Over the last few years, there have been a few trends that emerged in the gun community. The older generations love to talk about their 1911s and leather holsters, while the young whippersnappers love plastic holsters and aftermarket attachments on their carry guns. Younger shooters like to give the older generations a hard time about certain carry items. If we are completely honest, there are a few that will always be a trend no matter how much time goes by. Let’s take a closer look at some timeless concealed carry trends.
Leather Holsters
If I’m completely honest, I have made fun of people for wearing a leather holster a time or two. I’ve also worn leather holsters more than once when dressing up or headed out somewhere like a barbecue at a friend’s house. If you have like-minded friends who also carry, having a get-together where you carry together with a leather holster can be a really fun time and gives you plenty of options to have conversations about. Leather holsters will always have that certain level of class that Kydex just doesn’t have.
Leather just oozes class and it really does make the occasion feel special when you decide to carry a firearm in leather. It’s not perfect by any means though, so expect a few drawbacks. Breaking in a brand new leather holster can be a real pain in the butt and once it’s worn out, leather holsters need to be replaced. There’s a long period of time where leather holsters are durable and do a great job retaining your firearm. It’s easy to make fun of someone carrying a leather holster, but in reality, they really are a great alternative to Kydex holsters while offering an extra touch of style.
Heavier Metal-Framed Handguns
When it comes to metal framed firearms, I know a few of you will completely disagree with me and that’s totally fine. Carrying a heavier firearm doesn’t take witchcraft or anything like that, it just takes a sturdy belt and good holster. Whether it’s a cold-weather firearm or a special occasion, metal-framed guns are still completely viable and a nice departure from the everyday life of polymer firearms. Even our very own James Reeves of TFB TV has said how much he loves his tuxedo-style firearms.
Polymer firearms are fantastic because they offer a higher level of capacity with the lightweight component. Metal-framed firearms are an entirely different experience and even though they may not be an everyday carry for most people, when you carry a full metal constructed handgun, there’s just something special about it. Some may never carry anything other than their micro carry handgun, but as a trend, carrying a metal frame will always be a thing for some people. It’s rewarding and can make certain situations more special with a different firearm. Metal framed firearms may be outdated to some but as a trend, it’s truly timeless and definitely will be around for the foreseeable future.
Shoulder Holsters
In the age of appendix carry and pocket carry, some people in the gun community get so stuck in their ways and completely dismiss anything else simply because it’s different. I can’t tell you how many times I have run into people who say shoulder holsters are for movies or are just downright silly but that’s not the case at all. Shoulder holsters have a real application for certain situations. If you plan on driving or sitting down for a long period of time, having a shoulder holster can be a much better option than mounting your handgun on a belt-mounted holster.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven across the country with a shoulder holster instead of a traditional belt carry holster. Other times I will carry a shoulder holster is when I’m wearing a suit jacket with a thinner belt that can’t support the weight of a handgun. Having a carry system independent of your belt can be a big plus when you have to wear a dress belt. It may not be for everyone, but shoulder holsters have a number of benefits and will also be around for some.
Overall Thoughts
Don’t get me wrong, I fully support giving people a hard time in a playful matter but these carry trends are definitely still viable for the foreseeable future. Some people like to dismiss others for their carry choices but each style has its own benefits and sometimes it’s good just to be different and carry something special. As long as you can effectively defend yourself with your guns and gear, the choices you make don’t really affect anyone but yourself. Regardless of what you think about these trends, they will most certainly be around for the foreseeable future.
What do you guys think are some other carry trends that will always stick around? Let me know down in the comments below. I feel like I only scratched the surface here so if there’s enough we can definitely revisit this topic down the road. If you have questions on carrying concealed or firearms in general, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there!
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