Caution: Unload your pistol before you practice drawing from your holster.
NEVER carry anything else in your pocket with your pistol and holster.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are a compilation of responses to questions frequently asked me. I hope you find answers to your questions here. Where my opinions and conclusions are expressed please note that they are solely my opinions and conclusions and I will not take the time to respond to any debate or any disagreement about them. When researching wallet holsters you may find that there exists many different opinions on the subject and on the various holsters available.
Q: Is it safe to carry in my hip pocket? Will it damage my pistol?
A: It is my personal opinion that the little pistols that I made the holster for are constructed with two important features that make it a safe pistol to pocket carry. All of them have long trigger pulls which make it harder for them to be discharged by accidental trigger activation. The other is that the hammer is recessed sufficiently to help keep the hammer from being hit and striking the primer and discharging the bullet. Of course it doesn't make them 100 percent safe. I have made further comment about safety and pistol damage that you may find helpful regarding these concerns. Click here to read.
Q: Will the holster fit in my pocket?
A: The back of the Ruger LCP holster is 5-1/4 inches tall and 4-3/16 inches wide. With a pistol in it the holster is about 1 inch thick. You may have to buy new pants with deeper pockets but before you do, try this. Cut out the shape of the back of the holster which is a rectangle from a piece of cardboard that is about 1/8 inch thick. Round the corners and slightly bow the cardboard similar to the shape of a wallet. Hold or tape your pistol to the cardboard so that the top of the pistol is even with the top of the cardboard using the photos in the gallery as a reference to the pistol's position. Put it in the pocket you intend to use for carry. This should give you a good idea of where the holster and pistol may be carried. After purchasing the holster when shopping for new pants you can try your holster in the dressing room assuming you have your CCL.
Q: What jeans do you wear or recommend that has a deep enough pocket for your holsters for the smaller .380 caliber pistols?
A: I tried different jeans when I first started carrying in my back pocket. Once I bought three pair of Lee jeans and my wife, who is a seamstress, cut off one pair for shorts and then she used the cut-off legs for material to replace the back pockets on all three pair with pockets about a half inch deeper. The modification looked storebought and worked well. However, when those wore out my wife declined to go to all that trouble again. So, when my charm and begging failed, to the relief of my wife, I went on a search to find some jeans that would work as is. I found some Wranglers at Walmart or Target that worked perfectly. I have been wearing the Wranglers ever since. I am wearing them in the demonstration videos. The photo at the bottom of the home page is a good illustration of how well the Wranglers completely conceal the holster. I would highly recommend that you purchase pre-washed or pre-shrunk jeans otherwise they might shrink enough after a few washings in hot water and dryed in a hot dryer that the pocket may no longer be deep enough. My wife says she has hardly ever dryed my jeans in a hot dryer, rather hung-em up to dry even though they were pre-washed/pre-shrunk jeans when purchased. Conseqently, my old Wranglers still conceal well in the hip pocket. I have no information on other pants such as dress slacks and such. I am a jeans guy. One good new starched pair for Sunday-go-to meetin' , anniversaries, an' funerals, and a couple of pair for everyday wear and when those are all wore out they are my work jeans and the cycle continues.
Q: Will the holster work in my front pocket?
A: I have tried it in my front pocket and it seems to work well but I personally like it in my back pocket. It does conceal the weapon, no printing of the pistol outline in the front pocket, looks like a wallet and you can draw well with it also. The holster was designed, made and shaped to be carried in the hip pocket. I am more used to it being in my hip pocket and I feel that I can draw and reholster it easier there. I have gotten substantial postiive feedback about using it in the front pocket with the wallet holster and the CTL holster. You might find that you like it in your front pocket. Take a look at this video. Front Pocket Carry.
Q: I am not sure whether I should get a right or a left-handed holster?
A: It takes too much time to write out an explanation so I have made a video addressing this issue. If you're having any doubts about which holster will meet your needs PLEASE take the time to view these videos BEFORE you order. LEFT or RIGHT holster, which one?
Q: Is there a reason why your holsters are open at the bottom? I have read some opinions that the holster should be closed to prevent lint and other obstructions from getting into the barrel.
