Monday, October 31, 2011

Unsolicited product endorsement...

Not that they need one, because Raven Concealment is very much the Flavor of the Month in kydex holsters at the moment. Except for a list of "Quick Ship" items, their current on-line order backlog is running at 16-18 weeks.

But they do set up at the Indy 1500 gun shows, and if you show up at their tables bright and early on Saturday morning, your custom holster should be ready for you to get ketchup on at lunch. Which I did. (Show up bright and early, that is, not get ketchup on my new holster.)

The best thing about doing it this way is that you can tell them "I need the holster set up for IWB carry at the 4:30 position with a twenty-five degree cant on a one-and-a-half-inch belt..." and if your gun is some bizarre model for which they don't have a mold gun, you can leave them your actual heater to use to make the holster.

I've been using the holster for a week now and couldn't be more pleased with it. It releases cleanly and it turns out that all my fears of kydex being uncomfortable for extended inside-the-waistband use were unfounded, at least when the holster is a quality one.


(Dear FTC: I did not play the "Do you know who I am on the internet?" card and happily paid full price for the holster. And I will cheerfully do so again at the next show to get one for my CCA custom 1911. So go piss up a rope.)

33 comments:

Bubblehead Les. said...

But can you use it on the Nudist Commuter Bus? Anyway, hoping you'll do an AAR after taking it to the Range and telling us how it works out on drills, please.

Evan said...

Photo?

Tam said...

In a bit. Waiting for available light.

Tango Juliet said...

Hmm... kydex is intriguing but still noisy.

Yes, I'm a curmudgeon.

Tam said...

Noisy?

Leather creaks, kydex doesn't.

Oh, you mean on the draw? You know what else is noisy? Screaming and gunfire.

Fred said...

Don't want to alert the ninjas...

I wish they'd come to shows around here. I wouldn't mind one for my little P-64 (almost no options out there.)

Anonymous said...

And another blogger drinks some M&P Kool-Aid?

-SayUncle

Fred said...

M&Ps do look damn fine in a Raven holster... ;)

Tam said...

Unc,

I don't know about any M&P Kool-Aid.

At the August Indy 1500, I mentioned to Shootin' Buddy that, if I saw a good Glock 19 or M&P 9 for under four bills, I'd buy it.

I found one of each, but the G19 had those fruity XS Big Dots on it and only had the one mag, while the M&P was in the box with the docs for the same price. I'd imagine I'd have been equally happy with either one.

It is what it is: A nearly-disposable plastic 9mm bullet hose.

Worked great at the ToddG class last month. A lot easier on the hands and cheaper on the wallet to run through 1k+ of 9mm in 2 days than it is to shoot the same amount of .45 through a steel gun with a checkered frontstrap. Less mag shuffling, too.

global village idiot said...

Something VERY NEAR that is what I've been looking for. My Hi-Power needs an IWB holster and I like the way newer ones are being made now that have two clips widely spaced, rather than the single one in the middle.

I may end up just making my own out of saddle leather but I'm not quite good enough with leatherwork to put out anything truly workmanlike, to say nothing of attractiveness.

The makers of your holster used grommets instead of rivets. Is there a reason for this other than looks? They both serve the same purpose (holding the two pieces together) but if there's another reason they used grommets it may sway my decision. Then again I was just gonna stitch the thing together anyway so it may be academic.

TIA,
gvi

Tam said...

I believe it is to allow for the attachment of various mounting setups. (Tuckable loops, offset tabs for a more "Versa-Max"-like setup, etc...)

Sport Pilot said...

I am so envious of you folks in Indianapolis or close enough for a comfortable there and back drive to same. While I’ve no desire to live there being able to go to major gun shows and events as well as get first class kydex holsters made while you view a gun show is just remarkable.

Fred said...

Tam's correct, the grommets do the same job as regular rivets would, and double as attachment points for different carry setups. Raven's got a whole slew of different loops and clips and whatnot to hang the holster from.

Aubrey Turner said...

Re: concern about Kydex being comfortable.

Not to get too far off the topic of Raven holsters, but I'm partial to the G-CODE Comfort Carry IWB, as it has a ballistic nylon panel on the inside that goes against your body. It serves as a cushion as well as protecting the holster and gun from sweat. I've used one daily for five or six years now and found it to be very comfortable.

Tam said...

