Holster Reviews

This category focuses on reviews for holsters. Advantages, disadvantages, types, styles, ways to carry and etc. Check out the reviews on holsters before purchasing yours.

New Item>>>>Paddle & Screw Hardware Replacement

December 20, 2023 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Belt Attachment Options, Paddle Holsters with No Comments

What is a paddle holster? A paddle holster is a way of securing your handgun using a flat-concave-shaped piece of plastic with a thin piece silicone backing for grip and comfort.

A paddle holster has several advantages and the number one advantage to this type of holster is being able to remove your firearm and holster quickly from your body without having to undo your belt.

How To Wear A Paddle Holster

Some people wonder how to wear a paddle holster. The paddle holster uses friction on the paddle to keep it securely attached to your clothing’s waist. A paddle holster doesn’t require the use of a belt which makes it compatible with many different styles of clothing however the clothing must be tight or the waistbands must have very little wiggle room.

Sometimes it’s best to wear clothes that are slightly larger and loose than your normal clothing to help with concealment. Another important aspect to consider with a paddle holster is the fit of the firearm you will be carrying.

A paddle holster is especially helpful for people that get in and out of cars constantly.

Plastic Paddle can be an alternative for a paddle attachment on a Low-Rider Holster (Swan) (C-1)

Also can be an replacement option for all of our Paddle holsters and Sentinel Holster replacement.

***Check your current holster to see if it has wide hole or narrow hole spacing, so we know which belt loop to send you to fit on your current holster. Example pictures are in the product gallery of the hole spacing. If you are unsure, then send us a picture of the back of your holster through our Live Chat button or email at sales@mtrcustomleather.com.

***CLICK TO BUY >>https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/product/paddle-screw-hardware-replacement/

Updated Alaskan Chest Rig-Make it into a Drop Leg and Paddle Holster

October 10, 2023 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, New MTR Updates with No Comments

Alaska Style Hunter’s Rig (C-4)

(5 customer reviews)  5 reviews  Add your review

Designed for hunters who want the weight of the gun to be spread over the back and shoulders. Made for small or large weapons! You design it and we build it! Made in USA <N.C.>

Choose an extra attachment to wear the holster part on the Alaskan Rig on the leg or on the belt.
Drop Leg Attachment comes with: Leg Strap, Drop Leg Shank & Hardware to wear holster on the upper part of the thigh
Paddle– Plastic Paddle with additional holes on the back to adjust the holster to wear on the OWB

DROP LEG OPTION:

Uses same holster on the Alaskan Chest Rig

Our Hunter Rig is a cross the chest shoulder style holster that includes fully adjustable straps and allows ease of use while sitting in a deer stand. Also known as, “Alaska Style Holster”. A lot of people like to use this style of holster for outdoor activities like hunting, hiking and horse back riding. The three straps on the harness are 34″ long and will need to be adjusted and trimmed to your desired fit for comfortable all day carry. The 3 straps aid in the retention of the rig against the body. Keeping the rig nice and secure without worry. This holster includes a tie down as well as a 2-1/4″ wide suede lined shoulder strap for more comfort. The Hunter Rig is fully smooth lined with leather and comes with all stainless steel and black anodized hardware. You can purchase one Hunter’s Rig for one weapon. Than you can purchase just the holster part of the rig for different weapons and interchange them. We can custom make the Hunter’s Rig for several weapons with after market sights and scopes. These are done on request by email or phone call. This holster is the ultimate Hunters Rig.

Paddle Holster Uses same Holster on the Alaskan Chest Rig:

Buy Yours Today:

Alaska Style Hunter’s Rig (C-4)

Leather Paddle Holsters-What are they-how do you wear them?

March 30, 2023 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, Paddle Holsters with No Comments

We get to talk to customers most all day about holsters, and one of the holster styles that seems most confusing to people is the paddle holster.

The paddle holster gets its name from the paddle-shaped appendage that is attached to the holster. That appendage is worn inside the waistband, while the paddle holster is worn outside the belt. We understand that the paddle holster concept can be a little confusing, so here are a few images to help explain:

paddle holster options leather paddle holster models

Click This Link To See All The Paddle Holster Models That We Currently Offer

So What is a Paddle Holster?

