legal holster here?

[hardknocks]

Hello All
I wanted to ask if this holster pictured is legal?
My friend borrowed my book by jon gutmacher and i believe the answer is covered in that book.
I remember there was a caveat on this type of pocket holster.
BTW its hiding a beretta 950 BS. (not my carry piece)
i live in florida but i dont think that matters.
thanks alot
Mike

[yashua-p]

I have Never heard of a holster not being legal.

[snubbyfan]

Originally Posted by yashua-p

I have Never heard of a holster not being legal.

Except this kind of holster.
Wallet Holsters & ATF Regulations | eBay

[radar1972]

Legality aside, I don't think I would want a holster like that anyway.

IMHO, the purpose of a pocket holster is to cover and guard the trigger and prevent an accidental discharge while in the pocket.

[Bkreutz]

Originally Posted by snubbyfan

Except this kind of holster.
Wallet Holsters & ATF Regulations | eBay

This was a new one to me as well. Never too old to learn.

[hardknocks]

i need to get my book back as it covers alot of info.
i picked up the beretta in a online auction for a song and dance as the safety was not working. (a few minutes with a file and some crocus and its perfect)
maybe its legal if you have it and do not use it. i dont like it much anyhoo.
just found a simular one for sale on ebay so now i am really unsure.
interesting
thanks

[Silver Dollar]

I don't like that holster at all. It looks like it would be difficult to draw the gun without yanking it out of the pocket. Something could get caught on that trigger and cause an unwanted accident. I use 3 criteria for a good holster.
1. Does it cover the trigger and guard so there's no chance of an umwanted discharge?
2. Wherever I carry it, is it stable so the gun can be drawn easily without taking the holster with it or without the holster moving all over the place.
3. Is there some kind of retention device to protect myself from a gun grab?

[hardknocks]

Originally Posted by Silver Dollar

I don't like that holster at all. It looks like it would be difficult to draw the gun without yanking it out of the pocket. Something could get caught on that trigger and cause an unwanted accident. I use 3 criteria for a good holster.
1. Does it cover the trigger and guard so there's no chance of an umwanted discharge?
2. Wherever I carry it, is it stable so the gun can be drawn easily without taking the holster with it or without the holster moving all over the place.
3. Is there some kind of retention device to protect myself from a gun grab?

hello
i dont like it but it came with the gun.
thanks

[tlay]

That holster has to be one of the most dangerous holsters I have seen. If you pull this out of your pocket the only way to do it is pull it by the trigger! If you were given this holster do yourself a favor and throw it in the trash
I train people to draw from a pocket holster but the holster stays in the pocket. You need to learn to draw from your pocket the same as you draw from anything else, with your trigger finger pointed straight. It just seems to me that if you have a holster that comes out with the gun and the trigger guard is open in an emergency and you get in a hurry it would be too easy to grab the trigger. Only bad things can happen after that.

[yashua-p]

Combining Murphy's law with Darwin's survival of the fittest....

[hardknocks]

i agree.
but i guess galco thought it a good idea.

[Aticus]

I've seen this type of holster before. The exposed trigger is meant to allow the user to fire the gun without removing it from the holster. I have seen them on the net from a current maker but I can't remember who. I wouldn't have one anyway, safe or not. In the case of the Beretta 950 you would have a single shot. Sorta makes you wonder why you'd carry like this, doesn't it? I'd keep this one as of those wild ideas that just isn't worth bother.

[shouldazagged]

A catastrophe looking for a place to happen.

[Clovishound]

I would go one further and say to cut it in half before throwing it in the trash. You never know who might find something and decide to take it home.

[hobby-gunsmith]

Originally Posted by tlay

That holster has to be one of the most dangerous holsters I have seen. If you pull this out of your pocket the only way to do it is pull it by the trigger! If you were given this holster do yourself a favor and throw it in the trash
I train people to draw from a pocket holster but the holster stays in the pocket. You need to learn to draw from your pocket the same as you draw from anything else, with your trigger finger pointed straight. It just seems to me that if you have a holster that comes out with the gun and the trigger guard is open in an emergency and you get in a hurry it would be too easy to grab the trigger. Only bad things can happen after that.

I certainly agree with this statement. This appears to be a wallet gun. Back in April 2005, ATF applied to change the definition of "Pistol" to eliminate pen guns, wallet guns, belt buckle guns, and pager guns. The change would effect 27 CFR 479.11 but to date--nothing's happened. Once it becomes an NFA weapon, you will have a grace period to register it as "any other weapon". So far now, you're OK. However, I would get rid of it and do not use it as a point of safety. Hope this helps.

Nick

[hotrod150]

Only good for one shot-- no hole for the ejected case to get spit out of.

[-db-]

Originally Posted by hotrod150

Only good for one shot-- no hole for the ejected case to get spit out of.

The top and upper rear of the holster, er...wallet, is open with these designs, allowing the shell to eject and the slide to cycle.

In any case, I wouldn't throw it away. These fetch a fair price on the auction sites and are curious devices, if not entirely ideal.

[-db-]

I just noticed the link above to the eBay piece regarding legality of these is also a bit incorrect. No tax stamp is required to merely possess one of these holsters. It only becomes an AOW once a gun is placed in it.

Furthermore, the Beretta Jetfires are single action pistols so the exposed trigger isn't as big a deal as it might appear at first glance.

