New holster for the Airweight

I bought this S&W .38 Special Airweight in 1974.  It's a long story best told some other time.  This little five shot has been with me through thick and thin.  It's been underwater, in rainstorms, dropped in the mud, you name it, the little snubbie has been there, done that.  Throughout this pistol's 39 years of service to me, I've never treated it to its own holster until this year.  No kidding. It's never had a real holster before this summer.

I went out to Wally World and paid may $10-$12 for a cheap-o Blackhawk cordura holster.  Well, that holster sucked Big Time. Not only that, it was right handed.  I found an old IWB for the snubbie in a box of cast-off holsters and bought it for $10.  Likewise, it was right-handed.  I can draw from that holster but I sure can't reholster at all.

Well, the time finally came when I could stand it no longer.  My Faithful sidekick just had to have its own customer holster.  I didn't want a leather one as I spend too much time outside in what some people call "the elements."  You know, stuff like rain, sleet, hail and, yes even snow.  I really like carrying the pistol when I am hiking, especially during snake season.  That's when I put three rounds of snake shot in it and along with two hollow points.  Trouble is, I've never had a decent way of carrying the Airweight.  What good would it do if it's in your pack when you need it?  Um...it would be NO good whatsoever.

Well, a couple of guys I know through shooting in IDPA and ICORE told me about a local guy who builds custom Kydex holsters.  His name is Rick Palmer and he runs Center of Mass Holsters.  Click here for his website.  A photo of Rick is at the bottom of all the holster photos.  I told Rick I wanted a holster I could use in both IDPA and ICORE as well as one that would attach to the hip belt of a wide variety of day packs and even an larger overnight pack, too.  Rick knew just what to do.  I had to wait a few weeks but I got the call yesterday that it was done.

We went to Rick's place in Firth, Idaho, to pick it up this afternoon and it sure didn't disappoint.  Rick took the time to use my very own pistol and custom adjust the holster so the retention pressure is perfect.  It ain't gonna come out unless you draw it out and then it's smooth as silk.

The photo at the top shows how I would be wearing it with a regular belt.  It is a slightly modified paddle holster so I don't have to be wearing a belt to use the holster.  Being an Old Fat Guy, I often don't wear a belt so I really wanted a paddle holster than didn't have the huge paddles like Blackhawks do.  It feels great for normal wear as shown in the top photo.  It always draws out faster than I've ever been able to do in 39 years!

In the first photo below this write up, you see it on the hip belt of my favorite day pack.  It does not interfere with my suspenders and pants and I can move it forward enough so the butt doesn't hit my arm when I am walking.  The next couple of photos are closer views of it on the hip belt.  The last photo shows how it attaches to the hip belt of a smaller day pack I often use.  This is exactly the type of holster I was hoping to have for this old beater Airweight.  I am very Happy.  I highly recommend Center of Mass and look forward to having other holster made there soon. Thanks, Rick!  Happy Shooting. jp