From an official definition or description standpoint, Wikipedia describes a paddle holster as:

“A paddle holster is a holster for a handgun whose method of securing the holster to the wearer utilizes a flat, concave shaped piece of plastic or stiffened leather designed to be worn against the body inside of the pants.”

For the most part, a paddle holster consists of two components:

  • The holster
  • The paddle

Let’s talk about each part separately:

Holster

The holster portion of paddle holsters is typically manufactured from one of three materials:

  • Leather – Our personal favorite and still one of the most popular gun holster materials.
  • Kydex – This thermoplastic material has become very popular as a gun holster material in the last 20 years. It’s an extremely durable material that is entirely waterproof but is vulnerable to high heat.
  • Ballistic Nylon – This durable material is known for being extremely strong with high tensile strength. It’s less expensive to produce but doesn’t hold its form all that well.

Paddle

The paddles themselves can be produced from several materials. But the two most popular options are Kydex paddles or plastic paddles that are covered in leather or suede for additional comfort.

Most paddles are designed with a series of built-in appendages commonly called lips, ledges, or anchors. These appendages are designed to increase the amount of friction holding the holster to the body and serve as a grabbing or gripping point for the underside of a belt (if one is worn) to aid in stability and retention.

Paddle Holster – Pros and Cons

Like most things in life, paddle holsters offer some advantages and disadvantages. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of this holster style:

Pros

Easy to putting on or taking off – With the paddle portion being worn inside the waistband, the paddle holster is relatively easy to put on or take off. The user doesn’t have to remove the belt or even undo the pants in most cases, and that’s the most significant advantage that a paddle holster offers. That feature is what makes the paddle holster such a popular holster option.

Can potentially be worn without a belt – While many other holster styles are dependent on a belt to function, the paddle holster is the only outside the waistband holster style that is NOT dependent on a belt.

This feature makes the paddle holster a popular option with the ladies (as many do not utilize a belt in most everyday wear) and with clothing styles that are not belt friendly (think sweat pants, yoga pants, etc.). Now for the holster to be stable in these scenarios, the pants must have a reasonably firm waistband that rides tight to the body; otherwise, the holster will shift around and pull away from the body.

Cons

Not as stable as a belt holster – The paddle holster’s easy-on/easy-off features are a bit of a double-edged sword as they also mean that the paddle holster relies on the friction of the paddle inside the waist as an anchor point to keep the holster in place. This attachment method is not as stable as attaching the holster directly to the belt and can mean that the holster may shift on the waist.

Lacks the physical security of a belt holster – Most paddle holsters use a ledge, lip, or clip of some design to help with friction. To help grab onto the bottom of the belt, the holster itself isn’t physically attached to the belt like a traditional belt holster. As such, the paddle holster lacks the same physical security found on a belt holster with the gun belt attached through belt slots in the holster.

Concealability – While the paddle design offers an easier way to put the holster on or take it off compared to the traditional belt loop method, it doesn’t pull the holster as tight to the body as a belt holster. With the holster riding a little farther away from the body, paddle holsters can be more challenging to conceal compared to a traditional OWB belt holster.

Paddle Holster Options

Like most gun holster models, paddle holsters are available with various options or features that can be beneficial to the user. Some of the more popular options include the following:

Holster cant – The “cant” refers to the angle that the holster rides on the waist in relation to the user. The two most popular cants are commonly called straight-up cant or zero cant, and a forward cant. The forward cant angle varies with each holster brand, but most angle a forward cant model somewhere between 10 degrees and 15 degrees.

Some paddle holster models feature an adjustable cant that is adjusted to a 0 cant (straight up and down), forward cant, or even a 15-degree reverse cant for those that might want to wear the holster in a cross draw configuration.

Retention devices – While many paddle holster models are designed as open-top models with just passive retention, some are available with active retention devices.

Passive retention refers to the retention provided by the fit of the weapon into the holster, while active retention refers to a retention device that has to be activated or accessed for the handgun to be drawn from the holster.