[hardknocks]

Originally Posted by -db-

I just noticed the link above to the eBay piece regarding legality of these is also a bit incorrect. No tax stamp is required to merely possess one of these holsters. It only becomes an AOW once a gun is placed in it.

Furthermore, the Beretta Jetfires are single action pistols so the exposed trigger isn't as big a deal as it might appear at first glance.

I have been searching and it looks like its legal to own but not carry with a firearm inside. thanks for the info.
seems the last two that sold in a online auction brought enough to be worth listing.
regards
Mike

[poordevil]

It is in California but I think it is OK in AZ

[chief38]

Isn't it a bit ironic that they could make a holster illegal but not make it illegal to pocket carry without a holster???

[poordevil]

I think the reason for the prohibition of that type of holster is it falls into the category of a disguised gun......like a cane gun or knife gun, that sort of thing. In Cal the holster is not illegal until you add the gun to it.

[walkin' trails]

If you mean like for IDPA or USPSA competition - No. For carry I don't think there are any legal prohibitions. I also agree with everyone else that suggested it is not a prudent way to carry that pistol. Too many things might not go right with it. I know that those types of holsters were advertised a lot back in the 70s and 80s, but don't know how popular they really became. I would suspect that they evolved into the modern pocket holster. That one looks like it got carried a lot.

[para82frame]

Originally Posted by poordevil

It is in California but I think it is OK in AZ

The NATIONAL firearm act of 1934 is NATIONAL. That particular pistol in that particular holster is an AOW according to the ATF under the NFA.

[Autococker07]

Firearms - Guides - Identification of Firearms | ATF

ATF says its a no-no with the pistol in it. Personally, I would not play with fire... I would sell that sucker on ebay, and be glad to see it go LOL.... "Constructive Intent", while pretty flimsy, has been used to prosecute before, and it could be argued that you have both pieces, therefore could easily "construct" an illegal AOW.

As for carry, it depends on the state.... Assuming you have your tax stamp (that will cost you $200) to legalize this thing, some states prohibit CCW with an NFA weapon, some do not. Check with your state laws if this applies.

Good luck no matter what you do with it, its a neat piece of trivia and history, but not worth the potential legal fight IMHO...

[MgoBlue]

These, on the other hand are not AOW, and are legal. They aren't my cup of tea but apparently they satisfy the ATF!

HOLSTERS - WALLET HOLSTERS - KEL-TEC WALLET HOLSTER

[tlay]

What I said about the first holster goes for this one also.

[TACC1]

When I first saw these holsters, I saw why they might sell
a lot of them. If you were afraid of being attacked, in a no-carry
area. of which there were a lot, you might carry a CW firearm for
personal defense, as a last ditch, 'get-off-me" gun, that could save
your life. Being disguised, you wouldn't get turned in for carrying.
Pretty sure that pepper-spray and mace weren't available back
then, either. At the time, I figured I'd never need one, but
there're a lot of folks out there without fighting skills. This looked
like an option for people who had no way to defend themselves.
Not saying it was a good idea, but, if you're clutching at straws....
Anywho, that's the way I saw it.
TACC1

[hardknocks]

I am glad i did not throw it away as was suggested. cant afford to throw away money, someone bought the holster.
matter of fact the last two that sold online auction went for 72 and 35 bucks.
plus the song and dance i paid for the 950BS went even lower because of the holster sale.
thanks for all the information
regards
Mike

[David Armstrong]

The true wallet holster is not legal if you have a gun that fits it unless you have done the registration thing with the ATF, as they have said it alters the gun enough that it makes it something else. This was after the holster had been in business and used for aver a decade, IIRC. For those that question the safety and efficiency, all I can say is that lots of LEOs and legal non-LEOs carried the gun without any problems and there were no unusual safety concerns or issues with them. I had one for my Hi-Standard .22 Mag derringer and one for my Beretta Mdl 21 and they worked fine.

[elm_creek_smith]

Originally Posted by Silver Dollar

I don't like that holster at all. It looks like it would be difficult to draw the gun without yanking it out of the pocket. Something could get caught on that trigger and cause an unwanted accident. I use 3 criteria for a good holster.
1. Does it cover the trigger and guard so there's no chance of an umwanted discharge?
2. Wherever I carry it, is it stable so the gun can be drawn easily without taking the holster with it or without the holster moving all over the place.
3. Is there some kind of retention device to protect myself from a gun grab?

Back in the long ago and far away, I carried a .25ACP Beretta 950BS in one of those holsters in my back pocket. I didn't carry anything else in that pocket. It looked just like a wallet to the uninitiated and allowed me to obey the first rule of gunfighting: Have a gun. It came out of the pocket just like a wallet without issues as long as you kept your boogerhook off the bang switch. When I sold the Beretta, I tossed in the holster for free along with a class on how to use it.

I'm a double action revolver carrier, and few of my holsters cover the trigger and guard. They are all perfectly safe if you keep your boogerhook off the bang switch.

I agree that a holster should be stable, and the key to that is a good belt that the holster fits snugly. However, that doesn't apply to the wallet holster because you don't remove the gun from it to shoot.

I generally like holsters with retention devices, but the best retention system is training and situational awareness. I'd recommend the Lindell method and TDI method of weapons retention.

YMMV.

ECS