Review: The Absaroka Kid Smart Case for all NAA Minis

[MR_22]

Now for another Absaroka Kid leather review! This is for the Smart Case, an NAA mini-revolver plus ammo storage combination case that resembles smart-phone technology for disguise, so you can hide your mini-revolver and extra ammo in plain sight.

The concept is simple, but elegant. It's a new belt case that looks like a case for a phone--albeit one of the larger phones, to account for all NAA minis, except the Minimaster. Yes, the Black Widow will even fit.

Also included in this review is the iPhone ammo case--an extra two reloads, 10 rounds. This case can we used with or without the Smart-Case. Cool, don't you think? A great way to take advantage of a world of nerds who like to carry their electronics. You can hide your gun along with them hiding their electronic devices.

The sides are creatively sealed with dyed wool. The Absaroka kid experimented with a number of solutions for sealing the sides and prevent viewing the contents, but cracks between the leather pieces allowed viewing of the firearm inside. So he used wool to seal the sides. I think it works pretty well, don't you think?

And not how the Sidewinder is secured to the case--it's being held in place by strong rare earth magnets. Using these magnets allows you to insert any of the NAA mini-revolver line into the case, except the Minimaster, since the barrle is too long.

Now for some pictures!

[MR_22]

And here's a close-up of my Sidewinder in in the case, secured by the rare earth magnets and accompanied with 5 extra rounds for reloading.

And each case is secured with a snap and features belt clips on the back.

Sure, the Smart-Case is larger than an iPhone, but is closer in size to the larger type phones, like the larger Samsung Galaxies (which I DON'T have, but I'm including a picture).

[MR_22]

A few more NAA minis inside the Absaroka Kid Smart-Case to show its versatility.

[TwoGunJayne]

You always have the nicest toys, Raoul.

[45flint]

The rare earth magnets are under the leather?  They will hold the stainless?   Steve

[Uncle_Lee]

The Kid's stuff just make me weep.
I want, I want, I want.

[MR_22]

The rare earth magnets are under the leather?  They will hold the stainless?   Steve

Yes, they are under the leather. The grab the stainless steel of the minis rather well. I'll get a picture of that. I can't believe I missed that. The ones he's using are about the size of the top of a 9mm round, but I have recommended he use some about the size of a nickel. I think they'll hold better, but the 1cm magnets seem to be doing great.

Hang on and I'll get a pic.

[MR_22]

Here's a picture of the magnets. There are three on the top and three on the bottom. You can't see the ones on the bottom very well, as they are next to the ammo carrier, which is riveted to the case.

The six magnets will hold any NAA minis (except the Minimaster, for size) in the case and ready to draw very well. No pulling out of a holster, either. Unsnap it, yank it off, and you're ready to go!

[45flint]

Those are the same mags I use in my grips.  Got to love the Kids creativity. 

[MR_22]

Those are the same mags I use in my grips.  Got to love the Kids creativity.

He's an artist, all right!

I'm thinking about trying your idea with the grip magnets, too. They seem to hold on during shooting?

[45flint]

Yes, had no problems.  Mag to mag hold is extremely strong. 

[TwoGunJayne]

Is the magnet powerful enough to mess up your phone?

[JES14352]

Just received a new holster in the mail today from the Kid , love his work...

[MR_22]

Is the magnet powerful enough to mess up your phone?

Not sure. Are they affected my magnets? Devices with magnetic storage are a problem, but I don't know about electronics, like a phone.

[MR_22]

Just received a new holster in the mail today from the Kid , love his work...

Cool. Maybe you should post some pictures!

[TwoGunJayne]

Is the magnet powerful enough to mess up your phone?

Not sure. Are they affected my magnets? Devices with magnetic storage are a problem, but I don't know about electronics, like a phone.

Your iphone contains a magnetometer. The NSA is going to think you keep it inside a Sherman Tank.

[PaducahMichael]

Sending my order to the Kid right now!

[OV-1D]

  O.K. seeing no one asked I gotta ask what is that stuff sticking out of the ends of that pouch , looks like pot or something living in there . Inquiring minds need to know dang it . WHY is it there ? Some law enforcement is going to want to know I bet .

