Alessi Holster experience

[kenk]

Last fall I sold my Kahr CM9 and replaced it with a new S&W 642 for concealed carry. I wanted to find an IWB holster that would work in the appendix position. I’m an older guy with a slender build. A person on another forum had an Alessi Deep Cover holster that looked like it would fit the bill.

I called Alessi for more information and talked with Tom Kulwicki, the President. He was very helpful and suggested that I consider 3 holsters….the APX, the Talon, and the Deep Cover. He mentioned that the Deep Cover was designed for undercover LEO’s, sits low, and is difficult for some less experienced people to get a proper grip on the stock when drawing. He thought I should probably choose one of the other two. I ended up ordering a Deep Cover anyway because I thought it would conceal better.

I waited about 5 weeks for the Deep Cover before it arrived. I tried it for a few weeks. Although it was very comfortable and well concealed, it was difficult for me to consistently get a good grip when I practiced drawing. I called Alessi and spoke with Tom again. He was very sympathetic and didn’t say “I told you so” but that was the essence of the conversation. He then volunteered that he would make one APX and one Talon for me, ship them to me at no upfront cost, let me “test drive” them, and then I could return the holster(s) I didn’t want, and pay for any I wanted to keep. I was very pleasantly surprised with Tom’s offer and accepted it.

About a month later, I received the two holsters. The APX is designed specifically for appendix carry. The Talon is really meant for carry around the hip. They both position the revolver higher above the top of my pants/belt, making for an easier draw. The bottom of the APX sits higher than the Deep Cover, making it more comfortable when sitting down. Also, because of the placement of the clip, there is less of a bulge in my waistband. I decided to keep the APX and also the Deep Cover, and return the Talon since I have no interest in carrying at the hip.

I tried to upload some pictures comparing them, but it didn't work. All three are very nicely made, molded to fit the J frame 642 perfectly, and are made of very thin but substantial leather. The clip works either under or over my belt, so I can use them without a belt if needed.

I know this is a bit lengthy, but I wanted to report my experiences with Alessi and more specifically with Tom Kulwicki. It’s obvious that a quality product and customer service are very high on their priority list.

Ken

[Deano]

That was very nice of him. Exactly how a business should be run. Why did you get rid of the CM9? Problems? I love mine.

[JFootin]

I have also found some wonderful people making custom holsters. When I wanted an AIWB holster for my 638, I did a lot of computer window shopping. I saw a few holsters that each had features I liked, but none was entirely what I was looking for. I wanted mine somewhat low riding with a backard cant so that the grip would lay horizontally near my belt. I wanted a clip sized specifically for a 1.5" belt, and tuckable. I wanted the sewn edge of the holster to be rounded, with no corners that would dig into my belly or into my leg when seated. And I wanted the top edge to be leveled, taking the negative cant into consideration. I gave these specs to James Dean and he absolutely perfectly fulfilled them!

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/MyAIWBHolsterCompleted.jpg

This holster is comfortable, retention is perfect and drawing is very easy with the negative cant. With the grip laying down and my middle aged spread expanding above it, a shirt will drape over it without printing. Isn't it beautiful? BTW, the delivered price was way under $100.

[Longitude Zero]

Good to know about Alessi.

[kenk]

That was very nice of him. Exactly how a business should be run. Why did you get rid of the CM9? Problems? I love mine.
I became convinced that my grip just wasn't strong enough to avoid failures....call it limp wristing I guess. For an EDC piece used for SD, failures are not an option. I don't have that problem with the K9 that I purchased....the extra weight keeps the recoil more under control. My 642 is pretty much guaranteed to go bang when I pull the trigger.

Ken

[JFootin]

I became convinced that my grip just wasn't strong enough to avoid failures....call it limp wristing I guess. For an EDC piece used for SD, failures are not an option. I don't have that problem with the K9 that I purchased....the extra weight keeps the recoil more under control. My 642 is pretty much guaranteed to go bang when I pull the trigger.

