The Karl mkII and Karl lite Holsters



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The Karl holster - $165

This holster is named after Karl, the owner of On Target gun store, who liked it so much we named it after him. This is by far our most popular holster, and you can see why. It can be worn under a tucked in shirt, and holds the gun securely in position with the widely spaced belt loops. It gives enough clearance above the belt to make for an easy master grip on the holstered gun, with a 15 degree cant for an easy draw from anywhere from 3 to 5 o'clock.


The Karl holster has, as one customer said, "all the tactical bells and whistles." It attaches to the belt with tuckable steel-reinforced belt loops, so the holster won't flop out when you draw, with snap closures so you can put it on and take it off without removing your belt. The improved mkII version is held open after the draw by a single spring steel insert sewn into the reinforcing leather trim around the mouth.


The side of the holster which is pressed up against your skin may feature a sweat flap with a dual purpose: it prevents the sharp bits of the gun (safety, hammer, and grip safety) from poking into your side, and also protects the gun from your sweat. The sweat flap is reinforced with another spring steel insert, to prevent it from folding over the mouth of the holster after the gun is drawn. Due to customer feedback, the standard mkII Karl does not include a sweat flap for Glock, XD, M&P or other pistols with no exposed hammer or safety, as they are more comfortable to have against your skin.


The front sight is protected by a deep channel in the leather, to prevent wear on the edges of the front sight which would otherwise occur during holstering and drawing the gun. The end of the holster is sewn closed flat to the end of the slide - this protects the end of the slide from being covered in fuzz and lint, without increasing the length of the holster beyond the length of the gun.


What do you get for $165?

These features are standard with the Karl holster. Other features, such as exotic skin or a thumb break, can be added at additional cost; or a feature like the sweat flap or closed muzzle end may be omitted for a discounted price. All customization, such as ride height or cant, is free. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

  • Steel reinforced mouth
  • Steel reinforced sweat flap
    (for guns with exposed hammers)
  • Tuckable belt loops
  • Snap closed belt loops
  • Molded front sight channel
  • Closed muzzle end (when available)
  • Any color dye (or natural leather)

The Karl lite holster - $130


Also available is the Karl Lite (above, shown housing a snub nose J-frame revolver), which has all the same features except for the reinforced mouth, sweat flap, and closed muzzle end. It is still tuckable, stylish, and stable. It is thinner than the Karl, due to the lack of mouth reinforcement. If you want a tuckable holster but thickness is a concern, this is the holster you want.



Customization - free

These holsters can also be fodder for your creative genius. You want a Karl lite but still require a sweat flap? No problem, just be aware that the non-reinforced sweat flap will not be very rigid - but if thinness is a primary objective, you got it. See the SIG P245 holster below, for which a customer requested a low-riding Karl lite with a sweat flap.



Or perhaps you prefer grips with a very aggressive texture and need a flap to cover the entire grip? And you wear a 1¼ inch belt, and you want the gun to ride low with a 25 degree cant instead of 15 degrees? And you're left-handed? Take a look below!