The two most common types are:

  • Thumb Break – A thumb break (also commonly called a retention strap, security strap, or retention break) is used to describe a strap device or hood device that goes over the handgun’s rear portion and is designed to help keep the firearm in the holster. The strap or hood has to be unsnapped, disengaged, or moved forward for the handgun to be drawn in most cases.
  • Internal lock – Paddle holster models with an internal lock are designed with a locking mechanism that attaches to the handgun’s front trigger guard area within the holster. This lock has to be deactivated via a button or other mechanism to draw the handgun.

From a security level standpoint most commonly seen at the law enforcement level, these types of retention devices are usually assigned a numerical level. A holster with a single retention device is widely known as a Level 1 holster. A Level 2 holster would have two retention devices, while a Level 3 holster would have three retention devices.

Most paddle holsters only offer a maximum of Level 1 retention on the standard LEO retention scale. However, a few specialized paddle holster designs on the market are classified as Level 2.

Ride Height – Some paddle holster models on the market also offer an adjustable ride height. The user can adjust where the paddle attaches to the holster and control the height that the holster rides in relation to their belt or waistline.

FAQS

Here are some commonly asked questions that we see regarding paddle holsters:

Do you offer a paddle style holster to fit any pistols with lights mounted?

Yes, we carry the MTR Custom paddle holster, which is available to fit over 100 different handgun models with many popular weapon light models attached. That paddle holster model can be seen here.

I’m looking for a leather paddle type holster that uses a push-button style security release similar to the security lock on the Blackhawk Serpa holster?

Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer a leather paddle holster that features an internal lock or push button security release. All the paddle holsters that we offer use a thumb break as the retention device.

Do you have a paddle style holster model that features an adjustable cant?

We currently offer two holster brands that produce a paddle holster: Don Hume and MTR Custom. Of the two, only the MTR Custom model offers an adjustable cant. The cant on that model can be set up for straight-up cant, forward cant, or reverse forward cant for cross-draw carry. That model can be seen by following this link.

Do you have any leather paddle holster models?

At this time, we only offer holsters in leather, so all we have are leather paddle holster options.

Are paddle holsters any good?

The concept of something being either good or bad is based strictly on one’s opinion of what is good or bad. As that opinion is entirely subjective, the “good” or “bad” rating is relative.

Paddle holsters certainly have their place and fill a definite niche within the holster industry. Paddle holsters are quite popular due to their ease of being put on or taken off compared to a traditional belt holster, where you have to remove your belt to mount the belt holster.

Personally, we’ve always felt that paddle holsters were a good option for range use, general carry, or any situation where one has to take the holster on or off regularly.

Can you talk about how to wear a paddle style holster?

While a paddle holster may look complicated, they are relatively easy to wear. Most paddle holsters are designed to wear on the strongside (as in the same side as your shooting hand). The holster’s paddle portion is inserted down into the waistband and then slightly adjusted to the specific point where it rides comfortably. The actual holster portion then rides outside the waistband on the point where the paddle was inserted.

Are holsters with a paddle good for concealed carry?

Opinions on this topic are no different than opinions on any other gun-related topic. Ask ten different shooters, and you’ll most likely get ten varied answers.

Our opinion on this topic has been that paddle holsters can be a good option for concealed carry, but only under the right circumstances.

Due to their design, paddle holsters don’t ride as close to the body as a belt holster. As a result, paddle holsters don’t conceal all that well, and they are best suited for concealed carry use in colder climates where a cover garment can use used. In warmer weather, they do not conceal well with a light cover garment like a T-shirt.

However, for use with a sweatshirt, light jacket, or coat as a cover garment, they can work well for concealed carry.