A: I leave them open for these reasons. One is that in my experience there has been no need to have my holster closed at the bottom. Secondly, after experimenting with a closed bottom holster design I found that for my type of holster the way that the holster had to be constructed it would make the holster about 3/8 of an inch taller which limits the wearer to fewer choices of pants with pockets large enough to accommodate the taller holster. Thirdly, the construction would take longer and increase the price which would make it more difficult to be competitve with my style of holsters.
In twenty years or so of carrying in my jeans pocket I have never found any significant amount of lint or objects (none) in my pistol barrel. For one, I never carry any other small or large objects in my carry pocket. When I have checked my pistol on a regular basis I have found no lint in my barrel or any other kind of obstruction. I guess denim just doesn't accumulate much lint. I would say that I have somethimes detected a very small amount of lint dust on the rear part of the slide that is exposed to my pocket material, denim in my case, which is easily wiped or blown off. With any pistol that is carried daily in any method of carry the pistol should always be regularly inspected to make sure the weapon is in perfect order and there is nothing to keep it from correctly functioning when the occasion presents itself. NEVER carry anything else in your pocket with your pistol and holster. If you wear clothing that you are aware of or suspect that the material sheds noticable amounts of lint or lint balls, then I would advise that you either check to see if the lint is present in the pocket you intend on using or that you change to a different article of clothing that lint shedding is zero to minimal. Again, NEVER carry anything else in your pocket with your pistol and holster.
Q: The leather on my new holster squeaks/creaks. Will this go away?
A: The creaking sound you hear is a normal sound that comes from good leather contacting other leather which is unavoidable due to the construction of the holster. The sound should lessen and completely go away with time. How much time may vary as to how often you wear the holster and use the holster and could vary from holster to holster. To help speed it up you might just massage it some to help break it in. I can take a brand new holster and put a pistol in it and massage it around in my hands and hear the creaking of the leather. In my back pocket I rarely hear it when just sitting and walking around. Again this can vary from holster to holster. The holster I carry now, when brand new creaked a mite but now is silent. I have worn it a while, 4 months or so, but can't really say just when the creaking stopped as I just didn't really notice it when carrying. If it doesn't go away and it bothers you I will refund you. I will refund for this issue past the 10 day refund limit if you send me the holster and the creaking is demonstratable.
Q: If I turn your holster upside down will the pistol fall out?
A: After it breaks in, it will probably fall out when upside down. Why would you be carrying your pistol upside down? In all my years of carrying a wallet holster I have managed to keep myself in either an upright, sitting or reclining postition when carrying. Never have I found myself upside down or in any position that would make my pistol fall out of the holster and hip pocket. I have never had my pistol fall out of my holster while in my pocket. Your holster should be a snug but slightly loose fit in order for a good smooth draw without the holster coming out with it. After your holster breaks in, it should be this way. Your hip pocket is usually a snug fit and along with the compression of your body will help keep your pistol in the pocket. If I were to turn myself upside down my pistol would not fall out of my back pocket. My back pants pocket covers over the top of my holster and pistol as you can see on some of the photos on this site. If your pants pocket is so loose fitting that your pistol would fall out of your pocket when upside down then possibly your pistol and your tight fitting holster would fall out of your pocket together. I totally disagree with having a tight fitting wallet hoster. In my opinion it serves no purpose. Other holster makers may disagree, I won't argue it with anyone. Tight fitting holsters are for larger and heavier pistols worn outside the pocket where tight pistol retention is indeed necessary especially for those holsters that don't have a hold down strap of some kind. An example would be the closely molded holsters available today revealing every little contour of the pistol. It works well for this type of outside-the-pocket carry. For those that walk on your hands or often find yourself upside down, don't buy my holster.
Q: Will the magazine release buttom be activated when carrying in my rear pocket?
A: It could I guess. Could happen in any wallet or pocket holster where the magazine release button contacts something. Mine never has released while in my pocket and it hasn't been a complaint from my customers. I will say this about it. There are some wallet holsters designed so that their pocket leather is molded to come up over the magazine release button to protect it from being pushed in. I tried this on an earlier prototype of my holster and found that it was more'n likely to do the opposite. Instead of the magazine release button residing up against your soft rear end, the leather-covered magazine release button actually provided a harder surface for the magazine release button to reside up against. My experience demonstrated to me that the magazine release was more apt to be pushed by the leather than your softer rear end. That experience moved me toward a design that does not have leather contacting the magazine release button. Take a moment and place your unloaded Ruger LCP in your rear pocket, without a holster, with the magazine release button facing in towards your rear end. Then try to activate the magazine release button by sitting on your pistol. Hard to do. Other holsters made with the leather covered magazine release button may work well to protect the button from accidental release but it is beyond my knowledge of their holsters to say one way or another. My experience is with my holster design. On my left-handed holsters I provide an indention in the back flap leather to accomodate the magazine release. It is to keep the leather from contacting the magazine release button.
