A handgun holster needs to perform three functions, which are all equally important. The first is to hold your gun in one spot on your person. A holster that moves around as you move around will dramatically slow down your draw as your blindly flail about for your gun when you need it the most.
The second is to keep your gun secure when it isn’t needed and release it when it is needed. Seems simple, but gun retention is definitely a thing, and you’d be surprised on how many draws are foiled by reluctant holsters. Lastly, a holster should protect the trigger and any safety devices from accidental activation and allow you to re-holster without breaking any of the rules of gun safety. If you have to put your hand or some other portion of your anatomy in front of the muzzle in order to re-holster, you need a new rig, and quickly.
I’m pleased to report that the two Outside The Waistband leather holsters I recently received from Falco Holsters do all of those functions, and better still, they look fantastic while doing so.
Falco Holsters Bearly OWB Holster
The first is the C633 “Bearly” model (MSRP $99.95), a pancake-style holster made from two pieces of ⅛-inch thick Italian leather. This is absolutely gorgeous material and is a bit thicker and more robust than other leather holsters in my collection. The holster I have is molded to fit a Wilson Combat EDC X9, however, after a little research, I found out that this model fits my current carry gun, an EAA/Girsan MC P35 PI OPS (a compact version of the Hi-Power) like it was meant for it. Given that the 1911 and Hi-Power have similar exterior dimensions, this is unsurprising.
The holster has belt loops for 1.5-inch wide belts and the pistol is held inside with a 15 or so degree cant, which serves two purposes. The first is to allow a more-natural draw stroke, and the second is to improve concealment by snugging the butt of your pistol closer to your ribcage. There is an extra piece of leather on this holster which reinforces the mouth, allowing for worry-free re-holstering. The holster required no break-in period before use and held onto my pistol as I went about my day, yet still released the pistol when it was time to do so range work.
However, the thicker construction means that Bearly is a bit bulky and doesn’t flex on your belt as much as other holsters do. What it gains in security and rigidity, it loses in concealability, as the holster doesn’t mold to your curves like a more-pliable holster might do. This is not really an issue for me, as I typically carry outside the waistband when wearing loose, lightweight shirts meant for the outdoors, but your needs might be different.
Falco Holsters Shikra Holster
The second holster is a C105 ”Shikra” model for the same gun, which came in a stunning box that really elevated the “unboxing” of the holster. I am a firm believer in the idea that the customer experience with any product starts the moment you first look at it, so the attractive packaging on the outside was a big hint at what might lie inside.
The Shikra (MSRP $119.95) is a slightly different holster than the Bearly. While it also has loops for a 1.5-inch wide belt and a canted carry position, the leather for this holster is somewhat thinner, with crisp mold lines and a smooth, rounded look. The holster does not have a reinforced opening, which means it has a lower profile than the Bearly, but it also means that you’ll need to pay a bit more attention when you re-holster. However, this does have an upside, as the lack of reinforcement, combined with the thinner profile means that the Shikra wraps itself around your body better than the Bearly does, and is therefore easier to conceal. Just like that other holster, though, the Shikra held onto my gun as I moved about during the day and released it quickly when it was time to get to work. The Shikra also required a short break-in period before I was comfortable with my draw. Just like the Bearly, there is a short section of leather on the back side of the holster which is meant to protect myself from the sharp edges my gun and the salty sweat of my body from causing rust on my pistol.
Outside the waistband carry is not my preferred method of carry: I’m an appendix-carry guy, and before that, I carry inside the waistband in a Kydex holster. However, over the past few years, I’ve begun to appreciate the comfort and convenience of carrying outside the waistband, and I’ve also come to appreciate the aesthetics and simplicity of a well-made leather holster.
Having options is almost always a good thing, and these two OWB leather holsters from Falco give you two more ways to carry your defensive pistol, and do so in style.
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