OWB holsters are often more comfortable in general and provide a faster draw. OWB holsters for the Glock 19 do need a form of retention, passive or active, since they are often more visible than IWB holsters. The best OWB holsters for Glock 19 pistols will allow a smooth and fast draw, support the weapon, and retain the weapon sufficiently.
Blackhawk SERPA G19
The Blackhawk SERPA holster is an interesting design. The SERPA is an outside the waistband holster designed for open carry and duty wear. The SERPA was even adopted by the United States Marines for the M9 Beretta pistol and has seen combat across the world in the Global War on Terror. The SERPA is a favorite for the troops due to its reliability and durability, as well as how fast and how easy it is to draw the weapon.
The Blackhawk SERPA even has something in common with the Glock 19 pistol. It’s made from a large amount of polymer material. Known as Kydex, this material is renowned for its strength and dependability. Kydex is also impervious to the effects of water, dust, and does not tear like nylon or leather.
The Glock 19 is a large pistol and requires support to carry comfortably. The SERPA provides a wide pancake style belt device that tucks inside the pants and behind the belt. The SERPA is extremely solid in its construction and is a bit large for concealed carry but supports the weapon extremely well.
The Blackhawk SERPA utilizes an active retention device to hold the weapon firmly and secure in all environments. The only way the weapon can be drawn is if the retention device is depressed and the user pulls the weapon straight up. It is near impossible for an attacker to take the weapon from you. The SERPA is also extremely modular and allows you to wear the weapon on the paddle, a belt loop adapter, a thigh rig, and even a shoulder rig. The SERPA is well built, dependable, and secure—one of the best OWB holsters for Glock 19 pistols for sure.
Desantis Mini Scabbard
The Desantis Mini Scabbard is a leather holster for the Glock 19 and designed to be worn outside the waist. The mini Scabbard harkens back to the classic holsters made from leather. While many police and military forces are departing leather for a more durable, and often cheaper polymer, leather will always have advantages.
Leather holsters are often much better for concealed carry simply because they are more malleable. Kydex and other polymers do not bend and often do not conform to the body, especially when worn outside the waistband. Leather holsters can keep the weapon tight to the body and this aid in concealment. The Desantis Mini scabbard is very lightweight and very thin, and this contributes to the holster’s ease of concealment.
The Desantis Mini Scabbard uses a passive retention device to secure the weapon and utilizes a tension screw to adjust the device’s retention. The passive device on the Mini Scabbard means you can draw your Glock 19 without having to worry about defeating a device to draw the weapon. The retention is all in the adjustment screw, so the weapon stays secure but does not impede the user’s draw. The Desantis Mini Scabbard is not a standard mass production plastic holster. And it’s not only efficient and comfortable, but it looks good too. Looks, after all, count for something when selecting the best OWB holster for Glock 19 handguns!
Fobus Standard Paddle Holster
The Fobus Paddle holster is Kydex holster and uses a paddle similar to the Blackhawk SERPA. The Fobus holster for the Glock 19 is designed to be lightweight and flexible. Fobus has taken every opportunity they could cut the holster’s weight to make it an easier to carry holster. The Fobus standard uses a soft paddle device to secure the Glock 19 to the user’s waist.
The Fobus Paddle holster utilizes a passive retention device and retains the weapon by the trigger guard. Since the user does not need to deactivate a snap, press a button, or use a thumb device the weapon’s draw is natural and swift. The Glock 19 can be put on target in mere seconds, and the user does not have to consider malfunction when drawing the weapon.
The Fobus standard fall in between a concealment holster and a duty holster. The Fobus Standard’s flexibility allows it to conceal with some effort, but its lack of a retention device may turn the police and military away from it. The Fobus standard is an exceptional holster, with the ability to comfortably carry the Glock 19 with minimal fuss.
Gould and Goodrich Gold Line
Gould and Goodrich are an old school leather company that has been producing holsters for longer than most of us know. They are not the most well known of holster companies, but they produce top of line holsters. If you haven’t guessed, the Gould and Goodrich holster is entirely leather.
The Gold Line for the Glock 19 is a three slot pancake style holster designed to sit flush against the body. The three slots allow the user to adjust for holster cant. This aids in concealment and helps when it comes to supporting a large weapon like the Glock 19. The Gould and Goodrich uses an active retention device, and thumb snap that has to be defeated to draw the weapon. This little piece of leather allows the weapon to sit tight in its holster until needed.
The Gould and Goodrich Gold line is an all black holster designed to catch the eye. Its all leather construction is absolutely gorgeous and built to last, as the best OWB holsters for Glock 19 handguns should. There are no corners cut when it comes to Gould and Goodrich holsters.
The Plastic Fantastic
The Glock 19’s popularity has spawned a wide variety of holsters for the weapon. Most of these holsters are sufficient. However, some simply cannot do the job. Look to a solid name brand with a good reputation, like Fobus, Blackhawk, Desantis, and Gould and Goodrich. A Glock is as reliable as a brick, and that’s a good thing because rarely does a brick stop doing its job. This kind of weapon needs a holster that can run with it, and the four I’ve listed are perfect companions to the Glock reliability.
