Archive for July, 2006

What’s the difference between chrome tanned and vegetable tanned leather, and why should you care? Hey, you’ve got enough on your mind as it is, right?

Well, your firearm’s finish is at stake – that’s why you should care. You see, vegetable tanned leather is cured using tannins from bark, wood, or other parts if trees and plants.

Now, Tucker uses only vegetable tanned leather because it is safe for use with firearms and the only type of leather a holster-maker should use.

The same can’t be said for the other kind of leather, chrome tanned. Chrome-tanned leather is used for everything from garments to shoes and unless it is dyed straight through, you can usually detect it by cutting and looking for the characteristic light grey blue color that the chromium sulphate imparts to the leather.

Also, the leather tends to be quite soft and stretchy. Chrome tanned and other mineral-tanned leathers are not suitable for firearms because they retain trace amounts of chemicals that are corrosive and will damage your gun’s finish.

But Tucker uses only Hermann Oak vegetable-tanned leather for his work and that’s very good news for you, because it’s the very best domestic leather available and makes for a beautiful, long-lasting holster, belt or magazine pouch. Hermann Oak has been tanning leather since 1881 and use only the best Prime Grade Heavy U.S. Native Steer Hides in their St. Louis tannery.

And their tanning process has changed little since Louis Charles Hermann originally formulated it in 1881, their process has stood the test of time – so why change it? They still use the finest natural tree bark in their tanning liquors for wonderful richness and texture.

The leather is still tanned until it is firm, strong, and tight-fibered. Their technicians still hand-work each side for a smooth, consistent, even-colored piece of leather.

It’s just perfect for Tucker Gunleather and for your holster.

Some large volume holster manufacturers, as well as some small shops, use Mexican tanned leather, which doesn’t have the richness or the durability of the proven quality of Hermann Oak.

You will often notice the difference in appearance when you first get a new holster, but you will certainly appreciate the difference over time, because Tucker knows the difference and everyone knows he won’t make something he wouldn’t use himself for a prized firearm.

Would you cut corners if your reputation was at stake? Neither would he.

Just look at that beautiful workmanship! Dave Douglas’ no-nonsense prose certainly gets right to the point.

Just click on the image to read the entire article.

Apparently the answer is “Yes” when it’s a Tucker. Some good words from a satisfied customer: 

“4th of July family party.

I wore my Tucker HF1 today in a “party” environment, for the first time.

Family and friends, few of whom know I carry, all around me, every step of the way.

In the past, I usually wore my G23 IWB in these situations. Sometimes my G22, but that one only if wearing tucked with my C-TAC.

This was the first time I’ve been 100% confident that the pistol was tight against my side the entire time. I could feel it tight against my body, but it wasn’t even the slightest bit uncomfortable.

I had no concern about my cover garment working its way between my gun and my body (though I habitually checked anyway). And it didn’t.

I could sit up from a chaise lounge on the deck by the water without bothering to pull my cover garment down.

I’m simply amazed at how well this rig works for me.”

I usually follow up with my customers after they’ve had the product a spell. Now, first-time customers are always dumbfounded when that happens — when they get a call from me a few days after I know they’ve received their new holster.

Apparently, they’ve never had any holster maker do that for them — ever! Just the other day I called up a new customer just to see if he was please with his new HF1 and he blurted out, “No one’s ever called me just to see if I liked my new holster.”

As surprised as they are, I’m even more surprised. Not following up on people who were good enough to buy from you — that’s just bad business.

Another thing customers like is the position Tucker holsters ride in relation to their body, belt — tucker holsters ride the “Sweet Spot.”

All the Tucker holsters do.

Where’s the Sweet Spot? It’s above your hipbone, below the ribcage and on a flatter area of your body than the point of your hip — just slightly behind the hip. Tucker holsters just kind of settle in and get real comfortable, real quick.

Some of our customers have told us how they’ve worn one of our inside the waistband holsters (IWB’s) all day long, come home and laid down on the couch and taken a nap — and totally forgot they had it on!

Now, you’d think those would be even less comfortable, and maybe they are — when they’re not made by Tucker.

Because that’s typical for our holsters — so comfortable, you forget you have it on. Part of your body straight out of the box. You can read more about this unique fit on a recent post, just click here.

Now, those folks who buy one of our holsters and never experienced another holster, still have to adapt to having a gun inside their pants. That’s natural because everyone does. It’s new, it’s different and face it, it’s heavy and your body tells you that’s not normal.

But if you’ve tried other people’s holsters and then buy one of ours — you’ll adapt to it immediately. These are the kind of guys (and gals) that tell us, “Yeah! Wore it all day for 14 hours, came home, laid down on the couch and the next thing I know it’s 10:30 at night. It was so comfortable I completely forgot I had it on!“

I never get tired of hearing that. Neither does Tucker.

I’ve had people who’ve gotten Tucker’s show rigs (which consists of a belt, holster and a magazine pouch) and just flipped out when they open the box. Particularly when he puts the decorative stamping on.

They’ll rip open the box and call me up and go “Damn! I knew this stuff was good, but when I opened the box, I was flabbergasted! It’s so much better than I expected . . . in fact it’s the best stuff I’ve ever seen! I don’t know whether wear it or frame it!”

We get that all the time .

One the things people comment and love about Tucker holsters is the all-leather gear — belt holsters that ride outside your pants.

Fact: ours require very little break-in.

Unlike most holster makers, who make their holsters overly tight in the hopes they won’t be too loose later, Tucker knows how to make yours fit right all the way from day one through the end of that holster.

Consider treating yourself to a Tucker the next time a holster maker wants you to:

• Wrap your gun in wax paper and leave it in the holster overnight
• Put your gun inside a Ziploc bag and insert it into the holster overnight
• Use any kind of after-market holster slick ‘em stuff inside your holster

But here’s where Tucker cuts himself away from the herd — he knows how to create a holster that has great retention over time and you can draw from almost immediately — and have it ready to go right out of the box.

People love that feature about our holsters. They’re surprised by it and they love it.

Btw, there is no “Zen holster line.” I thought of that punny title when one of our customers called me up the other day and was raving how his new Tucker holster ” . . . moved like it was one with me!”