Galco has been absolutely nailing leather design and quality since 1969. Its quality leather holsters are among the most desirable on the market, yet there isn’t the usual long wait for custom-grade holsters of this caliber.
Galco began life as the Jackass Leather Company. Founder, Richard Gallagher, changed the name a few years later. Mr. Gallagher is a respected leather maker and designer and his company has grown tremendously, earning an excellent reputation along the way. Today, Galco also offers quality Kydex holsters such as the Triton, and compliments the classic designs with modern tuckable and appendix carry holsters.
I have spoken with Galco employees at a number of trade shows. Galco, and its employees, show considerable pride in the quality of the gear it offers. Galco obtains the finest quality leather for their holsters. They also have their own foundry for making buckles and snaps, allowing Galco to control the quality of this gear and to keep the supply under their own roof.
Beginning to carry a handgun concealed entails a considerable acclimation process. The holster should be the best you can afford, and one carefully chosen for the mission. The first step is to acquire a quality leather belt. A holster belt is thicker than a standard dress belt. The belt is an important load bearing device and often overlooked by concealed carry permit holders.
The holster must be carried in the same place every time for the proper draw. There can be no loose motion; the holster must be properly married to the belt. The handgun’s draw angle will suffer if the holster isn’t properly presented to the user’s hand during the draw. Galco belts are attractive and well finished and also designed to properly hug the body and offer a good platform for concealed carry.
The default holster for concealed carry is the strong-side holster. If a proper outer garment with a long drape is worn, the holster will conceal a service-size pistol if properly chosen. The Galco Combat Master is a respected design with much to recommend. This open top holster is well stitched and finished. The draw angle is ideal for concealed carry. This holster, worn behind the hip, is a great all-around concealed carry holster.
The Galco Combat Master offers more rigidity than a pancake but is still fairly concealable. The problem is, we cannot always conceal a strong-side scabbard. There are times when the holster must be worn inside the waistband for maximum concealment. The holster may then may be covered by a shorter draping garment—even a sport shirt or heavy T-Shirt. The Triton Kydex holster is well designed, and the belt clip takes a good bite out of the belt maintaining the holsters position. I like this one.
For a tuckable design, the new USA works well. I do not have to wear a dress shirt without a coat often, so I seldom use a tuckable. The Stow and Go IWB is among the holsters I own more than one of. This is an affordable, lightweight, comfortable IWB that offers good concealment, and the ease of a belt clip rather than a loop. Another design I like very much is the Hornet, a crossdraw holster that offers many advantages. When seated, the holstered handgun is at your fingertips—if your arms are crossed. When driving, the crossdraw holster offers a real advantage.
An overlooked option is the belly band holster. The belly band isn’t considered by many of us, because most are of poor to fair quality. Galco offers an excellent design that is well suited for concealed carry. The holster may be used in two ways. The belly band offers both strong-side and crossdraw, and the handgun may be carried in either mode as the situation warrants. Or, you may carry the primary handgun and a backup in the belly band. The belly band offers strong Velcro attachment points and a wide range of adjustment. The belly band may be worn under most fashions—even if you are not wearing a belt. I like this option and it certainly fits a lot of life styles.
While I have often said we need more than one holster for different situations and different weather conditions—perhaps a winter and a summer holster—the Galco Double Time may force me to reconsider. This is among a very few holsters that does more than one chore well. The Double Time may be worn as an outside the waistband on the belt holster or as an inside the waistband holster and does a fine job in either location. The Double Time offers a sharp draw and Kydex is impervious to warpage, oil and solvents. This is a winner on all counts.
From the affordable Carry Lite and Stow and Go holsters to the Combat Master, Galco offers excellent coverage for many models of handguns and for diverse needs. Take a hard look at Galco and it may become your first stop for quality leather and kydex holsters.
Do you own a Galco holster? Which method of carry do you prefer and why? Share your answers in the comment section.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter and discounts here.
Leave a Reply