Review: Galco Fletch Holster for Springfield Ronin Operator

As a younger man, I had buddies who'd buy premium, multi-thousand-dollar rifles and slap the cheapest bargain basement scope they could possibly find on there. After firing a few rounds from a magnum rifle at the range, the no-name optics wouldn't hold zero and went directly into the trashcan. It just didn't seem right, then or now. If you're going to invest in premium firearms, it seems to me you ought also to invest in accessories that exist in the same categories of quality, both aesthetic and functional. 

That was exactly my recent line of thinking when reviewing the Springfield Ronin Operator 4.25-inch 1911 in .45 ACP. It's a classically-styled, two-tone 1911 that dresses up pretty nicely. As a result, I opted for a Galco Fletch holster, which is made from premium steerhide and rather impressively accents the features of the Ronin Operator. 


The Galco Fletch holster has a reddish color to it and features a high-ride design with butt-forward cant, which ensures that it fits comfortably on the hip and tucks nicely against your body without printing. Made for outside-the-waistband (OWB) carry, it will fit up to 1 3/4-inch belts, and as I've found over the last couple of weeks, it's incredibly comfortable for everyday carry purposes. The holster looks just as sharp with blue jeans and a t-shirt as it does under a sports jacket and your Sunday best. 


In terms of retention, the Fletch utilizes a leather strap with button attachment; the strap is meant to ride in front of the hammer with a cocked-and-locked pistol (the plastic reinforcement plate says, "For use cocked & locked"). Likewise, a plastic wedge sits just under the thumb safety, ensuring that it doesn't disengage when in the holster. The inside portion of the holster is stiffened and reinforced by a piece of plastic that is secured in place by five rivets and the female end of the button attachment point. 


With an MSRP of $134, the Galco Fletch holster delivers premium leather with an impressive look—perfect for a 1911 like the Ronin Operator, but equally well-suited for polymer pistols, too. Galco currently makes the Fletch for a number of handguns, including SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Glock. More information can be found at galcogunleather.com.