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Blackhawk's Matched Set
   
   

BlackHawk recently introduced an excellent new holster and a new rail-mounted LED pistol light complimenting each other like Yin and Yang. The Night-Ops XiphosNT light is a great piece of gear and comes packaged with a plastic training gun (nice touch). The light mounts on the pistol slightly offset to the left. This offset minimizes the profile on the outside of the holster, reducing bulk.

The new BlackHawk Light Bearing Level 3 SERPA holster accommodates this light-mounted weapon system. It’s an extremely rugged duty holster made with lightweight injection molded carbon fiber composite. Its modular design allows mounting to BlackHawk’s thigh rigs, shoulder rigs, the MOLLE-compatible STRIKE system, as well as several belt mounting options, including their extremely tough Jacket Slot Belt Loop version. Currently, the holster is being made for the GLOCK 17/19/22/23/31/32 with the Night-Ops XiphosNT light. Additional future models will include the Smith & Wesson M&P series. The holster is even being offered as a combo with the XiphosNT light at a substantial discount over buying the items individually.

  
   

It’s Easy

As a “Level 3” holster, some of you might conclude it’s hard to manipulate or somehow too complicated — wrong! It’s very intuitive and easy to operate. The protective hood (BlackHawk calls it a Pivot Guard) springs open when your thumb naturally presses on the catch while obtaining your initial grip of the gun — it couldn’t be easier.

Simultaneously, you press the SERPA locking lever on the side of the holster with your index finger releasing the locking mechanism that locks on the trigger guard of the pistol. With the Pivot Guard released and the SERPA lock depressed, the gun is easily pulled up and out of the holster with only the force necessary to overcome the adjustable tension screw at the bottom of the holster. At first, it tends to be a little noisy but with practice comes smoothness and with smoothness comes stealth.

A great feature of this holster is the Pivot Guard remains open until you actually repress the thumb catch and push it back into position eliminating the possibility it could inadvertently close and prevent you from reholstering. And, since the SERPA lock secures the gun at the triggerguard, closing the Pivot Guard isn’t necessary to secure the gun.

  
   

A Concealable Too

To further compliment the Night-Ops XiphosNT light, BlackHawk has introduced an Undercover/Concealable holster too. It’s very similar to the Speed Classic design with the addition of a retention strap and thumb snap. The rig is handmade using premium wet-molded leather. Its trailing-edge belt loop keeps the weapon close to the body and it has heavy-duty elastic across the front providing a secure fit and a quick draw. A molded polymer strip on the waistband side adds rigidity while minimizing bulk. This is a damn fine holster. Did I mention it is made of leather?
For More Info: www.blackhawk.com

 

  

 

First published in the May/June 2007 issue of American COP.

    
   
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