Since the advent of firearms, armies around the world have many new problems. And we are talking here not only about the increased firepower of enemy soldiers, but also about the issues of carrying and transporting personal weapons. Around the same time, a holster appeared. This item of equipment is especially necessary for a pistol, since it allows you to always have it with you, without experiencing any inconvenience.
What it is?
Kobur (from Turkish kubur - “case, quiver”) - a small case, a case, adapted for carrying personal firearms. Initially, it was not so often worn on the body, since basically it was attached to the saddles. Already in those days, the holster for the pistol had to meet one basic requirement - its contents had to be removed as quickly as possible, without creating delays that could become fatal.
Brief information on the development of holsters in our country
In our country, this item of equipment is also known as the “pistol gun", "Ulstra" and even "pig". The last term usually denoted holsters that clung on either side of the bow of the saddle (that is, among cavalrymen).
It just so happened that in the army of our country a holster for a pistol is one of the main signs of belonging to the officer "estate". Most often, this item of equipment is made of genuine or artificial leather, which is painted black. It is mounted on a waist belt with a belt. An additional pocket can be sewn on its side, in which it is convenient to store an additional magazine for the gun, a ramrod for cleaning it, etc.
The military industry of the USSR and the Russian Federation centrally produced holsters for guns, TT pistols and PM. It should be noted that the appointment of a gun holster in those days often happened in two ways. It was not only a “cover” for protecting personal small arms from the weather and enemy attacks, but also a butt. We will talk more about this below.
Main types
There are several types of such a useful device for carrying personal weapons. Firstly, belt, which are divided into two varieties:
- Designed for outdoor wear.
- Hidden, which is usually worn on the inner surface of the thigh (which complicates their visual determination).
The following types also exist:
- Operational designed to be worn on the shoulder.
- Hips, better known as "tactical."
- Pocket. Explanations are superfluous.
The main distinguishing features of holsters of different types
Initially, the holster appeared exclusively as a bag for placing a gun, as well as to protect the powder shelf from moisture. To get weapons, in those days it was necessary to unfasten a lot of fasteners and hooks, which required a lot of time. So very quickly the holsters became smooth. This was largely due to the improvement of the weapon itself, which could quickly lead to battle.
To speed up the process, some craftsmen sewed a special strap into the holster. If you pull it with a skillful hand, then the weapon pops right into your hand! Such a holster for a pistol was a real find for shoulder-straps and other personalities, which the need to shoot could catch at any moment. Open holsters without rigid fixation of guns are very convenient, which are very widespread even today.
Such varieties do not have a lid, which makes it easier to snatch weapons. The gun handle just sticks out. It is fixed in the holster either due to the friction force, or with the help of a small and narrow strap. It can be easily thrown off with one finger, and no effort is required for this. In addition, models in which the fixation of weapons occurs due to a small magnet have gained some popularity. They are also quite comfortable.
The operatives of various power departments are highly respected tactical holsters, which with the help of a special "harness" are fixed on the shoulder. On the other hand, a special clip with loaded magazines can be attached to the gun. If the fit was performed by a professional, then the fact of carrying a weapon can be noticed only by another experienced person.
In the relatively recent past, hard holsters with butt function were quite common. In this case, they are made of hard plastic or even wood (Mauser C-96, APS). In some cases, the role of the stock was played by a hard board, to which was attached a "classic" leather bag (parabellum, there was such a holster for a TT pistol). Being fastened to the gun, such a device significantly increases the accuracy and accuracy of fire.
What are the requirements for a hidden wearing holster?
Firstly, such an accessory should be put on and removed as easily as possible, it should in no case spoil clothes or shoes, and not restrict movements. But the main thing is that such a holster (for a PM pistol or another) not only has to securely fix the weapon, but also does not interfere with its quickest extraction. If we are talking about purely service marks, then these products, in addition to all of the above, are also obliged to reliably protect the pistols from moisture and to make it as difficult as possible for attackers to take possession of service weapons.
Immediately, we note that everything described below primarily refers to the legendary PM pistol, which has been in the arsenal of domestic law enforcement agencies and the army since the 60s of the last century.
Speed or convenience?
According to the amateur, each holster for the PM pistol is first of all obliged to provide the maximum “barrel” reach. But this is not so. In real life, and not in colorful cinema, such a situation is extremely rare. In most cases, the operative, in a potentially dangerous position, will unzip her in advance, or even take out a gun from there. In the case when it comes to the detention of a dangerous offender, the weapon in any case should already be in the hand, but not on the hip.
Even an ordinary person who has a license to wear "civilian" options for self-defense, it is better to put his gun in his pocket in advance if he is going to go into a particularly dark entrance in the late evening. Even if he knows the technique of high-speed snatching, this will not help to repel an attack made from a distance of less than two meters. In this case, even a very comfortable holster will fail with a high degree of probability.
Of course, all of the above should by no means be understood as if the speed of snatching a weapon is not important at all: any person who owns it must train this skill without fail. But still, we will repeat once again that this is not the main thing. Suppose you need a holster for the PM pistol of hidden wearing. What should I look for when choosing?
We advise you to remember three points: wearing comfort, reliability of fixation and secrecy. Why? Most likely, you are unlikely to ever find yourself in a situation where your life will depend on the speed of snatching weapons (in any case, it would be better if this did not happen), but you will most likely drag it around almost every day.
Imagine a situation when you have a holster that can be unfastened by any “sneeze”: your gun may well fall out when you bend to tie your shoelaces. What about an uncomfortable model? Yes, you can wipe the skin to blood every day and at least eight hours a day without parting with a weapon.
