As a first time wheelgunner I was looking for an IWB holster for my brand spanking new S&W 642.
Went online to check out what was available. It was depressing to see the high prices & long waiting times for quality leather from the 'premiere' holstermakers (not to mention the extra ten dollars they charge for five dollars worth of shipping).
Sure, there's plenty of cheap kydex out there but the friction between plastic & my nice new revolver would probably result in ten years wear within a matter of months. Besides, I like the look, smell, and feel of real leather.
After spotting this Blackhawk leather IWB on Ebay I checked Amazon's price and it was the same WITH FREE SHIPPING!
Forty-three bucks is less than 1/2 the price you would pay for a holster with similar features from the hoity-toity leather guys. Molded sight track angle adjustable belt loop tension screw adjustment body shield...all wrapped up in quality Italian leather molded to fit my gun, and my gun only. No one-size-fits 20 different guns...just my S&W J Frame.
Upon receipt I found two problems.
First, the belt loop stuck out a mile. This is suppose to be concealed carry, not an advertisement I'm packing heat. But that was an easy fix. I unscrewed the belt loop, soaked the bottom leather portion (where it bends) in cold water for 15 minutes, then clamped & left it for 24 hours to dry. Now it lays nice & flat.
Second, no screw tension adjustment tool was provided. However, I own a couple sets of allen wrenches so no problem finding one the right size.
This is a wheelgun. It will never sit as flat & inconspicuous as a Kel Tec P3at nor even a Kahr PM9. But removing the extra bulk from the belt loop coupled with the thin design of this holster gives the wearer concealment and the confidence that goes with carrying 5 rounds of .38+P Hollow Points in a revolver that will never-ever stovepipe when the chips are down.
With the right screw tension and the perfectly molded fit for my exact weapon I can do cartwheels (not really) without worrying my piece is going to fall out of this holster in front of God & everyone at the worse possible moment.
Conversely, without having to deal with a thumbsnap when the SHTF it draws quick & smooth.
As with all holsters a decent belt is a necessity. For this particular holster I suggest a minimum belt width of 1 1/2" of quality leather to help maintain proper holster position and so there isn't too much 'play' inside the belt loop when you draw.
With the money you saved buying this holster you can now afford to purchase a good holster-worthy belt.
Is this Blackhawk leather IWB the perfect holster? That's like asking if your fiance' is the prettiest woman in the world. There's always one babe comes walking around the corner that looks a little better at first glance, but in the final analysis can't do anything better than the one you've already got.
I've got two boxes of leather, kydex, and nylon sitting down in the basement. Some are just plain poorly designed & unuseable. Others unwieldly or feel cheap. Ten or so I made myself they range from Godawful to Hey!...that almost worked.
But upstairs I keep the select few I frequently carry on and off depending on what clothing fits the weather and my weapon of choice. This holster will reside upstairs.
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Perhaps I'm the only one that feels this way but isn't it ironic that the toughest part of owning a handgun is finding the perfect holster. After owning and carrying my glock 19 for several months, I decided I was ready to conceal carry. Naturally I turned to the internet but was instantly overwhelmed by the thousands of hits that came up. After several days of research, I settled on the BLACKHAWK! In the pants holster. Cost effective and well put together, this BLACKHAWK! holster is a good option for anyone looking to conceal carry or add to the collection!
So the day has finally come, you get to bring your new addition home! Whether it is a Glock, Springfield, Colt or that sexy little Kimber you've been eyeing for months. You open up your customary box of goodies, excitedly pull out the gun and instantly come to the realization that you don't have a holster. If you're anything like me, you'll rack the slide a few times, insert a mag and put your gun back in the box for safe keeping. The next major step in your journey is hunting down a holster that will fit your needs.
Of course like anyone else in my position, I turned to the World Wide Web. I entered "glock 19 iwb" in the Google search bar and instantly got thousands of hits. No way was I going to get anywhere this way. So I turned to the forums, in my case the "glock talk" forum. Of course, no one agreed on a "must have" holster, what I was able to take away from the discussions were several highly recommended holster companies. The highly touted Milt Sparks has some good looking holsters but come with a hefty price tag and a minimum 3 month waiting list. Galco holsters are slightly more affordable but I couldn't justify spending $80 on a single piece of gear. Luckily I stumbled upon the BLACKHAWK! in the pants holster and was able to get a high quality product at a third of the price!
