Uncle Mike's Kydex® Holsters

 

by Erik Johnson

photography by Erik Johnson

May 12th, 2003

 

 

 

One of the more recent developments in the gun world has been the proliferation of hard molded synthetic handgun holsters.  Where once one's holster selection was limited to softer fabrics and the hides of cows and horses, today's handgunner can pick from almost any material imaginable that can be tooled to hold a handgun. 

Gun owners, after an initial bit of sneering, quickly took to polymer-framed handguns, so why not polymer holsters?  A quick look at the holster selection of any gun store or at the hips of shooters at an IDPA match will tell you that polymer gunleather, although a contradiction in terms, is here to stay.  Synthetic holsters are lighter than leather, and are unaffected by anything a shooter could use on his guns short of industrial solvents.  Once prices settled and quality was established, shooters liked what they saw and synthetic holsters took off. 

A quick look on the internet finds prices for synthetic holsters anywhere from the high teens to upwards of seventy bucks.  Any handgunner eventually ends up with a boxful of holsters, and it's a constant battle to keep the box small.  As someone who once dropped $75 on a beautiful Galco holster he barely wears, the idea of spending big money on his first experience with polymer holsters was a little daunting.  On the lower end of the price scale for polymer holsters is the Uncle Mike's line. Cheap doesn't always mean bad, would it in this case? 

In that end, I bought an Uncle Mike's Kydex® belt holster for $19.95 from a local gun store.  I bought the model for the 5" 1911A1, intending to use it as a range, and possible carry holster for my Jim Stroh (www.alphaprecision.com) tuned Para Ordnance P16-40 Ltd.  The belt slide version is just one on Uncle Mike's line of Kydex® holsters, which also includes paddle holsters and versions of the belt holsters with thumb breaks.  Holsters are available for many popular handguns, including Glocks, 1911 clones, Beretta 92/96 series, and Smith & Wesson 5900's. 

The belt slide is listed as working for belts between 1" and 1.75", and covers it neatly with two sets of slots built into the frame.  The 1.5" leather belt I wear daily fit the smaller slots firmly.  Fans of a forward rake are going to be a little disappointed as the holster sits nearly vertically.  I normally find a slight (15 to 20 degree) forward rake, the "FBI tilt", a little more comfortable to wear and easier to conceal with a larger handgun, but the vertical draw seems to be slightly faster, at least for me. 

Straight out of the box, the holster showed impressive fit and finish for the price paid.  Uncle Mike's makes their Kydex® holsters by using injection molding, which they state on their website is both cheaper and more consistent than forming from a sheet of stock Kydex®.   

The pistol fits firmly into the holster with an audible click as the front of the trigger guard engages two small hooks.  At first I noticed a little shaving of the plastic on the holster where the front of the trigger guard hits it, but a half turn of the retention screw seemed to take care of this without noticeable effect on retention.  I also noticed a little bit of bulging towards the rear, which is due to the beefy Para's frame being wider than a normal 1911, but again, a quick tweak of the screw fixed this.  The molding is neatly done, closely following the contours of the pistol, from the trigger guard to dust cover and the ejection port. 

Release was as smooth as you can make it.  A firm and quick snap of the wrist upwards, and the pistol came smoothly out.  The front of the Uncle Mike's holster is thoughtfully cut down to just forward of the ejection port, which reduces how much vertical movement is needed before the handgun can be thrust out and brought up on target. 

Being used to thumb straps, I was a little concerned about retention.  I have used leather holsters without any retention features before, and was not pleased.  The absolute last thing you want to happen in a heated situation, which I have seen first hand, is to reach down to draw and find that your handgun has gone bouncing off somewhere.  At the same time, for the average citizen a level 3 police duty holster is ridiculous overkill.  The fine medium is then a holster that keeps the pistol firmly at hand until you need it, then hands it over quickly.  In my book, this means at the minimum a retention screw or a thumb break.  Kydex® holsters like the Uncle Mike's tested here use the material, molded to a tight fit on the specific handgun, to do this. 

After triple checking (safety first) the Para, I popped it in the holster and shook it over a well-padded couch.  Even upside down, it stayed in for several shakes.  By that point the wearer would probably be feeling like a milkshake, but he'll still be armed. 

One thing to remember on these holsters, and those like them, is to use a quality belt and wear that belt firmly.  Not uncomfortable or blood drawing tight, but firmly enough so that the holster stays where you want it to, and is anchored to release the pistol when drawn.  At the minimum, a leather belt should be 1 1/4" inch wide at at least 1/8" thick.  A respected instructor once suggested to me that you should not be able to bend the belt to touch the top to the bottom, and that's good advice no matter the material.  A well-constructed nylon belt will also work, and while fine in a casual or range setting, some folks may need something a tad dressier.  Some holster makers, including Galco and Aker, are making dressy leather belts with polymer inserts for stiffness, but be prepared to pay for it.  When the belt is expected to hold up 20 or more ounces of gun, holster, and other modern accoutrements, the least you can do is get a good one. 

Compared to some other similar holsters, the Uncle Mike's belt slide sticks out slightly more away from the body, which really is my one complaint about it.  I really noticed this when wearing it under a suit coat, less so when worn openly or under a windbreaker.  I'm a little on the thin side and generally like my holsters close to my body, so it's a bit of an adjustment.  The belt slide is screwed to a separate holster frame, which while helping interchangeability and keeping costs lower, makes it a bit more bulky.  Other holsters have molded-in belt loops, but they are significantly more expensive.  It's all a matter of what works for the individual. 

Uncle Mike's Kydex® holsters are a well-built and utilitarian carry option at an excellent price.  For those wanting an introduction to the world of synthetic holsters, or those just wanting a good general purpose holster without spending a whole bunch of money, they're hard to beat.

Check out the entire Uncle Mike's line at www.uncle-mikes.com.

Erik Johnson


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While they may not be appealing to traditionalists, Uncle Mike's line of Kydex® holsters represent good quality and value for the dollar.

 

 

A look at the back side of the holster shows its versatility.

 

 

The injection-molded holster is a good fit for a "standard" gun, and is easily adjustable to fit wider-framed guns such as the author's Para Ordnance double-stack 1911 derivative. Shown is a view of the top of the holster.

 

 

Front view (top), rear view (center), and side view (bottom) of the Uncle Mike's holster with the author's Para Ordnance pistol. After initial adjustment, author was pleased with the fit and retention of the holster; his only complaint was that the holster stands out from the body a bit more than more conventional designs. Erik recommends the Uncle Mike's product for shooters seeking an inexpensive alternative to leather.