I recently became the proud owner of a Brommeland Max-Con V IWB holster for my Nighthawk Enforcer.
When I first received it I have to admit I thought from looking at the wide profile of it that it was an awful lot of leather to stick down my pants. But then again, with it's light weight and unbelievably thin profile I also thought it might do a pretty good job in hiding my full size 1911. After admiring the overall design, stitching and workmanship, I holstered my gun. It was a pretty snug fit so I wrapped the gun in 3 layers of wax paper and worked it in and out a bit. After I pretty much wore the paper out, I unwrapped it and tried it again. The wax paper had loosened it up considerably.
In a pair of Levis that are exactly my size (not 1" larger for carry purposes) and without a belt I shoved the holster down in my waistband at about the 3:30 position. Damn. If I had not had my hand on the grip of the gun, I would have sworn that it was not even in the holster. I was struck by how far the straps were apart as I was putting on my Wilderness 5 stitch. On the
Brommeland Gunleather website Gary says, "The belt loops are spaced fore and aft to recess them below the outside profile of the frame and slide of the weapon, thus significantly enhancing concealment." It also seems to help stabilize the rig and, I suppose, helps distribute the weight of the gun. I say "I suppose" because the gun really seemed to have no weight to it even before putting on the belt. His statement regarding it "enhancing concealment" is an understatement. Just as my awareness of the gun disappeared, so did it's profile. The proper cant, thin profile, stable design and a secured with a good belt makes this holster rock solid, with one exception. As Gary says on his website, the holster is allowed to rock very slightly forward and I found this feature eases the pressure you normally feel when you are driving with an IWB holster.
I have carried in this holster for a couple of weeks now and I can tell you that concealing a full sized 1911 with nothing more than a tshirt over it is extremely effective. In Arizona, that's important because a tshirt is about all you can stand to wear in the heat of the summer. The workmanship, including the edges, stitching, snaps and finish of this holster is far superior to any of my "factory made" holsters. A bonus, to me, has also been that it eliminated a problem I have had with other IWB holsters I have had. They always seemed to press on a nerve in my hip and, after a short while, make my leg numb. This holster seems to have cured that particular problem.
The holster is so comfortable that after running errands today for a couple of hours my wife decided we should stop in Outback and have a steak. Not one to argue against a good slab of red meat, she got no argument from me and we stopped. Only after being seated (with a "thunk" of my gun hitting the back of the wood backed booth) did I remember I was carrying. Carrying in an establishment that serves alcohol in Arizona is verboten. I chose to leave it concealed rather than going back to the car to remove it.
Negatives? I have found nothing about this holster that I don't like after wearing it for a couple of weeks. When I first inspected it, it did seem a little "stiff" and being unlined I was a bit concerned with the "hardness" of the inside surface of the holster wearing the finish on my new gun. The stiffness, of course, insures a smooth, fast draw and the "hardness" of the inside surface has begun to disappear. After breaking it in, it feels "velvety" inside with absolutely no ill effects on the finish of the gun, even after inspecting the normal wear locations with a loupe. For IWB carry, this is one awesome example of craftsmanship.
If you prefer an IWB either full time or part time (like me), I recommend the Brommeland Max-Con V be at the top of your list. At under $80, the price is very reasonable for a fully custom made holster. I have much more than that tied up in my now unused IWB holsters gathering dust in my closet. I now know why custom gunleather is worth the wait. Here's some pics:
The Brommeland Max-Con V.
Max-Con V carrying my Nighthawk Enforcer.
Max-Con V carrying my Nighthawk Enforcer (backside).
Max-Con V carrying my Nighthawk Enforcer (muzzle).