TEA wrote:Currently, I do not have my CHL, in part because I teach at a community college and the bill to allow for concealed carry on higher ed campuses failed during the most recent session. I do carry when I'm at home, though, and have recently applied for my CHL. While I won't be able to carry at work, if and when this bill does does pass, I want to be able to carry to work. Since our dress code is business casual, I usually wear a shirt with a collar tucked into a pair of slacks so I need a tuckable IWB holster. The Garrett Industries' Silent Thunder Fusion seemed like it would meet my needs and I've read great reviews of Garrett Industries' products and service on the 1911 Forum. So, on September 25, 2013, I ordered a Silent Thunder Fusion.
Their Web site (
http://www.giholsters.com/) implies a wait time of 3-4 weeks, so I was expecting to have to wait that long. I was pleasantly surprised to receive my holster in the mail last Friday (Oct. 4).
I've been wearing it around the house since then, so I think I can make some comments now about how much I like this holster. First off, the quality of this holster seems outstanding. For those unfamiliar with the design, it is a hybrid holster comprised of a leather lined Kydex shell mounted on a backing of closed cell foam sandwiched between leather and suede. The leather is a thin layer of Herman Oak that is more gentle on a blued gun's finish than bare Kydex and won't promote rust like suede, which is cured with chromium salts.
The second thing I like about this holster is that it is extremely comfortable to wear. I can't say that I don't notice that I'm wearing it, as I don't think any holster can eliminate the weight of a full sized 1911. It does make it comfortable to wear, though. The sweat shield keeps the thumb safety from digging into my side and the suede backing is very comfy.
The third positive is that it easily conceals my full sized 1911. FWIW, I'm 5'8" and 165lbs. Also, the widely spaced clips not only help spread out the weight of the pistol, but also prevent the holster from shifting on my belt (this is something I've found bothersome with single clip holsters). The clips are a little hard to fit over my DM Bullard belt, but I'm getting used to it and I don't think this is a big concern.
The biggest downside of the clips, though, is that the standard clips are a bit flimsy and I've already broken one. Fortunately, I already had a Comp-Tac clip that I had purchased from Brownells for another holster and it works even better than the GI standard clip. Next time I order from Brownells, I'm going to order a couple of more of these clips as back ups.
Since this thread would be worthless without pics:
[
Image ]
[
Image ]
[
Image ]
I went with coyote brown Kydex because I thought it would blend better with my belt. As you can see, with a shirt tucked in, it hides the pistol very well. However, I think anyone who knows what to look for would quickly notice the clips over the belt and the bulge in the belt itself where it rides over the holster. I don't think any tuck-able holster would be able to overcome these last points, though. Overall, this holster rocks.
The ST Fusion is an improved version of their What The Tuck, which was a leather lined version of the Crossbreed ST.
[
Image ]
GI What the Tuck^^^
The differences between the What the Tuck and the Fusion, as far as I can tell having never handled the WTT and only having read descriptions of it, is that the clips are a bit closer together on the Fusion and they replace the single piece leather backing of the WTT with a composite of suede, closed cell foam and a thin layer of Hermann Oak leather. The composite backing of the the Fusion does not seem to be any thicker than a thick piece of leather.
Edited to add: Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to mention - Garrett Industries is a family run Texas business. Buy local!
http://www.giholsters.com/
If you have any experience with Garrett Industries Silent Thunder Fusion, please feel free to share.
