Michael Lavallee
Sourdough Pancake and Chesty Puller rig
In using a vast array of holsters in the outdoors over the last 50 years Ive encountered 2 situations where a wide, flat chest holster has shown to have an advantage over any other means of keeping a large revolver close for emergencies.
The Sourdough Pancake holster is made of 2 pieces of leather, with minimal molding or close fitting to cover a revolver, or auto if that is what you prefer, and keep it protected from outside elements and covering the gun. All while keeping it secure on the belt or in this case suspended on your chest in the Chesty Puller rig.
The holster lays flat on your chest, there are no spacers to hold the gun out, away from your body. You can hang binoculars around your neck, without the noise of the binoculars swinging and making noise banging on the holster or gun like you will experience with other makers holsters. You can also wear a chest pack, or a binocular case over the holster. It will require adjustment and some getting used too, but it works. Adjust everything so the gun is easily grabbed from under the case.
It works, and works well
The first situation this holster is above all others is in a sleeping bag.
A belt holster, is impossible in a sleeping bag. No matter how you get in the bag, the gun is heavy and will twist your pants around and without fail, the gun falls down behind your back and under your kidneys. This hurts and is impossible to sleep with.
A lose gun, under whatever you use as a pillow will vanish at night because unlike a pillow gun in your bed, the bag moves, you move and your pillow moves. It becomes a mystery where your gun is if you need it.
But, the Sourdough Pancake with a properly adjusted harness will keep the gun, in the same place on your chest while you sleep on your side or back. The gun is almost completely covered, with only the grip outside the holster. And it lays flat on your chest. No edges, no moving around. No sliding under your arms, jamming into your ribs and your kidneys are safe.
I use mine in bear country with a SW 625 in 45 ACP, with a 6 round full moon clip loaded with Buffalo Bore 45ACP +P. That gives 6 rounds, ready to go without the worry of a slide catching in the sleeping bag in moments of high drama.
Imagine you wake up, something is dragging your bag, with you in it. Or worse, something very large and smelly is on top of you, in the bag.
Your arms cant get behind your back, where your belt gun has ended up, you cant find where your pillow gun is, or even if you still have it.
But the gun you have on your chest is still there.
Under high stress your arms will pull in , your legs pull up and you are in the semi fetal position. And your guns is on your chest exactly where your hands are. Pull it and a revolver will work inside a sleeping bag.
Not a first choice, but zippers are notorious for not working when you are needing them too.
I cant say Ive ever fired a gun inside a sleeping bag, but when a bear is dragging you out of a tent in the dark you have more worries than what its going to do in your sleeping bag.
With a large revolver there’s no reciprocating slide to get caught in the bag, just get the gun into action. If you can get your arms out great, but it will work no matter what.
Continuing our story, you are yelling at the bear, trying to get the gun aligned and you fire. Likely more than once, as stress will encourage.
Your friends are waking up, and looking for you in the dark. They know something is wrong but they are looking for their guns and flashlights in the dark while you are being dragged, in your bag out of your tent.
A few things could be happening here during this.
First is if you fired the gun inside the sleeping bag , the bag is on fire. This is a good thing. Why?
Because you are now even more motivated to get out of the bag, in case the bear didn’t give you enough reason.
The second is your friends can see the burning bag, you being dragged as you shoot, and most importantly, the bear. Them being able to get a positive identification of the danger and seeing where you and the bear is a plus.
All comedy aside, this is exactly why a holster keeping the gun where you put it, and is comfortable enough to sleep in. Absolutely not an opyion when your life or your friends depend on it.
The second situation is actually one most hunters are familiar with.
And its all funny unless it happens to you.
Lets say your camp cook made sausage gravy with lots of grease and while you are walking in the woods you feel the need for a break.
You have been here before, so your pack comes off, your rifle is against a tree far enough away to not be involved in this process, you have the paper or baby wipes in hand and you are sitting on a fallen tree, or in a very unflattering squat.
Your belt gun is on the ground with your pants, rifle against a tree out of the way.
And you have a trophy elk, 20 feet away. Or a bear, with cubs suddenly decide this is the path they are on at the same moment.
If you have your large revolver in the chest holster, you are in business and not watching the only elk you’ll see in 2 weeks walk away.
Again, funny as long as you are telling the story later at camp, not trying to reach your rifle and your friends find you.. dead…with your pants on the ground.
Imagine that being what you are remembered for at the funeral.
The Chesty Puller rig, and Sourdough Pancake holster will give you a fighting chance as long as your nerve holds.
Jake photo by Kyndra Leahy. Black Bear photo by Mike Terry & Family