Retired Marine provides firearms safety training, makes holsters 

LYNN – After serving 23 years in the Marine Corps, Joseph Poe decided it was time to transition into retirement and settle down in the mountains of Polk County.

Poe opened a shop late last year in the Valley Plaza along Hwy. 108 at 2060 Lynn Road Suite 3 to make custom holsters and provide firearms training to people in the community.

According to the Dunn, N.C. native, Poe retired last May as a Marine Gunner and said he wanted to move to the mountains of North Carolina from the Raleigh and Fayetteville area.

“We began looking for a place to set up shop in Asheville, but I decided they were a bit too liberal for me and so I decided on this area here,” Poe said. “This is about 15 minutes away from the house and it’s in between my house and the high school where my kids go.”

Custom orders can be placed online at gunnerscustomholsters.biz, and Poe said the orders could be tailor-made to the wants and needs starting with the color and on down to where the holster will be.

“I’m averaging about 20 to 35 holsters a day and so I do a lot of mail orders and local orders as well,” Poe said. “I get about five to 10 people a day, which is pretty good, considering I’m not Wal-Mart and won’t be getting thousands of people a day.”

The shop also carries firearm accessories and Poe said he provides firearms training for all types of weapons from pistols to rifles, in addition to concealed carry in North and South Carolina. Poe’s holsters use Kydex material, which Poe said allows for more durability and smooth holstering.

“Unlike leather and nylon holsters, Kydex maintains its shape allowing the shooter to holster smoother every time,” Poe’s website said. “Every holster is tested with numerous draws and with a ‘jump test’ to ensure solid retention while still allowing a smooth draw and presentation.”

Individuals looking to be concealed carry counselors can also talk to Poe about being certified as a trainer.

“What this translates to is that it makes you an instructor and you have to go to the North Carolina Department of Justice after you see me to become a counselor,” Poe explained. “I’ll be doing a lot of instructor courses in the pistol, rifle, shotgun, personal protection within the home and outside the home and I do black guns training like AR courses and long-range gun courses.”

Poe and the business can be contacted on Facebook by searching Gunner’s Custom Holsters, online at gunnerscustomholsters.biz and by phone at 910-382-2738. The business is open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except for being closed on Wednesdays.