The BLACKHAWK! in the pants holster is well put together and is made of quality machine stitched, leather. All components of the holster are non-reflective and "covert", true to BLACKHAWK! products. The back of the holster is stamped with information pertaining to model, size and country of origin. Mine in particular is stamped with: Size 03, Glock 17/19, and MADE IN ITALY. The ultra black leather is rigid, yet smooth to the touch and shouldn't produce harsh "holster wear". The retaining belt loop is about 2 inches wide and is equipped with an "angle adjustable snap". This feature basically allows the end user to adjust cant and customize style of carry. Overall, this holster is a thin and lightweight package.
Out of the box, this holster is technically "ready to use" but with a few adjustments, this holster could be worn for long periods of time with little fatigue. Firstly I would highly recommend experimenting with several angles of cant .Once you determine your preferred angle, decide on the level of retention. The most important step for conceal ability is position of carry. According to BLACKHAWK! this holster is able to be carried in 4 major positions: Small of back, strong side, appendix carry and cross-draw. Mine is set up in a forward cant position, holster retains loaded handgun when upside down, and I carry strong side in the "5 o'clock" position.
Although the holster is well built, it was not thought out well enough. First time out, you will definitely know your handgun is there. The single retaining loop design does not allow for even weight distribution. This leads to uncomfortable carry weight, and a constant need to adjust your pants. Another downside to the single loop design is slight difficulty in drawing and holstering your weapon. I noticed the holster's tendency to ride up when drawn slowly. Wearing this holster with a sturdy belt makes all the difference, remedying some of the issues in wear ability.
Would I buy this holster again? I most likely would. As I have mentioned before, once fully customized, this holster can be worn for hours on end. Can easily be worn with a t-shirt and shorts with no fear of "printing". This holster is designed with quality materials and still remains a third of the price of other leading holster manufactures. One question remaining is: "have I found the perfect holster"? To that, I would answer no. Everyone has their own idea of perfect and for me the BLACKHAWK! in the pants holster is not my idea of perfect. My journey will continue but perhaps this is where yours ends.
Best Deals for BLACKHAWK! Leather Inside-the-Pants Black Holster
I'm one of those many people who have a box full of unused holsters. Each time I've purchased a new one, I did so thinking I'd finally found the perfect concealed carry holster. For some reason, I have a really hard time concealing a handgun, possibly due to body type, clothing choice, orbit of the moon, etc. Having said that, I think the Blackhawk! Inside-the-Pants holster is the closest I've come so far to that ideal holster we all have envisioned in our heads. Italian leather, quality stitching, molded specifically for my Glock 26, adjustable cant beltloop held in place by a screw AND velcro, and a tension screw to set the level of retention. Out of necessity I've always had to carry appendix for concealability, but I am now able to carry at 3-4 o'clock with this holster which is much more comfortable.
I will add though, this holster was very snug at first and the belt loop does stick out pretty far. Both of these were easy fixes which took less than 24 hrs. I read the review by "tootsie" and took his advice. After soaking the belt loop in ice water for 15 minutes, I then clamped it between 2 pieces of balsa wood with a C clamp for 24 hrs. Lays flat as a board now. As for the guy who reviewed the holster and complained it was too tight, leather needs to be broken in! I stuck my Glock 26 in a sock, stuck it in the holster as far as it would go, and let it sit for 24 hrs. It now fits perfectly, especially with the retention adjusted correctly.
Everyone knows one holster can't be all things to all people who carry concealed, but I can't recommend this holster enough. Especially one made of quality leather that's under $50. Worth every penny! Just awesome!
Honest reviews on BLACKHAWK! Leather Inside-the-Pants Black Holster
This holster fits my Beretta 92FS perectly and allows for a comfortable concealed carry of a full-size pistol. Very pleased with this product!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for BLACKHAWK! Leather Inside-the-Pants Black Holster
The finish on this holster seems decent, not as great as +$100 holsters but better than some. Holster is molded to a exact fit for the PX4 and that is a advantage over the general leather type holsters. Front and back on this holster is finished to repel moisture and retention is above par for leather IWB holsters, this holster has retention much like Kydex. I'm not sure I would buy this holster again because of how it rides but that is very subjective and every user will like this differently.
Pros:
1. Nice finish and fit
2. Retention Screw for draw rate
3. Custom Molded to the PX4 frame (not slide see cons)
Cons:
1. Rides higher than I like but still is very concealable
2. Buckle loop sticks way out and is very noticeable (fixable with ice water trick)
3. Leather loop is to large and moves lateral while drawing even on a 1.5" gun belt
4. PX4 decocker lever on the slide catches on the leather flap that keeps the top of firearm from skin contact (can be "combat cut easily to stop this)
