This will apply specifically to those of you who may have attempted to send me credit card payment. Recently, I have had payment buttons on the website for your convenience to purchase my holsters via credit card. The funds company that I chose to use had some bad press going around the internet about them, but I felt that the anecdotes were isolated, and this company deserved a chance. Now, I’ve seen enough that I’m willing to admit that I may have been mistaken. I’ve certainly seen enough that I’m no longer willing to risk money or convenience on giving them any further chance. I will be working towards accepting credit card payment on the website again. In the meantime, thanks for your patience, and I’ll be looking forward to your emails to discuss your orders.

HOWEVER, if you have attempted to send funds to me electronically, and I have not contacted you in return, please email me immediately! As far as we can tell, all transactions are accounted for and secured. I just don’t want to take any chances. Thank you for your time, and I apologize for any inconvenience.

–Michael

Click picture for more!

After working with a few test models, I’m proud to announce that these things are ready for action! Here, I’ve got pictures of the last two models that I’ve made. This first one fits Taurus’s The Judge with 2.5-inch chambers and a 3-inch barrel.

This one fits a 51-inch chest. I can make the straps to fit virtually any size body, and the underarm modules are interchangeable between strap sets. There are adjustments for size fitting and gun positioning, so the generally-sized rig can be easily fine tuned to comfort and personal taste. It seems that a 10-degree cant works very well for the holster, as this is not so far that the butt will protrude beyond concealability but allows a little easier draw than straight vertical. But, I can easily change that upon request.

Due to the unique configuration of The Judge, the reload module on this rig was a particularly enjoyable challenge to take on. I wound up placing two loops for speedloaders full of .45 Colt. Since the case head is a slightly different diameter between .45 and .410, the shotshells will not fit in the speedloaders. So, I placed five loops for .410 shotshells directly in front of the speedloaders. Because of the ergonomic curvature of the rig, the two columns don’t interfere with each other.

Below is a similar rig which fits two Beretta Cheetahs on a 45.5-inch chest. Instead of having a reload module for the weak hand, it has a second holster that mirrors the first.

Similarly, the secondary module doesn’t have to be for a gun or extra ammunition necessarily. I can make a blank module if you don’t want to carry anything on the weak side, but I would highly recommend against it for the sake of weight balance if nothing else. But, I could make it an accessory module to carry OC spray for those scares that don’t quite demand deadly force, or handcuffs for plain-clothes officers, or a holster for your cell phone even. God forbid you should ever have to use your gun in self-defense, you will want your phone close at hand once you have stopped the threat! I’m certain that you can think of things that I can’t that would be useful on a rig like this. I’m just offering examples.

As I wrote above, these things are put together with quite a bit of adjustment options. Ballpark sizing can be determined off of chest size, but due to differences in shape, the strap length could fluctuate quite a bit from person to person based solely on chest size. So, the overall length of the strapping through the figure-eight can be adjusted as much as 12-inches to accommodate many body shapes. Adjusting the central pivot point on the back will change the positioning of the modules under the arms. Because of the nature of the pivot point and figure-eight shape of my shoulder rigs, they flex with your body, but remain rigid enough to support the weight of the load with comfort and security.

Because of the modular nature of my shoulder rigs, I could take The Judge holster and reload carrier from the 51-inch model above and put them directly on my wife’s straps sized for her 32-inch chest. She probably wouldn’t be happy about carrying a gun that large, but the point is it could be done. Similarly, if the gentleman who bought the double Cheetah rig decided to leave a pistol behind and carry extra magazines instead, I could easily make a reload module that would substitute for one of the holsters and attach to the rest of his existing gear. If the owner of The Judge decided to upgrade to a gun with a 3-inch chamber and a six-inch barrel, he could buy a new module to fit it and use his same straps and reload module.

This gives you flexibility. If that weight loss program is highly successful, and you undergo a massive size change, you don’t have to buy a new rig but instead, just buy the strap set. If you frequently change guns but want consistency in carrying, you have the ability to swap out holster modules. Spouses could carry each other’s guns if they so chose.

Anyone who has my holsters has probably noticed that they break in faster and more comfortably than most other rigs available. I like to think ahead, to what the leather will ultimately be shaped like, and give it a good start in that direction. These shoulder rigs are no exception. As far as the strapping is concerned, I like to preemptively give each strap a curve in the direction it will naturally go, so it reduces the time and discomfort of the break-in period. Not only is this better for the wearer, it also makes the leather last longer, as it’s not as stressed during the break-in. I offer the straps with an optional stitched-in pigskin lining.

