I know this post is old but just wanted to say that it appears that both you and Mr. Longenecker are both stand up guys. I personally think it shows some class to come here and set the record straight.

Seeing how they do business here, I’m getting serious about placing an order.

Mark

To clear things up: I never once believed that Tucker should be forced to make the holster for me, or that he didn’t have the right to refuse. Of course he has the right to withhold business from me or anyone else FOR ANY REASON HE SEES FIT. ANY REASON.

He is well within the right regarding his decision, it’s only a question of whether he acted in good business sense or rational self-interest.

In all truth, I’ve decided to save money for another month or so and get a couple of “non-cavalry-draw” holsters from Tucker (if he’s not too upset with me for questioning his wisdom ).

And it’s not because I’ve entirely abandoned the SOB IWB lefthanded crossdraw (which, according to Alan Mills is not technically the same thing as a “cavalry draw”). The reason is simple: I’ll carry “cross-draw SOB IWB” when I’m wearing a long jacket in Non-CCW police states (like CA, IL, etc… which is also something that both Tucker and I could likely agree is something to avoid, IF BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE), and in the majority of my time out west, I’ll carry on my hip (with my suit-jacket on, with small weights to get the flap to always cover the hip), the way “I’m supposed to”. Why, you ask? …If I’m tucking the thing, it’s not like I’ll be doing a speed draw anyway… I’ll need to be untucking my shirt before I draw, so if I’m not slow and cool (when the crazed gunman walks into a McDonald’s and starts blowing away all the poor, disarmed sheeple), I won’t be doing anything for myself no matter how I’m carrying it. Tucker’s holsters seem to be cantable and adjustable, so maybe I’ll work on the awkwardness of BOTH ways I want to carry.

My only concern regarding the Tucker holster at this point is this: how does the leather/kydex combo work on “The Answer” -I imagine it would be pretty nice, but not quite as nice as kydex on both sides (so the gun goes in fast, and smooth, with a satisfying “click!” when it’s snugly in place).

Then again, I got a clip-on leather Don Hume holster for “lefthanded cross-draw” and I’m not drawing the thing really fast anyway, since the tight grip of the leather slows it down. it seems to be OK (I’ve never once put my finger inside the trigger guard by accident this way, and I’ve also never pointed the gun at my side/gut. The muzzle is only pointed at my left and right asscheeks as I draw it, which is unavoidable. The only slight awkwardness in my draw is when I am rotating the gun upright –away from the ’sideways’ gangbanger style– to correct shooting position. In my opinion, this is less awkward than bending my arm backwards and up at an extreme angle on the initial draw. –A friend of mine who’s a martial artist agrees with me, and showed me how he could get to the side of me and control me with my gun arm if the conventional manner of rear-of-hip strong hand draw was too slow. He can step forward and in with one hand on your gun hand, the other on your elbow, point your arm behind your back at the innocent bystanders to the left of you, as he possibly forces your finger to squeeze off ND rounds, and then break your arm at the shoulder by lifting up, and take your gun. We both agree that my manner of draw is less awkward/noticeable, and slightly more difficult to grab my elbow and pivot my arm. Plus, it’s way more comfortable, and the handle of the gun sits comfortably in the small of my back all day, even when I’m driving–).

I would like the speed of kydex though. (If I could have my druthers, I think I’d have a thin piece of kydex in front of the leather portion on “The Answer” this would stop the gun from wearing away the leather on the draw, and also lock the gun in place more smoothly for re-holstering). Even if “The Answer” doesn’t have this piece of kydex, it looks like it is a superb holster, and I really need something that’s more tuckable and less visible than the holster I have now.

Sooooo, as soon as I’ve saved up another few hundred into my ‘gun account’, I’ll be giving Mr. Longenecker a call and seeing if he wants to do business with me as he normally does.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll sell me so much on the idea of conventional carry that I’ll never go back to my “IWB SOB strong-hand draw”. Maybe I’ll just move to Arizona, stop traveling, and walk around “open carry” for my remaining days.

Also, Brian from CA makes an incorrect assumtion in his criticism of my letters. I never asked for Mr. Longenecker’s advice about carry. I asked him if he would make me what I wanted, so that there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings about my order, and so I wouldn’t receive it canted the wrong way. I’ve found out the hard way that this is necessary if one is ordering anything outside the normal, online. I didn’t call Rob for advice. I called him to order a custom holster. My wallet is now $80 lighter, and I have something that works, but not something that is PERFECT.

