This is one of those moments when something old is something new. Currently I am putting this new holster through its paces as an everyday carry. I had a great deal of trouble finding an IWB holster for my Glock 43 that was suitable (for me) so I decided to go radically retro; this Seventrees design from K. L. Null Holsters has roots all the way back into the 1960s. Above is a copy of a page from a 1969 Seventrees catalogue showing the UNS of 46-years ago.
As with the Walther PPK, the Glock 43 is compact enough to cause problems for the IWB holster designers; there is a very narrow "sweet spot" of having just enough holster. It is also difficult to avoid designing a holster that sits either too high or too low. IMHO it takes someone with intuition and experience to design a stable, comfortable IWB holster for PPK size semi-auto pistols. At a recent gun fair I decided to try a local holster maker's (a fledgling business owned by a group of Cops) IWB Kydex holster; I donned the holster with its G43 dummy gun and gave it a simple tug-test; the holster promptly flipped OUT of my waistband and hung from my belt with the dummy gun's muzzle pointing up at my torso. I politely declined to buy the $50 holster and suggested that the design needed to be further refined.
(Above) This is the side of the holster that faces the body. Note how the sweat shield is boned to curl a bit over the end of the slide; I believe that to be a subtle part of the holster's passive retention. Once it was broken in, this holster provided a fast draw along with good passive (no snaps or straps) gun retention, a combination that is hard for holster makers to achieve. The G43 handgun comes out of the holster quick and easy but it does not come out before I want it out; I am an active old geezer and have no use for any holster that cannot comfortably keep a gun secure during physical activities.
Unlike the explosion of crudely designed and expeditiously manufactured hybrid holsters, this old-school leather holster has no sharp, square edges. It easily slides into place and then stays where it is supposed to stay until the wearer is ready to remove it at the end of the day.
Thanks again, Ken.
DISCLAIMER: As always at this blog site, this product review is simply a good old-fashioned campfire chat; this is not an opinion on what you should or should not purchase or what you should be using. What does or does not work for me could be many country miles away from your tastes and needs. All products I review for this blog are purchased at retail price by me. I do not accept payment, discounts, "freebies," products on loan, demon alcohol, drugs, or sexual favors for doing any review.
Great review - and holster too!
ReplyDeleteHey man! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe Ken Null UNS is hands down the finest, most functional, and comfortable concealment holsters I've ever used. When I aquire a new handgun that I plan on keeping and carrying I don't search for holsters anymore, but rather just pick up the phone and call Ken for a UNS. I have three of them, number 4 is on the way. I discovered a KL Null UNS in a gunshop bargain bin 20 years ago for a .45 Gov't Model for $20.00, I grabbed it as it looked like a fine custom holster, and it still serves me well to this day. Ken makes the best, no frills, sturdy and comfortable IWB holster on the market IMO with his UNS model. Not cheap, but nothing worthwhile is. Worth every penny.
ReplyDelete