KevinDooley

The way I look at it, no one needs to be worried - kydex or leather makers. There are as many choices for firearms and how to carry them as there attitudes and styles and people out there.

Some people only care about function. Some people need a fancy BBQ gun and rig to show off to their friends. Some people are roundish and others are slim jims. Some people are dirt poor and some people are filthy rich. There's just too many different types of people out there who like guns for anyone to have to worry about their business being stolen.

I think of it like this... There are some tools that are simply utilitarian in nature and others that may be the same type of tool, but they are stylish or more comfy or more than functional. For instance, I bought a Hungarian SA-85 (AK pattern rifle) in a special run on a forum... it's one of only 50 exactly like it. When I bought it I wanted a rifle to show off and it nicely fit the bill. It had nicely refinished wood and was in great shape.

Then I got concerned about home defense. With limited funding and my options of either using an Enfield No 1 Mk III or an AK style rifle for home defense, I chose the AK. But I needed some different functionality out of it now... So I bought an E. German folding stock for it, along with some polymer furniture. There's a rail and a Surefire G2 mounted on it now too. It's now had several thousand rounds through it and it's a little dinged up, but I know exactly how to use it in a plethora of situations. Of course, now I don't have a pretty show-off rifle... So I'll have to look at buying something I can show off.

Holsters aren't too far off. Sometimes you just want something that secures the pistol - maybe for range use - and kydex is perfect for that. In fact, I have a kydex slide type holster that I use at the range. Sometimes you need to conceal your weapon - and for some people only leather is comfortable in that instance. Some people just like nice things and for that... custom leather is pretty stinkin' nice.

Well, I've probably rambled on enough. I'm glad there are so many options out there so that people can find exactly what they need. No one should worry and no one needs to be uppity about either choice. Both fill needs and both will be around for a long, long time.

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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes

The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare. -Thane Yost

Sicilia Mike

Anyone advertising a 6 plus month wait should have worries. I won't wait that long, and I question those who do. There is no need to tolerate such a long wait given the numerous craftsmen that can do better. If Rolex can build my watch start to finish in just under a year why 6 months for a holster? A holster that took longer to make than my gun? No thanks.

wagglebee

From everything I've been told, it takes less than an hour to make the holster. The wait is because there are so many people in line. This means that they have NOTHING to worry about. The folks at Milt Sparks, and the individual holster makers like Del Fatti and Alessi make fantastic products and many of us are happy to wait for them.

If you don't want to wait, buy something from Galco, Kramer or the other mass producers. You will pay about the same and get a quality product, it just won't be custom.

whamonkey

Totally untrue......I've had several high end custom leather holsters and none of them beats the MTAC.

QKShooter

I think the great thing about living in America is that we can all shop around for the holster that we want.
If we don't want to wait we can get one quicker.
If we don't want to spend a lot then we can get one cheaper.
If we don't want leather then we can buy one in Kydex and if not Kydex then Carbon Fiber.
We can wear one OWB or IWB or at the shoulder or ankle.

Me personally I don't really care what the "other guy" carries in.
It's whatever floats the boat.
Be happy.

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Liberty/Tyranny
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Ain't That A Shame! Be Happy!
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Prvt. Toter

Paper or Plastic? Kydex or leather?

I think it is really a matter of choice / preference. I have a couple of CompTac holsters and they are quite useable, however: I PREFER leather. When I bought the Kydex I wanted something and I wanted it NOW... Comptac has excellent service and the turnaround is unbeatable... having said that... The Milt Sparks leather I own was waited on with much more anticipation and ultimately when it arrived it was much more satisfying. Kydex or Leather are truely two different animals, PAPER OR PLASTIC. Both serve the purpose...like a Kia will get you to work, but a Cadilac will do it in style...

Room to worrry? I do not think the truely SKILLED holstermakers have anything to worry about. Additionally, their are many new makers on the block (some almost directly copying the greats), but the mainstays (Alessi, Sparks, Rosen and others climbing the ranks) continue to be the benchmarks and continue to have business booked a year ahead of capacity. I have recently (within the last year) ordered holsters from K & D, Brigade Gunleather, AJC, etc, and I will tell you they all have a WAIT TIME. In some cases I ordered from the new guys simply because the Alessi's, Sparks, etc either did not have the blank I needed (Sprinfield micro with rail) or I did not have the patience to wait the extra 6-8 weeks of the bigger guys... So, lets take a look at these so called new kids on the block... TT, Brigade, UBG, and many more... First off, lets face it, most if not all of these guys make a GOOD holster --- AND also notice that as their reputations have grown, they too have begun to have a longer lead times. Yet even with the new influx of talent, the demand for good leather is still outpacing capacity of the craftsman to make them. Even with the lower lead time offerings of the kydex and hybrids on the market (Mtac, Crossbreed, etc) the Leather Makers are still backed up and getting more backed up daily.

At this point I must admit that I do not own a hybrid (MTAC or CROSSBREED) but after I finish typing this I will be placing an order with Eric... I suspect I will be very pleased with the product and I also suspect I will continue to purcahse quality leather holsters. Really, can one ever have TOO many holster options?...

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If your not packin' your slackin'

Its better to have and not need than to need and not have, keep it safe but keep it loaded!

USN : Desert Storm

NYcarry

I like to own a variety of all of them, just to keep my holster box full heh.

But if it were me waiting on a Custom holster, I would steer clear of the price gougers on ebay, and opt for any MTAC ect, till my order was fulfilled.

I also just can't bring myself to buy the top end holsters used, so I order new and get a readily available brand to hold me over.

I love a variety of holsters, It's like I am addicting to em or something lol



Seriously I have to have several models and several colors of the same models to match my clothes, same goes for mag holders, It really is a sickness I swear

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Prvt. Toter

Ditto on your box and your addictions... maybe we should start a thread "show us your holster box"

__________________
If your not packin' your slackin'

Its better to have and not need than to need and not have, keep it safe but keep it loaded!

USN : Desert Storm

PaulJ

I think holsters like the MTAC will cut into the custom market. There are three reasons people buy customs (and pay premium for it): Functionality, Comfort and Looks. For Functionality and comfort, the MTAC is good enough, maybe a tad better when it comes to functionality. The only thing you get from a custom holster is the more individual look. But .... did you realize that these are usually concealed holsters ;-). I don't think a lot of people will pay twice for a customer holster (compared to an MTAC) AND wait 6 months.

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I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. (Thomas Jefferson)

CajunChuck

I did the exact above mentioned. It was a very nice holster, but when I got my custom leather perfectly molded to my piece...well, apples and oranges.

And to answer you question....I will respond with another question...

Is Ferrari worried about not selling their cars?