Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Summary. Please locate your question on the list, and then scroll down to view the entry that corresponds with your question.

1) Order status information

2) How do I track my order through the production cycle?

3) What is your lead time?

4) Why is the wait time so long?

5) Policies and Procedures (Including Warranty, Return, and Order Modification policies)

6) How do I update my billing information?

7) What are the different "cuts"? What are the different body shields?

8) Changing Hardware

9) Which belt loops should I buy?

10) Will your holster wear the finish on my gun?

11) Will my firearm fit a holster designed for a different firearm?

12) Will you make a holster for small of back (SOB), cross draw, shoulder, or ankle carry?

13) All about Safety/Decock Levers:

14) All about weapon lights/lasers:

15) Can I remove my flashlight and still use a Light Compatible Phantom holster?

16) I have a flashlight, magazine, knife, rail, or other item unlisted on your website. Can you make for this item?

17) All about extended/threaded barrels & iron sight height:

18) I have aftermarket controls/items installed. Do I need to let you know?

19) I have a red dot on my slide, can you make a holster?

20) I have a firearm you don't list. Can you make a custom holster for it?

21) How do I get my order expedited?

22) Do you ship internationally?

23) Do you offer Law Enforcement/Military discounts?

24) How do I mount my holster/mag carriers to MOLLE?

25) Are there any special care instructions with Kydex gear?

26) I have additional questions not covered in this FAQ, what should I do?

1) Order status information

2) How do I track my order through the production cycle?

By logging into your account, you will be able to monitor your order through the cycle. Email updates will be sent at the following intervals:

Pending- Order placed, not yet processed (Shortest period, typically 1-3 days)
Processing - Order processed. A confirmation email will be sent at this time. (Longest period, waiting for orders ahead of you to be completed)
Payment Pending- Order sent to our billing department. Will be charged in 2-3 days, no modifications can be made to the order at this point.
Ready For Production- Card has been charged, order is awaiting an open production slot.
Printed- Order has been printed from our database and is heading to a makers bench.
In Production - A maker has pulled your order from the printed queue, and has begun production on it.
Final Finishing- Belt loops installed, edges polished.
Pre-Shipping Inspection- Final Q/C check before your items ship.
Shipped - Your order has been boxed and shipped.

DO NOT SEND EMAIL REQUESTS ASKING FOR THE STATUS OF YOUR ORDER UNLESS IT HAS GONE PAST THE QUOTED LEAD TIME

3) What is your lead time?

Lead time estimates are always posted in bold at the top of our homepage. They are also listed with each product next to the item cost on the individual product page and sent in the initial email you receive when we process your order.

ALL ORDERS SHIP COMPLETE - WE DO NOT SPLIT ORDERS

4) Why is the wait time so long?

These items are hand built and tested before they are shipped out. We are happy to provide gear to active military and law enforcement personnel across the globe, as well as responsible citizens who take self protection seriously. Because of our order volume, we have no other choice than to create a backlog and get to each order as quickly as we can. The analogy we use is a ride at a theme park. You may wait 3 hours in line, but the ride itself only lasts 45 seconds. Your order is typically built within a day or two, the wait time comes from building all the orders in line ahead of you.

We have made major strides in reducing our lead times and offer a number of products that ship as quickly as 7-14 days.

5) Policies and Procedures (Including Warranty, Return, and Order Modification policies)

These are a general list of our policies and procedures. We reserve the right to modify them at any time. Once the order has been placed, you have 10 calendar days to add any holsters or modular carriers to that order. You may modify the style, color, and specifics of your order at any time before the order is up for production. You may delete items from your order at any time prior to the order coming up for production. Belt loops, hardware, Vanguard's or any "in stock" items can be added at any time before your order enters production.

Once your order is up for production, you will be charged for your order and we can no longer modify any part of the order. Your order will be sent to production and you will receive email updates on its status as it moves through the production and shipping process. You'll receive a final email once the order has shipped.

Our lead times are estimates. There are many variables involved in our process, some of which we cannot control. While we do our best to quote accurate information, please know that the numbers are estimates and may change at any time.

As a default, your credit card is charged when your order comes up for production. If you prefer it to be charged right away, please request that in the comments box at checkout. Orders typically enter production in the last two weeks of your lead time. If we do not receive your payment, or if your credit card declines we will email you once to let you know at the time and once more one week later. If you do not respond we will cancel your order. If you respond to us and provide valid payment info we will put your order back into the production stream to be processed normally except the time delay for payment.

Returns: We offer a 30 day return policy, no questions asked (although we'd like to know). If you are returning your items for a refund, you will be refunded the cost of the products you return. We will not refund shipping costs.

