. Website (owners/developers) shouldn't make assumptions. They can be wrong too many times.

bob

[Perd Hapley]

What I don't like about the website is that it says the holsters are, "solidly constructed of a combination of lightweight materials," but doesn't say what those materials are.

But they must be better than this thing.

http://jacksonleatherwork.com/2015/02/great-quality-holster/

Can't imagine how that one works.

[Perd Hapley]

I think when it asks which make, it intends you to enter the model as well.

[Unisaw]

For a thin Kydex holster that doesn’t print, try Aholster.

https://aholster.com/pocket-aholster/

[230RN]

N=1

Kydex skeletonized OWB holster for Kahr CW-9. Came with the gun.

Need a fork lift to draw it.

Decided I did not like molded holsters.   But they look cool.  Gave up trying to unprint autos in pocket, so I carry a laser-sighted J-frame without a holster, just looks like a pocketful of junk with the cylinder disrupting the gun's lines.  Also reduces "tactical as all get-out and ready for a small war with a chip on my shoulder" look if I'm investigated.
 
I do carry a five-shot speed loader in the other pocket which actually is full of junk. I figure if I need 5 + 5 I've got a problem I can't solve with a gun.  Yeah, I know, the speed loader is "tactical," but "forgivably tactical" since hey, I've only got a little rinky-dinky 5-shooter, Officer.  (Or DA.)  Think, like HeroHog, "I might not last very long or be very effective but I'll be a real pain in the ass for a minute!
MOLON LABE!"

On the other hand, retired, and I no longer circulate in areas where I might need any shots.



N=1

N is me.

Terry, 230RN

[Bogie]

The G43 is in the right pocket. Weekends, there is sometimes the J-frame in the left pocket. Some weekend nights, the shirttail is no longer inside the pants...

[MechAg94]

I think when it asks which make, it intends you to enter the model as well.

That is what I was thinking.  The site does say they are "custom handmade holsters".

[RocketMan]

The G43 is in the right pocket. Weekends, there is sometimes the J-frame in the left pocket. Some weekend nights, the shirttail is no longer inside the pants...

Is the G43 in something that protects the trigger while it's in your pocket, or do you not have a round in the chamber?

[K Frame]

That is what I was thinking.  The site does say they are "custom handmade holsters".

Shitty site instructions. I wonder how many customers he:

1. Has to reach out to to figure out what he's making, and

2. Has lost because they don't want to deal with guessing game websites.

As of right now I'm in category 2. I'm not going to assume that he's a better holster maker than he is in planning out a website. For too many quality holsters from far too many quality makers without having to head scratch it out.

Every time I think I'm finally going to try out a kydex holster I end up circling back and buying a leather holster. Just have never been able to make that leap.

[DittoHead]

For a thin Kydex holster that doesn’t print, try Aholster.

https://aholster.com/pocket-aholster/

This is what I use for my LCP, I like it.

[Perd Hapley]

Or I could go this route:

https://bsholster.com/

[230RN]

Or I could go this route:

https://bsholster.com/

I've often thought that shooting through my pants pocket was an unlikely happening, but a tactical option if I was ready to accept possible injury from muzzle blast and a slight disruption of the trajectory.

[Perd Hapley]

Ignoring all your fine advice, I have ordered the Vedder holster from the OP. It just makes sense to me, because it has a back-up method (the tab), in case the holster doesn’t come off the gun during the draw. There are some other makers that do the same, but the Vedder lays flat, instead of sticking out toward the wearer’s thigh.

There are a lot of people (on other sites) recommending the Mika holsters, but it’s weird that he doesn’t talk about what they’re made of. Also, a holster like that intentionally has no retention, which I don’t quite understand.

[230RN]

Well, frankly I don't understand the use of a pocket holster anyway. The one exception was where my winter coat pockets were too large and the gun would turn upside-down in there.  So experimentally, I fashioned a "holster" out of cardboard to prevent that and it worked pretty well but I never transferred the design to leather.

I've made a couple of holsters from "farmer's packs" of leather from the farm store for field carry (long before CCW became an option in Colorado.)  My best design was for my 1911 whose design goal was to be made out of one piece of leather.  Note even the stitching and retaining loop was with leather thong.  The retention strap can be kept under the hammer for Condition 1 carry.

Terry, 230RN

[K Frame]

I love pocket holsters. I've carried either a Taurus PT-22 or a Smith 042 in pocket holsters for over 20 years.

Great way to carry a small gun.

[Ben]

Well, frankly I don't understand the use of a pocket holster anyway.

Carry a striker fired gun without external safeties in your pocket without a holster for a while, and eventually you'll understand what a pocket holster is for, though it might be an uncomfortable lesson. 

[lee n. field]

Ignoring all your fine advice, I have ordered the Vedder holster from the OP. It just makes sense to me, because it has a back-up method (the tab), in case the holster doesn’t come off the gun during the draw. There are some other makers that do the same, but the Vedder lays flat, instead of sticking out toward the wearer’s thigh.

There are a lot of people (on other sites) recommending the Mika holsters, but it’s weird that he doesn’t talk about what they’re made of. Also, a holster like that intentionally has no retention, which I don’t quite understand.

Here's mine.  The material is thin and "mostly stiff".  You can see that it's partially formed to the gun.  (Desantis Nemesis, my usual goto for pocket holsters, also does this.  But, the material is thicker.)

Retention is from sitting deep in a pocket.

I got this in, probably, 2009.  In intermittent use since, whenever my shifting whim has me carrying the Taurus 605.

[Perd Hapley]

Here's mine.  The material is thin and "mostly stiff".  You can see that it's partially formed to the gun.  (Desantis Nemesis, my usual goto for pocket holsters, also does this.  But, the material is thicker.)

Retention is from sitting deep in a pocket.

I got this in, probably, 2009.  In intermittent use since, whenever my shifting whim has me carrying the Taurus 605.

That is the first photo of a Mika holster I've seen that makes them look thin. The photos on his website make them seem very bulky.

[Lennyjoe]

I’ve tried pocket carry in shorts and jeans with a P365 and a Hellcat and always go back to IWB instead. 

[Perd Hapley]

I’ve tried pocket carry in shorts and jeans with a P365 and a Hellcat and always go back to IWB instead.

What went wrong?