When I entered the police academy in 1976, synthetic holsters were completely unknown. The first time I saw a molded Kydex holster was the mid-1980’s when former FBI Agent Bill Rodgers brought his line of Kydex front-break rigs to market. Admittedly, I liked what I saw but it didn’t make me want to forsake leather rigs. I have never left leather holsters, they offer a “take me home” look, smell and feel that Kydex and Bolatron just can’t match. I get a certain pride in ownership from leather that I just don’t feel from synthetic materials.
Though I owned many leather rigs over the years, I used the precision molded holsters of Lou Alessi more than any other. While others laid claim to being the Master of Concealment, Lou’s rigs were filling the need all around the world. His holsters were on the belts and around the shoulders of intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals across the globe and for good reason: they work. They stood up to harsh conditions and they kept the holstered handgun always ready, the holster’s primary mission.
Unfortunately, Lou left us way too soon. Passing away in 2009, he left a large void in the holster industry. His designs and craftsmanship were instantly missed. His family sold the company, but the company went out of business. Lou’s presence is still felt in his former partner, Skip Ritchie. In 2010, Skip and his brother Bob opened Ritchie Leather Company in the same building Lou occupied for many years. In this space, Skip and Bob continue to offer the same designs as Lou, along with some designs of their own, with the same level of care and craftsmanship. The holster names are not the same, but the quality is better than ever.
My favorite of the Ritchie line is the Close Quarter Quick Release (CQ-QR) holster. This is a recreation of the Alessi CQC-S or Close Quarter Combat-Snap model. I had a small hand in this rig, asking Lou to make a close fitting, pancake style belt rig that would be easy on and off the belt like a paddle holster. The CQ-QR has snap belt loops front and rear with a low positioning and a flat back allowing for a very comfortable ride that hugs the body very close. The flat back and molded holster pouch make replacement of the pistol easy. Made of 8oz. vegetable tanned leather, it is wet molded and hand boned to the specific weapon offering solid retention.
I have long been a fan of the Bruce Nelson designed #1 Professional rig that offers a combination rear belt slot to pull the grip tight to the body with a forward belt tunnel that provides a high level of stability. Ritchie Leather offers this same performance with their Nelson-Ritchie Avenger (NRA) rig. Made from 8-ounce cowhide, it offers a reinforced mouth band and a forward cant to pull the rig close to the torso. A variation of this same theme can be found in the Vertical Speed Scabbard (VSS) which offers a straight up draw that can be worn strong side or cross draw. It is designed to be worn just forward of the hip for quick access while still hugging the body very close, making it very concealable. It is made of 8oz. vegetable tanned leather and wet mold/hand boned to the specific weapon.
For many years, I wore my carry pistol on my right hip inside the waistband. These days, I do not find the practice to be as comfortable as it once was, but it is a viable carry mode. As a matter of fact, the location is very concealable and fast with a bit of practice. The Ritchie Brothers offer several very good choices for hip IWB carry in their Nighthawk and Rough Out (RO) rigs. The Nighthawk is one of the most effective inside the pant holsters available utilizing a nylon-glass injected clip. This clip has a hook on the bottom to keep it from being pulled loose from the belt. Made from 7oz. premium vegetable tanned leather, the Nighthawk offers easy on/off application, with or without a belt. When wearing a belt, the belt should go over the clip to enhance concealment.
The Rough Out pays homage to the famed Bruce Nelson Summer Special made popular by Milt Sparks. It is an inside the waistband holster made from 7 – 8 oz. vegetable tanned leather. This holster incorporates a contoured sweat shield along with a reinforced mouth, to insure a proper grip along with easy one hand re-holstering. It is ideal for 1911 and 2011 pistols. The rough side out leather pouch combined with the dual belt loop snaps helps hold the pistol solidly in place while being easy on and off the belt.
As good as these holsters are, the one rig that likely made Lou Alessi famous was his ankle rig. Skip continues to make this holster and I can honestly say I think it is the best ankle holster currently available. It is made from 8-ounce black chrome tanned leather with a 1/2 inch thick felt pad that does not get “hot” like sheep wool lining. The Velcro strap is fully adjustable, with 2″ leather reinforced band. Like all Ritchie holsters, it is wet molded/hand boned to the specific weapon. I wore this rig daily while working patrol years ago. Winter or summer, hot or cold, this rig carried my 2-inch J frame S & W so comfortably that I forgot it was there.
These days, leather holsters are not given the “respect” they deserve. Leather holsters are still quite viable in the 21stCentury and if you haven’t given them a chance, you don’t know what you are missing.
These in the article are nice, I like leather for holsters for OWB, especially one, a custom made level II, I cherish that I got as a gift from a close friend who has since passed away. But… although these in the article are nice they are easy to exploit by someone wanting to grab your gun – zero actual retention against such and if you think you will be on top of it to stop it from happening if it does by you being able to maintain control of the firearm to keep it from being grabbed from such a zero retention holster then its possible you are in the area of ‘fooling your self.
Personally, I wouldn’t open carry without active retention. (I don’t open carry in public.) Every non-cop I’ve seen open carrying uses a kydex holster without active retention. They’re always carrying a polymer a striker-fired. It’s always a millennial-aged dude.
I don’t open carry without at least a level II active retention holster. I learned my lesson on that a few years with an attempted gun grab, it was just sheer luck that I managed to maintain control of the gun to keep it from being pulled completely from the holster.
I have a couple of OWB non-retention leathers. There’s just something about leather matched with a classic 1911 or wheelgun that feels right…
Leather is showing class for a holster. A nice leather holster, well crafted and made, has an appeal and look that says ‘classy’ that can’t be matched.
Just because it is OWB doesn’t mean it can’t be used for concealed carry. An overshirt or jacket should protect from the grabber if you are doing it right. This is pretty common in “no open carry” states. [Then again, I wouldn’t openly carry even if given the opportunity. I have no interest in drawing unwanted attention.]
Yes I have both IWB and OWB, but of them, only one is kydex (just so I could find out what the buzz was all about). Well, imo, kydex doesn’t beat leather…ever.
Yep! I have a passive retention OWB leather holster for a 1911.
sure, you can conceal an OWB non-retention (passive/friction retention), but don’t assume because its covered it can’t be grabbed if you get into a tussle with an attacker.