“The Answer” does seem like a nearly perfect holster, and one well worth purchasing when I get some more money. As I get more money, I think I’ll order a right handed conventional “Answer” and a Left-handed conventional Answer for my p-85 9mm backup.

To Tucker’s great credit, it seems as though he’s one of 2 holster makers who fully services the Springfield XD-45 5″, which is my primary weapon. Perhaps as my weapons collection grows, I will begin giving Tucker my business.

There’s a lot I like about Tucker, and I almost gave him my business last time anyway. I like the V-clip system, and I like the tuckable side-stabilizing-flaps. I like the thick leather and adjustable cant system with kydex’s lockability. They look like rugged holsters.

I also like the fact that Tucker put this question to his fan base, and kept it up even though many of his fans have sided with me. That displays a true dedication to the truth, even if he did lose his first sale with me.

Also, in the future, it might be good to call my style of carry/draw “Alaska”, because half of my friends there carry that way. They do so for comfort, concealablity, and ease of draw. None of them are in a cavalry, and only one of them -to my knowledge- draws lefty, so they can get at their sabers. I watch people all the time in AK, and try to see who’s carrying. By pure chance I saw a gentleman in the post-office’s jacket ride up in back, and he was carrying my way too. He pulled his jacket out, and the gun disappeared again. Will anyone ever go postal in AK? Probably not if the people in line are _comfortable_ while carrying, enough so that they actually carry.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that my way is right. It depends on your body-type, how limber you are, how easily you keep your cool under pressure, how much you “follow the book”, whether you prefer graceful decay under duress (multiply-redundant backup plans), whether or not it means a prosecution if you’re noticed (in states where self-defense is illegal), what you feel comfortable with, what any corresponding martial arts training you’ve had works with, whether you’ll be driving with your system as well, as well as whether you’ll have the opportunity to alter your system before you start driving, etc… It’s a personal decision.

I tend to be objective about “doing things the best way possible” given my circumstances. This makes me sympathize -to some extent- with Mr. Longenecker’s initial rejection of my transaction when I told him how I intended to wear the holster (in order to make sure he provided me with what I wanted). But hey, it’s HIS business.

If he wants to do business with me in the future, now I understand what his limitations are.

-Jake

Do you know that customers are packing your holster at 1:00 position in the newest fade called APEX carry? The muzzle is pointed straight at the femoral artery. Gabe Suarez and other well know instructors are encouraging this carry method and your cantable IWB is one of the preferred designs.

No less dangerous than calvary draw. Do you ask them how they will carry the IWB? Would you deny them if they told you APEX mode?

Thanks,

Allen Mills

1. He acknowledges and is willing to accept the greater risk of shooting himself.
2. You are unwilling to supply unsafe holsters.

Both of you have a right to your decisions; each remains separate and distinct.

I do not know of a principled business professional who knowingly contributes to another person’s loss, risk, injury, or death. THAT is why you made the decision you did; I would not have expected anything less from you, Rob. Your decision has nothing to do with bad customer service; it has everything to do with maintaining principled customer service.

I actually agree with the customer as to the draw itself–I don’t think it’s that much less safe than a lot of other common draws that also, in the real world, end up with you either pointing the gun at yourself or having very little real muzzle control (like shoulder holsters) but again, it’s not my name on the holster, is it? So my opinion, to be blunt, doesn’t really count here.

Too many times, products are sold that are known to be substandard. Too many times, poor solutions are sold to a customer who didn’t know any better. I think it’s commendable that you stuck to your own ethical standards, even though it cost you a sale.

Cheers,
Rod

If someone comes to you for your expertise, asks the question, and then argues about the answer, they’re not a customer – you’re selling your expertise in the form of a physical product, but it is still primarily your expertise that is the “value add.” In rejecting that, they have declined to become a customer in the first place. No harm, no foul, have a nice day.

It’s kind of amusing to read the “give him what he wants” argument – you gave him what he asked for, your professional opinion based on your professional experience. He didn’t want that, cool.

If you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question.

Regards,
Brian in CA

My grandfather had a saying, “The customer may not always be right. However, without them we are nothing” so its up to you. If you say no than so be it. He’ll fill his want somewhere else.

Who’s to say that any holster is truly safe on the draw, during retention or re-holstering? Its truly about the user and their understanding. With a behind the back draw it’s the same effect of the muzzle crossing the torso.

FWIW.. You made your decision based on your sound judgement stick with it. You did good!

Peace
Steel Talon