July 6, 2017 0:00

// Pneumatic weapons

The owner of a pistol needs not only to keep his weapon in excellent technical condition, but also to choose for himself the most optimal way to carry it. The main criteria that should be followed when choosing a method of carrying pistols are concealed carrying and convenient location of the weapon, providing quick access to it. Accordingly, a special device is required that will make it convenient to carry combat, noise or traumatic weapons. The usual carrying of personal firearms outside the holster is not only inconvenient in all aspects, but unsafe. Therefore, an integral element of any short-barreled weapon was, is and will be a holster.

What is a holster

A holster in translation from the Turkic language is a case or quiver. The ancestor of the modern holster is a quiver for arrows, worn on the shooter’s belt or attached to the front of the saddle. In the current interpretation, a holster for personal weapons is a special device designed for permanent carrying of weapons.

In addition to its main function, the holster performs a number of other important functions:

• the holster should ensure a stable position of the weapon when carrying, the ability to quickly remove the gun if necessary;
• the device should be conveniently and stably attached to the body, without causing constraint in movements;
• the holster must have optimal dimensions, be durable, reliable and practical in operation.

Taking into account the listed requirements that are imposed on the holster, it is customary to divide these devices by the method of wearing and by the type of material from which they are made. Often devices are divided by brand and type of weapon. The shape of the holster and its dimensions play an important role here.

How to wear a holster?

The scope and scope of personal weapons often determines the way they are carried. There are different ways to position and secure the holster on the body. Each option is determined by expediency and operational situation. In some cases, the holster involves the concealed carrying of a pistol, while others, on the contrary, suggest a demonstrative way of carrying a pistol. There is no universal way to carry a holster. Despite this, many manufacturing companies produce universal holsters that have a shape and size designed for various ways of wearing.

However, professionals prefer to have specialized devices for carrying weapons, the shape and size of which are determined by the specifics of combat use. Accordingly, the place of attachment of the holster is chosen, which should correspond to the style of clothing and physiological features of the body structure of the owner of the weapon.

Traditionally , according to the method of wearing , the following types of devices are used for wearing tools:

In the first case, we can talk about the priority of the main function of the holster – concealed carrying. The holster is worn on the shoulder and allows you to hide the weapon under the outer clothing. The gun is always at hand, especially since the size of the weapon in this case does not play a significant role.

The hip holster is rarely used in practice and is more designed for demonstrative, open carrying of weapons. The main advantage of this type is that it is very convenient to quickly remove the weapon from such a position and be ready to fire.

The most common type according to the method of wearing is a belt holster. This option involves attaching the holster to the belt in a vertical or inclined position. The side is selected depending on the working hand of the shooter. It is important to take into account the correct location of the center of mass of the pistol, so that its handle is always in the upper position.

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The statistics of the combat use of the belt holster indicates that this type satisfies the entire range of conditions by 80%. Shoulder holsters solve the tasks of narrow specialization, where a special way of carrying weapons is required. A properly selected belt holster is not inferior to the shoulder holster in terms of stealth, if we are not talking about carrying automatic or large-caliber weapons.

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Materials

The holster can be made of any improvised material. It can be wood, a special kind of plywood, impact-resistant plastic, genuine leather and synthetics.

The main material for creating a holster is leather. This material makes it easy to form the shape of the holster, make it soft or hard. Leather products are also convenient in the practical plane, therefore they are used with almost all types of short-barreled weapons. Leather holsters are considered the best option for carrying and storing weapons. Such a holster is practically not felt on the body, it is light and easy to handle. It can be used both for the secret storage of weapons on the body and in the public domain.

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The butt holster is included with some types of pistols to increase the stability of the weapon during firing. In particular, traditionally pistols of the type “Mauser S-96” or APS are equipped with wooden cases, which are worn with a belt.

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The modern version of the butt holster provides for the use of plastic instead of wood. Plastic, as well as wood, has the necessary rigidity, but it is much lighter and more durable than wood. This type of holster is usually worn over outerwear.

For most of the model range, the holster today is made of synthetic materials. The main advantage of such devices is their affordability. Synthetics have the necessary strength, absolutely not afraid of moisture.

Separation of holsters by brand of weapon

An extensive model range of revolvers, pistols of all types determines the type of holster. If a holster of small size and flattened shape is most often used for short-barreled automatic pistols, then for revolvers, as a rule, relief products are required.

In addition to various shapes and sizes, the holster can be open and closed. Closed devices provide full protection of weapons from damage and contamination. Most of the military and police use this type of holster. Open or semi-open products are mainly shoulder and hip holsters.

Conclusion

The types and types of holsters that exist today are designed for each type of weapon. The shape and size of the holster is determined by the type of weapon, a revolver or a self-loading pistol. The shape of the products is influenced by the way of carrying weapons and the specifics of its use. Similarly, the type of materials used to create the holster is determined. When choosing a holster, it is necessary to be guided by individual motives and the advice of experts in this field. Here, the personal preferences of the owner of the weapon, expediency and operational necessity play a significant role.