Well made holster & perfect fit - Galco Dao Strongside/Crossdraw Belt Holster

I purchased this holster for my 5 1/2" barrel Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum after searching for and comparing many different brands and styles. This one won out for me primarily because of availability (these will show up a lot quicker than a custom), thumb-strap design, and previous experience with Galco holsters.

First of all, it is a very well made holster. Many believe that a custom will just be "better" than anything mass produced, but I have found that this is not always the case. While there are some peerless leather goods out there one should not forget that makers such as Galco still have some fine offerings themselves that will serve quite well in the roles they were designed for. The D.A.O. is an example of this. The leather is durable, well-formed, and has a sight channel design that accommodates sharp front sight blades (partridge style, etc.) without allowing them the tear up the holster on a draw. The thumb strap is well placed and has a very convenient and easy to use plastic insert on the bottom side that makes disengaging it in a hurry very simple and fast.

Overall the Galco D.A.O. is an excellent factory offering for large double-action revolvers and I have no regrets purchasing one for my Redhawk. It has been serving me well thus far and I have no reservations recommending one to anyone who wants a good quality yet affordable and available field holster for a large frame double-action revolver.