My husband, Chris Cerino, has been both law enforcement and a firearms instructor for many years. As a result, we have a ton of firearms’ gear scattered throughout our basement. Some of this gear is broken, some shows a little wear and some of it looks almost brand new. Included in this gear abyss is an old milk crate that is full of all the various holsters he has tried over the years.
Lucky for me, I didn’t start shooting a pistol until Chris found and started using holsters he really believed in. Now we have a milk crate full of Blade-Tech holsters. Blade-Tech industries makes holsters for the many different pistols we own and we have one for each. Hence, the milk crate full — with all of them getting regular use.
A variety of holsters are available from Blade-Tech.
Blade-Tech industries is a family-owned company that has been handcrafting holsters since 1995. We had been fans of Kydex holsters long before we ever met the friendly people of Blade-Tech. Not only do they put out a great product, but their customer service is also top-notch. From management, to sales, to product development, everyone cares about the company and the people they serve.
A pioneer in the making of Kydex holsters, Blade-Tech was one of the first companies to delve into the “plastic” holster. It took a long time for people who were accustomed to owning only leather to embrace the idea of using anything else. Although there are many different Kydex holsters around, there is only one Blade-Tech. They have been a favorite for concealed carry among law enforcement for more than a decade.
When training, Michelle wears Blade-Tech’s Classic OWB (outside the waistband) holster with Tek-Lok and their female friendly drop and offset. Photo courtesy of Chris Cerino
Blade-Tech holsters have come a long way since their early days. Having a holster that comes custom fit to your specific pistol right out of the box takes all the troubles out of breaking in a new holster. Not only is there no break-in period, but also these holsters do not wear out. They give you years of service, even with continuous use. The only wear on the holsters we have is a scratch or two from one of us moving on the ground while training. Mud or dirt wipes off easily.
Blade-Tech makes four different types of holsters. Within those types of holsters there are many different choices. Their website has a drop down menu that allows you to pick your manufacturer, gun model, type of attachment you want, color and right or left hand use. Depending on your gun, you may even have the choice for a light attachment. I could spend the entire day listing the various guns they have holsters for you, or you could just check out their website and find a holster to fit your needs. While on their website, under the frequently asked questions I noticed that if you don’t see your pistol in the drop down menu, they suggest you call customer service to check if they still have it. I don’t know of any other company that would look for a product you need that they might have lying around. That is part of their awesome customer service.
Michelle Cerino is wearing her Blade-Tech holster.
Photo courtesy of Chris Cerino
When I am wearing my Blade-Tech holster and don’t like the amount of friction retention it has, I can change it with a quick and easy adjustment using a basic screwdriver. This quick and simple adjustment really is a benefit when you have three different people, all with different preferences, using the same holster.
This past month I shot two different NRA action pistol matches, where a pistol falling out of a holster is an automatic disqualification. I never had any concerns with the sturdy quality and retention level of the Blade-Tech holster. Just this past week I wore a Blade-Tech holster while we were training a local police department. I fired two different guns, both using a custom fit Blade-Tech holsters. Since there was a last minute decision for me to use one of the guns, a gun I had never shot before, I needed to loosen the holster friction retention just a bit. It took but a minute and I was back in business.
As you may have noticed, I really love the people that work at Blade-Tech and their top-notch customer service. When you can find that, along with a product that exceeds your expectations, there is no need to look anywhere else.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