I’ve been using straps in 1.5, 1.75, and 2-inch widths, depending on size and weight of the gun(s), and the size of the wearer. Unless otherwise specified upon ordering, I will use my own artistic judgment on exact width of your rig. Also, other strap widths are available upon request. I’m currently working on a rig like this for myself, and I’m quite excited about it. The funny part is that I didn’t really see myself wearing a shoulder holster before now.

Specs:
*Modular design allows flexibility and scalability.
*Adjustment for positioning of guns and reloads.
*Custom sized for anyone’s body, no matter their size.
*Accessory modules made for, but certainly not limited to reloads.
*Optional pig-skin lined straps
*stitched in Kevlar thread
*Other finishes or exotic hides available for an appropriate extra charge.

Estimated Pricing:

Strap sets (up to 54-inch chest)-
$50.00 unlined
$100.00 lined in pig skin
(Larger sizes are available. Feel free to email me

Holster modules-
Most will range in price between $100 and $200 depending on gun frame size. Please email me

Accessory Modules-
Most accessory(reload) modules will run around $100. However, your creativity on what you might like to carry is the limit. Please do email me

When I finish my own shoulder rig, I will post some more detailed pictures. Unfortunately, I had no one to model these two.

Click on picture for more!

The hat-tip goes out to Say Uncle, who originally presented the concept of The Executive to me. The original idea was to make a pocket holster that would affix to the belt and double as an IWB holster. The first few models worked really well. In the latest iteration, I’ve added a protective flap to the back side of the holster, and it works well.

This example fits a Bersa Thunder, which is honestly really pushing the envelope for pocket carry. I can’t conceal it in any of my pockets, anyway. It’s smaller cousin, the Walther PPK works well, but the minimal extra girth of the Thunder kind of puts it over the edge.

But I digress. I’ll soon have pictures posted of a holster like this that fits a S&W J-frame.

This modification on the Executive design make it a far more capable IWB holster, and does not interfere with its functionality as a pocket holster. In other words, it is not simply a pocket holster that can be worn as a tuckable IWB, but it is a true pocket holster and a true tuckable IWB holster. I need to buy a pocket gun so I can build one of these for myself!

Specs:
*Convertible holster which serves well as a pocket holster or a tuckable IWB holster, available for most pocket-sized guns.
*External leather flesh provides excellent secure placement of the holster in the pocket or in the waistband.
*protective flap aids in comfort and protects the holstered gun from body sweat.
*Hand-formed, finished and stitched by machine in Kevlar thread.
*LIFETIME WARRANTY

Price as shown:
$100.00 shipped
(Other colors and/or exotic hide available upon request for a reasonable mark-up.)

Click on the picture for more.

Everyone has a fantasy rig that they would love to own. Many times, there’s really no practical application for it. I love finding out what people would really like to have that may not be so practical. A local gentleman asked me to build him this leather holster for his 20-gauge coach gun. He wanted it to have an old west nostalgic feel to it.

So, I finished it in a brown fade with black edges. It hooks to the belt in the front and back, and has four pairs of cartridges on the front.

He asked if I would put a reference for the source on strap under the holster itself. I wanted to make the ornamentation tasteful.

This is where the holster attaches to its strapping. You can see the sunburst patterning pretty well in this shot. The upper and lower strap are actually two separate pieces, and there is about 18-inches of adjustment to the overall length of the rig.

I even tooled his name into the strap where it lays across the shoulder. Yes, his first name is the same as mine.

Here’s a close-up of the ammo loops. I was really pleased with how these came out.

Here is one of the belt loops. I made the loops square bottomed so that this rig can be easily worn over either shoulder.

Specs:
*Rugged back-mounted holster for a double-barrel coach gun.
*Cartridge loops for four pairs of shotshells
*Hand-formed, hand-finished, and stitched in Kevlar thread. All hardware is solid brass.
*approximately 18-inches of adjustment in overall length, and several inches of gun height adjustment available.
*Hand tooled and dyed in a brown fade with black edging

Price as shown:
$250

Disclaimers:
1 – In some places, it may be highly illegal to carry a shotgun in this manner – it is your responsibility to know your local and state laws.
2 – Most shotguns do not have a drop safety, and a loaded shotgun may accidentally discharge. A shotgun carried in this manner may be very dangerous if loaded.
3 – I make no recommendations on how to carry or wear a long gun, nor do I take any responsibility for damage or injury associated with such. I simply provide the custom leather work, many times to customer specifications. Please be careful.

