The warranty on all holsters and accessories is for one full year from the date the item is delivered by US Postal Service or in some cases UPS.  This warranty covers material and workmanship and excludes normal wear and tear.  If you have a concern regarding a possible warranty claim contact me to begin the process.  I will do all I can to make things right with each customer.

Your holster was designed from the start to fit tight to your firearm. This increases the long-term usability of the holster and its retention within the holster.  First, DO NOT attempt to stretch your holster using any form of accessory item (wax paper, plastic wrap, cloth wrap, etc) as this will potentially cause an overstretched situation which will void your warranty.  The only things I recommend for break in is to draw and holster until the high points of the firearm wear the inside of the holster.  This typically does not take long and amounts to only minute amounts of leather being worn to fit your firearm. 

To slick up the draw you can use a Silicone, or Silicone/Teflon spray.  You may also use one of the other makers proprietary holster lubricants if you wish, however, the sprays mentioned will work just fine and is what I use in my shop during the fit testing process.

If you have a tension screw, I would suggest backing the screw off until you have minimal tension on your firearm and work it in and out of the holster with gradual tightening until you find the tension you like.  The screw and the rubber guard material can be replaced by the user, but can also be done in my shop for a small price.  Holsters returned for this service will have the work performed and sent back to the owner within 48 hours.

This is an entirely personal preference.  Horsehide holsters have long been equated with high quality, the best holster that money could buy, strong, dense, more water and sweat resistant than cowhide, longer wearing, and they just smell darn good!  I am offering all holsters, with the exception of the pocket holster and the OWB slide, in premium horsehide with the same detailed boning and attention to fitting and craftsmanship as the other holsters.  These holsters are entirely hand sewn, hand edged, finished and delivered to you with pride to give you years of uncompromising use.

Horsehide has its own characteristics which define it as holster leather.  It is much denser than cowhide, yet it molds well to your specific firearm.  The leather is stronger than cowhide, and thus is more resistant to stretching which gives it many years of usability.  A bit of controversy surrounds horsehide water resistance.  There was a time when the current leather sealants were not available, and at that time horsehide was THE choice to keep sweat and condensation off your firearm.  Today, the sealants that I use for cowhide give the same level of protection.  So why choose horsehide?  This is a strictly personal preference.  Longer life, strength, knowing you have the best there is in the holster market…and it just smells darn good, too!

I cannot give an exact answer; however, I will always try to give an honest approximation of the process.  When you order a custom product, specifically one being built just for you, there will always be a waiting period for the item to be constructed.  Combine this with the fact that I am a one-man shop, and there inherently will be some longer delays.  I will not charge you for your holster until I am ready to begin working on it.  You will receive a notice from the card processing company advising that your card was charged.  I strive to have all holsters mailed within 30 days of the holster payment.  This does not always occur due to increased humidity in the area, remakes, etc.  If the delay is to be prolonged I will attempt to contact you.  If you have not heard from me after 30 days have elapsed, please contact me for an update.  I will return your contact ASAP. 

As a one-man shop, I cannot take calls which are asking about orders without taking time away from your holster or another customer’s.  The same holds true with emails.  I have to manage my time effectively, and I prefer spending it in the shop with leather rather than being on the computer or phone.

Again, this is a personal preference.  Most of the time it either centers on the draw, or perception of finish wear on your firearm.  I will not tell you to “deal with it” since your firearm is a “tool” because I, too, have refinished firearms just to “make them look nice again”.  What I can tell you is that holsters made in years past were not finished on the inside which left the leather exposed to rub the firearm’s finish away.  Leather left unfinished can trap microparticles which can act to enhance wear.

All of my holsters are finished on the inside to reduce this problem.  I spend a lot of time with my own blend of chemicals which I use to treat the leather and smooth it.  The inside receives the same sealants as the outside improving the overall “slickness” and therefore the draw stroke is faster than unfinished leather interiors. 

If I won’t use it, you won’t get it.  Period!

