What Holster do you use?

[singleVI]

I got my 1911 a couple weeks ago and now I'm looking for a good holster. My dad gave me his molded plastic Fobus holster. I wont use it anymore since it wears the bluing off the slide. This isn't for daily concealed carry, just one that wont be totally obvious when I do wear it under a coat out walking through the woods. I thought of a shoulder holster, but they're pretty pricey(except for the military one). I'm really leaning towards the Galco SOB(small of back). When I wear my 357 in a Bianchi Belt holster it sticks out the bottom of my coats and pretty easy to see. The SOB looks like it should keep everything higher, maybe above the top of the back pockets. Is there anything else you would suggest?

[jhm]

I personally prefere the inside the waist band style of holsters, with that said I use the don Haum brand for most of my CCW use, If you get a comander size with a open bottom you can carry all the 1911s out there compact/comander/full size.  JMO and Im sure their will be others.   JIM

[44 Man]

I also prefer a strong side IWB holster.  They are very easy to conceal.  I'm sitting at work at the moment with one on with a Colt Defender in it and just a short vest to cover and it works well.  I will caution you that if you do try a SOB holster, you must get the proper belt or the holster will sag outward as the belt twists.  That is a common problem with many holsters that place the gun high on the belt.  The only belt that I have found that will prevent this is an Agent belt from Aker.  This belt has a plastic stiffener in it and absolutely will not twist and let your holster tip.  That's particularly important if you have a little extra padding around the middle trying to push the top of the gun outward away from your body.  You also much make sure the belt and loops on the holster are a tight fit.  (Be extra careful bending, squatting, or stooping with a SOB that you do not expose your gun.  And you will likely have to wear a longer vest or coat than you would expect)  Many of us have a box full of holsters that did not live up to our expectations but I have since found that most of them WILL work on the proper belt.  And just because it costs $30 or $40 and says 'gunbelt' on it or is heavy leather does not mean it will work.  A friend of mine bought a 'matched' holster and belt from a major manufacturer.  This was a holster he had used successfully before for other guns.  When it arrived, althought he loved the looks of the matching belt and what nice leather it was, he ended up carrying his holster on an Aker belt. 
PS  You should also buy your pants one size larger if you are going to go to an IWB holster to have it be comfortable.  And you will find that any system that is not comfortable will likely end up in that box of unused holsters.  44 Man

[jimster]

10-4 on what 44 Man said, I have a box full of holsters from playing around over a lot of years.  I use an IWB strong side all the time now and sometimes use it OWB in cold weather, but it's strong side all the way now.  Byt the way, the excellent Galco SOB I bought a long time ago is in the box of holsters under my work bench.
Every time I bent over...well...44 Man said it best...LOL!!!

Jimster

[44 Man]

A quick note.  My everyday CCW holsters are both Blade-tech.  These holsters are light, thin, hold their shape to re-holster, and won't sweat through on a hot day.  One for a Gov't 5" 45, and one for a 3" J-frame Smith.  The 5" .45 has enough length to anchor solidly and stay put even when I wear my 3" barrel Defender (and I CAN wear any 1911 that I might choose to).  The 3" smith holster is the same.  The length helps hold the holster in place and I can carry my 2" light wt or 3" nickeled 36 or 3" Charter.  I have found Blade-Tech to have excellent customer service also.  44 Man

[woodchukhntr]

If you get a leather holster make sure that it fits the gun tightly so it won't rub the blueing off.  I have found that leather-lined Safariland and Bianchi holsters are great, but never wore one that rode as high as you prefer.  Several makers offer pancake holsters that can ride high.  For a shoulder holster, consider Uncle Mike's.  They are reasonable.  I have tried IWB holsters, but find them rather uncomfortable, especially for a long day in the field.

[rbwillnj]

I like the suede lined safariland holsters., and they tend to be a little easier on blueing..........but if you put a blued gun in a holster, you are going to loose some blueing eventually.

[singleVI]

Well I got the Galco SOB black.  I'm pretty impressed. Since I don't have a CCW permit I don't wear it in public. I planned on using it when i go out to the woods where it doesn't matter if it gets exposed when i bend over. I really like it. When I have my sweatshirt on its invisible. Even more so when have on a carhart. It holds it higher than i expected which is good and doesn't sag or twist. I sat for a while and flexed it this way and that to help the break-in. It draws and re-holsters well and has a rubber component that holds the gun snug. Ive been wearing it around the house the get it broken in and its only noticeable when I sit on the couch. But its alot more comfortable than my Bianchi strong side holster.

[boomerdog]

44 Man,
Which Blade-Tech are you using ? I've been thinking about the UCH, looks like a very slim profile for CCW.
Thanks, Joe V.

[Jim n Iowa]

I carry with a permit in one of two styles. Right side high rise, and lower back when in more formal attire. To be honest I usually have it in the truck in a custom holster, I just stick a 44 sp snubbie in my back pocket, and clips in the other back pocket.
Jim

[Lloyd Smale]

I carry them a number of ways. Iwb owb and if its going into a store or its not going to be carried long i usually just go mexican. As to iwb holsters by far the best rig i have for comfort security and ease of reholstering is a hybrid holster. its a leather backed iwb holster with a kadex guy holster riveted on the leather. Like any kadex or plastic holster you are going to get bluing wear. But none of my 1911s that i carry have pretty deap bluing anyway and for the most part i just consider a 1911 a tool in a tool box. Functionality is what i look for and could care less about what they look like.

[Tom W.]

A friend gave me a Safariland model 560. It's supposed to fit a commander sized pistol, but it fits my Government model just fine. It didn't take very long to get it adjusted to hold the pistol properly, either, but I'll have to wear is some for the final fitting and tweaking.

Prior to this, I was using some Uncle Mike's products, the belt,shoulder and IWB style, and a Safariland belt slide that I've had for almost 30 years.

[44 Man]

It took a little bit to get a picture, my camera did not want to talk to my computer.  This is my Blade-tech IWB for the 1911's.  I also use a UCH for my S&W Chief's Special Airweight.  I have not tried a UCH with a 1911, I'm not so sure it would work as well with the extra weight of the 1911, but it works great with the snub.  44 Man

[oo_buck]

How would someone go about digging through these boxes of neglected holsters??

I'm looking.