There are a few maxims that have served as the foundation of my worldview over the years.
“No amount of planning will ever replace dumb luck.”
“Always look on the bright side of life…”
If you didn’t hear a tune in your head after that last one, you’re wrong.
And, most importantly, a quote from my favorite Vietnam sniper, Fred Rogers:
“Stay strapped, or get clapped.”
Now, I am probably in the minority of upland hunters in that I always bring a sidearm in addition to the old scattergun. There are a infinite amount of reasons why I feel as though I should be doing this, but at the end of the day it’s one more tool in the toolbox that I hope I never have to use.
I’ve tried every which way to carry a sidearm while out hunting. Belts aren’t comfortable with a pack or a bird vest, even with a belt-drop type setup. If you have a pack, running your holster on the waist belt of the pack itself is a decent option, but you’ll usually have to deal with it smacking into the stock of the firearm that’s slung over your shoulder and then shift it around once you drop the pack itself. The “Miami Rig” shoulder holsters are great for fly fishing, but don’t work well with pack or vest straps that are bearing weight. Most recently, I would just throw a Glock in an ALS Safariland holster and just toss that into the main pouch of my bird vest.
It would get filthy and spattered with bird blood, but who cares? — it’s a Glock.
But Glocks are boring, and I wanted to be able to carry some real big iron while patrolling the Mojave and parts beyond. Do I need to tote a .44 Mag around in the chukar hills? Do you need to ask such stupid questions?
Enter the Gunfighters, Inc Kenai — the holster that changed the game for me.
There are a few things I like about the design of the holster. Riveted construction means no tension screws to come loose (happens on every kydex holster I have). The shoulder strap is elastic; even with heavier firearms like my Colt Anaconda, you can cinch the rig down tight to avoid the gun wobbling around without having it be overly constrictive or uncomfortable. Finally, you can also interchange the holster shells to accommodate different firearms.
I was surprised at just how well this holster melds with my Final Rise vest — almost like they were designed for each other. The firearm is easily accessible, and while wearing both of these harnesses, there are no buckles or other pressure points that cause discomfort after a hard day in the chukar hills.
You can also run this underneath a bino harness, although at this point it does turn in to quite a tangle of things to take off amidst the inevitable shifting of clothing layers. That said, the Kenai is quick and easy to take off and put pack on; there’s only one buckle you need to manipulate.
I ordered my setup with two pouches for speedloaders (currently running the classic HKS 29s), which also carry well. I usually leave the reloads in the truck, though — eighteen rounds of 245gr .44 Mag does add up pretty quickly. They can also be ordered with magazine pouches or cartridge loops, depending on how you like to run your gear.
Conclusion
If you ever dip your toes into the world of custom 1911 pistols, you may be familiar with something called “The Answer.” Novak’s Custom designed “The Answer” as a response to avid shooters pinning the grip safety on their pistols. “The Answer” did away with all of that by (essentially) combining the grip safety and blending it in with the mainspring housing in a way that looked factory — the complete, engineered solution to a pervasive problem. It looked great and performed optimally.
The GFI Kenai holster is The Answer to this particular problem that I’ve been searching for for years. It provides secure, comfortable, and versatile carry for whichever sidearm is your preference and has earned a permanent spot in my gear rotation.
It provides me the ability to stay strapped so that I will not, in fact, get clapped.
