Gun Gear: Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe

Make: Crossbreed Holsters
Model: SuperTuck Deluxe, Cowhide with Combat Cut option

This is the second holster I've evaluated for my p229 Holster Hunt.

I'd read some very good things about the Crossbreed kydex/leather hybrid holsters, but also quite a few negatives.  But the basic premise seemed sound: use a large piece of flexible leather against your body to distribute weight and then use kydex to hold the gun in place (and reduce the price).

I got this holster on eBay, and $68 with 3-day delivery sounded a lot better than $86 with a 4-week delivery if I were to order directly from Crossbreed.  Seemed like a great deal.  But as soon as I pulled it out of the package, I realized I'd been a little too quick on the bid button.  The holster was actually meant for a p229R (with rail), and of course, mine is the non-railed version.

Being that the holster is Kydex, it is form fitted to the shape of the frame, and the p229 and p229R are just different enough to where my p229 wiggles around too much when holstered.  So that was a bummer, but then I realized that my p226R should theoretically fit pretty well, and indeed it did. 

I was tempted to just put the holster back up for sale on eBay and order the correct p229 version from Crossbreed, but then I figured since I already had it in hand, why not just evaluate it using the bigger p226R?  If it was comfortable with the full-size pistol and concealed decently, things could only get better when I switched down to the smaller p229.  In fact, I thought that maybe I would just keep this one even if I do end up ordering the p229 version.  While I don't really have any plans to carry the big p226R concealed, it wouldn't hurt to have a holster for it just in case (like maybe when the p229 is at the gunsmith's for example).


Impressions
So Crossbreed markets these by saying that everything (including style) is absolutely secondary to Comfort.  I have to say, I think they've nailed it.

At the time of this writing, I've only spent a few days wearing it, but after awhile, you don't notice it anymore than you would a little knife pouch on your belt.  That big piece of leather really does the work of distributing the weight of the gun, as well as making sure that nothing is pressing into your body in any one particular spot.  And again, this is with the full-sized p226R.


A Note on Retention
So my range holster of choice is typically a Kydex rig.  As such, I'm used to the pistol having that nice friction lock when it's fully seated in the holster.

But even though the p226R fits into the Crossbreed Kydex perfectly, there is absolutely zero retention.  If you turn the holster upside down, the gun will fall out before you even get it straight up and down.  The interwebs have more than a few reports of similar cases.  It seems like it's hit or miss; sometimes it retains well, sometimes it doesn't.  Crossbreed apparently supplies directions on how to shrink the Kydex for a better fit, but many people say that shouldn't be something the owner should be forced to do, and I agree. 

However, note that this problem only exists when the holster is not rigged on your belt.  Once it is properly secured, the belt holds everything in place very well.  With the gun holstered inside my waistband, I basically did every shimmy, shake, jump, spin, and twirl I could muster, trying to get it to come loose or pop out, and it never even budged.

So would I prefer it if the gun did lock?  Absolutely.  Does it really effect the performance of the holster in daily, practical applications?  So far, I don't think it does.  You'd probably have to get hit by a bus to knock the thing loose, and at that point, you've got much bigger problems than a stray pistol.

If I do eventually order the right version from Crossbreed for my p229, though, I'm hoping I'll get one that has good retention.


The Gist
So far, I can't really find fault with this holster.  It's very, very comfortable.  Build quality seems excellent.  Price is even pretty decent.  Could I have found my ultimate concealment holster on just my second try?  Time will tell, but so far, so good...




















This is a very sturdy metal belt clip.  You can also tuck a shirt in behind it.

The back is rough leather which keeps it solidly in place when drawing and reholstering.  "Rough" is too strong a term, though.  It's definitely not sandpaper rough.  Anyone who thinks this is rough on their skin needs to grow some chest hair.

Note that all the metal points you see here are so far recessed into the leather that you'd never feel them on your skin, either.




















Detail of the rivets on the holster.

