Click image for more on this holster

I knew that it needed to be tough, comfortable, attractive, and concealable. Jennifer is the only person I know who could properly test this one for me. She’s seriously hard on them, she won’t wear anything that’s not both comfortable and nice looking, and given her size, this thing will have to be good at hiding. Her snubby hangs vertically under her left arm.

Note the Gadsden theme, hence the yellow leather. In the above picture, the coiled snake is behind the gun. The strapping is all 1.25-inch wide cowhide. It is strong and doesn’t cut in when worn.

There’s even a place for her speedloader on the right side. I built it to be a modular unit, so if you want to use it for more than one gun, you can easily change out the side modules and use the same strapping. The strap length is adjustable by changing the location of the screw rivets that hold it together. I avoided using buckles to save weight and unnecessary bulk on the whole rig. And, does it conceal?

It hides well under a light jacket or vest. The holster does have an optional belt tether at the muzzle end, but it actually seems to perform better without.

When she has worn this one out and about, she has even kept it concealed under a cover shirt. It lays nicely flat against her body, and distributes the weight of her steel revolver quite nicely.

In addition to the Gadsden theme on the holster module, I tooled in two Thomas Jefferson quotes on the straps. I don’t necessarily recommend this feature, but it does make for a nice presentation.

I can line the strapping in pig skin or calf upon request, but it will wear very nicely with the flesh side of the leather on the underside of the straps as well. Although the holster module on this one is completely vertical, I can make it with a canted holster, and am developing a thumb-break so I can make horizontal holster modules for it as well. This system will work for semi-autos as well as revolvers. I only put the one speedloader hanger on the reload module, but it would work just as well with two or three speedloaders, or strip-loaders, or extra magazines, or a tactical flashlight, or a back-up gun holster for that matter.

The testing is going well, and although there are minor details that I will want to address for changes, I’m quite happy with the rig. But, more importantly, my wife is happy with the rig! Since it is a modular rig, and the options are quite numerous, pricing will be available upon request. These will all be made to order, and the strapping will be sized to the end user, with adjustability to ensure long-term usability.

If you are interested in commissioning such a piece, feel free to email me.

click image for more details!

I’d been thinking about a couple of different options. Instead of the leather extending over the top of the cylinder, I wanted to see what the functionality would be like in a pancake that ended right at the top of the cylinder like on Red Racer. I’ve also wanted to do one with some kind of pretty radical overlay, not unlike the purple race-like holster that I made. I’ve been looking for an excuse to accent some holsters with carbon fiber cloth. And, I’ve been wanting to try out some new finishing products. So, I present my new pancake holsters:

These are carbon fiber inlaid, wingtip pancakes. They do match each other, and fit the guns well.

They pull the guns in tight and offer an amazing draw!

That was another thing that I wanted to prove with these, that I could make some very well-matched mirrored rigs.

And, they do cover up nicely with the requisite Hawaiian.

Even when I pull it snug against them.

Do you need a top-quality custom leather holster? How about a magazine or speed loader pouch to match? Of course you do! But, those things can get pricey, right? What if you could get a matched set for free? With a camera and a little creativity, you could do just that – win a free leather holster and reload carrier custom made to your specifications, to fit you and your gun! The only thing better than a good gun rig is a free good gun rig!

Find out more after the break!

So, what do you have to do to win? 1 – Make a video that tells why gunnies should buy their gun leather from Michael at The Holster Site. 2 – Post your video to YouTube and 3 – email the link to me. I’ll submit all of your video entries to the judges and they’ll vote on which video is the best. Your video will be judged by a panel composed of gun bloggers, gun instructors, artists, and a few military personnel. Each one of these people has a great sense of humor. The submissions can be a short action story, or someone presenting an oral argument, or whatever you can think of, as long as they fit within the boundaries. My best advice is that you should let the creative juices flow!

Your video SHOULD contain:
*Convincing material that tells why everyone should buy their gun leather at The Holster Site.
*Creativity. Lots of it, please!
*Original material.
*Entertainment value. The winning entry should be something that I will want to watch over and over again.
*Between 30 seconds and 3 minutes of content.
*Safe gun handling (Remember the four rules).
*Generally family-friendly content – I’m hoping that I get to show all of your videos to my son. Let’s set the limit at PG13.

