With winter upon us, I've been taking full advantage of the extra concealment provided by hoodies, Carhartt jackets, and ugly sweaters by concealing with an outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster. While most OWB holsters are used for competition or military/law enforcement duty, many average joes are able to effectively conceal their pistols daily using OWB leather "pancake" holsters or kydex "clamshell" holsters. While I prefer appendix-in-the-waistband (AIWB) carry most of the time, I often carry OWB during colder months since it's sometimes more comfortable and easy to conceal beneath winter clothing. I've been using a kydex "clamshell" holster manufactured by C&G Holsters - the Covert OWB model. As with all C&G holsters, it is manufactured in the US (Pittsburgh, to be exact) using US-made parts. All metal hardware on the holsters is melonite-finished to resist wear and corrosion. Since their inception in 2008, they've had no reported holster breakages. Even more impressive is the fact that many C&G end-users are law enforcement and competitive shooters who are very hard on their gear. Those of you who have been following my blog and Facebook page know that I'm pretty hard on kydex concealment gear, so I'm interested to see how the Covert OWB stands up long term.
The Covert OWB is available for over 50 handgun models. Available options include over 40 colors/camo patterns, several sweatguard heights, extra room for suppressor sights and threaded barrels, and a cut-out for slide-mounted optics. Attachments are available for 1.5" - 2" belts, MOLLE webbing, and G-Code's proprietary mounting system. Due to the design of the holster, an end-user could also replace the OWB belt attachments with inside-the-waistband (IWB) overhooks or "Pull-the-Dot" loops for summer carry if desired.
 |
| The C&G Covert OWB rides high and close to the body for maximum concealment. |
Retention is not adjustable, but you can send your holster back to C&G for adjustment if you are dissatisfied with the factory retention level. However, I found the factory retention level to be ideal. It passed my retention test (hold holstered. loaded handgun upside-down and shake) with flying colors, but the retention was not so great that it interfered with my drawstroke.
The model I tested was black with a medium sweatguard and 1.75" belt attachments. I don't have a suppressor or optic, so the other options were not necessary. The Covert OWB rides high on the belt which, when combined with the flat "clamshell" design, makes for a very concealable OWB holster. I used it for everyday carry under my sweatshirt, jacket, and even a t-shirt a couple of times. I taught a pistol class, attended a pistol class, and completed many live and dry-fire practice sessions using this holster. During my last Fundamental Pistol Skills class, I loaned it to a student, who was also impressed. As with the C&G IWB Covert that I reviewed earlier this year, the OWB Covert showed no signs of damage or excessive wear while testing.
 |
| I was able to get away with concealing the C&G Covert OWB beneath a T-shirt on several occasions. |
If you're in the market for a general purpose or concealed carry OWB holster, give C&G Holsters a look. They are a veteran/law enforcement-owned small business making high quality gear here in the good ol' US of A. If you're a military service member or first responder, be sure to contact them before ordering to take advantage of their military/first responder discount.
 |
| The C&G Covert OWB along with some other gear that worked well during a recent C&G Arms Defensive Pistol class. |