This is the tuckable, in it's current form. This is the same holster that started out for the Glock 17. I've trimmed it a bit, and of course remolded it for the XD. Still going strong, dspite the design flaws I've found and worked on. The goal right now is to see how long it really holds up to daily carry. I'm hard on gear as it is - probably harder than most who are not .mil or LE types. I wear my pistol for anywhere from 12-18 hours a day usually, I'm constantly banging in to things, putting my body weight on it on the ground, and generally just giving it a beating. As I mentioned in my last post - there were two small cracks forming at the base of the belt loop arm. I welded them closed w/ a soldering iron. We'll see how that lasts.

From here on out, any holsters using a one-piece design will be done in .125 inch kydex. I might stick with the .09, or maybe even thinner stuff for holsters w/ belt attachments that are bolt-on pieces, and use thicker kydex for the belt attachments, depending on the gun the holster is for.

SO far, I am pleased with the function of this design. Still have only been asked about it once while wearing it.

pix



This post has been edited by hkriflenut: May 6th 2009 11:53 PM

Okay - more updates:

The tuckable prototype finally gave up the ghost- after being reformed from a Glock to an XD back to a Glock - I discovered the cracking where the holster body and the belt attachment join was irrepairable. I probably could've coated everything with a few coats of epoxy - but what would be the point? It would've failed at some point.

The next tucker style holster will be made of thicker material. The 0.03" difference in thickness won't mean crap for concealment, but it means loads in the strength of the plastic.

The tucker body is not completely gone though! The body, sans belt attachment - has been reformed yet again - and made into the prototype for the Chest Packer design - this time for my Kel-Tec P40.

Pix of the very early stage prototype Chest Packer:









As you can see in the top two photos, when worn for left hand draw configuration, the gun butt sticks out and doesn't hug tight to the body. This is because the attachment point is between the gun and the wearer's body. When reversed, the gun hugs in a LOT closer, although the draw could get hung up in the straps.

This is an early prototype, which proved that my basic idea is sound - BUT with some minor changes.

First off - I didn't have a full sheet of kydex to work with, I had a couple old holster bodies - from failed designs, and the broken tucker. The broken tucker had the best, most usable material for prototype 1 of this holster style.

When my order of sheet kydex comes in, some changes I plan on making:

full-length sweat-guard on both sides of the slide, drilled for ambidextrous neck-lanyard attachment. The body itself will be wider, and there will probably be two body straps, or one 2" strap to help pull the holster body in close and provide a stable platform for drawing and reholstering.

The neck lanyard will also have a quick-release buckle with length adjustment, instead of a fixed length strap with no break-away device. And they call it a prototype for a reason, right?

Another thing I'm going to look into is a retention device - thumb break or strap - so I don't have to mould the kydex so tight to retain the gun. I don't exactly feel super comfortable with the gun being able to be jarred out of the holster in this position, even the DAO kel-tec that has the hammer at rest at all times with it's heavy trigger. Murphy is an ass - no reason to make life easier for him.

So slightly less tension on the molding with the addition of a thumb-break or other retention strap would be good.


My original intent for this type of design would be for casual concealed carry while enjoying the outdoors - hiking/fishing/camping/bird watching - where openly carrying a firearm might draw unneeded/wanted attention from idiots who would call the police on a MWAG type call. It's rare, but it happens. In this scenario, the user would wear this setup under a lightweight button-up shirt. You could throw your fishing chest pack or vest over it to hide the buldge, or a camera case, etc - OR for open/concealed carry while outdoors and your method of dress does not include a belt and belt-holster combo. Some people do like wearing shorts without belts in the woods. I do, occasionally. It would be nice not to have to choose comfort of beltless pants VS having a firearm at hand. This would be for people that don't want to walk around with the fanny pack or a backpack or shoulder holster.

Personally I was planning to wear this rig under a chest-pack while fishing light - that is fishing without toting around my full daypack full of gear. I could conceal the firearm under the pack, and if it's needed, I can always just reach between my body and the chest pack and draw the gun. It might also come in handy for a hunter who wants to carry a sidearm while hunting, without toting a gun around on a belt all day - or someone who's carrying a backpack that would inhibit use of a belt holster. Lots of uses.

I will post pix and more details when I get the 2nd revision built.

Another note:

Pepper is field testing some other items for me now - a magazine carrier for his 1911 (though he doesn't carry that gun much anymore, the wanker) - a very early prototype flashlight carrier, the the IWB Mk. 1 holster that was made on the first page of this tutorial. He got that holster to keep when he traded the Sig back to me for one of my G19's. His first impression of that holster was positive - I'll have him say a few words about it at his leisure.



more updates to come.

Nice work!

Anything along the lines of a IWB for a Sig 226..non-railed...right handed?

As promised when he gave it to me, I am going to give some early impressions of the IWB holster, and the other goodies he's made.

First, the Mark I IWB G19 holster. When I first fondled it, it seemed a very sturdily built. Bit overbuilt, compared to most commercial holsters, but then again, it was designed to completely block the gun from the sweat of the wearer. In this, it excels. The belt attachment is solid, and the tail incorporated in the design really helps to stabilize the holster, I've used it for a week, and it hasn't moved much at all. It retains the gun just enough without making it unnecessarily hard to draw. I can invert the thing with the gun in it, and shake it pretty vigorously and it won't come out, but it draws easily. Perfect amount of retention, IMHO. Downsides: I wish the belt attachment was tilted for a touch more rake. Maybe 5*. Tiny little thing really, when viewing the holster as a whole. The other, I wish the "tail" of the holster was curved a bit more. I have a rather bony hip, attached to a rather fat ass. A little more body hugging curve would eliminate the "trouser print" a bit, but even so, it's very usable. I carried it today with only my AR15Armory polo over it, and no one could tell, it didn't print enough. I even stopped by the PD, and had a conversation with my old FTO, and asked him if he'd like to see my new pistol, and he asked me if I had to go out to the car to get it. He was surprised when I lifted my shirt tail and drew the 19 for him to look at. I'll give it a score of 8.5 out of 10. I should also note, I've never, ever, found a holster that I'd rate a 10, outside of a full-custom piece that my father made for me years ago. Too many variations of body shape and personal preference to ever get to a 10 in a mass produced holster, but this one is at least as good as anything I've seen from most of the major holster manufacturers.

Now, the magazine carrier. It works, and it works surprisingly well for such a minimalist design. I was impressed how well it retained the magazine. I wouldn't go on a run with it, but for normal wear while going about one's daily business, it would work just fine.

Flashlight carrier review will have to wait. I haven't had a chance to use it much, but it looks very promising. I won't have an excuse if caught without my Streamlight Twin Task off duty again.

Thanks for that Pepper.

Once I get my next order of kydex in I'll hafta make a custom holster for whichever piece you want - the 19, the 21, or one of the others. It can have as much tilt or curvature as you want. Can also play with the retention for more or less - tho personally I wouldn't go with less than what that particular one has right now.

Might even be able to hook you up with a mag carrier for it - and maybe a new, better light carrier (the body of the one you have now is great - I'm still not 100% happy with the belt loop, simply because of it's epoxied-on design. That's what I get for using left-overs

thank you for this thread, i'm now inspired...