From the Founder

Why Most Concealed Carry Problems Aren't Actually Gun Problems

How a 25-year FIST customer became the owner of the company - and why comfort and concealment still matter more than ever.

By Kevin Tinter · Uncommon Concealed Co.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran · Former police officer · 25-year carrier

The Beginning

From a toy six-shooter to my first FIST holster

I’ve been fascinated by guns for as long as I can remember.

In fact, it’s hard to find a childhood photo of me without some kind of toy gun in my hand. I grew up watching The Lone Ranger and imagining adventures with a six-shooter on my hip. One of my earliest memories is carrying that toy revolver into an airport in the 1980s while picking up my grandparents.

Back then, family members could walk all the way to the gate. Security stopped me, told me I had to leave my gun behind, and I remember being absolutely devastated. Thankfully, I got it back after we picked up my grandparents.

Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable how much the world has changed.

Ironically, despite my fascination with guns, I didn’t grow up shooting. My dad wasn’t into firearms. It wasn’t until after I got married in 1998 that I bought my first handgun.

Money was tight back then. My wife and I were both full-time college students. I still remember waking up early to attend a local gun show with a buddy, knowing I was finally going to buy my first pistol. My friend purchased an H&K USP .40. All I could afford was a Kel-Tec 9mm.

It wasn’t fancy, but it was mine, and I cherished it.

Three years later, I purchased my first FIST Holster. By then I had upgraded to a Glock 23.

To this day, I have no idea how I found FIST Holsters. I was living in Oregon. There was no recommendation from a friend. No social media. No YouTube reviews. Somehow I stumbled across a small holster maker in New York and ordered an ultra-thin inside-the-waistband holster.

I still own that holster today.

The ProofMy first FIST Holster, purchased in 2001 — and my current everyday carry setup 25 years later.

And from that point forward, I was hooked.

Over the next two decades — through the Marine Corps, law enforcement, concealed carry, off-duty carry, court appearances, and everyday life — FIST became the standard by which I judged every other holster.

In fact, aside from two or three leather OWB holsters I experimented with over the years, FIST was essentially the only holster company I bought from.

The Unexpected Text Message

Twenty-five years of carrying his holsters. Zero conversations.

What makes that story even more interesting is that I never actually spoke to founder Jim Murnak until April of 2025.

I was trying to place another order when I discovered the website wasn’t working. Jim reached out personally to explain why.

He had retired.

Twenty-five years of carrying his holsters. Zero conversations. Then suddenly, I was texting the man whose products had been riding on my belt for most of my adult life.

That conversation eventually led to something neither of us expected: my wife and I purchasing the company and continuing the legacy under Uncommon Concealed Co.

The HandoffAfter 25 years of carrying his holsters, I finally met founder Jim Murnak in 2026.

The Real Problem

The real problem isn’t the gun

One thing I’ve learned through military service, law enforcement, and countless conversations with gun owners is that most concealed carry problems aren’t actually gun problems.

They’re holster problems.

New gun owners often believe they need a smaller gun. Experienced carriers often think they need a different gun. But more often than not, they simply need a better way to carry the gun they already own.

The two biggest complaints I hear are remarkably consistent:

“My gun prints.”

“My holster isn’t comfortable.”

Those two problems are responsible for more firearms being left at home than almost anything else.

What is printing?

Printing occurs when other people can clearly tell you’re carrying a firearm.

As a former police officer and longtime concealed carrier, I can often spot subtle indicators that most people miss. But that’s not really what we’re talking about.

Real printing is when the average, untrained observer can immediately recognize that there’s a gun under your clothing.

That creates several problems. In some situations, it may draw unwanted attention. In others, it may create unnecessary concern among people who aren’t accustomed to seeing firearms. In the worst case, it may alert the very person you’d prefer not know you’re armed.

Concealed carry works best when it’s actually concealed.

Comfort matters more than most people realize

The number one reason many gun owners don’t carry consistently isn’t lack of training. It isn’t lack of commitment.

It’s discomfort.

The gun digs into their side. The holster shifts throughout the day. The edges create hot spots. Eventually the setup becomes annoying enough that the firearm gets left at home — and a firearm only protects you when you’re actually carrying it.

The most effective concealed carry setup isn’t necessarily the one with the highest retention, the most tactical features, or the latest trend on social media.

It’s the one you’ll still be wearing twelve hours later.

Concealment is personal

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming there’s a single “best” carry method. There isn’t.

The best setup depends on your body type, your clothing, your daily activities, and your environment. What works perfectly for one person may be miserable for another. A holster that disappears under a loose polo shirt might print badly under a fitted T-shirt.

The goal isn’t to find the universal answer. The goal is to find what works for you.

The Holster Lab

Why FIST focused on these problems

During my time with Jim, one thing became very clear. He loved solving difficult concealment problems.

For Jim, creating a holster wasn’t simply manufacturing. It was a puzzle. How do you make a firearm disappear? How do you reduce bulk? How do you improve comfort? How do you create something a person will actually wear every day?

That’s why FIST spent nearly three decades refining ultra-thin holsters, innovative mounting options, and custom solutions that many larger companies wouldn’t even attempt.

The challenge wasn’t building another holster. The challenge was building one people forgot they were wearing.

As it turns out, I enjoy the same challenge. That’s become a major part of what we’re building inside the Uncommon Concealed Holster Lab. Our goal isn’t simply to preserve what Jim built — it’s to carry it forward.

The Holster Box

Everybody has one

If you’ve owned handguns for any length of time, you probably have one. The holster box. Every gun owner seems to have it.

It’s filled with holsters that looked great online, seemed like a good idea at the time, and ultimately proved uncomfortable, bulky, difficult to conceal, or simply unpleasant to wear. For some reason, nobody throws them away. We just keep adding to the collection.

Over the years, I’ve talked with countless concealed carriers, and nearly every one of them has a version of the holster box sitting somewhere in a closet, drawer, or garage.

The reality is that most people aren’t looking for another holster.

They’re looking for the last holster they’ll need to buy.

That’s the standard we’re pursuing every day at Uncommon Concealed Co. Because concealed carry isn’t about collecting holsters — it’s about carrying consistently. And that only happens when comfort, concealment, and confidence come together in a way that fits your life.

If you’re tired of adding to the holster box, we’d be honored to help you find a better solution.