Q: Why do you sew your holster together? Is that better than using grommets, rivets or screws?
A: I made a holster with a couple of grommets (chicago style screws) with no stitching and wore it a while in an attempt to produce a cheaper holster. I noticed that after a while the holster tended to lose its shape due to the grommets loosening up a bit. I concluded from my experience with this style of construction that unlike a holster worn on the belt or outside the pocket in some fashion, that the hip pocket holster is subjected to more pressures and heat. The wallet holster being sat on and mashed around a bit and exposed to constant body heat has a tendency to change its shape much like a real wallet does over time in your hip pocket. The pistol, attempting to move around in the grommeted holster I made, in response to the different pressures applied to it while in my hip pocket, seemed to have a tendency to aid in a little wallowing out the grommet holes and loosening the bond between the parts of the holster which allowed the holster to deform more over time. Tightening the screws to compress the parts helped temporarily but the loosening up continued over time. If there are no screws and just grommets, tightening the grommets may be beyond most folks skills and correct tools on hand. My experience with stitched construction has shown me that the well-stitched holster keeps the parts in position more reliably and resists the deforming of the holster shape much better. It takes more skill and takes longer to make and adds to the cost but in my opinion produces a much sturdier and longer lasting holster. Riveted, grommeted or screwed together holsters are generally available at a lower purchase price as they can be constructed much quicker. (continued with the next Q/A)
Q: What is lock-stitching and where is the holster stitched?
A: A lock stitch is the type of stitch that is produced by a machine. My holsters are lock-stitched using a commercial heavy duty Cobra Class 4 leather sewing machine. I use a heavy 36 lb. nylon thread along the barrel on one side and under the barrel and trigger on the other side. Rivets, grommets and screws require that a hole be punched (cut out) into the leather to insert the grommet through. This hole stays a hole and it's kept open as a hole by the inserted rivet, grommet or screw. When stitching leather, the leather is pierced through with a needle and the thread drawn through. The leather will heal up the pierced hole and close in around the thread making it very tight and hard to remove. This method keeps parts stitched together from moving around from use and forms a much tighter bond than rivets, grommets or screws. Lock-stitching on holsters, saddles and tack, and other leatherwork has been a proven and reliable method of stitching on leather utility equipment for many years by many leather manufacturers.
Q: Do you make other holsters or holsters custom made to order? I am willing to pay extra? A: I do not take orders for custom made holsters for any other guns. Nor do I make modified versions of my current holsters that I have available. At times, I may have other holsters in the works. Check the No Fit page for updates on other holsters and possibilties. I have visited with Doug at Bear Creek Holsters down in New Braunfels,Texas and know that he takes orders for custom made holsters. He makes some very fine, high quality holsters and will work with you. Bear Creek Holsters.
Q: I would like one in brown leather. Are they available?
A: No, sorry I only make black ones. Will you make me a brown one anyway? No, sorry I only make black ones. Even if I pay you extra? No, sorry I only make black ones. We are holding your parents, your dog and your pastor, will you make a brown one to obtain their release? No, sorry I only make black ones.
A: No. My holsters are wet molded for specific pistols. Other pistols will not fit. See the No-fit List and see what may be in the works for the future.
Q: Why won't you make a holster for the SIG P238 and the Colt Mustang .380?
A: I have gotten enough requests for a holster for these two pistols to warrant checking them out. The size of these pistols are practically identical and certainly lend themselves to concealed pocket carry. Personally I really like these pistols. However, I will not be making a holster for either of them in the future. I have concerns about folks carrying these pistols in their pockets in a cocked and locked condition of readiness. When checking reviews on the internet I found that most recommended these single-action 1911 style semi-automatic pistols to be carried in the cocked and locked condition. I am concerned that the movement of the pistol in the hip pocket due to the normal daily moving around and sitting of the person carrying the weapon that the safety may be dissengaged without their knowledge creating a very unsafe carrying condition as the trigger pulls on these are short and light compared to most double-action pistols. A safer way to carry these pistols cocked and locked would be outside the pocket in suitable holsters designed for that type of carry.