Warranty: We offer an unconditional lifetime warranty on everything we make. If you have a warranty claim, please place an order on our webstore for the item(s) you need. Write “Warranty” in the Coupon Code and Comments box. We will process the order in and provide shipping instructions on where to send the damaged item(s). Most warranty orders are turned around within two weeks. Our warranty follow our products, not the original buyer. If you are a user of our products, you are responsible to make sure they are safe to use with your weapon prior to using them with a loaded weapon. If you ever have any issue with any of our products, please contact us. We will respond with instructions to resolve your warranty claim. Do NOT use the Warranty coupon unless it applies to your order. PLEASE NOTE: RCS covers the cost of return shipping on Warranty orders for domestic addresses ONLY. All international Warranty orders will have a fixed $30.00USD return shipping cost.

Shipping Liability: RCS cannot be responsible for an order once the package is out of our hands. If additional insurance is necessary, please mention it in the comments box when placing an order. The customer is responsible for insurance fees.

Order modifications: A large percentage of our customers request to modify their order(s). The time spent modifying orders means our manpower has less time to process, build, ship, and answer questions about other orders. Because of this, we are forced to offset our labor costs for order modifications. Your first modification will be made free of charge. Your second modification will incur a $5 processing fee. Any and all modifications after the second will incur $20 processing fees. These fees are applied if details of your products need to be modified. You may update your shipping and billing information at any time without fee. Please note that billing and shipping updates need to be done as soon as possible to avoid future delays.

Restocking & Cancellation Fee effective 04/23/12:
There is no cancellation fee for orders cancelled prior to charging
Once an order has been charged the following cancellation fees apply:
Orders containing ONLY Quick-Ship/In-Stock/Accessory Items: $10 Restocking fee
All other orders which have been charged but have not yet entered a status of Printed or In Production incur a $15 cancellation fee.
Orders which have been charged and are in a status of Printed, In Production, or any status following Production will incur a fee of 15% or $50, whichever is LESS.
The fee applies to only those items being cancelled. If you have a $500 order and only cancel one holster the fee only applies to only that item, not the entire order. The maximum cancellation fee per order is $50.00.

To modify your order, please email us with your order number and a detailed description of the changes you need performed.

6) How do I update my billing information?

Our billing department is available 10am – 6pm EST. Please have your order number ready and call them at (440) 665-8031. Please note- Our billing department is extremely busy. The most efficient way to receive a prompt response is to leave a brief message with your information. Please do not call repeatedly as this interrupts our time with the current customer. We will return your call as soon as possible. We will only make one return call; we are not able to continually call customers in an attempt to track them down for billing information. If you missed our return call, please call us again.

DO NOT SEND CREDIT CARD INFORMATION THROUGH THE 'CONTACT US' PAGE!!!

7) What are the different "cuts"? What are the different body shields?

Holsters

We offer three basic cuts for our Phantom series holsters, each a minor variation on the basic holster design. These cuts will allow you to tailor the holster to your particular carry style and position. Remember that on most holsters except some compact and sub compact models, you can adjust the cant by moving the lead and trail attachment points up or down. The range of adjustment is about 5 degrees plus or minus.

Standard Cut – Standard Cut holsters come with a 10 degree forward cant. We’ve found this cut to be the best balance between concealment, comfort and accessibility both OWB and IWB for most users. The most effective placement for this cut is between 3:00 and 4:30 for a right hand shooter.
Plus Cut – The Plus Cut holster is set at 15 degrees of forward cant. If you are used to a “FBI” cant or you tend to carry at your kidneys or farther back (4:00 to 5:30 for a right hand shooter) this cut may work best for you.
Minus / MD Cut - The Minus/MD Cut holster is designed to be carried primarily OWB on or forward of the hip (2:00 to 3:00 for right handed shooters). This cut is a straight drop holster (zero forward cant). To select a true MD cut holster, you must also select the short body shield option when ordering your holster. Please note that on holsters for compact pistols without a light this option will only have four rivet holes on each side and will make our tuckable IWB options a non-fit unless you use the IWB Offset Tuckable Wings.

Body Shield

We offer two options for the body shield on our holsters.

Full (standard) - The Full body shield completely shrouds the inside face of the weapon. This helps protect the weapon and any controls from you and protects you from any sharp edges or corners on the weapon. We cut the Full shield to still allow you to seat the firing grip with minimal interference from the holster.
Short / MD - The Short/MD body shield is reduced to clear any fire controls on the inside face of the weapon. A Short body shield will also allow your thumb to come to rest against the weapon for a full firing grip before the draw is started. We leave enough material to also aid in re-holstering and to help keep your clothing out of the holster mouth. To select the options for a true MD cut holster, you must also select the Minus / MD cut when ordering your holster.

