Fobus Paddle holsters?

[GaryO]

Any of you folks use them? What say you? Thanks...

[bsmith712]

I do for other guns and like them. They seem to provide the closest carry to the body and most concealable of all the paddles. Unfortunately they don't make them for my pm9 or I would carry it.

[Pointblank]

I do for other guns and like them. They seem to provide the closest carry to the body and most concealable of all the paddles. Unfortunately they don't make them for my pm9 or I would carry it.

Yes they do:

http://www.fobusholster.com/products/KAHR_PM9_P9_P40_PADDLE_HOLSTER-2816-0.html

[Sheepdog689]

I bought a Glock 38 a couple years ago and wanted to get a Fobus paddle holster for it. I off duty carry my G-19 in a Fobus paddle, actually in a model for the G-26, which I liked. (Note past tense....keep reading)

Fobus does not make a paddle holster for the 38, only for the 37. The 38 fits in it but the holster extends past the end of the muzzle by an inch...I wasn't happy with that.

So, my search began. Thanks to the search button and Google I learned about Serpa, Comp-Tac and a couple other brands. I took a chance and ordered a Comp-Tac paddle holster as they make them model specific. It arrived by mail yesterday and all I can say is WOW, I'm impressed.

The Comp-Tac is made of much thicker Kydex than the Fobus....if the Fobus is even Kydex, it may just be some generic plastic. The Comp-Tac is made of a single piece of Kydex that's folded and molded into shape. Simpler design with less things to break or malfunction. The Fobus is multiple pieces riveted together and I'm sure everyone has seen the YouTube video of the guy having a pistol in a Fobus holster ripped off his belt. Not saying it won't happen with the Comp-Tac, but I think it would be more difficult. The Comp-Tac rides higher on the belt than the Fobus which to me equates to better concealment and less chance of hitting the muzzle on a chair when you sit down. (I couldn't figure out how to take photos of myself wearing the holster so you'll have to settle for still life shots below.)

When inserting the pistol into the Comp-Tac it seats with a definite "click" so you know it's in place. The Fobus just slides in and stays there. The Comp-Tac can be adjusted for fit with the allen wrench that comes with the holster.

Overall the Comp-Tac is much more comfortable to wear. I like how it rides higher on the belt, how it's made of thicker material and how it's not riveted together. The only thing that I can find in favor of the Fobus holster at this point is price, it's about 1/2 the cost of the Comp-Tac, but this is really a case of getting what you pay for. The Comp-Tac is a quality holster and they will be getting future business from me when I am in need of another holster.

Fobus holster on the left Comp-Tac on the right:
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5007.jpg

Rear view of the paddles. The Fobus has a red rubber insert and has a much longer paddle than the Comp-Tac. The Comp-Tac has a much wider paddle.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5010.jpg

Rear view (Fobus on the left) showing how the holster on the Fobus is riveted to the paddle while the Comp-Tac is a solid piece of Kydex that's folded over. Nothing to break off on the Comp-Tac. The other big thing that I found is that the rounded top of the Comp-Tac is much more comfortable riding against my side. The top of the Fobus is higher and sharper and digs into my side when I sit with the holster on.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5009.jpg

Top view - Fobus on the left
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5008.jpg

Front view - Fobus on the left
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5017.jpg

The Fobus (on left) is held in place by two small wedges on the paddle, one in front and one behind the holster. To keep the paddle from sliding front to rear there's the red rubber piece on the back of the paddle (in photo above) to give the paddle some friction. The Comp-Tac has two "ears" that bend forward on the paddle to keep the holster on the belt and two velcro (the hard half of the velcro) dots that provide friction to keep the paddle from moving fore or aft on the belt.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5016.jpg

[kwh]

Thanks for the comparison.

[Sheepdog689]

By the way, I checked with Comp-Tac, they make a model for the PM9 so it will fit the CM9 in case anyone is interested.

[Baklash]

Thanks for the comparisons. I'll have to take a look at the Comp-Tac for my cw9.

[JohnR]

I use them, they work.

[TucsonMTB]

I do for other guns and like them. They seem to provide the closest carry to the body and most concealable of all the paddles. Unfortunately they don't make them for my pm9 or I would carry it.

Yes they do:

http://www.fobusholster.com/products/KAHR_PM9_P9_P40_PADDLE_HOLSTER-2816-0.html
Please allow me to add to the "noise" about Fobus holsters for Kahr plastic pistols.

I have a Fobus C21B like the one pictured by Fobus on the page at their link. It was originally purchased for use with one of our 1911's, but since the numbers matched what Fobus recommends, I decided to try it with my PM40. Bad idea.

I "dunno" if the recommended C21B fits the metal framed Kahr pistols perfectly as it comes from Fobus. But, the trigger guard on plastic Kahr pistols, like my PM40, is thicker in cross section and just won't go into the narrow space in the holster intended to accept, and lock in, the trigger guard.

Because I "needed" a plastic paddle quickly for mountain biking with my PM40 and was no longer using this one with any 1911's, I popped one of the holster rivets, did a little grinding on the holster plastic, and added a second rubber washer with longer tension adjustment screw. This modification spread the trigger guard area enough to make it "work". But it is NOT pretty.

YMMV, but if you have a plastic framed Kahr, you may be disappointed in what Fobus offers. Certainly, I was.

Eventually, I ended up with a of "Galco M5X Matrix Right Hand Belt Holster for Kahr PM40" which fits very well and looks almost like a thick leather holster with a comfortable plastic paddle.

Best of luck.

[W5JCK]

I have two for my Glocks. As far as paddle holsters go they are okay. But I really don't like paddle holsters as they tend to come off the belt fairly easily. I don't find them very comfortable either.

[warbird1]

Works great for the Ruger LCP that I wear when working in my yard.