http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/10/rear_sight.html defending our rights from the ramparts Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:52:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/10/rear_sight.html#comment-1076 Linoge Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:52:53 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=723#comment-1076 Well, when it comes to HBE, I can really only speak to my own personal experience. I called him, and put in the order one day. Less than a week later, he called saying he was ready to start cutting, and to clear up any last questions. And two weeks later I had the holster in my hands. Some stores do better with in-stock items that they can ship out immediately. Some stores have a waiting list two years long (still!). The crucial factor for me was that HBE is one of the few manufacturers who made holsters for the Walther PPS, especially in the single-offset-clip design (which I wanted at the time, and now would probably go a different route with, but still like). My style of dress is... relaxed, so if the 5.11 belt does not hold up, I will definitely take a look at those. My other candidate at the time was a <a href="http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=16" rel="nofollow">Maxpedition Liger belt</a>, but being unable to find anywhere local that stocked them, I was not comfortable buying it sight-unseen. I probably would have gone with Comp-Tac, except they failed the primary search criteria: they make almost no IWB holsters for Walthers in general, and none, period, for the Walther PPS. Crossbreed is currently next on my list to try, should the HBE holster somehow die. Here in TN, it is cool enough earlier and later in the day for a jacket, but still warm enough during the day for short sleeves. Before college, I used to hate untucked anythings too, but as it is now... my dress has gotten remarkably more lax :). Untucked everything makes life simple... though, to be honest, I have not found a method of drawing from an untucked shirt that would be faster than having to untuck a shirt manually - I still have to use my left hand to clear the fabric out of the way before I feel safe drawing. Thoughts? Yeah... between the flashlight on my belt, the cell phone in my pocket, and whatever the hell else I carry on a daily basis, it is unlikely anyone is going to pick out a specific lump as "hey, that's a gun!". Well, when it comes to HBE, I can really only speak to my own personal experience. I called him, and put in the order one day. Less than a week later, he called saying he was ready to start cutting, and to clear up any last questions. And two weeks later I had the holster in my hands. Some stores do better with in-stock items that they can ship out immediately. Some stores have a waiting list two years long (still!). The crucial factor for me was that HBE is one of the few manufacturers who made holsters for the Walther PPS, especially in the single-offset-clip design (which I wanted at the time, and now would probably go a different route with, but still like).
My style of dress is… relaxed, so if the 5.11 belt does not hold up, I will definitely take a look at those. My other candidate at the time was a Maxpedition Liger belt, but being unable to find anywhere local that stocked them, I was not comfortable buying it sight-unseen.
I probably would have gone with Comp-Tac, except they failed the primary search criteria: they make almost no IWB holsters for Walthers in general, and none, period, for the Walther PPS. Crossbreed is currently next on my list to try, should the HBE holster somehow die.
Here in TN, it is cool enough earlier and later in the day for a jacket, but still warm enough during the day for short sleeves. Before college, I used to hate untucked anythings too, but as it is now… my dress has gotten remarkably more lax . Untucked everything makes life simple… though, to be honest, I have not found a method of drawing from an untucked shirt that would be faster than having to untuck a shirt manually – I still have to use my left hand to clear the fabric out of the way before I feel safe drawing. Thoughts?
Yeah… between the flashlight on my belt, the cell phone in my pocket, and whatever the hell else I carry on a daily basis, it is unlikely anyone is going to pick out a specific lump as “hey, that’s a gun!”.

]]> http://www.wallsofthecity.net/2008/10/rear_sight.html#comment-1075 Sevesteen Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:32:35 +0000 http://www.wallsofthecity.net/?p=723#comment-1075 If you are getting a true custom holster, take a look at their reputation and delivery times--HBE had fairly serious issues in the past, with delivery times measured in years. He's not the only one--Even with no problems, delivery times can be extremely long. HBE appeared to be working hard to fix their issues, and they may be OK now. If your style of dress allows, the Wilderness Instructor Belt or variations are relatively inexpensive and work well. Heavy, stiff nylon webbing. I haven't tried the 5:11 belts--The local place that sells 5:11 gear doesn't allow civilian concealed carry... If you like Crossbreed (I do) look at Comp-Tac's Minotaur line--Similar, a bit more expensive, but also nicer. They have C clips, almost as easy as over the belt, but a bit less conspicuous. I can put mine on in the car at a stoplight. Plus delivery times are measured in days, not months. I'd call them semi-custom--The leather is the same for all, with a user-replaceable gun-specific kydex shell. This is actually the hardest time for me to carry--Not reliably cold enough for a vest or jacket, but cold enough for long sleeves. I really dislike an un-tucked long sleeved shirt, and while I like the option of tucking my shirt over my IWB holster, that drastically slows the draw. As a result, I'm even more likely to pocket carry my .38 than any other time of year. If printing is legal in your state, don't worry about lumps unless they are gun-shaped. My brother in law has tried to find my gun several times, and invariably points to my cellphone instead. If you are getting a true custom holster, take a look at their reputation and delivery times–HBE had fairly serious issues in the past, with delivery times measured in years. He’s not the only one–Even with no problems, delivery times can be extremely long. HBE appeared to be working hard to fix their issues, and they may be OK now.
If your style of dress allows, the Wilderness Instructor Belt or variations are relatively inexpensive and work well. Heavy, stiff nylon webbing. I haven’t tried the 5:11 belts–The local place that sells 5:11 gear doesn’t allow civilian concealed carry…
If you like Crossbreed (I do) look at Comp-Tac’s Minotaur line–Similar, a bit more expensive, but also nicer. They have C clips, almost as easy as over the belt, but a bit less conspicuous. I can put mine on in the car at a stoplight. Plus delivery times are measured in days, not months. I’d call them semi-custom–The leather is the same for all, with a user-replaceable gun-specific kydex shell.
This is actually the hardest time for me to carry–Not reliably cold enough for a vest or jacket, but cold enough for long sleeves. I really dislike an un-tucked long sleeved shirt, and while I like the option of tucking my shirt over my IWB holster, that drastically slows the draw. As a result, I’m even more likely to pocket carry my .38 than any other time of year.
If printing is legal in your state, don’t worry about lumps unless they are gun-shaped. My brother in law has tried to find my gun several times, and invariably points to my cellphone instead.

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