BIRDS OF PREY - Jeffersonian

CARRYOPTIONS
Sammy Reese
Roy Huntington
FROM CLASSICS TO
CUTTING EDGE IN
CARRY METHODS
The Guide’s
Choice from
Diamond D Leather
can be had to fit
just about any field
handgun. Quality is
absolutely top-notch
and they proved to be
comfortable to wear in
the field. Definitely my
favorite field holsters!
Dave sent me two rigs, one for a
4" N-frame S&W and one for a
full-sized 5" 1911. I have a very
nifty Model 25 S&W in .45 Colt I often
carry on the tractor, and when working
on the ATV. I generally keep three
CCI Blazer shot cartridges up-front,
followed by three standard loads. We
have some field rats and other creatures
needing managed at times, and the shot
loads are handy. I’ve found in the past a
.38 shot load often simply doesn’t have
the moxy to stop what needs stopping
around here, but those .45 Colt loads
knock ‘em dead.
A Les Baer lightweight frame 5"
1911 is also at hand, both as a nice
change, and in case I’m more inter-
In Use
let
I
haven’t had them very long yet,
but so far they’ve both been very
comfortable, even when bouncing
along on the ATV. On the tractor, the
chest carry allows me to grab the
big Smith when I see a rat — and
blast him. Great fun, and something
I hadn’t realized was a bonus of
mowing pastureland! And frankly,
it’s comforting when you’re far from
your house (but can still see it) to
know if some miscreant starts nosing
around and is up to no good, you can
A Guide’s Choice
S
ince
Sammy is out goofing off on the company’s dime this month, I get
column duties. Consider me a guest columnist then, and remind Connor this
is what actual work looks like.
I was at the great Tulsa Gun Show some time ago and spotted some absolutely
top quality leather gear on a table. Mixed in were several “chest” rigs that really
caught my eye. Since moving to the Great Mid-West, I’ve had a need for a good quality,
practical chest holster for a big bore handgun. We’ve seen some feral dogs on our property
a couple of times and there are wild boar creeping into the area (“Shoot on sight!” says Missouri
Fish and Game). Plus, being in the country, although the odds are remote, there are still
miscreants around. So these obviously well-designed rigs really got my attention.
I introduced myself to the maker, David Johnston, who hails from Chugiak, Alaska. He and his
clients actually need rigs like this for bear country, and his “Guide’s Choice” model is the final
result of his efforts.
“This stuff gets tested in the real world all the time,” said Dave, “and we get solid feed-back
from users. We’ve listened, and what you see here is the result of literally years of use in the field
by hunters, guides and outdoorsmen all over. The toughest testing ground is the Alaskan wilderness,
and the Guide’s Choice is just that, what they choose themselves.” And I believe it.
My Back Yard
go with a couple of big .45s into
the ground nearby to get their attention
and invite them to leave. Call me firstperson
on this if you will, but I’ll bet
you all know exactly what I’m talking
about. Steal my truck? Not here and not
today, thank you very much, and you
may go now — now.
The Guide’s Choice is easily adjustable
and you can get it to hang pretty
much however fits you best. The leather
and workmanship are absolutely topnotch
and they even smell the way
leather ought too. I’m looking forward
to seeing these get a nice patina from
wear over the years.
Thanks Dave, you deserve a Handested
in personal protection than
varmint eradication. The CCI .45 ACP
shot rounds will shoot one from the
chamber but most usually won’t cycle
the action, so the .45 Colt is generally
the working gun.
The two Guide’s Choice rigs turned
out to be everything Dave promised,
and more. He equipped both with spare
ammo holders too. The N-frame rig gets
cartridge loops and the auto rig gets a
mag pouch. Both are options and cost a
bit extra, so make sure you order them
too if needed. Dave said he can make
these for just about any gun, and they
start at $155 and that’s a screaming deal
if you ask me. If the barrel length is
longer than 7" call Dave for a quote.
You can see how handily the rig fits,
getting the weight off your hip and
putting your field handgun easily
within reach to ward off any errant
evils you meet on the trail — or in
the back 40. A very practical design
from Diamond D.
gunner Atta’Boy for your quality
work on these holsters. And if you
have need for such things, you can’t
hardly go wrong with Dave’s gear.
Tell him we sent you. And don’t try
to steal my old truck. Besides … it
probably wouldn’t start
for you anyway.
*
For more info: (907) 688-0366, www.
diamonddholsters.com
42 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010