1791 EDC Organizer Review

August 4, 2024

Alan Hughes

There are people out there who walk around all day with nothing more than a car key, a driver’s license and a credit card, and feel good about that. If that’s how they want to roll, that’s cool for them. But then they’re coming to guys like me asking for a knife, a flashlight, a screwdriver or ‘where can I find pliers’ requests. There are just times when you need ‘stuff’ and 1791 Gunleather addresses that need with the 1791 EDC Collection. They have a range of options depending on how much stuff you plan to carry and how you want to carry it.

Read to the end for a discount code on 1791 Gunleather products.

Disclosure: 1791 did provide the EDC organizer to me at no cost. But that will not affect my evaluation of it.

What Did We Try?

Officially, the item we tried is called the 1791 EDC Heavy Duty Action-Snap with Large Flex Loop Tool Organizer. That’s a mouthful, so we’re just going to call it the organizer from here on. I selected the Large/XL version in black.

The main idea behind the organizer is that some of us carry more things than would be practical to put in our pockets. Or, even if we could fit them in the pocket, that would either be uncomfortable or not easy to access. I should also note that there are a couple of models made to go inside the pocket that just make things more organized and reduce wear on the pocket.

The 1791 EDC Heavy Duty Action-Snap Tool Organizer

This organizer is a serious piece of gear. Like the Gunbelt we tested before, this item is made of steerhide instead of cowhide. Steerhide has a more consistent thickness and a tighter grain, so you can expect a better-finished product. This organizer did not disappoint. The finish was very smooth and consistent. The leather thickness was a good .20 inch at the spots I measured.  

The organizer is set up for 3 compartments:

  • Multitool Pocket: Fits tools up to 1.8″ wide
  • Accessory Sleeve: Fits accessories up to 1.2″ wide with clips
  • Large Flex Loop: Fits accessories up to 1.2″ in diameter

It also has a keyring built into one of the snaps.

Situational Awareness Series: The Cooper Color Code for Awareness

The Looks

There are other products out there, but I have to say, these 1791 EDC products are some of the best-looking ones I’ve run across that weren’t custom-made. I chose the black finish because I like black and this organizer runs concealed for me. But they have a deep burgundy or a beautiful chestnut color as options. If I were wearing this visibly, I’d likely have gone with the burgundy. That color has a classic, vintage sort of look. I’d almost call it a bespoke look.

That’s the other advantage here: the looks. If you were an IT tech carrying a multi-tool, flashlight and another small item, this would look like a classier option in an office setting.

How It Attaches

I wanted to put this in a separate section because it has 2 ways of attaching to a belt up to 1.5 inches wide.

The first, most obvious way, is with the 2 visible belt loops. These loops, called Action-Snap, have snaps that allow you to put the organizer on, or take it off, without removing your belt. This is a pretty heavy-duty setup. The loops are substantial, and the snaps are high quality. This would be a good choice for someone who may not want to wear it all day or may be in and out of situations where they don’t need/want as much gear.

The second method still uses the Action-Snaps but adds a belt loop that is sewn into the back. This loop is a heavy piece of steerhide and putting a belt through it not only makes it stay on more securely, but it also pulls the organizer in closer to you, a plus if you are concealing the organizer.

It’s worth noting that the thickness of your belt could be an issue here. While it won’t be a factor with most belts, if you use a thick belt, like the 1791 Gunbelt, it is a tight fit. Take an extra minute to get it positioned where you want it because once the belt is on, that sucker isn’t sliding around.

What Will It Hold?

The 1791 site has some guidance on specific fits, but I tried a few combos, and here is what I found.

Multitool Pocket

The company says it will fit a tool up to 1.8” wide. I used a Gerber Suspension NXT in this test. I’ve been using this tool for a few years now. It replaced the Leatherman that TSA took when I mistakenly left it in my carry-on bag. (I’m still salty about that) It’s a full-sized tool and fits nicely into the pocket. It was snug and secure.

Flex Loop

I tried my flex loops mainly with flashlights, but 1791 mentions other possible uses like volt meters or XL Sharpies.

The biggest flashlight I put in it was a Streamlight Protac 2L-X. This is a big, 500-lumen light, but it fits nicely into the flex loop. I don’t carry it often, but this organizer will easily hold it. The next size down is the Streamlight Protac 1L. This is a medium-sized light that I usually have in my bag during the day or in my pocket for night trips. Again, it fits easily in the loop. With both of those lights, I carried lenses up.

I also put some small lights in the loop. If I don’t have one of the bigger ones on me, I always have either a Streamlight Microstream or an Olight I3T EOS in my pocket. These are not super bright (45 and 180 lumens respectively) but are handy to have. These both fit easily into the big flex loop.

Ruger LCP Max magazine and Streamlight Microstream

Accessory Sleeve

The accessory sleeve of the 1791 Gunleather organizer gives some flexibility. It fits objects up to 1.2” wide. I tried it with a couple of knives, including a low-priced Remington knife I’ve been testing out (and impressed with). Some were snugger than others.

Magazines

Of course, what a lot of us want to know is “Can it hold a spare magazine”? The answer is: sometimes.

In the pictures, you’ll see magazines for the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus and the Ruger LCP Max. I tried it with other magazines ranging from the Glock 42 to the Sig P320 with varying results. There are 2 points to keep in mind:

  1. This is a high-quality leather. It will be stiff at first. As it breaks in, the fit becomes more customized.
  2. 1791 doesn’t actually sell this as a magazine holder. They sell some very good, dedicated magazine holders. This is strictly my experimentation for EDC purposes.

Also, I found that metal magazines work much better than polymer ones. While a single stack Glock 43 magazine will fit, a Glock 19 size mag did not. A metal Sig P320 magazine of the same capacity did work. My Smith & Wesson Shield Plus magazine works.

My advice is to get the organizer broken in before using it to carry your reload. It will take time for the leather to get to the point where it releases the magazine easily enough for my comfort.

Again, 1791 Gunleather does not sell this as a magazine carrier. I experimented with this because I know a lot of you will have the same idea. It can work, just take time to do it right. If you want to see their dedicated mag carriers, check them out here.

The Wrap-up

Before we get to the wrap-up, I promised you a discount code. If you use the code “betterprotectors” at the checkout, 1791 Gunleather will give you 10% off your purchase.

In a nutshell, the 1791 Gunleather EDC Heavy Duty Action-Snap Organizer is a solid piece of kit. The build quality is obvious and you can tell that this is a piece of gear you will have for years to come. While I wear mine concealed, you won’t be covering it up because you’re embarrassed over the looks.

If you like the idea of an EDC organizer, but this particular item isn’t what you need, check out their whole EDC collection. You’ll find choices ranging from a pocket holder for a knife and a pen/flashlight to traditional-looking knife pouches with a flap and everything in between.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other affiliate links may also be present and earn a commission.

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