Information about the safe use of firearms and Galco products.

Many people ask if their holster should completely cover their trigger guard. The term “covered trigger guard” is actually something of a misnomer. The requirement is for the holster to cover the trigger, not the trigger guard. Part of the trigger guard remaining uncovered behind the trigger prevents access sufficient to enable the finger to depress the trigger. Therefore, it does not affect safety. Reduced holster material in the area where the trigger guard meets the front strap is necessary to allow a full firing grip in the holster, which is often necessary for a proper draw.

Watch: Selection and safe use of IWB holster

Watch: Safe draw and return to belt holster

Information on Galco's materials and manufacturing.

Premium Center Cut Steerhide™ is an extremely durable steerhide with the outer and inner layers removed, resulting in a napped, suede-like texture on both sides of the leather. It has an outer layer finish that is ideal for inside the waistband and pocket holsters due to the natural “grabbing” ability of the napped leather. Center Cut Steerhide works equally well for general holster designs both because of its sturdiness and because its exterior does not show scuffing or scratches.

Galco’s Premium Saddle Leather is our full-grain premium leather cut. Unlike our Premium Center Cut Steerhide, the smooth outer layer of the leather remains intact, while the other side retains a traditional flesh finish. The smooth side of the leather will usually be on the outside of the holster, though in the limited case of some inside the waistband holsters, the smooth side of leather will be on the inside. Our uncorrected full-grain prime back cuts are inspected several times at the tannery and in our facility. All of our hides are of the highest “Number One” grade (out of seven possible grades), which guarantees that Galco Premium Saddle Leather Holsters are made from the top 2% of vegetable-tanned steerhides available in the US.

It’s important to note that Galco makes a wide range of products, with holsters starting in the $30 range. The differences in price within our line are representative of material used, features included and simply the time required to make that item. In many cases, Galco products are very competitively priced, even when compared to competitor’s products that are noticeably lacking in quality, features and/or attention to detail.

At the upper end of our line, Galco’s pricing is reflective of offering the highest-quality belts, holsters and sporting accessories in the industry. We make all our products right here in Phoenix, Arizona rather than outsourcing our manufacturing to Mexico, Paraguay, Turkey, Vietnam or China like so many of our competitors.

The purchase of a Galco product supports our providing health care and decent living wages to a US manufacturing workforce, a concept that’s foreign (pun intended) to our competitors who manufacture in third world countries. We purchase from the top 2% leather quality available in America. We comply with and pay for every federal, state and local government mandate. We give particular attention to those regulations protecting the environment and worker safety, which are much stricter in the USA than in the third world nations where many of our competitors choose to manufacture.

Galco believes that the rewards of manufacturing in the USA far offset any disadvantages, but it does require us to charge a little more compared to those made in the developing world. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of our customers agree with us. These customers have continued to purchase our American-made products for over 50 years because they demand the best.

Many of our loyal customers have used a holster or belt under tough field conditions for 20+ years. A single visit to the shooting range (factoring in ammo) costs about the same as a top-quality Galco holster or belt that, with proper care, can last literally decades. That seems like a bargain.

Pistols with California-compliant loaded chamber indicators that protrude substantially from the slide may not fit in some or all of our holsters. Please contact Galco customer service with questions on specific fits.

Galco International is extremely concerned with the security and safety of ordering on our site. It is vital to our success because we understand that our customers need to feel secure about Internet shopping. Our policy is to never sell, display, or compromise the email addresses of our customers. We respect your privacy and would never expose you to the inconsiderate people who choose to spam.