The OWB holster was provided to the author for review by Springfield Armory.
One of these all-leather rigs comes from Burdette Custom Holsters.
Who Is Burdette Custom Holsters?
The Burdette Custom Holsters Detective reviewed is a classic leather CCW rig designed for use with the SA-35.
I still have it as a memento of those exciting times.
It proved to be a great holster to test and is perfectly companion piece for the SA-35.
[Be sure to read Rob GarrettsSpringfield SA-35 reviewfor additional details on this incredible pistol.]
The Burdette Custom Detective holster keeps your SA-35 pistol tight to your body. It helps conceal your defensive handgun under a sport coat, jacket or other cover garment.
The choice of the name Detective for my sample holster carries with it a number of important implications.
First, it proclaims the genuine law enforcement lineage of the design.
Third, the name also implies that the Detective holster can be used for open or concealed carry situations.
The Springfield Armory SA-35 has a classic look that matches perfectly with the Burdette Custom Holsters Detective model. Premium vegetable tanned leather and robust stitching really set it apart.
But why is that?
Instead, their uniform is usually a soft one, and the handgun is carried openly.
The Burdette Detective is based on the traditional pancake-style holster design.
For many, the Springfield Armory SA-35 pistol is the perfect defensive tool. It blends a classic look with modern firepower.
I still have two pancake holsters in my leather collection and they still find occasional uses as needed.
Two-loop OWB holsters like this one hold the semi-automatic pistol much more firmly in place.
Double stitching is used to reinforce the area above the slide and below the receiver.
As with many high-quality leather holsters, you will need to fit your gun to the Burdette Custom Holsters rig. This is an easy process, and directions are included with the holster.
There is a reinforcing tab for the holster opening that protects against wear from repeated draws and re-holstering.
The Detective bore a rich deep brown finish that had just the right amount of buffing.
As you could see from the photos, the color also matched my SA-35s checkered walnut grips quite well.
The Burdette Custom Holsters Detective model has two 1.5″ belt loops. The loops are placed in such a way to give the gun a muzzle rearward tilt.
It was so tight that I could barely get my unloaded SA-35 seated in it.
It took some effort to remove it from the holster once I did it get in place.
So, I did something that admittedly I should do more often.
With a sturdy gun belt, the Burdette Detective did an excellent job of securely carrying the Springfield SA-35 pistol close to the body.
Before I tell you what the packaging said, let me tell you this.
The directions on the packaging are as follows:
Your holster is designed to retain the pistol.
If the fit is still too tight, add more wax paper.
If you have problems, hey call.
There was no mention of the use of silicon spray or leather conditioners how could this simple technique work?
I placed the whole package in the safe, where it remained for two days or so.
I am happy to report that this simple fix worked like a charm!
If it becomes soaked with water, allow it to dry naturally with the unloaded and plastic-wrapped pistol inside.
Also, kindly do not use any leather conditioners on the holster.
This will soften the leather and likely ruin the holster.
The Burdette Detective has a mild rearward muzzle cant.
weight of the SA-35 easily, keeping it close to the body.
This reduces the chances of printing against a thin covering garment.
However, access to a full shooting grip is easy.
[Catch veteran firearms trainer Mike Boyles deep dive onholster cantfor more insights.]
The quality is without question, as is the design.
However, if youd like one right now for your SA-35, the Springfield Armory Store has you covered.
Go to forum thread
Burdette CustomDetective OWB Leather Holster for SA-35
SA-35TM