Ken

I had some of the same motivations when I bought my 638. Main one being 5 that go bang every time. My slick polished CM9 shoots dependably with the less than rock solid grip that my crippled hands and wrists can provide. But racking the slide or doing a tap, rack and bang to clear a jam present major difficulty for me, including putting the gun in the weak hand and racking with my strong hand.

The 638 presented challenges, too. The main one being a 12 lb DA trigger pull from the factory that I couldn't pull at all without using both trigger fingers. Also, the shielded hammer was very difficult for me to operate because it had to be done by pressing down and moving it. With the stiff spring, it was too likely for it to slip. (I should have bought a 637.)

So, I sent the gun to Ahlman's to have it ported, have the hammer shield lowered so I could get in front of the hammer to move it, and a trigger and action job to make that trigger operational for me (I made it clear that I needed it considerably lightened). I also opted for a glossy black Duracoat finish.

The Duracoat finish came out great. The porting is 6 small round holes. It helps, but I wonder if the 2 larger, angled holes from Magna-Port would have worked better. The shield wasn't lowered as much as I wanted, but communication and proper customer followup for feedback is impossible with them. I had requested that I be sent pictures and consulted about that custom mod before the Duracoating was done, but it didn't happen. Finally, I asked that the trigger be lightened as much as possible, but when I got it back, it was as stiff as ever. I complained and got the $65 for the trigger job refunded, but the $9.95 for an unused spring kit wasn't refunded, nor were the springs sent with the gun. Overall, an experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone - having your gun there and being worked on several hundred miles away with no communication or opportunity to give input about the mods.

After that nightmare, and with a gun I still couldn't operate, I renewed my search for a good local gunsmith and, glory be, I found one! This guy is close to my age, has decades of experience and a stellar reputation, is an honest Christian man, and is responsible for a lot of the gunsmith work taken in by gun shops in the area. (Who then charge twice his rate back to the customers. And if you ask them if they know of any gunsmiths, they play dumb. A$$holes! :32:) Well, guess what? This capable gunsmith got the DA trigger pull on my 638 down to 4.25 lb, with strong striker contact and bang every time! Sweet! :D Ahlman's put one lighter hammer spring in and said they got light strikes, so they put the old spring back in and sent it back to me that way (I only learned this when they responded to my complaint after the gun was back in my hands). Also, after their hurried reassembly the cylinder release would only work with extreme difficulty. My gunsmith fixed that, too. He trimmed a coil at a time off of the hammer spring and the trigger return spring until he got it that light, and test fired it to verify the bang thing. He said if there was any problem with light strikes, he could install a slightly longer firing pin. But it wasn't needed. He said this was the best trigger job he has ever done on a S&W J-frame! Kept trying because he knew what I had to have. Now, that's a gunsmith! :yo:

I now love this gun that I've sunk all this money into! :wof: It is going to stay with me for life. In fact, I think I'll ask them to put it in the coffin with me when they bury me! :D

[Yogi 117]

That was very nice of him. Exactly how a business should be run. Why did you get rid of the CM9? Problems? I love mine.
Amen to that! ;)

[kenk]

I just got back from a 2 week vacation trip. I used the APX to carry my 642 all day every day while I was gone. I am very pleased. The APX is very comfortable and concealed well with either jeans or cargo shorts and a Tshirt. Many times I didn't even know it was there. It was even OK when wearing a seatbelt while driving. BTW, Tom Kulwicki had said to put the clip over the waistband and under the belt....that worked just fine.

Ken

[wagon]

I am an Alessie fan, not just great customer service and has friendly staff, craftsmanship is one of the top notch. they use thin leather » less bulk, all models I have (and had) are comfortable to carry and all conceals the weapon very well.

I am leather-bias and here is my Alessi-experience:

Belt slide, Talon Plus, DOJ-S, CQC-S, Watch-6

Currently I still have TalonPlus, CQC-S and Watch6 in my rotation.

[Rooterpig]

I have bought holsters from Tom as well. He sent me a extra holster to try as well . Great holsters , great guy.

[340pd]

Great report. Send Tom a e-mail with a link to this thread.