Wright Leather Works Banshee Holster Review

Wright Leather Works is a custom holster manufacturer based out of Green Springs, Ohio. Every holster is custom made, and each piece of material is handcut, sewn and molded from the highest-quality full-grain domestic hides and materials available.

I carried the Banshee holster model and opted for the $50 Master Collection Upgrade, an option that adds a soft pigskin lining to the interior of the holster. The Banshee holster is a low-profile, pancake-style inside-the-waistband holster, and when paired with the slim frame of my M&P Shield with Trijicon HD night sights, it provided me with a very concealable package.

The Banshee holster is adjustable for cant and ride depth and designed to adjust to most body types and angle preferences. Two methods of belt attachments are available: high-ride leather straps and tuckable deep-concealment steel spring clips.

I chose the latter due to the ease of obtaining a perfect fit and short amount of time needed to install and remove the holster from my belt. I tried the leather straps but found the fit to be somewhat cumbersome, and it allowed the holster to shift in height throughout the day. The spring clips were solid, and the Banshee holster remained in position even after a long day.

The holster itself was very tight fitting when it first arrived, and it clutched my Shield in a death grip when I initially inserted it. I ultimately placed the pistol in the plastic bag that the Banshee arrived in and reinserted the pistol into the holster, leaving it for about 72 hours. I checked the fitment every 10 to 12 hours until I was satisfied with the level of retention the holster provided.

The Banshee holster has maintained this fit, staying tight over 30 days of carry. My preferred fit allowed for a smooth draw, and the cut of the holster permitted a full firing grip from the draw, helping my sights to naturally align upon press out.

The color of this holster is a unique shade of walnut, which is rich in detail and reminds me of creamy milk chocolate. The leather has the aroma of upscale luxury automobile leather, unlike the leather typically used in the construction of a holster.

Wright Leather Works' stitching is without flaw, with close attention to detail. As an example, when the pistol is fully inserted into the holster, the stitching around the muzzle is within a centimeter or so of the end of the slide. Any closer and the insertion/extraction of the pistol would eventually abrade the thread, but this will never be an issue with this design.

The base of the holster is then tapered off a few centimeters after this stitching, ensuring that this package is only as long as it needs to be for all-day comfort.

I also evaluated the company's Bull Hide Gun Belt, which is a 1½-inch belt. I discovered that it would not fit a large range of 1½-inch belt loops found on many of the trousers I wear. This is due to the actual thickness of the belt, which measured a quarter of an inch. This made it impossible to thread the belt tail back through the first belt loop after clasping it through the buckle.

This may not be an issue for most concealed carry users, but it's worth taking into account prior to purchase. Otherwise, the belt did an excellent job supporting the weight of my pistol and spare magazine carrier, never sagging or stretching.

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