Q: Why don't you make left-handed holsters for the Kahrs and the Kel-tec P32?
A: The kahr Arms pistols have an unusually large slide-lock lever that sticks out on the left side of the pistol. In a right-handed holster it is on the outside of the pocket not up against the back flap and doesn't affect the fit. But when turned around for a left-handed holster this protrusion sticks out too much into the back flap and causes drawing problems and just doesn't fit well. With the Kel-tec P32 the magazine release sticks out a bit too far when it is in the left-handed holster position and I am concerned that this would cause the magazine to release while in your hip pocket.
Q: Do you make holsters that accommodate laser grips?
A: Yes I have some holsters available that accomodate pistols with the Crimson Trace Laserguard (CTL). Also the new LaserMax Centerfire laser (LMX) fitted to the Ruger LCP fits in my LMX holster made for the LaserMax. Go here to see some photos. Holster Photo Gallery
Q: Will it damage my Crimson Trace Laser carrying it in my hip pocket?
A: Although I was skeptical at first about carrying my Ruger LCP/CTL combination in a holster in my hip pocket being concerned that it might damage or misalign the laser from the pressure exerted on it when sitting down. I am now confident that, for myself, this is not a concern after having experienced carrying it on a daily basis. Here is some commentary made on the Elsie Pea Forum about wallet holster carry that might help in your decision to carry the CTL in your hip pocket. Having said that I must make the following statement concerning this question: As of this writing after diligent research as far as I know there has been no long term testing to see if carrying your Crimson Trace Laser/pistol combination in a holster will cause damage of any kind to the laser. Or that it might cause damage by carrying it in a holster in any pocket and more specifically by carrying it in a hip pocket wallet holster which subjects the laser to pressure by sitting on it. And as of this writing, I have not seen or heard of any published evidence that it does cause damage of any kind. Please might I suggest that you check with the manufacturer of your CTL product and consult the literature that came with it if you have any concerns. There is no guarantee made or implied on my part that by carrying your CTL/pistol combination in the Uncle George's CTL Holster, in any pocket, that your CTL is totally protected from any kind of damage or misalignment of the laser. I am making this holster available as per request by customers and so I consider it is solely the buyer's choice to carry their Crimson Trace Laser/pistol combination in the manner described in the above text being aware of the lack of any credible testing of the product being carried in this same manner. When you purchase any of my holsters that accomodate the Crimson Trace Laser you are acknowledging the aforementioned information offered and are completely releasing Uncle George, maker of the Uncle George holsters of any liability regarding the use of your laser holster and the laser itself. Please be reminded that you should regularly check to see if your laser is properly aligned and is functioning properly no matter what method you decide to carry it.
Q: Do you make a holster that will accommodate the Armalaser or Laserlyte?
A: No, and there are no plans to do so in the future for either of these lasers. Contrary to the manufacturers claims that the Laserlyte fits all pocket holsters, pistols with this .56 inch thick laser attachment on the side of the pistol do not fit well at all in my holsters. I do not recommend for my holsters.
Q: Will the Ruger LCP, without a Crimson Trace Laser attached to it, fit in an Uncle George's CTL Holster? I want to go ahead and purchase the laser holster now but won't be able to obtain a laser unit for a while.
A: Unfortunately the LCP without a CTL attached doesn't fit the laser holster well. It is a loose fit and if pushed a little the barrel of the LCP without a laser attached will protrude out the bottom of the laser holster. I do not make or provide any kind of spacer insert to make the LCP fit without the laser unit attached.
Q: I have purchased a non-laser holster and have since added the Crimson Trace Laser to my pistol. I have only slightly used my non-laser holster and is in very good condition. Can I exchange it for a laser holster? OR, just the opposite, an exchange from a laser holster to a non-laser holster.