ALL THE PADDLE HOLSTER MODELS THAT WE CARRY ARE LISTED BELOW.

https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/?s=paddle&post_type=product 

 

20% off Paddle Holster in Stock Quick Ship & Clearance Category

November 27, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in Christmas Ideas, Holster Reviews with No Comments

Here you will find holsters that are on sale. Some of these holsters are pre broken in, slightly used, some wear marks, a few scratches. These holsters are a bargain. They are half off the retail value. You will save 10-50% off. All of the holsters are made from top grain leather with heavy duty nylon stitching. The quality of the leather and materials are the same. There is no return or refund for any holsters, belts, or accessories in the clearance category. These holsters are available for same day shipping if ordered before 1pm EST (during business hours) or next business day.

***NO RETURNS/EXCHANGES/REFUNDS ON THESE ITEMS***

Adversary Holster IWB (A-3) (CLEARANCE) — MTR Custom Leather

October 27, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, New MTR Updates with No Comments

20% off RETAIL PRICING 

Features:

  • Re-enforced mouth piece
  • Sweat/Body Shield
  • Custom Molded to each weapon
  • Covers the full length barrel & Trigger guard
  • Heavy Duty Nylon stitching for better retention
  • Black and Right Handed Only

***ALL ITEMS IN STOCK AND WILL SHIP OUT WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS***

These A-3 Adversary IWB Clip-On Holsters have NOT been used or return. They are all NEW holsters that just have been sitting on the shelf or have a slight defect that did not pass inspection due to the color coming out wrong, scar/bug bit mark from the cow, etc.

ALL RIGHT HAND AND BLACK IN COLOR

Adversary Holster IWB (A-3) is made for all small weapons and intended for IWB (inside the waistband) carry. This holster comes with a heavy duty powder-coated black single holster clip.  The Adversary holster comes with a double layered reinforced sweat shield/body shield, this helps for long term use of the holster. This enables the weapon to NOT touch the body and your body from touching the weapon. No more sharp edges rubbing up against the body. And no more “Wohoo” because the weapon is cold and touching you. Natural body oils (sweat) is very acid and can cause internal rusting inside of the slide of hammer of the weapon. Keep in mind if your weapon is stainless steel, sometimes the internal parts of the weapon is not stainless steel.

MTR Custom Leather does not stop there with the quality, MTR ensures that the entire barrel is completely covered, to prevent any damage of the barrel and sight. Also helps with the draw, one does not have to worry about the sight catching when drawing. Quality is a must, therefore, we use heavy duty nylon stitching, to ensure long term durability of the holster. One can add double stitching to the holster, this will increase the retention of the weapon in the holster.

Check out the fine details on the holster. We use 20 tons of pressure to acquire the best retention on the weapon while seated into the holster. The Adversary is hand molded to each weapon to ensure the fine details in the holster to fit nice tight like a glove. The holster clips can fit up to 1-1/2 gunbelt(2 layer) or 1-3/4 regular belt (1 layer).This is the newest and affordable holster on the market.

If you would like for your holster to be tuckable, than check out our A-3A Tuckable Adversary Holster 

Source: Adversary Holster IWB (A-3) (CLEARANCE) — MTR Custom Leather

Paddle Holster (A-8) (CLEARANCE) — MTR Custom Leather-OWB Sale

October 26, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, New MTR Updates with No Comments

20% off RETAIL PRICING

NORMAL PRICE $74.99

ON SALE FOR $60 OUT THE DOOR 

These A-8 Paddle OWB Holsters have NOT been used or return. They are all NEW holsters that just have been sitting on the shelf or have a slight defect that did not pass inspection due to the color coming out wrong, scar/bug bit mark from the cow, etc.

MTR A-8 Paddle Holster was designed for those seeking an easier on/off outside the waistband holster. MTR Paddle Holster is the finest professional top grade paddle holster available on the market today at the best price.

Features:

-The Paddle Holster is an open top design featuring full combat-grip accessibility.