You get no fewer than three Celtic crosses (one here, and one on each belt clip).  I think they could have skipped the ones on the belt clip since you want those to be as innocuous to casual glances as possible.

Gun Gear: High Noon Bare Asset

Make: High Noon Holsters
Model: Bare Asset

This was the first holster I evaluated in my p229 Holster Hunt.

I found this holster in a gun forum classifieds section.  High Noon seemed to have a decent reputation on the interwebs, and for just $20 it seemed like a worthwhile gamble. 

High Noon makes higher end leather holsters with longer turn-around times, but the Bare Asset is one of their "stocking items" and costs about a fifth of the price.  Given that, I wasn't expecting too much, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got my hands on it.

This is a very soft, very thin holster, but feels well made.  There's a good metal belt clip that does exactly what it's supposed to do.  What really surprised me was that even though there's no metal strip to stiffen the mouth of the holster like you'd see on higher end models, there's a thicker strip of leather there that keeps it open just wide enough to let me re-holster one-handed very effectively.

I really wanted to like this one, mainly because if it did the job right, I'd only be out $20 and I would have nailed the perfect holster on my first try.  But on the first day of wearing it, I realized it wasn't going to be that easy.  I wore it at the 4 o'clock position and within a few hours, I noticed that my lower back was actually aching.  It was odd since it wasn't a jabbing pain like the gun and holster were poking me in the side.  It was more like a general muscle ache you'd get from repetitive strain.  Hard to say exactly what the cause was, but there was no getting around the fact that it just plain hurt.  I wanted to try to wear it eight straight hours, but eventually I just had to give up.

I actually don't think this was due to any intrinsic fault of the holster itself.  It's well made, and does what it says it'll do.  I think this is just back to the problem of every holster fitting differently on every body.

I do like the overall fit and finish of the product, though.  I'll have to revisit High Noon when it comes time to get a holster for the pocket revolver.

Gun Gear: Looking for Concealment

So I'm officially on the hunt for a good concealment holster.  The good news is there's a lot to choose from.  The bad news is there's a lot to choose from.

And unfortunately, since every holster will feel different to a person based on body type and personal preference, reading other people's opinions only counts for so much.  Then what's the point of blogging about it, you ask?  I figured I'd just try to record the evaluation process as opposed to recommending a specific product. 

My first goal is to find a good concealment holster for my SIG p229, which I would like to make my EDC gun.  It's not the smallest or lightest pistol in its class, but I think carrying around a few extra ounces is worth it if, god-forbid, you ever have to actually use it and all the SIG quality and dependability comes into play.  Plus I've been shooting it for more than five years now, so it's hard to make the argument to switch to a different platform without a very good reason.

But I could still see the need to be able to carry something a lot smaller and lighter in certain situations, like when all you've got on are gym shorts and a tank top and can barely conceal a wallet, let alone a handgun.  I'm thinking a Smith & Wesson scandium revolver...  But a holster can wait until after I actually buy it.

So first up is something for the p229...

My criteria for the holster:
1) Comfort, comfort, comfort!
2) How well it conceals
3) How well you can re-holster one-handed
4) Retention of the firearm
5) Quality (essentially how well it will hold up over time)

The Holster Hunt so far...

1.  High Noon Bare Asset (jump to post) - No Go on Comfort...

2.  Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe (jump to post) - So Far So Good!

Knife Gear: Emerson CQC-7A-SF

Make: Emerson
Model: CQC-7A-SF

It's hard to talk about this knife without talking about the progression of EDC knives I've been through of late.

For the gun folks, the analogy goes as follows... 

The Benchmade Griptilian was my Garand: it served me well for years and was a real workhorse. 

The Griptilian was eventually replaced by the Kershaw Shallot (see post) the same way the M14 replaced the Garand.  The Shallot was a decent knife, and seemed to address a few things I didn't particularly like about the Griptilian (namely its bulk and handle material), but its service was as short-lived as the M14's.

