Stock Holsters for Glock 23 Gen 5

I got three holsters from Craft Holsters: a cross-draw for a Taurus Judge Magnum with a 6.5” barrel, and a cross-draw and a shoulder holster for Glock 23 Gen 5. I have since ordered a cross-draw holster for my Beretta 96 Brigadier, .40 S&W. I chose Craft Holsters because the Beretta and the Gen 5 Glock are really hard to find holsters for. They custom made them for both. Also, a good cross-draw holster for anything is hard to find. The holsters are made of the finest saddle quality leather you can find and the stitching is impeccable. They are also hard as a rock. You will not use your holster right out of the box – or bag as it were. Craft Holsters offer a break-in solution for holsters, but I didn’t what to wait for it to be shipped from overseas so I used Leather Honey and then Lexol to soften them up. Leather Honey didn’t soften them up much, but I think it would be a good topical dressing for maintenance. The Lexol did penetrate well and soften them up to where I could form the holster to the gun. There was no way I could get the Glock in either holster when I first got them, regardless of how hard I shoved. It has taken a week of repeated treatments and sitting overnight to get them to where I like them. I think for the next one I’ll just put it in a bowl and soak if for a while. You can get the leather to stretch and form by wrapping the gun in a Zip Loc bag and then a corner of a contractor bag, wrapping the excess around the gun, and shoving the gun in the holster after you’ve softened it up. Tongue depressors shoved down the side also help to speed the process if it needs stretching. When you’re done, if the gun feels like it might slip out of the holster and you’ll lose it – that’s just about right. When you put it on your belt, it will tighten up and provide the right amount of retention friction. The holster for the Taurus didn’t require as much work as the two for the Glock. I left the fit of the Glock shoulder holster just a little bit snugger since it won’t get the added compression from a belt. They will continue to adjust to how and where I carry them over time. Craft Holsters show a lot of pride in both materials and workmanship and are obviously built for some rough long term use. Well, that’s just what they are going to get. I’m sure I’ll more comments after we get rid of all this snow and I can get out in the field with them.