Magazine Carriers

We also make slight modifications to the magazine carriers to better suit carry closer to the belt buckle. With the MD Cut Carriers, we trim the leading corner of the carrier to allow for better movement, more comfort while sitting, etc. The drawback is reduced modularity with this carrier, as it will not mount up to the other carriers/holsters we offer. MD cut mag carriers are only really useful for magazines that will be carried on or in front of the hip. As always, your mission drives the gear.

Please note that MD cut mag carriers are NOT compatible with our 2" belt loops.

8) Changing Hardware

One of the main design features behind our gear is its modularity. With the removal of a few screws, the user has a holster that can be configured in a number of ways. Our hardware utilizes “Chicago Screws” to affix the different mounting platforms to the holster itself. With a Phillips head screw driver, you can change these platforms easily.

Remember to keep the male screw on the side in contact with the rivet (the holster itself), and the female screw on the item that is bare polymer (typically the mounting platform). The o-ring washer should sandwich between these two pieces. The only exception to this rule is the IWB Soft Loops, which do not use the rubber o-ring.

We highly recommend using a thread locking compound on your equipment hardware once you've settled on a configuration you like and will use for a while. Not just holsters, but anything you use daily that might unscrew, could use a drop of this stuff. This small bottle of compound is resealable and good for about 80 applications on our hardware.

From time to time we hear from customers that have had hardware loosen or have lost a hardware component. Here is our standard response:

When it comes to screws (and other metal hardware), we use extremely high quality components. They aren't cheap, even in the quantities in which we purchase them. It's a cost we're happy to incur, however, because it means we can be confident that our customers won't have to worry about stripping out the threads on their screws and barrel nuts.

We do not apply thread-locker to our screws at the factory because a very large percentage of our customers purchase our gear along with multiple sets of belt accessories (like pancake wings, IWB soft loops, etc), intending to change the configuration of the holster on a frequent basis. After all, that's one of the biggest advantages of our design: The ability to configure it for multiple styles of carry with just a screwdriver.

We have the best warranty in the business: If you wear out or break any of our products, we will repair or replace it at no charge to you, FOREVER. Even if you weren't the original owner, and even if the damage was your fault –– we stand behind our products 100%. That's not just talk; we have a long, proven track record of going above and beyond when it comes to customer service.

All we expect from our customers is for them to inspect their gear frequently, since it is life-saving equipment. Screws on any item subjected to flexing or vibration are likely to back out gradually over time, and our holsters are subjected to considerable flexing while being worn. That is why we instruct our customers to use thread-locker on components they do not intend to change frequently, and re-tighten screws on a regular basis to prevent loss. We don't think that's too much to ask, since that's the same process we use on our gear (and we're only 100 feet from the bins where all the screws are kept and could easily replace it if something was lost).
We warranty our products against severe damage or failure. We do not warranty or replace lost hardware. Spare hardware kits are available on our webstore.

If you ever managed to strip, break, round off, melt, or in some other way render unusable any of our screws, barrel nuts, or washers, you could absolutely send them in and we will replace them free of charge (including shipping)...just like all of our other products. We offer thread locking compound to help you make sure you never lose a component when you can't afford to and replacement hardware it if you ever have to.

9) Which belt loops should I buy?

The mounting hardware all serve different purposes. For OWB carry, the way the holster comes will carry the gun very tight to the body and maintains a small profile on the belt. Additional mounting options are available, such as the Pancake Wings and OWB Soft Loop Wings. Order these if they will fit your needs.

For IWB carry, you’ll first need to decide if you need a “tuckable” holster or not. A tuckable design is good for better concealment, but at the disadvantage of a slower and more difficult draw-stroke. We offer each clip design in a tuckable version if you need it.

For standard IWB carry with a jacket or shirt as a cover garment, any of our IWB options will work. Our standard recommendation is the “IWB Soft Loops” for the standard IWB wear and the “IWB Tuckable C Hooks” if you require a tuckable set up.

10) Will your holster wear the finish on my gun?

All holsters wear the finish on a firearm. These are tools we carry to potentially save our life one day, they should not be collector’s items. Kydex holsters, over the long term, will wear a gun less than a leather holster will. Kydex will rub along the high spots of a gun and may create some wear marks. After the holster is broken in, those wear marks typically will not grow in size. A leather holster will retain dirt, sweat, powder residue, oil, and other daily grime which will create an abrasive surface that will constantly wear on the gun it holds. When your Kydex holster is dirty, simply wash it out.