– Can Be Worn In 3 Different Configurations: Straight Draw, Forward Cant, or 15o Reverse Cant

– Custom cut and molded by our leather professional Full Sweat Shield/body shield, To Help Protect You From The Sharp Edges Of The Gun As Well As Protecting Your Weapon From Body Oils and Sweat

-Professional Detailed hand molding for excellent handgun retention

– Double Layer Reinforced Mouth For Easy Re-holstering

– Conceals the Full Barrel and trigger guard

– Can Be Worn With or Without A Belt, Which Is Ideal For Women That Do Not Wear Belts – Gun Specific for best retention

-Black and Right Handed Only

***ALL ITEMS IN STOCK AND WILL SHIP OUT WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS***

Source: Paddle Holster (A-8) (CLEARANCE) — MTR Custom Leather

HOW-TO-CARRY-YOUR-WEAPON TEST-MTR CUSTOM LEATHER, LLC

May 3, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions-How To, Holster Reviews with No Comments
HOW-TO-CARRY-YOUR-WEAPON-TEST-1Download

CLICK THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE DIAGRAM OF MANY OPTIONS TO CARRY YOUR WEAPON. QUESTIONS LIKE SIZE OF WEAPON, POSITION OF CARRY, SAFTEY STRAP, ETC.

There are many ways to conceal carry your weapon, but you must obtain your Concealed Carry License or permit. Before you do anything else, you first need to make sure that you’re in compliance with your state’s laws. Next, there is NO consensus on the method of carry; It is just a matter of personal preferences. There are two things I would recommend you focus on. Select a method that allows you to comfortably carry and adequately conceal your weapon ALL the time. Of course, this can be a challenge depending on your body type and build, style of dress, lifestyle, location and temperature changes, preferences for where on your body you want to carry, etc. Which can often dictate where you can and cannot place your weapon. Think about your daily activities that you would be doing when wearing the holster: riding, sitting, outdoors, indoors, hiking, line of work etc.








IF YOU PLAN ON DOING ANY SORT OF ACTIVITES: FISHING, MOTORCYCLE/BICYCLE, HUNTING, HIKING, ETC-CONSIDER ADDING A THUMB BREAK STRAP TO YOUR HOLSTER. WHAT IS A THUMB BREAK STRAP? IT’S A SAFTEY STRAP THAT GOES AROUND THE HAMMER/SLIDE OF THE WEAPON. CHECK OUT OUR FAQ PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPTIONS FOR EACH PRODUCTS. IF YOU DO NOT WEAR A BELT, WE RECOMMEND UPGRADING THE HOLSTER WITH ULTICLIPS.

IF YOU PLAN ON DOING ANY SORT OF ACTIVITES: FISHING, MOTORCYCLE/BICYCLE, HORSEBACK RIDING, HUNTING, HIKING, ETC-CONSIDER ADDING A THUMB BREAK STRAP TO YOUR HOLSTER. WHAT IS A THUMB BREAK STRAP? IT’S A SAFTEY STRAP THAT GOES AROUND THE HAMMER/SLIDE OF THE WEAPON. IF YOU PLAN ON WEARING THE HOLSTER OUTSIDE A LOT IN THE SUMMER OR LIVE IN A HOT HUMID CLIMATE OR SWEAT A LOT, CONSIDER ADDING A SWEAT SHIELD/BODY SHIELD TO THE HOLSTER. WHAT IS THAT? A PIECE OF LEATHER THAT EXTENDS PAST THE HAMMER/SLIDE OF THE WEAPON TO PREVENT SWEAT AND BODY OILS FROM ENTERING THE WEAPON AND PREVENTS THE WEAPON (SHARP EDGES/SERRATIONS) FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE SKIN. CHECK OUT OUR FAQ PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPTIONS FOR EACH PRODUCTS.

Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) — MTR Custom Leather aka-A-6 Deluxe Full-Size Pancake Holster 

March 14, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews with No Comments

Great Option for Large frame weapons. The open top design offers a swift and easy draw with great cosmetic appearance with the detailed molding. Providing 100% secure retention of the weapon. Features:   Premium Grade A bullhide Made in USA Full slide/barrel coverage Butt-forward cant allows effective concealment Traditional pancake design for best concealment and wrapping/contouring the body Fits belts up to 1 3/4″ single layer or nylon belts

The C-2 Belt Slide Master Carry is very similar to our A-6 Deluxe Full-Size Pancake Holster. They both have the re-enforced mouth. You might ask what is a re-enforce mouth on a holster. This is located at the opening of the holster where you would insert the weapon. This can become one of the weaker parts on a holster, due to drawing and inserting the weapon with force many times. The mouth of the holster can become weak from turning, twisting and leaning towards the weapon and holster with your body. This causes stretching on the mouth of the holster because it’s Constance pressure on the handle of the weapon with your body (hip, back, muffin top).