"Tips for motorists"
If you travel around the district most of the time, not on your own, but on a car, you need to remember something else. We are talking about the fact that a person who is fastened with a seat belt simply cannot physically grab a weapon … when belt holsters are used for pistols. In the case when your main means of transportation is public transport, bring up to yourself an automatic skill to discreetly check the presence of a pistol in a holster unnoticed by others. If you get used to its mass, then one day you may just not notice how a clever pickpocket will leave you without an official or personal trunk.
The best options for discreet wearing
In recent years, many law enforcement officers believe that the best holster for the PM concealed carry pistol is the one made in the company of Igor Kosarev and Yuri Mosunov. Oddly enough, but it is small-scale manufacturers that are distinguished by increased attention to ergonomics and the overall quality of manufacturing, which can not always be said about serial production products. Even stranger, in fact piece goods at the same time are much cheaper than "in-line" models.
Experience shows that in any situation, “strong” holsters prove to be the best, complete with a pocket for an additional store. “Strong” means that weapons should always be under the working hand. The classic option is when the holster is worn on a belt that fits over it through two cutouts at the edges. Remember that there are really no special differences between the models of different manufacturers, since here we can only talk about the quality of workmanship and the materials used in this process.
Stick position relative to body arrow
It is better when the handle rises comparatively high above the arrow’s belt, since in this situation it most closely fits the human body, minimizing the probability of detecting a weapon. Professionals testify that even when wearing a light jacket, the gun is completely invisible, and wearing it is not difficult. If you need the option of hidden, daily and constant wearing, then it is the options with a high location of the pistol grip should be chosen.
Western or real exploitation?
There is an opinion that in reality it is more convenient and practical for those systems that involve the removal of the handle at a certain distance from the shooter's body. In particular, it is precisely such a holster for the Yarygin pistol that leads among professionals in the midst of bullet shooting. Yes, in such a situation, they actually show themselves perfectly, significantly surpassing all existing options that were created specifically for the purpose of hidden wearing. But just like that, nothing happens and there are no consequences. Everything is very simple here - the farther the handle of the weapon is from the human body, the more distinctly it is “imprinted” even through thick clothes.
In some situations, such a circumstance may well cost a life, and therefore one should not confuse booth shooting with the experience of the actual work of employees of various law enforcement agencies. Of course, if we are discussing a holster for a pneumatic gun, which can only scare away stray dogs, then all of the above does not matter much, unlike real combat options.
And if in the pants?
Yes, there is such an option. In the west, it was called IWB. In this case, the holster is directly in the pants, clinging to the edge of the trousers with the help of a specially released staple. Such models are extremely good in that the presence of weapons can be disguised, even while wearing light trousers and a summer T-shirt. Since it is not easy to make a holster for a pistol of this type convenient, the cost of these models is quite high. But they cost their money unequivocally.
The second huge advantage of such holsters is the fact that they do not depend on the waist belt. Sitting behind the wheel, they can be easily moved to the side convenient for you. At the same time, you can wear such an accessory not only in trousers, but also outside, in an open version. In addition, most manufacturers make loops on such holsters, thanks to which they can be fastened to a belt.
Belt-holster
There is also an unusual option for mounting the PM pistol when it is located behind the belt with a handle that is slightly set to the right and slightly up. The mounting method is very non-trivial, so such specific holster models have both many defenders and a considerable number of ardent opponents. The latter quite rightly notice that with such a holster it’s difficult to sit comfortably at least somewhere, and if you fall on your back, serious health threatens your health.
But supporters rest on the fact that such an operational holster for a pistol is ideally covered by clothes hanging from the back. In general, everyone is right. Many experienced operatives believe that such a holster is not suitable for all shooters, but only for those who have rich practical experience. However, such a method of carrying weapons for some reason was widely used in gangster circles of the 90s. It is likely that the grip of a pistol with legs wide apart looked beautiful on a wide screen?
It is only important to note that when carrying a weapon on the back, the choice of a holster should be treated with increased attention, since it will be difficult to grab it, with the slightest flaws in the design of the latter.
Shoulder Options
Again, a fairly wide range of operatives are fans of shoulder options, moreover, made from modern synthetic materials.
However, the same experts will say that in real life it is better to have a traumatic gun: holsters for military weapons are somehow handier to wear on a belt. However, these models also have a well-defined tactical niche, which you should not completely forget about. For example, dressing such an accessory is very simple and quick: it is worth throwing a “harness”, and the process is completed.
In addition, the belt system correctly distributes the weight of weapons and additional stores so that a person practically does not feel this. So on the mount of such a holster it is quite possible to place either an expanded ammunition, or some necessary tools. Simply put, this holster for Makarov’s pistol is ideal for creating an “alarm kit” that must be worn instantly at any time of the day and in any condition.
Other advantages of shoulder systems
Finally, when a person applies a shoulder holster, he immediately frees up a ton of space on his waist belt, which might not be enough even without that. To remove a bunch of accessories from the belt in order to put on a holster there is still a mess, and not all arrows are ready to put up with this inconvenience. With the shoulder option, everything is much simpler, as you can simply put it on and take off, without "bothering" with any little things. The only thing that can cause inconvenience is the need to fasten two fixing straps on the belt, but this procedure is not mandatory, and therefore can be ignored.
The shoulder system should ideally consist of a holster itself, a pouch for storing additional magazines, as well as a suspension system that evenly distributes the weight of the weapon over the shooter's body. The ideal attachment is X-shaped, with wide straps that do not rub the skin and favorably affect the convenience of constant wearing of the gun.
Oddly enough, but the widest belts appear much less through clothes, minimizing the likelihood of an “opening” of the shooter. In an extra pouch, ideally, there should be not only a pocket for carrying an additional store, but also a fairly spacious side compartment where you can put documents, additional cartridges, and other necessary accessories.