Again, this is personal preference.  All holsters feature an approximate 10-12 degrees of cant.  This cant is affected by your belt line.  Stand sideways in the mirror and look at your belt.  Does is look like a ski-slope, or does it look like the equator?  If it looks like the former then you will likely not want an increased cant as the belt line accentuates your holster cant to some degree, whereas the latter does little to change the angle.  Another factor is how much time you spend sitting in a vehicle or behind a desk.  An increase cant holster will likely help your comfort around bucket seats and bring your firearm into a better position for gripping.  Additionally, you can wear the increased cant version further back into the 4:30 or 5:00 position with a better grip angle for drawing. 

Please Note: I do not condone, nor will I make, a holster to be worn in the SOB/MOB position, both from a tactical rationale to one of personal safety.  Since I cannot be with you when you strap your holster on, please understand that Bluegrass Holsters is not responsible for your choices on holster/firearm carry.  You assume all risks inherent with firearm carry and firearm safety.

I use leather from only three sources depending on what I am making.  This allows me to work closely with each supplier to have the best hides possible when starting the construction process. 

Leather is a natural biological material which undergoes tanning in various chemicals.  The hide is further processed depending on the end characteristics desired by the maker.  Natural characteristics are considered normal and cannot be entirely eliminated. The characteristics can be an occasional insect bite, some naturally occurring folds in the skin, along with factory machining which can affect dye uptake.  This is specifically noticeable in lighter colored dyes. 

I will not use a portion of the hide that is excessively marked (skin folds, brands, etc) but cannot eliminate insect marks or all machining marks.  My holsters will be inherently strong and photogenic when they arrive in your mailbox.

This is another personal preference.  The only thing a tension screw does is allow you to adjust the holster to have a truly customized holster tightness.  It does not enhance weapon security, it does not compensate for “poor stitching” as some makers have stated.  Instead, the tension screw is an option that allows you, the owner, to keep the draw tension consistent throughout the life of the holster.  All holsters will stretch to some degree throughout their life, and this stretch cannot be predicted.  Thus, a holster sewn tightly might, or might not, wear the same over a decade….if too much stretch has occurred, the only thing you can do is replace the holster.  With a tension screw you simply tighten the holster.  There are limits with a tension screw, too.  In these cases I will work with you to replace the tension material to give that “like new” feeling again.

My holsters are designed to be used for general concealed carry.  As such, the average civilian will not intentionally place themselves into harm’s way, therefore, having your holster concealed gives you an advantage….but this also increases the time it takes to get your firearm into action.  Missing a thumb snap when trying to draw in a hurry only leaves you looking silly….and I don’t want my customers looking silly.

This does not mean that I will not have one to offer.  Many police officers are required by department standards to have at least a single retention device on their holster.  I will have a thumb snap available for purchase shortly.  Regardless of whether or not you are a police officer, choosing a thumb snap holster makes you responsible for the increase practice necessary to quickly and accurately bring your firearm into action.  I would also suggest that you not switch between open top and thumb snap as it can be disaster waiting to happen.

I recommend wiping the holster whenever you think that lint is a problem.  Blow out the inside or use your vacuum to get out the fine particles that may be living inside, particularly after the initial break in if you used the Silicone spray.  Protect your holster from excessive moisture.  Use a quality wax and buff lightly whenever you want it to look nice again.  DO NOT use a saddle soap, or other chemicals or oils, as this can adversely affect the holster and molding.  If you are still unsure, send an email.  Care instructions are included with each holster.  Failure to follow the directions can void your warranty.

I understand your feelings!  I was never very good at waiting for Santa Claus, either!  For this reason I will be partnering with a few (no more than three) select companies to offer my holsters for resale.  These companies will be free to mark up my holster prices to what they deem reasonable.  Each of these holsters will come with my standard warranty, but will not carry the 3 day trial period unless offered by the reseller.  Selection of which holsters to carry will be left to each reseller.  Links on this site will point to approved resellers. 

Only holsters purchased through Bluegrass Holsters, or an approved reseller, will carry any warranty.  Holsters purchased by an individual for resale will NOT carry any warranty.  I reserve the right to refuse or cancel an order of an individual if I think they are actually, or planning on, reselling my holsters.