FIST Inc. is a NY based company that features custom leather products, law enforcement training supplies, and self defense materials. They are probably best known in the handgun industry for their in-depth line of gun holsters. As a custom leather shop, FIST has the ability to produce some very high quality gun holsters in a fairly short time.

FIST is one of the few custom holster makers that will give the customer the opportunity to select a base holster model and then customize it with a number of unique options like:

• Tension screw
• Bodyshield
  
• Thumb break
  
• Handboned leather
  
• Closed bottom
• Reinforced mouth

FIST is also one of the few holster makers that produces holster from both leather and kydex (a version of thermoplastic). Nearly any model that FIST produces in leather can also be done in kydex.

The image below was used with permission from the copyrighted owner.

FIST is somewhat unique in terms of leather holsters as they use 8 to 9 ounce leather. To clarify, leather "weight" is measured by weighing a square foot of the leather. If one square foot weighs 8 to 9 ounces, it's classified as 8 to 9 ounce. If the leather weighs less, say 6 to 7 ounces, it labeled so. Most holster makers use various weights of leather, but FIST only uses 8-9 ounce leather that is produced from a single U.S. tannery. This makes their holsters very sturdy and durable.

FIST also dyes all of it's leather in house using specific color dye. Currently FIST offers holsters in the following colors:

• Tan
• Light Brown
• Medium Brown
• Dark Brown
• Mahogany
• Dark Red
• Cordovan
• Black

As mentioned before, FIST also produces gun holsters in a material called kydex, which is a thermoplastic material that is extremely strong, durable, and lightweight. Kydex can be made into holsters either by molding the sheet of kydex or by melting it down to a liquid and then injecting it into a mold. FIST produces all their holsters via sheet molding. Kydex sheets come in different widths and colors (although black is standard). FIST offers two kydex versions:

Thin - In this version the kydex is very thin say .30 of an inch. FIST actually uses a special stitching machine that will actually stitch the kydex together in the same fashion that a leather holster uses. This version works well for both inside the waistband and outside the waistband holsters.

Ultrathin - This version uses kydex that is about the thickness of heavy duty construction paper. It's amazingly thin and light. This version is most effective for inside the waistband holsters as it really won't support the weight of of OWB holster. The one small disadvantage to this version is that fact that it sometimes cracks under stress due to it's thickness.

Pros

Key pro points:

Durability - Having owned a number of different FIST holster models, I can tell you that they produce a top quality holster that is both effective and durable. I have a few older FIST models that are over 10 years old and look nearly brand new. A periodic coat of paste wax keeps them in great shape.

Turnaround and Delivery - FIST is a custom maker that can have a handmade holster (with most any available option) to you in 10 weeks or less. As far as custom holsters go, that's an amazingly short turnaround time. To put that in context (and I'm comparing FIST to this maker), Milt Sparks holsters that are ordered from Sparks take over a year to be completed and shipped.

Unique designs - FIST is a very forward thinking company that offers some very unique and innovative holster designs that really aren't seen anywhere else. They really excel in the area of IWB and deep cover holsters.

Price - While FIST isn't a cheap line, they do offer a good value in terms of what you get for the money.

Cons

Probably my one con would be their customer service. I've called a number of times over the previous years and no one that answers the phone really seems to be in any hurry to help you. There almost seems to be the sense that you are bothering them by calling. I even spoke to the owner once (or a person that identified themselves as the owner), and he wasn't very helpful as well.

While I'm certainly not a big fan of that, I do think they make an outstanding gun holster.

One location that you can find FIST holsters is directly at their website (FIST Holsters). They have an antiquated online ordering system (print the order form and fax it in) so you may be better off to call it in.

Another location that sells used or preowned FIST holsters is here. They don't have available models all the time, but you can get some great deals there when they do.