Conversely, your video SHOULD NOT contain:
*References to other actual holster manufacturers. Please, no bashing.
*Unsafe gun handling. The judges want to see absolutely nothing that makes them cringe due to violation of the four rules.
*R-rated material. If you have to, hint at it instead of showing it. Go Alfred Hitchcock for all I care.
*Illegal actions or activities. This is your burden of responsibility – to make sure that you understand what you legally can and cannot do.
*Copyrighted material.

You should submit your videos from July 26 to September 3. (You can actually submit them before then, but I thought I’d give you a little time to prepare.) Winners will be announced once the panel of judges reaches a decision. We can’t wait to see your videos!

No purchase necessary. If you purchase custom leatherwork from Michael at The Holster Site, it does not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. If you can’t win the prize, I can’t send it to you. Inappropriate videos, or those that do not fit within the guidelines will be disqualified from the contest. The judges and their immediate families can not win the contest.

The prize will be a custom leather holster and/or reload carrier not to exceed $400.00 in combined MSRP value. The leatherwork will be made to fit the gun and/or reload of the winner’s choice (provided I can easily get a replica of the winner’s gun or easily make provisions to build the holster to the winner’s actual gun, and/or in the case of ammunition – easily procure reload(s) or equivalent(s)) to the winner’s specifications. There is no limit to how many videos an individual may submit; however, repetitive duplicate entries will be ignored, and multiple entries that do not conform to the guidelines of the contest will disqualify the entrant. Bottom line: This is supposed to be fun. Use your own common sense and we’ll use ours too.

click picture for more!

The gentleman who ordered the above Ruger LCP holster recently decided that he’d like to carry a couple of mags on the other side of his belt. He asked that I cant them rearward by 35-degrees. This is how he wears his race gear, and he decided that he had better stick to what he’s comfortable with.

As it turns out, this angle for these little magazines is ideal! They tuck in nicely but don’t poke into your side. They sit nice and flat against the body an offer a very convenient draw angle as well.

As with my holsters, these stay very secure until you are ready for them. Then, the draw is smooth and free.

Note the hidden stitching – the unit is completely smooth on the front but the Kevlar stitching is visible on the back side.

As with many of my holsters, the back is the silicone-treated flesh side of the leather, which provides a frictional surface so it is far less likely to wander on the belt line. Wearing the LCP and the two magazines in this combo, it would be easy to forget that you were carrying a gun. It is simply so comfortable, secure, and concealed, they seem to disappear. This is not specific to the Ruger LCP either. This unit will work for pretty much all single stack .380 magazines.

Specs:
*Rugged and beautiful dual carrier for single-stack .380 magazines.
*Hi-rise profile with 35-degree rearward cant hides easily under even shorter cover garments
*Hand-formed, hand-finished, and stitched in Kevlar thread
*Shown in natural finish, available in your choice of color.
*LIFETIME WARRANTY

Pricing:
$100.00 shipped

click picture for more!

This is a great, compact, natural-colored, pancake holster that fits the Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT.

Its slim design holds it tightly and rigidly against the body. It retains well enough to keep your favorite subcompact in place even during the most brisk activities.

And yet, it still offers a smooth, comfortable draw.

The Kevlar stitching, hidden under the top, is five times stronger than steel wire. The smooth top allows clothing to drape beautifully and friction-free.

Specs:
*Rugged and beautiful holster for sub-compact handguns
*Hi-rise profile hides easily under even shorter cover garments
*Hand-formed, hand-finished, and stitched in Kevlar thread
*Shown in natural finish, available in your choice of color.
*LIFETIME WARRANTY

Pricing:
$125.00 shipped

I wanted to take a moment to announce the upcoming production of several new items. 2010 has been a very exciting year, as I’ve been able to unveil several great offerings already such as The Executive, Red Racer, a value-minded IWB, and a LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Well, I do have a few additional exciting projects in the works. I’m currently developing a modular shoulder rig which will be going into testing immediately. This will be a very unique shoulder holster, which will consist of left and right underarm modules and a set of shoulder straps. If you buy multiple holsters for different guns, you can use the same set of strapping for all of them. I plan to offer these in both vertical and horizontal carry formats, left and/or right-handed, and with optional reload carriers. I’m also developing a line of full-custom, high-end hand bags for concealed carry. I’m anxious to get pictures posted of the first production bag. This one will be incredibly beautiful – perfect for the gun-carrying lady with a demand for style.

Once again thank you for your visit, and check back often as I’ll be adding more stuff soon.