Greater Flexibility Desired
WARRIOR GEAR SPECIAL SECTION
Holsters are Evolving in Response to
Warfighters Battlefield Experiences.
by Marty Kauchak, SOTECH Correspondent
Driven by new requirements from the global war on terror, equipment providers are diversifying their portfolios of sidearm holsters. While the sales price and availability of holsters continue to allow the individual operator or government customer to readily obtain one, industry vendors are adding more models from which to select.
SOME BASICS
Holsters available to the military customer are moderately priced and are built with a variety of materials. Bianchi’s holsters cost between $22 and $104. A competing model, Galco’s Fletch high-ride holster, is priced at $82. Holsters are constructed with different material, including lightweight, reinforced 1,000 denier DuPont Cordura. “Nylon has proven to be durable and comfortable in the field. Our holsters offer the ability for operators to custom fit their gear to mission and personal preference,” Mike Rosenstein, spokesperson, London Bridge Trading Company (LBT), told Special Operations Technology. Another industry mainstay, Galco, supplies an Armortek belt-slot holster made from a custom mix of glass-filled nylon and elastomers, while the Fletch holster is constructed of saddle leather.
Holsters of interest to SOF and personnel in conventional military units are available through online sales and in-store purchasing, as well as through the DoD supply system. “If it’s on General Services Administration schedules, servicemembers may buy these with their International Merchant Purchase Agreement Card,” Peter Kirton, general manager, Bianchi and Safariland, told SOTECH.
EVOLVING DEMANDS
“We do not have a specific holster requirement and holsters were developed and fielded to support the 9 mm pistol Joint Service Operational Requirements (JSOR) document from the early 1980s,” said Major Tom Henthorn, chief, Small Arms Division, Directorate of Combat Developments, U.S. Army Infantry Center. Henthorn provided one service’s overview of this equipment item and pointed out that the Army has two official holsters for the M9, 9 mm (Beretta)—the M12 (hip) and the M7 (side, under arm). “There was also a clip-on modification [extension strap] to the M12 to allow you to carry it on your thigh, based on soldier preference and/or equipment configuration. Both holsters are documented as additional authorized list [AAL] items that the commander can choose,” he added.
As for the M11, 9 mm compact pistol (SigSauer), it “doesn’t have a holster because of the unique configurations for concealed carry based on mission, body, type, etc. My understanding is those operators get an allowance for a holster,” noted Henthorn.
Against this service standard, operators are generating new demands for holsters and accessories based on their battlefield experiences during GWOT, according to industry experts. One commonly suggested improvement provides more flexibility on where a servicemember can wear a primary weapon, resulting in a demand for holsters for wear on the waist and, ever increasingly, on other body points. “What they are looking for are new ways in which to carry the weapon, not just from the waist standpoint, but to the thigh and, now increasingly, up on the body armor,” observed Kirton. “It’s really about greater flexibility, in the carry design of the holster. Guys are finding themselves in more difficult and different situations,” added Kirton.
This demand and the requirements described later are encouraging industry sources to offer a variety of styles of holsters which collaterally benefit servicemembers and their counterparts in law enforcement, homeland security and even recreational hunters. Eagle Industries has one representative, evolving product portfolio with holster styles that include belt carry, concealment shoulder rigs, in the waistband and tactical drop leg style, according to Amber Henley, company spokesperson.
Overall comfort is another important issue on the minds of servicemembers. “What we are seeing are a lot of comfort issues in how they carry their weapons, where they carry their weapons and how they move them about,” pointed out Kirton. Bianchi has several next-generation holster improvement projects in progress that address these and current shortfalls but declined to provide more details.
Holster designs are also evolving to securely stow gun-mounted lights and other supporting devices. “Now we have so many different gun-light combinations, and this is increasing, too,” Scott Carnahan, director, marketing and research and development, Bianchi and Safariland, told SOTECH. Safariland’s Rapid Light System and its accompanying holsters (6004 and 6005 Self Locking System (SLS) Tactical Holsters, and 6305 Automatic Locking System (ALS) Tactical Holsters) have been fielded to meet this surging demand. Carnahan provided insight on how the company’s proprietary ALS operates. “Once the gun is holstered, the ALS automatically secures the weapon with a lever that locks into the ejection port,” he said. “Unlike other locking holsters, the ALS is operated with the thumb, providing an instinctive gun draw,” added Carnahan.
Reflecting on the operators’ use of additional accessory items, including white light and laser, Henthorn said, “Many vendors carry ‘expanded’ holsters to accommodate these enablers and there is an array of non-standard holsters procured through command initiative across the combat force to tailor for specific needs. Our requirement has not changed to accommodate these enablers.”
