Review – First MFG Sharp Shooter Vest

First MFG Sharp Shooter Vest — My Take

Vests are a dime a dozen. You want to stand out, go buy the red-white-and-blue one or the one with the green snakeskin. Not me. I want a vest that looks like a vest. Not something off a fashion runway. This First MFG Sharp Shooter is that.

The leather
“1.1 to 1.2mm drum-dyed naked cowhide.” Right out of the box it’s soft enough to wear — none of that stiff, cheap-feeling leather that cracks on you after one summer. The dye goes all the way through the hide, so it holds its color and stays broke-in instead of going brittle.

Carry
This is the part that sold me. I dropped a full-size Glock 17 in the inside carry pocket. Heavy gun. Doesn’t matter — it sits right and it doesn’t print. Nobody looking at me would know it’s there. Bullet snap, tapered holster, and the left side’s set up so you can get to it clean with the vest zipped. If you carry, that’s your reason right there.

One honest thing: a full-size pistol has weight, and you feel it on that side when you’re walking around. It rides flat, but it ain’t weightless. A compact would sit easier.

The look
Standard club cut. Banded collar, covered snaps, short center zipper. No gimmicks, no junk hardware. Covered snaps mean the front stays clean, which matters if you run patches. Back panel’s one solid piece — and they say keep it one piece, even all the way to 5XL.

Pockets and inside
Four pockets on the outside — two up top, two down low — plus a phone pocket inside that actually holds a big phone. There’s a back pocket built for an armor insert if you want one. Mesh lining breathes good, and there’s an opening so you can set your patches before you sew ’em down.

Hardware
Good zippers. Tight stitching, no loose threads. Snaps hold. Nothing on it feels cheaped-out.

Bottom line
Good leather, clean lines, and a carry setup that flat works. Looks like a motorcycle vest is supposed to look. Honest truth — if whoever wins the giveaway don’t come grab this one, I’m keeping it.