ltwguns.com

Awhile back I picked up a 3 pc combo belt, holster and single mag pouch for an incredible deal. They were used, but very lightly. I was told they were all in matching black elephant, although I suspect that 2 of the items were elephant and the third shark. They consist of a holster and belt from the now defunct M/D Enterprises (Mark Waldon?), and a single mag pouch from Milt Sparks. The Sparks pouch I suspect is shark instead of elephant because they don't list elephant on their website (shark they do) and the grain looks a bit different, but is a close match.

My question is this - the holster (owb) is nice but is a bit loose on retention. Can anything be done at this point to alter retention? Can a tension adjustable screw be installed at this point?

Here's a pic of the holster in question, with the rest of the gear.


EricO
NorseHammr@aol.com

To my eye they are all 3 Shark - Elephant looks more like the skin on the back of your hand with a much larger grain - shark usually has all of those "Bubbles" and the long lines that I think I see on the belt.

Here is some elephant



Not much can be done to tighten a loose holster, and I don't think you could add a tension screw, since the holsters are usually made with that feature in mind, to allow the screw to do it's job without closing up all the way. Since the holster is cut down past the ejection port, you can't really force any leather in there to tighten it up, so the only thing left would be to try and get a good grip on the trigger guard - but not sure if that would do the trick.

John

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I will never forget you Lou......February 21, 2009

John Ralston
5 SHOT LEATHER, LLC - Finely Crafted Custom Handgun Leather

http://www.5ShotLeather.com

John, thanks for the reply and info. I had mentioned my doubt (as to shark or elephant) to the seller and he was adamant about it being elephant. I agree with you though, since all three pieces look like shark. I've only seen elephant from a pic, and not in person.

Beautiful examples of elephant on that holster and pouch above. How would one go about changing the "pinch" point at the trigger guard?


EricO

Elephant trunk and tail have different texture(s) than what's shown on the elephant holster above. It's possible that your holster may be elephant trunk.

I suppose it is possible, but those items look just like the shark hide in my shop - but without seeing it up close it is hard to say 100%.

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I will never forget you Lou......February 21, 2009

John Ralston
5 SHOT LEATHER, LLC - Finely Crafted Custom Handgun Leather

http://www.5ShotLeather.com

EricO -

Forgot to answer your reply - usually that is done with wet molding (again) and trying to press as much material into the area in front of the trigger. This traps the front of the trigger guard, and helps with retention. This may only be a temporary fix though - if it was already done that way and has been stretched out, you will only see a very temporary improvment. It might not help for very long anyway, if the rest of the holster is loose.

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I will never forget you Lou......February 21, 2009

John Ralston
5 SHOT LEATHER, LLC - Finely Crafted Custom Handgun Leather

http://www.5ShotLeather.com

I would have to agree with John...Id bet its shark...Elephant can look like that but its not likely.

You can remold it, pressing the trigger guard indent in more and also the ejection port. Those are the two key areas for retention in a leather holster. With this design you cant do the ej. port, but some makers who do this style of holster use a steel spring around the mouth...just under the black cowhide trim pc. If it has that spring..they you may be able to squeeze it closed a little also.

I may add that its quite odd, IMO that a shark holster stretched out that loosely...from my experience they are so freaking tough that its a pain to mold them to begin with.

Shoot well and god bless

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice....Rush.

Here's another example of Elephant from Sparks.

Thank you everyone for the input. A fellow forumite told me that many (all?) of M/D Ent. holsters were actually made by Rudy Lozano of Black Hills Leather in TX. I've contacted him and he responded that BHL did make this holster and belt. He offered to try to adjust the fit if I choose to send it back to him. I'm going to reevaluate the fit and make my decision.

Merry Christmas everyone,
EricO