The re-enforce mouthpiece on the holster is the little sewn triangle piece of leather on the front of the holster located at the trigger guard and slide of the weapon near the top of the weapon towards the handle. 

Features:

 

  • Premium Grade A bullhide

  • Made in USA

  • Full slide/barrel coverage

  • Butt-forward cant allows effective concealment

  • Traditional pancake design for best concealment and wrapping/contouring the body

  • Fits belts up to 1 3/4″ single layer or nylon belts

  • Can be made for optics, rmr red dots, lasers/light attachments, threaded barrels, compensators and more.
  • Hand molded to each weapon to the exact frame of weapon

You design we build it. All the way up the color stitching.

The Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) is a very simple design and is made with a drop through configuration. This allows multiple barrel lengths to work with this product without having multiple holsters. Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) is intended for outside

the waistband (OWB) carry. The leather belt slots on the Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2)can fit up to 1-1/2 gunbelt(2 layer) or 1-3/4 regular belt (1 layer). The C-2 Holster fits very snug to the waist.

Brown Elephant Trim on bullhide black leather

Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) is easy for re-holstering in one single motion. The Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) is equipped with heavy duty nylon stitching to help reduce any tearing or dry rotting of the stitches.

Green Stitching with large laser/light attachment and enclosed end (helps protect laser/light and barrel, keeps dust, debris from entering)

Only the best top grain leather is used for this holster. You can count on this holster securing your weapon in place. Each Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) holster is hand molded to each weapon of choice, ensuring a nice tight glove fit. The Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) is constructed to hold heavy weight weapons by distributing the weight of the weapon with 2 parallel belt slots on either side of the weapon.

 

 

Source: Belt Slide Master Carry (C-2) — MTR Custom Leather

MTR Custom Leather A-5 Deluxe Full-Size Quick- Snap Holster OWB Conceal Carry Leather Holster

March 9, 2022 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, New MTR Updates with No Comments

MTR Custom Leather A-5 Deluxe Full-Size Quick- Snap Holster OWB Conceal Carry Leather Holster

CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT FEATURES THAT WERE ADDED TO THE A-5 holster.

Deluxe Full-Size Quick-Snap Holster (A-5)

Features:

  • Double layer reinforced mouth piece provides easy eyes off reholstering
  • Custom Hand-Molded to each firearm of choice for better retention
  • Full Combat grip accessibility allows an instant shooting grip
  • Molded sight rail to prevent snags on draw
  • Full slide/barrel coverage
  • Butt-forward cant allows effective concealment
  • Wide platform to enable contouring of the holster for better concealment
  • Fits belts up to 1 3/4″ single layer or nylon belts

A-1+ Deluxe Thoroughbred IWB Holster Wood Grain Dark Brown—Have you left us a Google Review 🎁???NEW Walther PDP Holsters Available

June 26, 2021 by MTR Custom Leather in Holster Reviews, New MTR Updates with No Comments

A-1+ Deluxe Thoroughbred IWB Holster Wood Grain Dark Brown—Have you left us a Google Review 🎁??

Features:

  • Full coverage of the barrel and the trigger guard
  • Custom molded to each firearm specifically 
  • Memory-foam padding for extra comfort while wearing
  • Adjustable Cant (forward or Reverse) (additional holes behind each clip) 
  • Nice suede backing, no hardware will be touching your body 
  • Wide spread holster to help distribute the weight of the weapon for better concealment 

Link to Holster>>https://www.mtrcustomleather.com/product/a-1-deluxe-thoroughbred-holster/

Leave us a Google Review and RECEIVE 10% off your next order with us. Also, leave us a review on the product that you already and also receive a coupon code on your next order with us!

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