So after several years of convincing, my brother is finally getting serious about getting his License to Carry. He is convinced he wants a Small of the Back holster for a S&W Shield 40 he is planning to buy. I showed him the Grizzle IWB holsters I use for carrying at 4 o'clock , but he wasn't convinced.

Does anyone have a reccomendation on a holster? I'd like to buy him a nice one for his birthday/CCW purposes.

Thanks,

Has he tried a back holster? Or is it just that he thinks it's really cool looking? I don't think many are made anymore, as they've fallen out of style, they're generally not a very good method of carry.

SOB holsters are sucky if you are seated a lot, especially in a car. And I have seen guys wearing them bend over to pick something up and their cover garment rides up, revealing the gun. And when they straightened up, the cover garment snagged on the gun and left it in the open. And the wearer was clueless.
I lust in my heart for a Grizzle rig, but a high dollar holster for a guy just getting started may not be a wise choice.
Check out Winthrop Leather. Lots of different designs and good service. The lower cost of these holsters may allow the noob to try different ones until he finds a design he likes.
Then get the higher end custom rig.

I have one I got in a trade. I kinda like them for a somewhat out of the way while hiking carry.

Your hands & side are very free, maybe not great for sitting.

I like options, no one method is best for all endeavors.

I tried one for a while with a commander-size 1911. It was great when standing up and/or walking around. The rest of the time, not so much. I won't do that again.

Aside from all the above reasons for not choosing a small of the back holster, it's impossible to protect in the event of a gun grab. It's also not quick, especially under stress. And if exposed as mentioned above, it takes away the element of surprise.

If he's new to firearms and CCW, he's probably been overly influenced by Hollywood, not real life. There's probably over a hundred years of experience in the replies so far. I've carried in every manner since 1970 for work. The best manner for me will always be on the hip, owb/iwb. But the best lessons learned are the ones learned "the hard way".

Also, if you slip and fall on your back it will hurt and possibly do more damage than if it wasn't there.

As a lefty, I carry iwb at 8 o'clock.
SOB appears uncomfortable when sitting and difficult to access as you age.
Arthritis sets in and range of motion decreases.

For all of the above reasons, I'd avoid a SOB holster of any type. I've been carrying since 1964 and have never owned or wanted to own one.

Milt Sparks does not offer any and explicitly states why:

"You probably have already read all the many reasons for not carrying SOB posted on the various gun forums all over the web. I will not say that we buy into all the arguments posted against SOB carry other than to say that it is just not a method of carry we feel comfortable producing for. Our policy is, if we don't or won't use it ourselves, then we just won't produce it for the general public!"

"I am fully aware that there are some folks who are convinced they cannot conceal a weapon any other way. For those individuals we are more then happy to recommend other makers who share a different point of view then we do on the subject. Contact us if you need a recommendation."

Link:
http://www.miltsparks.com/questions.php

Regarding safety, it's not just SOB holsters. A number of LEO's have been injured when carrying cuffs directly over the spinal column.

Get him a piece of trim wood, 4x6x1" and have him stick it inside his pants at the base of his spine and go about his normal activities for a few hours. That will be very close to the size of the gun & holster he would be carrying.
If that doesn't convince him, nothing will.

If he must have a SOB, Alessi Talon is best. If he ever slips and lands on his while wearing it he'll be calling it an sob.

Small of the back, or middle of the back? SOB's carry the gun close to horizontal, MOB's closer to vertical. On both you turn your palm out and slide your fingers between the gun and your back. And I have never found a use, personally, for either. The only time they would be useful is if you never sit down.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Small of the back, or middle of the back? SOB's carry the gun close to horizontal, MOB's closer to vertical. On both you turn your palm out and slide your fingers between the gun and your back. And I have never found a use, personally, for either. The only time they would be useful is if you never sit down.

My Galco SOB has been in the holster drawer for years but as I recall, the palm faces in toward the back on draw. I would not want to draw with the palm out, too many ways to sweep the leg as the pistol comes around.

quote:

Originally posted by JWF: ...

OK, it looks like you're right. I found some pictures of the typical SOB (gun butt turned up) draw.



It still looks awfully contorted and slow. I did find another picture of one with the gun butt turned down (not typical), for which you use the palm-in draw.

MOB draw:



That doesn't look much better.

With the palm out draw there does not seem to be a way to point the muzzle forward without sweeping the leg. Scares my mule.

"...there does not seem to be a way to point the muzzle forward without sweeping the leg."

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
"...there does not seem to be a way to point the muzzle forward without sweeping the leg."

quote:

Originally posted by JWF:

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
"...there does not seem to be a way to point the muzzle forward without sweeping the leg."

Epic! Just show him this reply.

I live in Minnesota and in the winter, we can sometimes get an invisible layer of ice on sidewalks. I have had my feet shoot out from under me and fallen flat on my back.

Another time, I was hiking in the Smoky Mountains and I stepped on a moss covered rock and a similar thing happened.

I remember thinking both times that if I was carrying SOB, I would have done some serious damage to my spine.

I think 22-9er has the best idea about trying it out with a piece of wood. That should cure him of his SOB fascination in no time flat.

Years of having handcuff cases press around the base of my spine have left me prone to frequent attacks of sciatica. My advise is to not have any heavy metal objects anywhere near one's spine or sciatic nerve for any length of time. Your mileage may vary.