{"id":1194,"date":"2024-07-24T21:19:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-24T21:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1194"},"modified":"2024-07-24T21:19:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T21:19:03","slug":"classy-concealment-galco-thunderclap-hawkeye-holsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1194","title":{"rendered":"Classy Concealment: Galco Thunderclap &#038; Hawkeye Holsters"},"content":{"rendered":"<div> <!-- image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"td-post-featured-image\">\n<figure> <noscript><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-Hawkeye-feature-768x496.jpg\" alt=\"Classy Concealment: Galco Thunderclap &amp; Hawkeye Holsters\" title=\"Classy Concealment: Galco Thunderclap &amp; Hawkeye Holsters\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Because they\u2019re final-dried on a last, Thunderclap holsters perfectly fit the handguns they\u2019re designed to fit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-need-a-classy-leather-holster-for-a-1911-or-a-pistol-with-a-red-dot-here-we-check-out-the-galco-thunderclap-and-hawkeye\"><strong>Need a classy leather holster for a 1911 or a pistol with a red dot? Here we check out the Galco Thunderclap and Hawkeye.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>September of last year, I was taking a shooting class when my friend, Sheriff Jim Wilson, asked me to stop by his room. When I went in, I noticed a 1911 Colt Commander pistol lying on the table. I sat down and the former West Texas sheriff picked the pistol up and said, have a look at it. It was well-worn; you could tell it had spent a lot of time in a hand and in a holster. It was also a product of Novak\u2019s custom shop out of Parkersburg, West Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>Cycling the action and assessing the trigger, I said, \u201cThis is a damn fine pistol, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his matter-of-fact way, the Sheriff said, \u201cI know. That\u2019s one of my raid guns. It\u2019s yours now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t really know what to say, but I knew if a man was giving me a gun this fine, he really wanted me to have it. Arguing would have been useless and disrespectful. I thanked the Sheriff, and I told him I\u2019d been given a lot of gifts in my lifetime, but few could compare to this one.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next 6 months, that Commander and I have gotten to know each other well. Though I don\u2019t carry it that often, it sleeps on my nightstand. What I\u2019d had trouble finding was a holster that seemed fitting for such a fine and storied pistol. For many years, my go-to outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster has been the Galco Avenger. An Avenger for a 1911 will also work for a Browning Hi Power, so that makes the holster a great fit for me. And aside from that, the Avenger is just a great utility and training holster. But, for a gun like the one the Sheriff had given me, the Avenger just seemed a bit too \u2026\u00a0 plain.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d contemplated having a custom holster made for the Commander, but I\u2019d been unable to decide. Then, one day I received a package from Galco. Mike Barham at Galco knows how much I like the Avenger, and he\u2019d sent me Galco\u2019s new Thunderclap holster. The Thunderclap is very similar in style to the Avenger, but it\u2019s a bit more elegant. It\u2019s also the first holster in Galco\u2019s new MasterBilt series of best-quality, premium-grade holsters. Galco makes these holsters from the best premium saddle leather available, and these holsters finish drying on a last, so they conform to the pistol perfectly. This is why there\u2019s no need for a tension screw like on the Avenger. It\u2019s also lined with smooth leather like you\u2019ll find only on high-end custom holsters that have been crafted in the best custom shops.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster.jpg\" alt=\"Galco-Thunderclap-holster\" class=\"wp-image-294837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Thunderclap-holster-670x420.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Galco designed the Thunderclap holster so that you can establish a full shooting grip while the handgun is still in it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The holster also has a neutral\u2014nearly vertical\u2014cant, which allows for a fast, wrist-locked draw stroke, where you can get a full firing grip on the gun while it\u2019s still in the holster. The opening is reinforced to make holstering effortless. There\u2019s also a metal-reinforced tunnel-style belt loop with a support extension behind the belt to help hold the holster in place. I couldn\u2019t imagine a finer holster for such a fine gun.<\/p>\n<p>The problem, however, was that the first Thunderclap holster offered\u2014the one Barnham sent me\u2014was for a 5-inch 1911. Unless you just have no sense of style or are appearing on <em>The Walking Dead<\/em>, you simply don\u2019t carry a Commander in a full-size 1911 holster. It\u2019s considered insulting to the more compact pistol \u2026 and it will cause the ghosts of gunfighters past to haunt you.<\/p>\n<p>But, in February, I was out at Gunsite Academy again and ran into Mike Barham who, like the Sheriff, had brought me a present. (I may have to go there more often\u2014I just keep getting gifts when I\u2019m there.) It was the second holster in the Thunderclap line, and it was for a Commander-sized 1911. I think the good Sheriff would approve; my special legacy pistol now has the perfect place to ride anytime I want it with me.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-hawkeye-holster\"><strong>The Hawkeye Holster<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In addition to the Thunderclap, Galco also has a new Hawkeye holster. This is an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster specifically designed for pistols and revolvers with reflex sights. Though I remain unconvinced that reflex sights are the optimum answer for concealed carry, they\u2019re very popular and the current trend with manufacturers and trainers. Regardless of mine or your opinion on them, what\u2019s been missing is a high-quality IWB holster for pistols, and especially revolvers, equipped with these modern sighting devices.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters.jpg\" alt=\"Galco-Hawkeye-holsters\" class=\"wp-image-294838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-670x420.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1021\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters.jpg\" alt=\"Galco-Hawkeye-holsters\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-294838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters.jpg 1021w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-696x436.jpg 696w, https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Galco-Hawkeye-holsters-670x420.jpg 670w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Galco is offering the new Hawkeye holster for pistols and revolvers with reflex sights. It\u2019s available in black or tan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Hawkeye has a slight butt-forward cant and is available in high-quality black or tan leather, and it\u2019s also available for right- or left-hand carry. The smooth leather rides comfortably against your body, and it comes with removable belt loops for 1\u00bc-, 1\u00bd- and 1\u00be-inch wide belts. Though I\u2019m sure there will soon be more handguns the Hawkeye will fit, currently it\u2019s only offered for the Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro, with and without a reflex sight, and for the <a href=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/gun-reviews\/handguns-reviews\/taurus-856-toro-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Taurus 3-inch 856 T.O.R.O.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>All three of these new holsters will pair very nicely with Galco\u2019s 1\u00bd-inch, SB2 Casual Holster Belt. And, like a wise Sheriff often tells anyone wise enough to listen, if you\u2019re going to carry a handgun in a holster, make sure it\u2019s a good holster and that it\u2019s attached to a damned good belt.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s Note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gundigestservice.com\/customer\/subscribe.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gun Digest the Magazine<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>More On Holsters:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-32\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #e5e5e5; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignright size-medium wp-image-271572\" src=\"https:\/\/gundigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"44-Targetposters-pack-GD-reduced-300\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #333; text-align: center;\">Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack<\/h2>\n<p>Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter<\/strong> and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Because they\u2019re final-dried on a last, Thunderclap holsters perfectly fit the handguns they\u2019re designed to fit. Need a classy leather holster for a 1911 or a pistol with a red dot? Here we check out the Galco Thunderclap and Hawkeye. September of last year, I was taking a shooting class when my friend, Sheriff Jim [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tactical-gear"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1194"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1196,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194\/revisions\/1196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}