[PaducahMichael]

Looks like dyed shearling wool to me, OVID

[MR_22]

Sometimes the Absaroka Kid's leather is so impressive that pictures of his work draws the eyes away from the words in the actual review used to describe his leatherwork. This is normal and is to be expected, but it does sometimes leave the observer confused. LOL

See the top post of this thread, which says:

"The sides are creatively sealed with dyed wool. The Absaroka kid experimented with a number of solutions for sealing the sides and prevent viewing the contents, but cracks between the leather pieces allowed viewing of the firearm inside. So he used wool to seal the sides. I think it works pretty well, don't you think?"

[OV-1D]

  Your right MR22 I read right past that . Well it works alright just doesn't seem to go with the flow so to speak . Needs to be boxed in on both ends with leather . Mind ya to each their own but that wool is going to give way only a piece of that beautiful leather will look and work with it being riveted only on the back side . Only my two cents of course .

[Goatpacker]

Nice looking tooling on that holster, but that thing looks huge??? If I saw someone wearing that I would defiantly say to myself, "he is packing heat"!!!

[MR_22]

  Your right MR22 I read right past that . Well it works alright just doesn't seem to go with the flow so to speak . Needs to be boxed in on both ends with leather . Mind ya to each their own but that wool is going to give way only a piece of that beautiful leather will look and work with it being riveted only on the back side . Only my two cents of course .

Sure, I understand. The Kid played with this problem for a LONG TIME and what he came up with never protected view into the insides from the side. He finally came up with the wool idea, which does hide the insides, but yeah, I agree, it's kind of a weird idea. People may or may not like that idea, but it's what worked.

You can contact him directly if you want more information about why he did that. It wasn't a decision lightly made. In fact, he has take a lot of leather to experiment and probably a couple of months time trying to figure out what could work.

[MR_22]

Nice looking tooling on that holster, but that thing looks huge??? If I saw someone wearing that I would defiantly say to myself, "he is packing heat"!!!

Yes, the case is large--about the size of the larger phone/tablets, of which I included a photo. If you were carrying one of those phones in a case, it would be about that size. But, NO, I don't think it screams, "Hey, I'm carrying!" I've tried various closed-case belt holsters like this and nobody ever looks twice at you. So many people have stuff they carry along with them all of the time that nobody really looks at it. Seriously. Even the DeSantis packs that NAA used to include with the Guardian go almost completely unnoticed, unless somebody knows you carry or have seen the case before. I've carried with the DeSantis external belt pack a lot, back when I got my Guardian .380 and it was practically invisible on my belt.

Really, the general public out there doesn't go around looking for people hiding guns. It may seem obvious to you have me, but most non-gun people don't even notice them. Try it sometime. You might be surprised.

I also use a Sneaky Pete leather holster, for both my Diamondback DB9 and DB380 and people don't see them. They are a little more stylish and LOOK like electronic cases, but still, they go unnoticed.

[Goatpacker]

You are prob right Mr22!!! I do tend to look pretty hard trying to ID who is carrying!!! I say "They are packing" about every man wearing a photo vest or a straight guy wearing a fanny pack!!!

[heyjoe]

a gay guy wearing a fanny pack is probably packing too

[Goatpacker]

There is a good chance of that too but a straight guy defiantly!!!

[MR_22]

I don't wear fanny packs, but sometimes I wear a black-leather side-mounted man-bag on my waist when I'm vacationing. No gun in it, either.

[heyjoe]

 

[Goatpacker]

That holster would free up a lot of room in your pockets, maybe you won't need the bag???

[triumphkevin]

Pugs with boot grips look sooooo bad @ss

[MR_22]

Pugs with boot grips look sooooo bad @ss

They do, don't they? The first thing I did when I got my Pug is pull the rubber grip off and throw a boot grip on it. Gotta love it!

[OV-1D]

  I think a nice cross the chest deer skin bag would be fashionable , in any case everyone would keep their distance and wondering especially having your hand over the top kinda hanging there . Anybody know why mens hats went out of fashion ?    

[triumphkevin]

Yea. I gotta get a set for mine. Right now it has mini master grips which I did some custom stippling on with a soldering iron. I love them but they don't look right on anything other than my pug. Maybe I just need 2 pugs lol

[OV-1D]

  Prices are dropping on all standard mini's even with dual cylinders . The fancy ones are still holding high . This time next year things will change I HOPE . Just can't figure on some.... less gun higher price , BW's and Mini Masters go for less than Pugs , supply and demand stuff I guess .