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I've recently purchased a very nice P-32 from our own Longtooth, and I want to carry it as a backup as soon as my CHL renewal arrives. In anticipation, I built this Kydex carry rig for the pistol, a spare mag, a spare flashlight, and a backup knife. The accessories are carried on the off side and balance the weight of the pistol. I used .060" Kydex, and I made the eyelets by hand from 1/4" OD soft copper tubing from the plumbing section of Lowes. I haven't weighed the whole thing, but I suspect total weight to be in the neighborhood of 22 ounces. It's quite comfortable and disappears under a buttoned shirt.

My primary is a P-11 carried IWB in a tuckable holster, in the appendix position (1 o'clock). I've wanted a backup that was more accessible when seated, especially when driving. I've long been interested in a rig for carrying a spare light and knife, along with the pistol and its reload, so I designed it as a double shoulder rig.

I tried to contact George Matheis (Mercop), for a double-sided MercHarness (http://www.moderncombativesystems.com/d ... arness.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but there was no reply. I finally made my own, with paracord and vinyl tubing. I had to stitch the point where the cords cross behind my back to keep the connector from shifting when I draw the pistol. I slid the piece of tubing to cover the stitches.





The knife is tied onto the off-side carrier and can be removed in a few seconds.


Here is everything laid out. The light is an Inova X-1, with an O-ring as a "Tiger Ring" lanyard. My index finger goes through it, and the light can be flipped onto the back of the hand if necessary. The knife is a Frosts Triflex Tradesman (differentially heat-treated, Scandinavian grind in which there is no secondary bevel). I cut the blade down to 3-3/8" and made a new handle for it of Pakkawood, with an epoxy-soaked cord wrap, and a Kydex sheath.


I may remove the knife, much as I like it. It is so smooth to draw, and it fits my hand very, very well. It feels a bit "mall ninja" to carry so much gear with a backup pistol, though!

Respectfully submitted,
Dirty Bob

looks good to me. I carry a shoulder knife too a lot.

That looks interesting and the paracord harness is definitely cost effective. Is it comfortable? Do you have any pics wearing it?

jester: It's very comfortable. The whole setup weighs about the same as an all-steel J-frame. I don't have any good pics at the moment. I'll have to take a few photos and post them.

Longtooth: Your shoulder knife is bigger, too! This modified Tradesman is lighter than a P-32 magazine and fairly flat.

With respect,
Dirty Bob

Since we met I have found a smaller one & it works much better.
I do like your set up.

I have one of these http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I might take your idea and see if I can rig a shoulder holster out of it. Thanks for sharing that with us.

shootthesheet wrote:I have one of these http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I might take your idea and see if I can rig a shoulder holster out of it. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Cool! I think you'll like it. One advantage of this setup is that you can "flip" it and wear on the other side without any adjustment. It's really a great concept, but I can take no credit for the paracord harness idea.

I'm still hoping to get an actual MercHarness from George. It's his idea, so I have no problem handing him some $$ for a harness.

I hope this works out for you. I found the vinyl tubing at my local Lowes, in the plumbing area. I think I spent about 10 or 20 cents for a foot of it.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

Nice work, the Mercharness is a nice little invention, I have several of them. I have a piece of Kydex laying around, thinking of wrapping it around my LCP and see what I can come up with.

Awesome. Got any pics with you wearing it?

trig wrote:Awesome. Got any pics with you wearing it?

I'll second this request. Southern Ingenuity at it's finest! Well done good sir!

More pics!

As requested, here are some more pics, now showing how the shoulder holster fits. I've adjusted the two sides to ride as high as possible, to avoid swaying and swinging, especially when I bend down.

The knife adds some thickness to the off side, but its weight brings that side up to the weight of the pistol and balances it very well. It's also a very useful little knife.

It vanishes under a bloused, tucked-in shirt, or under an untucked Hawaiian shirt.

Front view:

Closeups:


Side views:


Back:


All my best,
Dirty Bob

DirtyBob, I really like this concept for a BUG. How is the retention of the kydex holster on the gun? Any thought to a retention strap of some kind? Any need?

I'm not much of a do-it-yourselfer with Kydex yet. Any chance you'd be willing to custom make one of these for a Ruger LCP with CT laser?

austinrealtor wrote:DirtyBob, I really like this concept for a BUG. How is the retention of the kydex holster on the gun? Any thought to a retention strap of some kind? Any need?

I'm not much of a do-it-yourselfer with Kydex yet. Any chance you'd be willing to custom make one of these for a Ruger LCP with CT laser?

Retention is fairly tight. The tension is adjusted at the forward edge of the trigger guard. I was planning a retention strap, but have come to the conclusion that it isn't needed.

I'm sorry that I don't have enough time to get into holster-making, but I'm certainly willing to answer questions! I suggest doing some knife sheaths first. This will teach you a lot about using Kydex, and there is less danger involved. Remember that a bad holster can be dangerous, especially if it puts pressure on the trigger.

Most of the molding of this holster was done with gloved hands. I recommend a heat gun, because you can re-warm part of a sheath or holster, where a toaster oven pretty much makes you start all over again.

I'll try to post the steps in making the holster, sometime in the next coupla' days.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

Dirty Bob wrote:

austinrealtor wrote:DirtyBob, I really like this concept for a BUG. How is the retention of the kydex holster on the gun? Any thought to a retention strap of some kind? Any need?

I'm not much of a do-it-yourselfer with Kydex yet. Any chance you'd be willing to custom make one of these for a Ruger LCP with CT laser?

Retention is fairly tight. The tension is adjusted at the forward edge of the trigger guard. I was planning a retention strap, but have come to the conclusion that it isn't needed.

I'm sorry that I don't have enough time to get into holster-making, but I'm certainly willing to answer questions! I suggest doing some knife sheaths first. This will teach you a lot about using Kydex, and there is less danger involved. Remember that a bad holster can be dangerous, especially if it puts pressure on the trigger.

Most of the molding of this holster was done with gloved hands. I recommend a heat gun, because you can re-warm part of a sheath or holster, where a toaster oven pretty much makes you start all over again.

I'll try to post the steps in making the holster, sometime in the next coupla' days.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

Thanks. Maybe I will try this with the right instruction. Or if not, might buy the Comp Tac version and retrofit it into a shoulder system.