A: Sorry but no. I don't buy back or trade for holsters in any kind of used condition. I do not resell used holsters. Only exception is that you return your holster within the 10 day refund/exchange limit and the holster is in never-used condition. Never means no pistol has ever been placed in it and looks exactly the way it did when shipped and anyone else purchasing it would be pleased to have it. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you send me a slightly used and "like new" holster expecting an exchange for a holster of a different type as descibed above, you'll more'n likely find it in your mail box. Also, be advised if you return a holster in a soft-mailer and not use the original box or at least make an honest attempt to ship the holster protected from damage and the holster arrives smashed and flattened, you might also get it sent back also. I have never received a holster back sent in a soft mailer that wasn't smashed and not usable. If in doubt contact me through this website before sending in a holster for an exchange. Exchanges for a holster that is the same type as purchased that has a defect or for any other reason that I have authorized is always promptly exchanged.
A: The holster is wet-molded to ensure a good fit. At first it will be tight but by working the pistol in and out and by wearing it you should see it loosen up sufficiently. These holsters are not intended to fit tight. It should fit snug but slightly loose. Your pants pocket and compression from your body will help hold your pistol along with the holster. A slightly loose holster will help with a smooth and quick draw and will help ensure that the holster will remain in your pocket. It may take a day or two of wearing it and practicing your draw. Heat from your hands and body help soften it up. Make sure to unload your pistol when practicing your draw.
A: Yes. Working it back and forth a little and practicing drawing will limber it up. It should limber up enough for you to be able to get your middle and ring finger around the grip to start the extraction of the pistol. See the draw instructions page. It should not be bent back and forth so much to cause the back to be rag limp in which case the top could roll up a might and hinder your draw. The back flap has been made with leather that is thick enough so that over time the pistol will not print enough through the flap to be recognized as a pistol through your pants pocket. Some holsters in order to make them thinner use a thinner leather for the backflap. Over time the pistol will start to print through this thinner leather. I have tried several of the available thicknesses from my supplier and found the one that I use resists this eventual print-through.
Q: Will applying leather softening agents such as saddle soap harm the holster?
A: Chemicals, compounds, saddle soaps, and any other leather softening agents should not be applied to the holster as it may compromise the finish and render the holster to a softened state not intended for my holsters and will void any warranty. My holsters function well as is for most folks without any modifications and applications of softening agents. The holster will soften and loosen up sufficiently through use. If you are not satisfied with the holster as it is please return it within 10 days for a refund.
Q: What is reasonable wear in reference to a refund?
A: That would be marks and indentations and slide marks normally associated with the insertion and removal of the pistol from the holster. Also any slight bends to the back of the holster associated with the holster conforming to the part of the torso that normally comes into contact with the holster during carry. Here's a few holsters returned that was beyond normal wear. Altered holsters.
Q: What should I do to help preserve my holster?
A: The holster shouldn't need much maintenance. The leather is finished similar to how a saddle is finished so if needed, wipe with a damp cloth. Kiwi clear shoe polish paste in the little round tins would be a good choice to shine it up with a good brushing every now and then. For minor scuffs Kiwi black paste polish should help but be aware that any black paste wax shoe polish may rub off on your pants. The leather dye sold at Walmart I don't recommend as it only puts a coat on top of the leather and does very little to re-dye the leather. I up use Fiebings Professional Oil Dye from Tandy's in black. If you should fall out of your boat or wade into the pool or ocean with your pistol and holster, just dry it out, make sure it is indeed dry and then buff it vigorously with a shoe brush. Add a coat of clear shoe polish and buff it again if you desire a higher shine but shouldn't be necessary. Don't use any other product that will soften up the leather. The leather is soft enough to function correctly. You don't want it to be too limber.
Q: Is there a reason for the texture of the back flap, those squiggly looking indentions?
A: A couple of reasons I put those in there. One is that I found that just a flat surface had a tendency to cause more resistance to the removal of the pistol. I found that a finely textured back did not help much so I developed the design that is more deeply indented which lessoned the amount of surface contact with the pistol thus reducing the friction/resistance when removing the pistol. Secondly, just a plain flat back just didn't look good and I wanted something that was uniquely my design.
Q: Why do you ship USPS and not UPS?
A: My local post office is only about 5 blocks away which enables me to get your holsters in the mail quicker. UPS charges quite a bit more to ship and they are much farther away. I tried having them come by to pick up shipments but they never showed up on time which left me waiting too long. UPS has left large valuable shipments on my porch when I wasn't home and could have easily been stolen.
Q: What is ineptocracy?
A: Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Caution: Unload your pistol before you practice drawing from your holster.
NEVER carry anything else in your pocket with your pistol and holster.