11) Will my firearm fit a holster designed for a different firearm?

Our holsters are built to spec for each item they are designed to hold. That said, there is some crossover that will allow other models to fit. Typically, a smaller gun of the same make will fit in the holster for the full size version.

Example- A Glock 34 holster will carry a 17, 19, or 26 without issue (as well as the 40SW and 357Sig versions of those guns). Same goes for light compatible holsters, as long as the light is mounted on the smaller gun.

Firearms with a thumb safety can create an issue. A holster built for an M&P45 without thumb safety will NOT fit an M&P45 with thumb safety. The sweat shield of the holster will impede the thumb safety model from being inserted.

12) Will you make a holster for small of back (SOB), cross draw, shoulder, or ankle carry?

Small of back and cross draw- No.

Shoulder or ankle carry- We do not make those versions at this time.

13) All about Safety/Decock Levers:

We ask this question for weapons that have multiple possible carry options with different controls (for example, HK pistols).If there is a lever on the side of your weapon, we need to know about it to properly fit your holster. This option is only valid if you are ordering a holster with a full body shield. Please note, if your weapon is classified as a single-action-only by the manufacturer (example: FN Five Seven), no matter what you choose we will make the holster for the "Safety On" option.

If your pistol can be safely carried in more than one condition and you have a side mounted safey/decocker, there are two possible positions:

Hammer down (decocked - lever returns to neutral), safety OFF. Your first shot is a double action pull, with a single action pull after that. You would select Safety Off, Double Action Mode
Hammer cocked, safety ON. Your first shot will require you to turn the safety off. You would select Safety On, Single Action Mode. If you carry with the hammer down, safety on you would select this option too.

You must select which of the two you intend to carry. Once our holsters are built for one method, they will NOT work with the other.

14) All about weapon lights/lasers:

First, please be sure that the light you select will in fact fit the weapon you have. Just because you can select a combination from the available options does not mean it will work in the real world. For example, you can order a holster for an HK45 Compact with a Surefire X300 light, but the X300 will not fit on the HK45 Compact. If you have any questions about your weapon/light combo, please contact us prior to ordering.

Surefire: Surefire X200/X300 weapon lights come with two mounting options. The "U/P" (Universal or Picatinny) latch is standard from the factory and has two tabs that are pulled down to release the light. If you pulled your light out of the box and put it on your weapon, choose the U/P latch option. The "Rail Lock" is an optional accessory that comes with most X-series lights. It requires installation and has a cross bar and locking wedge to secure the light in place. It is most often used when securing the light to a long gun rail, but some users install this on their pistols for added security. The X300 holsters will accept all X200 lights, X200A will fit the B, X200B will only fit itself. The X300-Ultra holsters will not function correctly if using a standard X300 or X200 light. The X400 holster will not fit any other weapon light. If you are using a Surefire DG switch, let us know in the comments at checkout to ensure proper fit.
Streamlight: The TLR-2 holsters will accept TLR-1 lights, not the other way around. All holsters will accept the strobe variant. For example, a holster made for a TLR-1 will fit the TLR-1S. We will NOT make holsters for TLR-1/2 lights on compact or sub-compact weapons where the locking key must be moved to the "rear" position to mount. This is not a recommended mounting option per Streamlight (for example, S&W M&P Compact or HK45 Compact). Please contact us if you have any questions about your light/weapon combo. TLR-3 and 4 owners: We will use the "key" that places the light as close to the trigger guard as possible. This will be marked on your holster when you receive it. If you are using a contour switch, please add that in the order comments box.
Insight: So far, all of the LED models will fit their corresponding model designations. For example the M3 LED will fit the M3 holsters. The WX150 is externally identical to the XTI Procyon. The M3 with LED navigator light is externally identical to the M6 light. Please contact us if you have any questions as new models come out.
Other Lights/Lasers: If your light/laser is not listed in the drop down option we do not make for it as a standard option. If you would like a holster for an unlisted light please place your order for the closest match you can find, and in the comments box mention you need to send in your light. We will respond with details on when and where to ship. We only need your light for the production process, which is typically the last two weeks of your lead time. We will NOT make holsters for the following lights due certain complications: Blackhawk Xiphos, Sig STL-900L

15) Can I remove my flashlight and still use a Light Compatible Phantom holster?