Then the Emerson arrives on the scene like the M16.  There is some initial doubt and hesitation, but it is nonetheless adopted, and now I can't imagine carrying anything else.



vs the Black Shallot
I still prescribe to the theory that the "right" knife for you is whatever feels best in your hand at that particular phase of your life.

I really did like the Black Shallot, but somewhere in the back of my mind it bothered me that the SpeedSafe action, while very smooth and reliable, required that you hold the knife in a particular way and used a particular finger in a particular motion to activate it.  So sure, in a no-stress situation with nothing to lose and time to spare, opening it was a breeze (and just plain cool, to be honest).  But could you do it with gloves on?  Left-handed?  With greasy hands?  With the knife upside-down?

I would just hate to need the knife for that once-in-a-lifetime moment where I needed to cut a seat belt with bloody, injured hands and not be able to get the thing open.

Kershaw actually makes a knife called the Avalanche that's pretty similar to the Shallot except that it has a thumb stud on the blade to assist with opening.  I had actually planned on trying that out instead when the Emerson landed in my lap...

Enter the Emerson
I lucked out in that my shooting buddy had also been on the hunt for a new EDC to replace his own Griptilian.  He tried the Emerson but it didn't quite fit his liking.  So money traded hands at the range one Sunday morning and I became the proud new owner of an Emerson folder.

So this knife is actually one of the Prestige Line collaborations with Action Concepts.  It's a CQC-7 except with a spear point, which I definitely preferred over the standard tanto (mainly for aesthetic reasons, I think). 

I loved the knife, but like the army and their M16, I did have some initial reservations about adopting it as my standard EDC.  I had just gotten used to the slimness and disappears-in-your-pocket feeling of the Shallot, and this was a return to a bulkier knife. And I have to admit, I still thought the SpeedSafe opening was just plain nifty, not to mention I'd only just bought the knife a few weeks back!

But I ended up carrying the Emerson for a few days just to feel it out, and just like Stoner's rifle, it slowly grew on me.  First off, the thing just feels rock solid.  It feels more like a tool than a knife, if that makes any sense.  There's plenty of G-10 real estate to give you all-condition grip, and the blockish handle is pure utility.

I'd never had a knife with a thumb stud before, but I now believe it gives you the most purchase in different situations than either thumb-hole or thumb-stud.  I actually used the knife during a full day at my storage unit cutting up boxes, constantly opening and closing it, the whole time wearing heavy work gloves.  I feel pretty confident I can get this knife open under almost any circumstance.

It's definitely a bit thicker than the Shallot, but nowhere near as bulky as the Griptilian was.  For EDC, that comfort factor is always something to consider.


The Gist
A no-frills, hard-use, more-tool-than-knife knife.


In Comparison
From left to right: Benchmade Griptilian, Kershaw Black Shallot, Emerson CQC-7A

Emergency Gear: Alco-Brite Stove Kit

Make:  Alco-Brite
Model:  Gelled Alcohol Fuel Canister and Stove Kit


I have an old MSR backpacking stove that runs off IsoButane, but for emergency shelter-in-place scenarios, I needed a stove that could be used safely indoors and one that could sit unused on a shelf almost indefinitely.

I was going back and forth between the Alco-Brite and the Esbit pocket stove, but my impressions are that the Esbit is best suited when you need something extremely light and compact and are willing to trade some performance for portability.

The 16oz Alco-Brite canister has about the same size and weight as a can of soup, so while it's heavier and bulkier than the Esbit, it's still relatively portable if you need to pack it.  I was able to boil a cup of water in 8 minutes (which is exactly what their published figure states) and supposedly the fuel will last between 4-7 hours.  Other than a slight smell of "sterno", it was very clean-burning and absolutely no mess or residue.

I only wish that the canister had some sort of screw-on top instead of the lid that you have to pry off.  While it's easy to get the lid off with a screwdriver or knife, and it's easy to knock back into place, you'll probably be doing this over and over again I could see it potentially becoming a hassle.

