If you wonder why Local Gun Store doesn't have a huge selection of southpaw gear in stock, that's why: Merchandise on the shelf is not profit, it's money tied up that's not turning a profit. It's hard to walk the tightrope between having a wide enough variety of merchandise to be "well-stocked" and being a museum.
With my right arm gimped, I decided I needed a left-handed M&P holster. It's not painful to draw from my current one, but this is a splendid reminder that I forgot a crucial piece of gear* for my carry gun, and one I'll need if I want to give my shoulder a week or so's rest.
Once upon a time, this would have meant a Diogenes-like quest for the left-handed holster (and, if I found one, a vindication for carrying a common gun.)
But not now, for now we live in the future! This is that magic Cyber Monday, when we all look forward to getting back to work, where we'll have access to Windows 95 Pentium machines on a fat pipe instead of the Packard Bell 486 running a pirated copy of Windows for Workgroups with its feeble 28.8 dialup connection we have to deal with at home.
I just double-clicked the big blue "e" on the screen and shazam
! It'll be on my doorstep tomorrow. It's like living in the future!*And no excuse, either, since I had this same problem three years ago when I was still carrying 1911s and fell off Bobbi's skatebike. I've been carrying the M&P for over two years now; I should have already had a southpaw backup holster already.
As a lefty, I thank you for stocking at least some holsters for us. At the range I worked at my boss was always torn about what to stock based on inventory turns. He kept good holsters for the Sig/HK/Glock/Wilson crowd and Uncle Mikes for the rest.
ReplyDeleteI keep a right handed Bladetech for starting new shooters from the draw. I never thought about your condition coming in to play.
Gerry
Messed-up my right arm a few years back, and wound up carrying only the backup pocket piece for a while, because it was already in a left-handed holster.
ReplyDeleteYou just reminded me I really ought to get a lefty holster for the normal carry piece.
"Merchandise on the shelf is not profit, it's money tied up that's not turning a profit." During some of my schoolin, they taught us that inventory is something you have that the customer doesn't want. Love that definition.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it was the future, Amazon Prime Air would have already delivered the holster. (Or maybe you would go fetch it with your jetpack or flying car!)
Interesting times for sure.
I did the pocket holster thing too when I blew up my right shoulder. Took months before I could use my arm again. I even had to switch my mouse to left-handed operation which made ordering stuff off the internet difficult for a while.
ReplyDeleteWe once let a southpaw order holsters at the shop I work for.
ReplyDeleteShe made half the order left-handed. A bunch of spendy leather holsters. She's still here, since she's married to the owner, and is also his landlord.
Concur that those damned things are simply not moving ... we sell one every four months or so.
I think that the only reason we do business for non GCA-68 iyems has got to be that online shipping and handling charge.
ReplyDeleteSmall damned margin there ...
As a lefty, I'd like to say it's a major pain in the rear to find holsters. I hate ordering holsters online. I want to see and feel what I'm going to be using to protect lives - not pay for it, wait days to weeks for it to get here and then realize that I hate it and have to send it back. Not to mention hoping the same retailer has a better option for me or run the risk of paying return shipping and restocking fees. Twice now, I've paid about $15-$25 for my husband (also a lefty) or myself to "try on" a holster.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that lefty gear is not a big mover for retailers and it doesn't move fast but if they could manage to keep ONE of a few varieties in as a sample and then order the holsters for customers I would be eternally grateful and likely pledge my eternal loyalty to that store. Really... I've had that bad of a time.
I need to train with my right hand in the event that anything ever happens, but I'm pretty sure I won't have an issue finding a holster for a right handed carry!
Always seems to be a good supply of let-handed holsters when I am looking for a right-handed one. Maybe that's because I've been looking at the displays by manufacturers at the local fun show, instead of in the local gun store -- what BladeTech doesn't sell at the show is likely to be shipped on Tuesday or Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteGood point on picking up a weak hand "just in case" holster, have to add that to the list.
Anon 10:52,
ReplyDeleteI'm left handed. I write and eat left handed. There's a reason I shoot right handed, and you just spelled it out.
Soon, a drone will be able to fly over your house and drop packages on your head.
ReplyDeleteWhat caliber/gauge for drone?
Tam. Please tell us you didn't get rid of all your 1811's.
ReplyDeleteSince I pocket carry holster wouldn't be much of an issue (would need a different rig for IDPA though) but your post makes me realize I've not practiced pocket draw with that hand.
ReplyDeleteI have years ahead of me seeing how southpaws get the short end of the stick as my daughter is left handed. I recently discovered she's left eye dominant too so at least I don't have to deal with cross dominance when teaching her to shoot.
Many years ago in a mug shop I saw a bunch of mustache mugs (which were a passing fad in the seventies when everybody - well, all the men and only some of the women - had a 'stache. I picked one up and looked at it, then scanned the rest of the stock and said to the clerk "Do you realize that these are all left handed mugs?"
ReplyDelete"Yeah, right," she laughed at my feeble wit. I handed her one and she stared down at it, frowning, the shifted it to her left hand. She looked at the rest and realization dawned.
"Huh," she said. "That explains why we haven't sold any." So I bought one. Still have it. Never use it because, well, if you can't figure out how to use a mug without soaking your mustache then you need to turn in your Magnum, PI poster.
BTW, I'm sure everybody here has already noticed that the Waco Kid shoots left handed.
Tam how much work was it to be able to shoot well with your off hand as every time I go lefty my shooting ability goes south real fast.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt. I've been meaning to order a lefty holster for a BUG and "just in case" and that was the inspiration I needed.
ReplyDeleteBeing cross-dominant (right handed but left eyed), if I was to shoot classic one-handed target pistol style, I shoot left handed. Two-handed stance means right handed shooting to me with my hands shifted to the left and my head slightly shifted to the right. I usually purchase right handed holsters. For those times when I must carry left handed, I purchased a slide holster that fits many that can also be used as either a right handed or left handed holster.
ReplyDeletehttp://throwinglead.com/index.php?page=cross_dominance
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/training-tactics/the-cross-dominant-shooter/
http://www.nrastore.com/nrastore/ProductDetail.aspx?p=SA+324&ct=e
Is it wrong that the part I'm still looking at is the exact description of my computer history at the bottom of the post?
ReplyDelete"Packard Bell 486 running a pirated copy of Windows for Workgroups with its feeble 28.8 dialup connection"
ReplyDeleteWhat? Don't you at least have a functional mac like a Twentieth Anniversary Mac or something to use? What would Steve say?
Dude, anyone who had a TAM at home back when "Cyber Monday" still had any kind of real meaning probably had a fat pipe at the house, too. What'd those things retail for new? Ten grand or something?
ReplyDeletePeople who had that kind of cash to drop on computers weren't still limping along with Pickle Barrel 486s in '95 or '96...
Interesting thread about LH holsters. I'm also a lefty and I've never bought a holster in a store.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't like the quality of typical store merchandise. A few local stores sell a bit of Galco or Bianchi, but they aren't going to invest in an aisle full of quality holsters, much less any lefties. I don't by gun belts in a sporting goods store, either.
I guess people buy those Uncle Mikes, Fobus, Rossi and (shudder) Serpa holsters.