Soldier of Fortune Magazine The Journal of Professional Adventurers
by Greg Chabot
From bear country hikes to long hours behind the wheel, this handmade holster proved why some classics refuse to disappear.
We live in a Kydex world when it comes to the concealed carry of handguns. Good quality leather holsters are getting harder to find out there. A while back my beloved editor SKK asked if I’d be interested in testing a shoulder holster from Ruffiano International, which owns the Lawman Leather Goods brand. Having never heard of them, I accepted the assignment and SKK passed me their contact information. After a productive conversation with James the owner, we agreed on a holster to test, the original Dirty Harry shoulder holster.
I had no idea they were still being made by the original company. I knew that knockoffs of the originals were being made by various companies. Vintage ones in good condition are prized by collectors and the prices show that. Being this is the original Dirty Harry holster it was only appropriate to have it made for my 4” Nickel Plated S&W Model 29-2 .44 magnum. And yes, James can make holsters for any handgun on the market.
Why a Shoulder Rig?
I spend a lot of time outdoors and I use a runners’ chest bag. Granted it works great, but it is slow to draw your weapon as I have to “Tear” the bag open. I’ve had my share of encounters with wildlife in thick brush and luckily haven’t had to use my weapon. I found the tear method awkward. A shoulder rig makes weapon access more efficient. Also, it’s easier to conceal a weapon. The chest bag like a fanny pack screams you’re packing heat. Whereas with a shoulder rig I can hide my weapon under a shirt or jacket and not draw attention if I’m hiking in a public area.
(Images from Sasha Steadman)
For sport I like to longboard. Many years ago when I got back into longboarding I had a bear encounter. I had just got my balance and confidence back and was cruising at 20 mph on my road. A black bear stepped out in front of me! Luckily for the bear he got out of my way! After that I started to carry my .44 with the main problem being no comfortable way to carry it with the crappy holster I had. I swapped to a 10mm 1911 in a shoulder rig which allowed me to have easy access to my weapon and not freak out motorists seeing a skater with a large gun on their hip.
I also prefer a shoulder holster while driving. I don’t have to worry about discomfort on long drives. Or the seatbelt getting in the way if I need to engage a threat.
Myths of Shoulder Holsters
Many in the shooting community are down on shoulder holsters so I’ll take time to address this. Shoulder holsters come in two types: vertical and horizontal. The horizontal rig was very popular with the Fobbits and field grade officers in Iraq and Afghanistan during GWOT. This was my longboarding rig, and it works decently with the main drawback of some printing regardless of the covering garment. Granted that 99% of the population lacks situational awareness. I still prefer not to print at all if possible.
The Dirty Harry holster is a vertical type with the muzzle pointed at the ground. This style is very easy to conceal under a flannel shirt or jacket with little to no printing. As I have written many times, you need to dress to conceal.
I’ve heard people complain that one is flagging others using a horizontal rig. That is true, as long as your finger is away from the trigger there shouldn’t be an issue. Guns don’t fire by themselves; responsible shooters train with their holster. Same with folks that say you could shoot yourself while drawing from a vertical holster. Keep your finger away from the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Once again, it’s about training and putting the work in to be confident with your weapon and holster. And that goes for any method of carry: practice folks!
First Impressions
The holster shipped from Uvalde Texas on a Friday and arrived by lunch on Monday. After opening the box, I was taken aback by the quality of this holster. It has that nostalgic and functional look from days past. As James explained to me, all his holsters are handmade by one person. No production line at his company; whoever gets the order makes it from start to finish to ensure quality.
First thing I noticed was the use of saddle stitching for durability on this holster. The edge banding was perfectly done with no excess material sticking out. The suede lining was perfect, this holster uses a spring on the outside to retain the weapon, the same attention to detail applied with the stitching and overall finish of the leather. Overall, I have zero complaints about the workmanship.
How did it perform?
The holster is easy to adjust, and I liked that the buckles can be adjusted while wearing it. After my initial adjustments I holstered my Model 29 and walked around for a bit, stretching my arms and shoulders. After an hour of wearing it, I made some adjustments and got it where I wanted it.
Both sides of the holster attach to your belt for a very secure fit that allows you to move. Being used to the other rig it took me some time to get used to how the Dirty Harry fits. At first, it felt like it was going to slide off my left shoulder. James had warned me about that. After wearing it for a few hours, I got used to how it felt. If you are new to this style of holster just wear it and take time to adjust it properly. I promise it won’t slide off.
Having fit it properly it was time to test retention. The spring in this holster is very stout, and it did take a little effort to put my gun in the first time. The best way to holster is from the top down. I used my support hand to steady the holster and pushed my Model 29 in. This is how Clint did it in the movies and it works. You’ll get used to it, and after a while it gets easier. This is where training with your gear pays off.
I was impressed by the retention. My gun did not move at all. I did 50 jumping jacks and went hiking over rough terrain and had no worries about losing my gun. The holster let me move freely while scrambling over rocks. No complaints about the comfort. I wore this holster with a loaded .44 mag for 12 plus hours and experienced no discomfort. While sitting to drive or write the holster moved with me and kept my gun in easy reach with either hand.
Yes, I used this holster on my longboard, and I forgot I was wearing it. The Dirty Harry is available with a retention strap for customers that prefer them.
Concealability
This holster was very easy to conceal under a light flannel shirt with no printing. I experimented with different jackets and sweatshirts and found a loose fit works best for a cover garment. I advise readers to experiment as I did, to find what works best for them as we are all built differently.
Range Time
The holster performed as expected at the range. Shoulder holsters are slower to draw from than other carry methods. After some practice, I could effectively draw and engage the target. To draw you pull straight up out of the holster in the reverse of holstering. This design makes a weak hand draw somewhat easy. Though it looks awkward, I had no issue drawing with my weak hand and engaging the target. That is an advantage over horizontal type shoulder holsters. I like to practice with my weak hand due to the world not being a flat range. A smart shooter practices with both hands.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad SKK offered me this assignment and I accepted. I have been getting back into revolvers, and I was lacking a good holster for carrying in bear country. This is the most comfortable shoulder holster I have ever worn. It carries the weight of an N frame evenly and I experienced zero discomfort. It is easy to conceal, and it retains my weapon no matter what activity I’m engaged in.
READ MORE from Greg Chabot: Inside the Circle of Death
This holster is crafted with old school pride and attention to detail and the price reflects that. You are paying for the skilled workmanship, and with minimum care it should last your lifetime. As I’m pushing 60, I stand by that statement. Would I trust my life with this holster? Based on my standards and what I put it through. Yes, I have full confidence in this fine holster and have no qualms in recommending it to friends or family. This holster has been around for decades and many of the great gun writers of a bygone era recommended them to their readers. Decades later, I concur with them.
In closing, gear is a personal choice. I advise readers to make a decision based on their needs and not the “cool” factor or what a “Tactifool” on social media says. Many of those types will say shoulder holsters are for Fudds etc. From my experiences a shoulder holster is a viable option in today’s world, and it is always good to have options.
If you want to contact Ruffiano by phone, you can reach them at 702-588-9583.
Greg Chabot served in Iraq 2004-2005. He is a freelance writer living in New Hampshire. He frequently contributes to Soldier of Fortune.
