PHLSTER

Light Bearing vs. Standard Enigma | Which one is right for me?

Both the Standard and LB Enigma come to you completely taken apart and without a holster, but they come with very different design features that you’ll want to understand before making your purchase.

Light Bearing Enigma:

The Light Bearing Enigma is designed to accommodate the weight and dimensions of a gun paired with a weapon light or laser. It has a completely different mounting system than the Standard Enigma because of this. The LB Enigma attaches to the face of your holster with four screws, and requires that the holster uses a light wing or a modwing L. Note that the LBE does not come with a holster. See LBE holster fit guide HERE. The faceplate comes with 8 belt adjustment holes to help you adjust cant, grip tuck and slide tuck, whereas the Standard Enigma comes with 12 adjustment holes to make those adjustments. 

Standard Enigma:

The Standard Enigma has a different attachment system than the LB Enigma since it does not have to make accommodations for a light or laser, because of this the Standard and the LB Enigma are NOT INTERCHANGEABLE – learn why. The Standard Enigma does not come with a holster, but is compatible with holsters that use a modwing, dark wing or raven wing, and have at least a quarter sized distance between the top of the wing and the grip of the gun. See holster fit guide for the Standard Enigma HERE

Which one should YOU get?

Luckily the choice between the Standard and the LBE is really simple because they’re each designed with something very specific in mind, and that is the presence of, or the lack of a weapon light or laser. 

The Light Bearing Enigma is designed for guns that have weapon lights or lasers.

If you have a weapon light or laser on your gun then you will want to look into finding a compatible holster for the Light Bearing Enigma, but if you do NOT have a weapon light or laser, you will want to look into our Enigma Express or our Standard Enigma. If we offer an Enigma Express for your gun then we would encourage you to go with the Express, but if not, then you’ll want to look into finding a holster that is compatible with the Standard Enigma before making your purchase. Also, consider watching our Standard Enigma vs Enigma Express video before making your purchase or reading our blog post on the topic.

Whether it’s the Standard that meets your needs, or the Light Bearing Enigma, we highly recommend finding a compatible holster BEFORE making your purchase. Many holster company’s have lengthy lead times, which may exceed your return period for the Enigma. 

Also consider watching our video to learn more about the differences between the Standard and Light Bearing Enigmas: 

 

Helpful links:

Standard Enigma Fit Guide

Light Bearing Enigma Fit Guide

Standard vs. Enigma Express

Do you need extra holster length?*

*If you’re carrying a longer-muzzled gun or a revolver, adding extra holster length may not be necessary for you, but for short semiautomatic guns, it’s often helpful.

Guns with short muzzles can be top-heavy and difficult to conceal comfortably. To solve this, some holsters have extra length added to the muzzle end. Like the keel on a boat, the extra muzzle length helps balance the holster, making it more comfortable and easier to conceal. This is especially true if you have a bit of a belly, which tends to push the grip out more and make the muzzle dig in.

Note that while extra muzzle length reduces grip printing, it can increase muzzle printing, which can be a concern with lower carry positions and tight fitting pants such as leggings or yoga pants. 

Learn more about the Keel Principle here.