Aubrey Turner,

"Not to get too far off the topic of Raven holsters, but I'm partial to the G-CODE Comfort Carry IWB..."

I'd lost touch with Scott since the days when we were both on staff at TFL. He makes a good product; I still have one of his paddles for the 1911 that I got from him back in... '01?

Not really keeping track of the kydex market over the intervening years, I didn't know that G-CODE was still in the game, but it's good to know that he is. I have no problem recommending his gear.

Gewehr98 said...

Anybody have recommendations for an IWB holster made to pack a 3" L-Frame 696? (Or does such a beast even exist, cylinder width and all?)

Tam said...

I've used a Bianchi #3S "Pistol Pocket". Works well with 3" K&L frames, as long as you don't mind a thumbbreak.

Anonymous said...

How's the trigger on that M&P?

Terry

Matthew said...

Gewehr,

I haven't tried one, so not really a recommendation, but for years now I've been intrigued with Hoffner's Mirage holster. I like the idea of the cylinder sitting above the belt line rather than in there with me.

http://www.hoffners.com/inn07.jpg

Can't say that I've seen many reviews, my only concern would be how high it rides.

Anyway, one more to consider.

WV: bearyl - Gem produced by squishing bears under sufficient pressure and temperature in a laboratory setting.

Tam said...

At the risk of sounding sarcastic, it feels about like an M&P trigger. ;)

Like I said above, it is what it is. The Apex RAM made it usable for me, in that the factory trigger had such a vague reset that firing at anything faster than a snail's pace had me either failing to reset the gun or slapping the trigger after coming completely off of it.

Discobobby said...

Spring for the whole Apex DCAEK if you buy an M&P. It transformed mine from appallingly bad triggers to really quite nice. Not as positive a reset as I might like, but good enough.

Sport Pilot said...

The entire M&P vs. Glock thing is one of those “I don’t get it” things to me. We do not issue the M&P but do issue the G22 & 27; I have not bothered with the M&P for this reason. Does S&W offer the same “Blue Label” purchase option to LEO/Military as Glock?

That Guy said...

Cool. They stock the CZ-75 molds.

Might have to get one.

Bubblehead Les. said...

Wait a minute. A Kydex Holster? For a Modern, Polymer Frame Gun? That's NOT in .38 S+W caliber?

Who are you and what have you done with Tam?

Next thing you know, she'll be shooting SCAR's in 7.62 Nato, then we'll KNOW the Pod People have Conquered Indy! ; )

Tango Juliet said...

:) I don't mind creaky leather. It matches my knees. :)

I do have a Crossbreed Supertuck for the XD45 on the shelf, so I'm not a total loss.

But I do like my VMII's.

Anonymous said...

SC Sheriff interview. Incase you have not seen it already.

http://www.wxii12.com/r/29641179/detail.html

Beaumont said...

Am somewhat mystified by Unc's comment, since I could have sworn that he owns an M&P hisself.

wv: "nommyco". How a 3-year-old says "economical".

Old NFO said...

Tam, I'll be interested to get your comments after wearing the holster in hot weather with no backing against your body... The one kydex IWB I tried had me itching and scratching inside three days.

the pawnbroker said...

"It is what it is: A nearly-disposable plastic 9mm bullet hose."

Fanbois and haters alike have spilled a lot of ink bragging and ragging on plastic guns, but none have nailed it more efficiently than that.

Which is entirely appropriate...Glock and its sincerest flatterers aspire to and achieve only this; a coldly efficient tool, nothing more nothing less. Like the lady said, it is what it is.

Anonymous said...

So the book is just a prop? Heh.

Will said...

Gewehr98:

If you find a Bianchi #3S Pistol Pocket, you may be able to cut the thumb break straps off. Check the fit/hold while wearing it. If snug enough, remove with an x-acto, and sand or scrape the resulting edge to smooth it. I did this to one for my .45 auto, and it works. Actually, I've done this on several of my IWB holsters. I would be leery of this on an OWB (belt) holster, as it would be lacking the squeeze effect that occurs with an IWB rig.

Rob Reed said...

TAM: "Oh, you mean on the draw? You know what else is noisy? Screaming and gunfire."

LOL! I'm going to have to use that sometime. (With attribution, of course).

Rob

automaticgiant said...

I got an RCS neck holster for my P3AT a few weeks ago. It's good stuff.
http://automaticgiant.blogspot.com/2011/11/rcs-neck-holster.html