FAVORITES AND NEW PRODUCTS
The military has number of favorite holsters according to industry insiders.
Bianchi’s UM84 Universal Military Holster is the firm’s most requested product by servicemembers. The holster fits both revolvers and most semi-automatic pistols. Bianchi’s most popular military holster, the M12 Universal Military Holster, is specifically designed to fit the Beretta 92 semiautomatic pistol. A third popular holster is the UM92 Universal Military Holster which incorporates design features and the versatility of the M12/UM84 with the addition of a polymer trigger guard. The company has a five-year contract in force with Defense Supply Center Columbus to deliver its M1425 Tactical Hip Extender.
For its part, Safariland’s most popular products with its military customers are the 6004 SLS Tactical Holster and the four leg-mounted holsters (6304, 6305, 6354 and 6355) of the tactical ALS line. The new 6354 and 6355 do not have the rotating-hood, SLS feature. “These new holsters for the military utilize the ALS giving the open top while securely locking the weapon. You can also take all of those same four holsters (6304-6355) and mount them on the vest which gives the user the flexibility of mounting the holster in the best position for the mission,” clarified Carnahan.
On Safariland’s horizon for an April 2008 release is its Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE)-Locking System that has been demonstrated at recent industry exhibitions. “It’s a quick release system so that the user can easily remove the holster from his leg and quickly mount it to his MOLLE vest or other applications, including mounting the holster in a vehicle, without the need of any tools,” said Carnahan.
The LBT-0372E thigh-mount holster is LBT company’s most popular offering from this product line. The nylon-webbased holster that was “developed by and issued to Naval Special Warfare personnel,” according to a company product brochure, has a spare pouch for an ammo magazine or Surefire flashlight, a removable drop down extender and other features. A second popular company offering starts with the LBT-6099A, a universal MOLLE-capable, vest mounted holster designed for the Beretta 92F. The holster is the main component of the LBT- 6099KIT. “LBT has been producing the LBT-6099KIT for the Air Warrior program for years. The kit includes all adapters and extenders to wear this holster as a vest mount, thigh mount, or shoulder mount holster,” explained Rosenstein. This model is reported to be “a close second” in popularity to the -0372E.
Blade-Tech is introducing two new holsters and three new accessories of interest to SOF. The injection-molded three-position paddle holster has the same identical features as the company’s Straight Drop Holster but it is assembled with a paddle attachment instead of a belt loop and can be adjusted for straight drop, FBI cant and muzzle forward positions. The holster is designed for right-hand use. A second new holster, the Dropped and Offset Holster, is adjustable from straight drop to muzzle forward or FBI cant. “It provides an extremely comfortable ride as it is ‘offset’ from the hip to allow for a greater degree of outward cant, allowing for the grip of the pistol to be positioned away from the body and aligning the pistol in a vertical position for more positive indexing. This holster also features a ‘drop’ which lowers the placement of the pistol for an easier reach as the arm can remain more extended as compared with using a belt level holster,” noted company.
Blade-Tech’s new holster accessories include an adjustable Stingray belt loop, the Stingray Dropped and Offset attachment and a three-position paddle attachment.
While Blackhawk does not list any new 2008 products, the company continues to feature its special operations holster. The nylon-constructed product has a number of features including maximum weapon protection and retention with the top flap over the pistol, belt-mounted with single stabilizing elastic and rubberized leg strap, and adjustable thumb break for quick draw of most large frame weapons. The special operations holster also has a front pouch for an extra magazine, knife or light. Additional magazine pouches with part numbers that match those on the product homepage, can be mounted horizontally on the belt flap.
Galco lists several holsters and holster systems that are in demand by ground operators, including its VHS shoulder system of which “thousands” are reportedly in use. “A key component of this patented shoulder system is its spider harness. All four points of the spider harness can pivot independently and are connected by our clover shape, trademarked Flexalon swivel back plate. This, along with our patented swivel connectors, results in a perfect fit and lasting comfort for virtually all body sizes and shapes,” noted the company.
Eagle Industries’ latest item from its nylon holster line is the Universal Holster (UH-92F-MS) that was designed for the U.S. Army. The Universal Holster and the Concealment Shoulder Holster with magazine pouch (CSS-W/MP) are the company’s two most popular products. “The Universal Holster was designed with input from the end user to be worn as a MOLLE-attachment holster, SAS Drop Leg Holster, or a belt holster. It has the ability to carry the Beretta 92F, the 92F with rail, and the 92F with integrated laser/white Light Pointers laser aiming module,” pointed out Henley. She added, “The UH-92F-MS is a component-style holster, allowing it to be converted backand- forth between a right-handed and left-handed holster.” ♦