Clinotus
02-01-2008, 07:23 PM
Holster: Galco Skyops
Average price: $75.00
Style: IWB
Clip(s): Single 'Y' hook
Made of: Quality Leather with the hook being plastic.
First a few words about this holster. I have to state upfront that [/u]I did not have the proper belt for the holster[/u], which is a belt of width between 1” and 1 ¼" , and this may invalidate portions of my review.
This holster offering from Galco is billed as an enhanced concealment holster that meets Federal Law Enforcement specifics along with an 'enhanced retention device” known as a 'tension unit'. This means the holster and the gun should be not be readily 'makeable' by another CCW holder, Bad Guy, Soccer Moms, or unruly wildlife...like cats.
Galcos solution to the concealable IWB/Dress shirt holster dilemma is a holster held in place by a 'Y' hook. One of the reasons for the Y hook is that you do not have the visible J or C hooks and you can cant the holster to whichever direction you need to to mold it to your fit for the best discretion.
Despite being made of plastic the hook is very secure on the belt and will not budge. Now on to the review:
The Holster:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyops.jpg
Holster opposite side:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopsinside.jpg
Holster loaded:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopsloaded.jpg
Y hook profile: (note the cant screw on the far right)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/theyhook.jpg
The Y hook:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/yyyyyyyyy.jpg
Comparison to other standard belt hooks/hoops/clips:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/hooks.jpg
Spacing between the holster and the 'Y' hook which you use to tuck your shirt (the term is actually called blousing) into. The blousing works because you have a lip of the shirt before the gun but behind the Y clip of the holster and the rest of the shirt blouses over the Y hook.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/tuckthey.jpg
The holster on and exposed – pre-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/sykopsexposed.jpg
The holster hidden view 1 – post-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/sykopshidden.jpg
The holster hidden view 2 - post-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopshidden2.jpg
This holster lives up to everything that Galco states.
Now for the other issues which caused a bit of dislike for the holster.
1) Onus: Yes, it is still my fault for not having the proper belt.
2) Bending: If you bend over in a sudden manner you are now brandishing. And to give you an idea of how much you are brandishing the first photograph of the holster being worn was not me setting up the exposed shot, but rather the result of me moving my kid out of the way for the concealed photograph. If you do not get to a restroom immediately or you are not wearing a blazer you should expect pretty quickly reports to go out for an 'armed individual'.
3) Hugs and digging through pockets: I found that if a lefty gave me a hug, it would pull the shirt a touch in that direction. It didn't immediately pull the blousing away but it could leave the shirt overlay at an odd angle.
When looking for something deep in the right pocket, if you for some reason or another have never mastered the art of removing your own hand from your own pocket, can throw the blousing off a bit.
Thats it. As I mentioned before other than my quirks with this holster it did deliver as Galco stated it would.
For more background notes:
The belt I used was an old worn leather belt which was the only thing I had in the size requirement.
The shirt I used had ample length for blousing.
This is by no means a quick draw holster.
Using the holster as a regular concealment holster with just a T-shirt or a polo shirt sans any attempt to use the blousing option of the Y-hook made this truly a great concealment holster. Your experience may vary.
Concealability: Bloused 7
Concealability: Mistaken maneuver for an unblousing: 3
Concealability: With just a Polo or T-shirt 7
Gun Fit: 10
This gun is going nowhere unless you want to remove it. You could do jumping jacks and cartwheels with no slippage whatsoever. The retention fit alone is marvelous.
Firing grip/Draw: 10
When you go to draw your firearm your fingers wrap around the gun in a perfect grip, you only need to move your trigger finger into place while bringing the gun up and into play.
Final result: 8/10 [Mistaken deblousing maneuver not calculated]
Yep, despite my somewhat dislike for some deep concealment holsters, this holster works and works well. If only I had the proper belt to use it with I would sing its praises but for now I sing only for T-shirt/Polo shirt carry.
In a perfect world one could always drop a quick stitch on the shirt overlay and the pant, but otherwise it is A+.
