When I saw the ad, I called John Rugh. John had earlier sent me one of his Woodsman's Pals to test and review in my column so I was familiar with the quality of his craftsmanship. Considering that the Pal he sent has been abused severely and hasn't lost its edge or rusted out, I was confident that the Clipdraw would perform as advertised.
I wasn't disappointed. Installed under the rightside panel on my Springfield Armory 1911A1 in less than a minute, the Clipdraw adds nothing to the weight or feel of the gun. Being nothing more than a bent piece of very-thin metal, this was expected.
What I didn't expect was the versatility the clipdraw afforded. I've been searching high and low for a holster that fits my body style (I was called plump by a coin-fed scale at the health food store); even most shoulder rigs don't fit my 57" chest. Anyhow, being what I like to think of as masculinely proportioned, the majority of holsters just don't fit.
The Clipdraw does. The simple spring-steel clip fits where most holsters won't. Strong-side carry...Small of the Back...Crossdraw...Seatbelt...you name it. All you have to do is stick it down the waistband and go. Hear a noise in the night? Grab your pistol and the "holster" comes with it.
The only downside to the Clipdraw, and it's a slight one, is that it doesn't prevent the gun from twisting. With a 1/4" gap between the slide and the mouth of the clip, you need to wear a thick belt to insure a tight grip or you'll find yourself with a muzzle-forward rake one minute and a butt-forward rake the next. This allowance of rotation is necessary if you want the spring clip to last a good while, but it does make a dedicated grip position hard to get. You can develop muscle memory to some degree but there is still a bit of fumbling because the handle is never exactly where it was a moment ago.
Having said that, I don't have a serious problem with the Clipdraw and recommend it highly. Skyline is a top notch company with a reputation for craftsmanship that is hard to beat. For the price ($20), you won't find a handier, more versatile way of toting your iron.