By Bob Cambell

 Recently, a professional of some experience suggested I try High Noon Holsters.  He was enthusiastic about High Noon quality and pleased the company offers designs well suited to his personal C75 pistol.  I spoke with Michael at High Noon Holsters and soon had a number of interesting designs on hand.  The two most popular holsters in the High Noon line are the Sky High and the Topless.  Both are belt holsters intended for carry on the strong side.  The Topless is an open-top holster, the Sky High a thumbreak, but both are nearly identical. Over the years I have used both types of holsters with good results, but I usually carried my duty pistol in a thumbreak holster.  For concealed carry, a well-molded open-top holster is acceptable.  Quite a few professionals disdain the "suicide Strap."  Both holsters feature a pancake design with well-formed belt slots both front and rear.  In typical pancake fashion, they keep the weapon close to the body, affording good concealment, yet the holster is not plastered against the body in a way that retards a good, sharp draw.  I found the Topless concealed well under a light sport shirt or my usual Realtree jacket. 

     High Noon is a full-service holster maker with a wide line.  I was able to test several other designs, including a number of inside-the-waistband designs.  The Tail Gunner is designed for short, fat guns such as the Glock 26.  It has a foot on the holster for those choosing the Mini Glock, Kahr, and other handguns.

Favoring larger defense weapons, my favorite in the IWB line is the Hideaway.  This holster is of the belt clip type, a type sometimes criticized for lack of stability.  It features a steel clip with a bent hook that folds under the belt.  Properly worn, it is quite secure.  It too features good stitching and a retention screw.  This holster was molded in horsehide.  Quite a few individuals feel horsehide is a superior holster material.  Frankly, I am one of them.  Quality leather is fine, but horsehide does allow an equally strong but thinner holster.  Also, I served as a peace officer for more than 20 years and often carried a handgun under my shirt in a leather holster.  The holsters turned color and eventually came apart.  I more than got my money's worth from these holsters, but horsehide seems far less likely to absorb perspiration and solvent than does cowhide.  Again, cowhide holsters give years of use and are quite serviceable, but horsehide is even better.

     My second-favorite IWB holster was the Down Under.  (I don't know who names these holsters, but he gets and A in marketing genius.)   This holster features the same good traits as the other holsters and is a double-loop IWB type.  Few simple holsters are as good as the Down Under.  For hard use, the Down Under has the redundancy of two loops.  It also has a very important feature, which protects both the shooter and the firearm:  A shield or holster extension separates the gun from the body in close carry.  This is the mark of a maker who understands reality.  It works well and is well molded to the individual weapon.  Where I to issue an IWB to a large agency, this would be on my short list of first choices.  It seems versatile enough that it would suit almost every physical type and size.

     The last belt holster tested was the Speed Spanky.  This holster surprised me.  I am always prepared not to like paddle holsters and have a list of complaints at the ready.  The holsters are offset too far from the body for concealment, lack  retention capability and some do not offer a natural draw.  Again, holster makers surprise me as paddle holsters are getting better.  The Speedy Spanky was no exception to the new trend in holsters!  I ordered mine in left hand as I need more left-hand practice.  The pistol was in the prefect draw position.  This was the fastest holster tested.   My Competition Electronics Pocket Pro dies not lie.  The timer showed excellent times from a standing draw, even considering I am not a natural lefty.

    However, the makers had to show off on something, and it is the Undertaker shoulder holster.  This holster is of the usual four-strap X construction. It rides comfortably under the armpit, with a magazine carrier to offset the pistol's weight.  The shoulder holster cannot be as tightly boned as the belt holster so as to allow a fast draw, so the Undertaker features a solid thumbreak.