Like many of the finer things in life, the best leather holsters are also crafted by skilled hands. A little less than a year ago, Galco Gunleather rolled out its Masterbilt series, which consists of the finest leather holsters that Galco offers.
Masterbilt holsters must adhere to certain, rigid requirements. First, the only leather that can be used to handcraft any Galco Masterbilt holster must come from the top-two percent of premium American-produced steerhide leather production. Second, the only craftsmen whose hands touch these holsters are Galco’s most senior and most experienced leatherworkers. Masterbilt holsters are produced so that they’re ready to carry once Galco ships them out. Wearers need not worry about breaking-in or conditioning their holsters.
Artisanal Holsters Are A Thing
The craftsmen who produce Masterbilt rigs have spent between 30 and 45 years honing their leatherworking skills. The gentleman who personally molded my Masterbilt holster, Manuel, has worked with Galco for 33 years. According to company records, he has molded more than a million holsters since he first took up his craft at Galco’s headquarters in Arizona.
Galco currently has five distinct products under its Masterbilt label. Two are shoulder holster systems and the rest are belt holsters. This includes the Galco Thunderclap holster, the subject of this review. The Thunderclap holster was also the first official model in the Masterbilt lineup when Galco launched it last September.
The Galco Thunderclap holster is an OWB (outside the waistband) holster designed to be worn openly or under a cover garment as it hugs the wearer’s hip. All Thunderclap holsters have a very mild forward cant that helps the handgun’s grip align with the shooter’s wrist on the draw. They holsters are also available for several major handgun makes and models. Depending on the specific pistol, the Thunderclap design can even accommodate slide-mounted optics.
Aside from its flawless fit-and-finish (and its heavenly smell the first time it’s freed from its packaging), Thunderclap holsters feature interior leather lining and solid reinforcement at all critical points. Reinforced areas include the holster mouth along with its belt tunnel and corresponding outer belt loop, which accommodate 1.5-inch-wide belts. I like the fact that the Thunderclap design also incorporates a fairly tall sight channel to accommodate the type of front sights found on modern 1911s. Tan-colored Thunderclaps also incorporate white stitching throughout. Obviously, the stitching is crucial to the holster’s construction, but the white-on-tan contrast also adds some nice visual flair. These holsters are also available in black, with black stitching.
Wearing The Thunderclap
I paired my Galco Thunderclap holster with an extra-thick leather 1.5-inch-wide gun-belt from Golden Age Supply Company. I really appreciated the secure-feeling between this gun belt and the holster after snaking the length of the belt through the Thunderclap’s belt-tunnel and loop. Donning the entire ensemble onto my jean’s belt loops was not difficult.
Here’s the part where I admit that I’m new to leather holsters: Nearly every holster I seriously use, carry or train with is made from boltaron. This new-age material is virtually frictionless and it’s very easy to feel the gun “clicking-in” to the holster when it’s fully holstered. So imagine my surprise when I noticed how smooth and effortless it felt to draw a 1911 from the Thunderclap. I experimented with two different 5-inch, full-size 1911s. The first was my green-and-black 2001 Wilson Combat CQB with its original Wilson Armor-Tuff finish. The second pistol is a more recent-production Colt Competition with a blued finish. Both pistols interacted nicely with the Thunderclap.
Because this holster counts on interior leather lining, this helps the slide glide out smoothly. What I find interesting is that upon re-holstering, the entirety of the holster serves to hold the handgun in place. There is no screw or any other means to adjust retention. The holster is just made in such a way that it naturally allows the shooter to easily draw and yet holds the gun in place when not in use.
The Takeaway
As someone that typically does not use a holster like this, reviewing and wearing the Galco Masterbilt Thunderclap made me take a moment and ponder leather. It’s a remarkable medium. Not only does it smell amazing, but mankind has been using it in all manner of applications since the beginning of time. From a craftsman’s perspective, it’s also fascinating because no two pieces are exactly alike. That’s something that doesn’t apply to synthetic materials like boltaron or other thermo-molded polymers. After all, leather comes quite literally off the backs of once living and breathing animals.
Similarly, holsters like the Thunderclap cannot be machine-made. Like the finest cigars, these holsters can only be produced by human hands. And that makes them more remarkable and special.
Pricing for the Galco Masterbilt Thunderclap starts at $249. From a value perspective, the Thunderbilt’s price is in-line with most other premium steerhide handmade leather holsters. Given how it’s my first leather holster, time will tell how it further develops its own character as the years pass by; I suspect this piece of leather will last a long time.
Visit galcogunleather.com to learn more.
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