The Sundles Ready Rig
A Fast Action Shoulder Rig By Simply Rugged Holsters
Here’s Tank wearing the “Sundles Ready Rig.” Notice how the
gun is out of the way, easily accessible and ready for action?
Tim Sundles, owner of Buffalo Bore Ammunition, is a direct kind of guy. He’s lived, worked and played in some of the roughest places on Earth. He’s tried just about every outdoor product there is, from boots, clothing, guns, knives, optics and most other essential gear necessary for having success in the outdoors comfortably and safely. If it doesn’t work, he throws it away.
About 40 years ago, Sundles had several custom shoulder rigs made by Brian DiGardi, who has since died. Years of hard use took their toll, and Sundles wanted to have someone copy the original, not only for himself but to share what worked for him after several people inquired about what shoulder rig he wore when he was hunting, hiking or general woods bumming.
Drawing the gun from the “Ready Rig” entails sweeping the snap
tail with your middle finger and then establishing a grip on your gun.
Simply Rugged Holsters
Sundles contacted Rob Leahy, owner of Simply Rugged Holsters, to talk about possibly recreating his old DiGardi shoulder rig so others could reap the same benefits. Sundles sent a couple of rigs to Rob so he could reverse engineer them. The first rig Leahy’s crew made for Sundles was for Smith & Wesson’s five-shot X-frame in .500 S&W with a 3.5” barrel — a gun Sundles is importing to his Buffalo Bore Game Preserve in South Africa. It is the perfect packing piece for a nasty, pissed-off Cape Buffalo or any other troublesome critter looking for trouble.
With snap undone, grip is established.
The gun is rocked forward, not up, for a faster draw.
Real-Life Experience
As this is written, Sundles and his wife were charged in an unprovoked attack by a Cape Buffalo while hiking at their Preserve in South Africa three weeks earlier. Luckily, Tim had his double rifle with him. Who packs a .577 double rifle while hiking, you ask? This is akin to asking why Alaskans take a rifle with them to the outhouse at night. The people who live to tell about it do such things because they know $hit does happen, and when it does, it happens fast!
Sundles is adamant about a rig that’s fast and easily accessible for your handgun! As he says, “If you have it in your backpack, you’re going to get killed!” Your gun needs to be within easy reach and out of the way of backpack straps or binocular bras so you can draw your gun in a split second.
Tim knows what works for charging grizzly bears or Cape Buffalo. He has firsthand experience with such things, having been charged by both on numerous occasions, and can still talk about it. The answer is a rig allowing quick access with a fast/smooth draw.
trongside of the “Ready Rig” has your extra ammo
snugly held with leather cartridge loops.
Flop-Free Features
The Ready Rig is perfect for these demands. While wearing it, your gun is practically unnoticeable until needed. The breakfront holster is very fast, and retention is obtained by a snapped leather cross piece holding the clamshell-style holster closed. The bottom of the holster is securely anchored to your belt by way of a leather strap with Velcro backing to slip under your belt. This secures the holster from flopping around while horseback or motorbike riding. Spare ammo is carried on the opposite side of the cross-draw shoulder rig in the form of cartridge loops sewn onto a stiff leather backing for revolvers. Semi-auto pistols will have two magazine pouches sewn on the backing. It’s secured by an elastic loop with a snap.
The “Sundles Ready Rig” by Simply Rugged Holsters.
Anchor points are established with a Velcro-backed leather loop
for the holster and an elastic snap loop for backup ammo. The rig
can conveniently be put on or taken off without removing your belt.
Cheap Insurance
The Sundles Ready Rig is a comfortable, rugged piece of equipment providing peace of mind while playing or bumming around the same woods or terrain as large, dangerous critters that are capable of biting, clawing, hooking or stomping you to death. The holster is stamped with “SUNDLES Ready Rig” and Sundles’ signature Cape Buffalo logo, as well as Rob Leahy’s name and the Simply Rugged Holsters logo.
Sundles doesn’t make a nickel from sales of the rig but wanted to provide a representation of what has worked for him successfully over many years. It was important to him for a reputable vendor like Simply Rugged to bring this style back into circulation. The Sundles Ready Rig comes in black or natural leather and retails for $275.