Our standard Phantom holsters retain the weapon via friction fit to the trigger guard, our LC models index a feature on the weapon light. Retention with the light removed on a Phantom LC would be sub-standard at best, and is not recommended. With the light removed from the weapon there is a large void left in the holster below the dust cover of the weapon, which creates a condition where anything contacting the weapon will cause it to pop rearward into that void, resulting in a potentially unsafe condition. While we agree that there are times when running without a WML is preferred, this is best accomplished with a separate, purpose built holster.

16) I have a flashlight, magazine, knife, rail, or other item unlisted on your website. Can you make for this item?

For the most part- Yes.

If you have an item we do not list, we can typically build a carrier if you are able to send the item in to us for the production of your gear. If you have a weapon or handheld light, magazine, or rail different than what we offer, just select a standard item from our webstore, and in the comments box let us know you need to send your item in. We will respond with shipping instructions.

17) All about extended/threaded barrels & iron sight height:

We offer two extended/threaded options: .75" and 1". This refers to the additional length of the extended barrel over stock barrel length. All of our extended barrel options will allow for most thread protectors. The addition of an extended/threaded barrel on a holster will not affect the fit of the firearm using the factory barrel.

Our holsters will usually fit taller sights. If you are running specific sights for a suppressed handgun, please let us know in the comments box when ordering. Please give us the specific measurements on you sights to ensure a proper fit. HD Sights, XS Big Dots, 10-8 Sights etc. do not need to be commented on.

18) I have aftermarket controls/items installed. Do I need to let you know?

Yes. Items such as red dot optics, extended slide stop levers, tall sights, or others need to be accounted for during production. Please provide us with this information in the comments box when ordering. Updating your order after the fact to reflect these items will be subject to our order modification policies listed above.

19) I have a red dot on my slide, can you make a holster?

Yes, but only in the Minus Cut and Short Body Shield in order to allow clearance for your red dot optic.

20) I have a firearm you don't list. Can you make a custom holster for it?

At this time, no. Each of our holsters are made from the actual firearm (or machined mold representation). If we don't list it on the webstore, it means we do not have the firearm or machined mold available. Without an FFL, it would be illegal for a customer to send their firearm to us to make a holster from.

21) How do I get my order expedited?

A request to expedite an order is literally asking us to allow you to cut in line ahead of the thousands of customers in front of you. Just as you wouldn't be happy if we allowed the customer behind you to jump ahead, we do not allow you to jump ahead either.

22) Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Our minimum international shipping charge is $30 USD and includes insurance. Actual shipping fees will be adjusted based on the weight of your order. The majority of international orders ship for $25-$35 USD.

23) Do you offer Law Enforcement/Military discounts?

Yes, we are happy to provide a 10% discount for LE/MIL customers. Please use coupon code “2222” when ordering, and use your official email address for the order. Please note- Orders submitted without a proper corresponding email address will have the discount removed.

24) How do I mount my holster/mag carriers to MOLLE?

Our gear is designed and built as belt worn concealment wear. We do not make a specific MOLLE attachment.

That said, our customers report good results using 550 Cord, Zip Ties, or even the factory belt loops (when/if they line up, spacing varies upon the item) to lace their gear to a MOLLE platform.

25) Are there any special care instructions with Kydex gear?

For the most part, no. Kydex is a very durable material. It will not retain moisture and will clean easily with a quick rinse, or scrubbing of a nylon brush if you feel the need. That said, there are two key points you should pay attention to with our gear:

1) Once your carry settings are decided, you should place a drop of blue threadlocker on the threads of the hardware. The threadlocker should be applied after a clean/degrease of the hardware.

2) DO NOT LEAVE YOUR GEAR IN A HOT VEHICLE, especially in the sun. A piece of gear left on the dashboard of a vehicle during a hot day can reach the temps to deform them. They are still covered under our warranty, but save yourself the hassle of having to deal with this problem by keeping them away from this exposure. Simply putting them in a gearbag in the back is usually sufficient to keep them from deforming.

26) I have additional questions not covered in this FAQ, what should I do?

We find that emailing us is the most efficient way to handle incoming requests. We do our absolute best to answer all emails within one business day. We receive over a hundred emails per day, so catching up after the weekend can sometimes take a couple days. Please only send your request once, as researching the same issue multiple times causes a delay in response for everyone else. The various email servers on the web are not 100% reliable. If you do not receive a response within five business days, please email again. Please ensure you type your email address correctly in the contact form. Without an accurate email address, we have no way of contacting you to answer your questions.

If you are unable to email, or have a specific question best discussed over the phone, please call our customer service number between 10am – 6pm EST at (440) 508-9000. Please note- We do not accept orders over the phone.