Images by the author
If you are like me, sometimes you don’t want to “strap up” by carrying an IWB or OWB holster for your primary carry gun. Sometimes, you want to carry something a bit smaller, maybe a .380 or even a .22… no judgement here! What’s the best way to do that? Stick it in your pocket. But… put it in a holster designed for that. I know I am “preaching to the choir” here… many of you pocket-carry, sometimes as your primary method of carry.
Falco Holsters is a company in Slovakia that I have dealt with several times. I was approached recently by my representative there, Martin, who told me of a couple of new pocket holsters they were bringing out. Since I tend to pocket-carry a lot (there isn’t much room Inside my WaistBand), I was immediately interested. I just received the pair of holsters and, as usual, was impressed. Falco makes quality holsters.
They sent two… one Kydex, one leather. Specifically, they sent me an A913 Kydex and an A226 Leather Wallet to fit my S&W Bodyguard 2.0 .380. A side note: I am left-handed, but that is not a problem with Falco.
Let’s look at them.
A913 Kydex, $99.95
Here’s what Falco has to say…
Thumb Push Draw – A thumb push inside the pocket against the exposed Kydex edge on the left side of the handgun allows the firearm to be drawn directly from the pocket while the holster remains in place.
C-Shaped Hook Draw – When drawing, the C-shaped hook catches on the lower edge of the pocket, enabling the handgun to be removed from the holster in a rapid fashion.
Paracord-Assisted Draw – This method is ideal for carry inside a bag or purse. The holster is equipped with a metal eyelet on the hook, allowing a paracord to be attached. The paracord anchors the holster inside the bag, ensuring fast holster separation during an emergency draw.
The A913 is handmade from genuine U.S.-made Kydex. Each holster is individually crafted and precisely molded to your specific handgun, reflecting the attention to detail and craftsmanship of our skilled makers.
It offers:
- Adjustable retention (something I’d never seen in a pocket holster)
- 3 Draw methods
- Made from the U.S.-made Kydex
- Lifetime Limited Warranty
- 30-Day Buyback Guarantee
- The ability to design your own holster by choosing from the available options
A226 Leather Wallet, $79.95
(I didn’t push the gun into the holster all the way… It’s still pretty stiff. It will cover the entire trigger guard, once you work it a bit.)
If your tastes run more to leather, they have you covered. Here’s the A226…
- Leather wallet holster for a wide variety of pistols and revolvers
- Discreet concealed carry & easy draw
- Backer wall made of two layers of leather
- Made from the finest full-grain Italian leather
- Lifetime Limited Warranty
- 30-Day Buyback Guarantee
- As above, you can design your own holster by choosing from the available options
They say that they use the finest full-grain leather, which is then hand-shaped and hand-lacquered. The holster resembles a wallet – printing is minimal – and allows the gun to be drawn by a thumb push against the backer.
You have a choice of natural brown or black. I went natural… I like the look.
For either of these, you have options. You choose:
- the gun, specific model;
- that gun’s caliber, barrel length, and capacity;
- sights: type: standard, high, or red dot;
- hand: left or right
- and, for the A226, color
Some Final Thoughts
Let’s look first at the company. I like the fact that you can contact them and they will make you a holster as ordered for whatever gun you have. You can buy them from a store display, but the best way is to contact them. They will custom-build whatever you need. My experience with Falco holsters has been great. They make a top-notch product… I own several of their holsters for different guns. I even have a chest holster for a large-caliber revolver… they make many different designs. Their pricing is in line with the quality level of their products, and the warranty is second to none.
Now, for the holsters. Each of these holsters has a place. If you are looking for a minimalist approach that lets you adjust the holster’s tension, the Kydex version works best. But if you are like me and like the look and feel of leather, the wallet might be the best choice. Or, you can just get one of each… I’ve carried them both, and I like them. They serve different purposes. If you are wearing shorts or pants with smaller pockets, the Kydex holster is a good choice because it is minimal. But if you have larger pockets, the leather wallet comes in handy as it spreads the imprint of the gun and holster out and makes the gun disappear. Plus, it is wider. I do believe I will stick with the Kydex version, though, for most uses, as the leather one is just a bit wide for most of my pockets.
Granted, these two holsters are not cheap. They are built to exact specifications by people who know what they’re doing, from quality materials. Because of that, both of them will last for years and should be the last pocket holster you’ll need to buy.
Read the full article here