I will review this holster again once I have the proper belt for it.
Average price: $75.00
Style: IWB
Clip(s): Single 'Y' hook
Made of: Quality Leather with the hook being plastic.
First a few words about this holster. I have to state upfront that [/u]I did not have the proper belt for the holster[/u], which is a belt of width between 1” and 1 ¼" , and this may invalidate portions of my review.
This holster offering from Galco is billed as an enhanced concealment holster that meets Federal Law Enforcement specifics along with an 'enhanced retention device” known as a 'tension unit'. This means the holster and the gun should be not be readily 'makeable' by another CCW holder, Bad Guy, Soccer Moms, or unruly wildlife...like cats.
Galcos solution to the concealable IWB/Dress shirt holster dilemma is a holster held in place by a 'Y' hook. One of the reasons for the Y hook is that you do not have the visible J or C hooks and you can cant the holster to whichever direction you need to to mold it to your fit for the best discretion.
Despite being made of plastic the hook is very secure on the belt and will not budge. Now on to the review:
The Holster:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyops.jpg
Holster opposite side:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopsinside.jpg
Holster loaded:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopsloaded.jpg
Y hook profile: (note the cant screw on the far right)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/theyhook.jpg
The Y hook:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/yyyyyyyyy.jpg
Comparison to other standard belt hooks/hoops/clips:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/hooks.jpg
Spacing between the holster and the 'Y' hook which you use to tuck your shirt (the term is actually called blousing) into. The blousing works because you have a lip of the shirt before the gun but behind the Y clip of the holster and the rest of the shirt blouses over the Y hook.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/tuckthey.jpg
The holster on and exposed – pre-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/sykopsexposed.jpg
The holster hidden view 1 – post-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/sykopshidden.jpg
The holster hidden view 2 - post-blousing:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/holsters/4/skyopshidden2.jpg
This holster lives up to everything that Galco states.
Now for the other issues which caused a bit of dislike for the holster.
1) Onus: Yes, it is still my fault for not having the proper belt.
2) Bending: If you bend over in a sudden manner you are now brandishing. And to give you an idea of how much you are brandishing the first photograph of the holster being worn was not me setting up the exposed shot, but rather the result of me moving my kid out of the way for the concealed photograph. If you do not get to a restroom immediately or you are not wearing a blazer you should expect pretty quickly reports to go out for an 'armed individual'.
3) Hugs and digging through pockets: I found that if a lefty gave me a hug, it would pull the shirt a touch in that direction. It didn't immediately pull the blousing away but it could leave the shirt overlay at an odd angle.
When looking for something deep in the right pocket, if you for some reason or another have never mastered the art of removing your own hand from your own pocket, can throw the blousing off a bit.
Thats it. As I mentioned before other than my quirks with this holster it did deliver as Galco stated it would.
For more background notes:
The belt I used was an old worn leather belt which was the only thing I had in the size requirement.
The shirt I used had ample length for blousing.
This is by no means a quick draw holster.
Using the holster as a regular concealment holster with just a T-shirt or a polo shirt sans any attempt to use the blousing option of the Y-hook made this truly a great concealment holster. Your experience may vary.
Concealability: Bloused 7
Concealability: Mistaken maneuver for an unblousing: 3
Concealability: With just a Polo or T-shirt 7
Gun Fit: 10
This gun is going nowhere unless you want to remove it. You could do jumping jacks and cartwheels with no slippage whatsoever. The retention fit alone is marvelous.
Firing grip/Draw: 10
When you go to draw your firearm your fingers wrap around the gun in a perfect grip, you only need to move your trigger finger into place while bringing the gun up and into play.
Final result: 8/10 [Mistaken deblousing maneuver not calculated]
Yep, despite my somewhat dislike for some deep concealment holsters, this holster works and works well. If only I had the proper belt to use it with I would sing its praises but for now I sing only for T-shirt/Polo shirt carry.
In a perfect world one could always drop a quick stitch on the shirt overlay and the pant, but otherwise it is A+.
I will review this holster again once I have the proper belt for it.