But other than that, this little stove fits the bill for an emergency indoor stove so perfectly that it's hard to complain.

The "stove" is really nothing more than two metal pieces that snap onto the fuel canister.  It's simple but effective.



The piece that goes at the top of the stove has an additional metal damper that swings in and out, allowing you to adjust the heat.  Closing it completely will snuff out the flame.

Emergency Gear: Fisher Military Space Pen

Make: Fisher Space Pen
Model: Non-Reflective Military Matte Black Cap-O-Matic
Manufacturer's Product Code: SM4B


It was just about impossible to resist a piece of gear with the model name "Non-Reflective Military Matte Black Cap-O-Matic".  Seriously, you had me at "non-reflective"...  Not to mention that the Fisher company is quick to point out their long history with both the US and Russian space programs.  You would think this would be the alpha and omega of all tactical aerospace writing instruments.

Of course, the big selling point for Fisher is the pressurized ink cartridge that will work in extreme environments where you're average Bic won't (freezing temperatures, upside down, zero gravity, etc.).  I figured this would be the perfect addition to my EDC pack.  At first I was looking for smaller "wallet" pens, but I think those are better suited to keychain-type EDC's.  There was still plenty of room for a full-sized pen in my EDC pouch and so I decided to just go with something that would be comfortable to write with.

So as soon as I took it out of the packaging, I realized my first mistake.  The "cap-o-matic" part hadn't really registered with me when I bought it online, and I had wrongly assumed that it had a regular cap that you remove (it's easy to make that mistake if you're just looking at a picture of it).  Of course, it makes much more sense for it to just be a click type pen (no cap to lose, one-handed operation), but I knew that if I left a clickable pen in my EDC pack I'd end up with ink marks everywhere since that pack gets prodded, squeezed, and bounced around quite a bit.

So then I figured that if it wasn't meant to live in my EDC, I'd just use it as an everyday pen and still feel pretty good that I'm using a pen designed for military and law-enforcement personnel.

Except... it doesn't really write that well.

Now I'm definitely not a "pen guy", but I do enjoy a nice, smooth line of ink when I scribble something on paper.  I'm actually partial to the Uni-ball Signo 207, which you can probably find for about a dollar apiece online without searching too hard.  And so I figure that my $7 military space pen that can write upside down has got to be at least as good as my Uni-ball, if not ten times better.

And since I'm not a pen guy, it's a bit hard for me to describe what's lacking.  To me it just seems like the ink line is just thin and "weak".  It also feels to me like you have to hold the pen more upright than I usually do if you want to get a smoother flow.  I also noticed that if you don't use the pen for awhile, the first time you touch it to the paper, the ink is very, very weak making the first letter you write a lot lighter than the rest.  This sort of jives with what I've read about how the pressurized ink cartridge works.

So note that this isn't necessarily a "bad" pen.  It's just that for normal, everyday writing it's really no better than your average ballpoint.  I'm pretty sure it would shine under extreme conditions, but I was hoping it would also be a better pen during non-extreme situations (70 degrees, normal earth gravity, sitting upright at a desk).

So it's unfortunately not as good as my run-of-the-mill Uni-ball, so I don't think I'll end up using it for note-taking.  And with the Cap-O-Matic, I don't trust it bouncing around loose in my EDC.  I think it'll just end up with the bulk of the disaster supply, probably inside an admin pouch along with an all-weather notebook.

Light Gear: Fenix E01

Make: Fenix
Model: E01

Small lights are like small knives: the unsung heroes of the gear bin, always at hand, always ready to do the menial tasks and everyday chores.  And for the same reason there's no need to whip out a 3" blade when 1" will do, there's no reason to pull the big light out of the pack when the E01's 10 Lumens will do the trick. 

10 Lumens isn't blinding by any means, but in a pitch black room, it's more than enough to light your way.  And in a real emergency, the 10 Lumens in your pocket is better than the 250 you may have left at home.