Just a couple weeks ago I was teaching a handgun course and there came a point on the range where I realized, looking down the line of students, that every one of them was wearing / carrying their handgun differently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but the follow on was me examining each platform trying to ascertain what specific purpose it had been built for. Obviously it had to carry the handgun securely but one guy had two magazine pouches also mounted; another had a flashlight and a knife; another yet had a grenade pouch on his… things that make you go “hmmm…” So, with those thoughts in mind, I felt it would be good to discuss a few options and offer up a few suggestions for what they’re worth. Continue reading Build Your Holster Platform

By Ralph Mroz

Some cops have made the commitment to go armed off-duty every time they leave their residence, and some are a little less strict about it (but hopefully no one reading this has decided that it’s OK to be unarmed whenever they’re off duty).  The fact is that in the course of a busy life  there are times when it’s darn inconvenient to carry. (I never did carry when running, but I ran with my German Shepherd until we both had to stop; no one attacked him so I must have been quite a deterrent  J).  On top of the inconvenience, there’s the temptation to skip the hassle if you live in a safe community.  Most of the inconvenience comes from the fact that you have to go through the rigmarole of strapping the gun onto your belt.  Yes, there’s pocket carry, and as convenient as that is, it only applies to small guns, and especially in the hot summer, with lightweight clothing and no coat pockets to carry other stuff in, that too, can become a bit of a hassle. Continue reading Sticky Holsters- A Really New, Good Idea

Way back in May of 2004 I wrote my first review of the (then) new SERPA holsters available in the CQC line from BLACKHAWK!.  It recently occurred to me (as I was cleaning out my storage closet) that the holsters have steadily evolved across the years and that some readers / owners of those holsters may not realize where the holsters stand today.  Even in my own assorted collection I have various models from different production lines and the improvements that have been made are both obvious and beneficial.  Let’s take a look back…

Continue reading BLACKHAWK! SERPA Evolution

By: Ralph Mroz

In Part One I wrote that weapons and kit carry come in three varieties: obvious, discreet, and disguised. Obvious weapons carry means carrying your weapon or kit in something that obviously contains a weapon or tactical kit. Discreet carry means carrying your weapon or kit in something that’s only clear to . . . → Read More: Beyond Discreet Weapons Carry, Pt 2

By: Ralph Mroz

I’ve written previously that clothing for armed professionals comes in three categories: uniformed, professional, and blending. Uniforms are obvious, and in them you are advertising to the world that you are armed. Professional clothing is the term I use to refer to the professional-looking plain-clothes such as made by 5.11. EOTAC, . . . → Read More: Beyond Discreet Weapons Carry, Pt 1

On any given forum that discusses firearms and related issues you will find a plethora of discussions about what people carry each day; what kind of gun, how much ammo, what knife, etc. What you won’t find as many of is discussions about how the gun is carried or, maybe more important, where. I . . . → Read More: Holster Position Options

With Police Week happening in Washington DC this week there will be several thousand police officers walking around our nation’s capital with a badge hanging around their neck and a gun settled on their hip. Many won’t even make an attempt to conceal that weapon. In my opinion this is neither right nor wrong. . . . → Read More: Leather Concealment Holsters