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« Science deals with deer hunting camo | Main | NY case against traveller dismissed »

Blackhawk holsters

Posted by David Hardy · 24 September 2008 07:13 PM

Here's the Gun Blogger .45 housed in a Blackhawk Serpa holster; click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.

Their holsters were quite interesting. Made of carbon fiber, if I remember. One model has a detent holding the gun; this one had both detent and a finger lever, engaged by the trigger finger, and which holds the front of the trigger guard. (I had problems with it because my fingers are too long, but the detent model worked nicely).

On the reverse side are three screws that hold the body of the holster to its belt connection. You can switch between standard belt and paddle configuration. You can also angle it straight, or up to about 45 degrees forward or back by adjusting the screws. Separate controls allow you to adjust for width of belt. All in all, a very nice holster!

UPDATE: the problem with long fingers is this: if I lay my finger in the usual position, just straight along the holster, its tip goes may 1/2" beyond the end of the latch. Thus I'm pushing, not with the last segment of my finger, which would do nicely, but really with the joint area between that and the middle segment of the finger. The joint has to flex backward a little to push it, which means exerting a fair amount of pressure, and the last finger segment pressing hard against the holster (not the lever). If the lever were just 1/2" lower it'd be perfect for me (and then probably too long for others).

I experimented with bending the finger a bit and using the tip, but found that sometimes the finger then went into the trigger guard. Maybe 5% of the time. That'd not be a problem with these double actions, but not something I'd care for with a single action.

BTW, the Serpa is otherwise excellent in these regards. The trigger area is blocked off by the holster while the gun is holstered, so you can't get your finger into the guard. The latch area has ridges on either side to guide your trigger finger and make sure it goes straight back and doesn't drop into the trigger guard when you draw. A very nice design, unless you have overly long digits (and pretty good even then).

3 Comments | Leave a comment

Alan A. | September 24, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply

I own a couple and have discovered that the paddle config with pistol retention only by the finger lever works well for convienience, quickly drawing and minimal holster resistance. The adjustment flexibility makes them great!

rio arriba | September 24, 2008 9:59 PM | Reply

My Blackhawk arrived y'day. Yes, it's a nice holster and works as advertised. I like a high-and-tight rig and on the whole (altho I like the BH) I think the Matrix does a slightly better job.

Gregg | September 25, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply

I really like my SERPA. The positive retention of the "lever" is a good alternative to a thumb snap.

I keep hearing about people having problems with the SERPA due to their long fingers, which puzzles me. Are you using the tip of your finger to depress the release? I grip the firearm in my standard, finger alongside the frame grip, which aligns my finger with the release, and then just push my finger toward the firearm. It has not yet failed to release and leaves my finger in the correct alignment, outside the trigger guard. I have heard reports of people having ADs with these due to their depressing the release with the tip of their finger, thus allowing the finger to drop into the trigger guard.

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