Galco is the low end of the high end holster spectrum. for under $100 I would be satisfied with a Galco.

For over $100 I'd go with Kramer Leather

 

I had one for my full sized m&p9c.
It looks like a quality holster, but it didn't carry like one. At least in my opinion. It just didn't work for me.
I'm under the impression that a custom holster is only a few bucks more, but a world apart when it comes to real quality.

 

Have you checked the Urban Carry LockLeather. Like you, I much prefer a leather holster. For years, I've had IWB for concealed carry and a OWB "duty holster" for open carry. I bought an Urban Carry for my Springfield Armory XDM 45 acp. One day at the range, I was wearing a Hawaiian shirt with it on and buddy commented how well it concealed. That day, the Springfield became my EDC and I retired my G-27 in 357 Sig. My wife was dissatisfied with her G-43 and liked the feel of the Springfield but not the size. Took her to look at the Hellcat and she didn't like it but fell in love with a Sig P-365 (9mm; 9+1), so I got that for her (on Father's Day, yet). Liked it so much that I am selling my G43 and have bought a Sig like hers! And an Urban Carry holster to go with it!

 

Save up and get a Milt Sparks holster. Buy cheap, buy twice. There will be no regrets with MS products.

 

100% agreed.

 

Unfortunately, the Galco of today is not the same quality of the Galco from 10-15 years ago. They are charging more of a premium price and the quality of their leather work has gotten cheaper over the years. For my money, Mitch Rosen’s Express Line is a much better option to get a quality holster at around the $100 mark. They usually ship within a week.

If a Combat Master is the style you like, look at the Rosen 5JR or President. Both are available from the Express Line for $104.99. For me, I’m a big fan of the Upper Limit and the Premier - just depends on the particular firearm as to which one I like more.

 

I have a Galco Combat Master for my Colt Cobra & could not be more happy with it. It's comfortable to wear & conceals very well.

One characteristic I was looking for was a high ride & the Combat Master was the highest I could find. In any photos you find, mentally draw a line from the top of one belt slot to the top of the other. Now gauge the distance from that line to the bottom of the trigger guard. I bought my Combat Master about five years ago so there are probably more options out there now but, as I said, this holster was the highest ride I could find for my revolver, which greatly aids concealment.

 

Good replies and no flaming, thanks for that. As stormin70 mentioned, the last Galco I had was years ago, and that's the quality I remember. I have a couple Kramer's and like them a lot, Sparks as well, and I considered quick and easy with the Galco, but I've wanted a nice Tucker for years and decided the HF1 would be a good choice. Current lead times for Sparks is 40 weeks, not for my money. For Kramer, 14-16 weeks, and 12-16 weeks for Tucker. I have one of Tucker's Ranger gun belts, and if it's any indication of their standard for quality, I'd like to give Rob a chance to show me what he can do with a holster. I guess I'll get those pennies in the piggy bank and take it from there.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Good luck, sir. Let us know how you make out.

 

I been satisfied with the Combat Master.

 

Have not done any other leather holsters, buy I will say the GALCO Combat Master. I use it regularly. Nice holsters for the price.

 

I have a Combat Master for the Glock 19/23 and acquired it as a throw-in on a trade. It is in my rotation but I agree with others that at full retail, there are better leather holsters.

 

Galco is decent, but I do believe older models are better than current production as hinted above. As someone who carried a p226 and a P220 Carry in an OWB leather holster, I find it too chunky. The p229 is marginally smaller than both. It looks like Midway USA has some Galco Combat Masters close to half off.

 

I'm going with no. Beyond their shoulder holsters they are a floppy mess in my book.

I picked one up waiting for my Milt Sparks.

I won't be going back to it.

 

Mitch Rosen 5JR is not bad, either. Their wait time was much shorter than Milt Sparks (at least last time I ordered from Rosen a few years back...

 

The last few Express Line holsters I've ordered all shipped within a few days.

 

Instead of wasting my money on off the shelf holsters, that I never like, I just order the Milt Sparks holster asap. I can keep carrying my other guns, and I'll carry the new one in a few months when the quality holster arrives. The time goes fast, and when carrying the holster is more important than the gun choice, for the most part.
You don't have to go with Milt Sparks, but my general feeling is a quality custom holster is a bargain @$200, and a production holster @$100 is a ripoff.

 

Just make sure to have a high quality belt.. I feel outside the belt needs a stiff belt and the wider the better. Iwb doesn’t matter as much..
Best of luck to you…

 

YES!!!
I have a "Gunner" by Hank's Belts and a Bullhide "Eastwood". Both work well with jeans and cargo pants and my Urban Carry OWB, even for my SA XDM in 45 acp, G-29SF and Sig P-365.

 

Holsters are an individual thing. There are so many variables that while a holster may be great for one person, it is awful for another. For me, at a physically fit, slim, athletic build and 155 pounds, the Combat Master is a great holster for my Colt Combat Commander. It allows me to carry a heavy gun, comfortably and conceals well.
I have some high-end, OWB, holsters for other guns but none that I like better than the Galco Combat Master.

 

If I were given a choice between a Galco holster (of which I have owned many), and a Wm. Tucker 'HF-1' holster, I would choose the Tucker every single time.

Why? Because Tucker holsters are made out of a much higher grade of leather—Vegetable-Tanned, 'Oak', I believe.

There's another reason too: Tucker's
'HF-1' pulls the butt of the gun in tight against your body; and keeps it from patterning very well.

 

If I were given a choice between a Galco holster (of which I have owned many), and a Wm. Tucker 'HF-1' holster, I would choose the Tucker every single time.

Why? Because Tucker holsters are made out of a much higher grade of leather—Vegetable-Tanned, 'Oak', I believe.

View attachment 1326999

There's another reason too: Tucker's
'HF-1' pulls the butt of the gun in tight against your body; and keeps it from patterning very well.

I've got an HF-1 and an HF-2. Those are great holsters.

 

My druthers are for a thumbreak on Pancakes . But the pictured Galco is certainly a representative of the breed in an open top .

As a Class , all of the Dead Cow Pancakes of at least moderate quality are at least Reasonably Good , very versatile holsters . But each one has subtle differences of rake and ride height .

Once upon a decade , at the semi local LE Supply store with massive depth of inventory , I said to the owner that I would like to try out a Pancake holster. No Problem ! He laid out TEN different ones to try. ( All at least decent -ish brands )

1 sucked , 2 only marginal, and 6 that would have seemed good enough , if I had only tried that one . Yup , do the math , and that left one .

The one that fit Perfectly , and could conceal a gun one size larger the the average Pancake was ........ Original Roy Baker Magnolia , Arkansas .

 

I love my Galco Combat Master holsters (I own three), and like you, I prefer leather over Kydex. Best holster I've ever used.

 

I should apologize for not updating this sooner. While digging through my box of holsters, I found a Simply Rugged Defcon4 I bought some time ago. It might have been for a 229 or 228 I had a while back and it fit like a glove. It also carries the 229r comfortably all day. A real bonus is it's a two in one, both OWB and IWB with the included belt loops.

 

I own 4 Galco Combat Masters (new one for my Glock 21 SF not pictured), which are handmade from the back (not the sides) of the cowhide, which is thicker. I run a thick belt through them, so they hold up nicely, plus they ride higher which helps keeps them concealed.

 

My EDC G43 rides in one and the two have been a constant companion for a few years now.

 

I have several Combat Masters. I’m happy with them. They work well if your conditions don’t preclude an open top.