Who use a Belt Slide Holster ?

In the 1976/1977 era while assigned to a CDS unit I used one. While on stake out assignment with another officer (he was the driver) I kept moving around in an attempt to find a body area that was comfortably. I heard a "Klug" and found that my weapon had worked its way up from the seat pushing it up and finally it fell out of the holster and dropped down between the end of the seat and the door. Had I had to have bail out out the car I would have been minus my weapon.
I went to a regular belt holster with a safety strap. LESSON LEARNED.

While I like the concept of the belt slide/yaqui holsters, just enough leather to keep it attached to you, I do not use them. As you say a seated position can push it up out of the holster, and even if it doesn't come out of the holster, the muzzle/ barrel crown can take a beating. Not to mention the front sight.
Looks nice when you're standing on a range, but that's the only time.

Back in those days I used the Bianchi with the thumbsnap.

Coincidentally, I just ordered a belt/holster/mag pouch for my 1911. It's an inexpensive, not cheap, Tisas, so if I get an inexpensive belt & pouch, etc., I'm basically out nothing much.
Peace!

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Waiting For The Sun.

OTOH, very versatile. I have a Barsony off ebay, bought it for a 1911. It worked pretty well with a 1911, G19, G26, G30s, 457, Beretta 380, Beretta 22, CZ45, CSX, and even a J frame!

Doesn’t work with N frame or NAA, I tried…

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

I never had a problem with my Galco horsehide pocket holster until the day I put it in the pocket of my sweat pants.
I got out of my car and realized my gun was not in my pocket. The gun and holster were between the driver's seat and console of my car.

Lesson learned.

I believe some fellow by the name of Jeff Cooper used one ...
Some old guy , might have been a Col. in the military ...
In the 1950's he worked with Milt Sparks to develop the Yaqui Belt Slide ...
But what did he know !

For being such a bad holster ... you can still buy a Yaqui Belt Slide to this day ... That's interesting !

My 1911 AMT Hardballer 45 ACP likes the Yaqui Belt Slide a lot...
they play together real well !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Regardless of holster type...I prefer a thumb snap. It's an extra level of retention...and if you carry a single-action pistol cocked and locked it's an extra safety device.

Belt slide are a good way to get into leatherwork, DIY holster making. I wonder if a little more careful fitting to the handgun being carried would help ?

I only have one belt slide...a glock sport holster. I carry my 26 in it on the family property. I have always preferred retention and the protection of conventional holster. Especially when I worked the streets. Physical brawls were not uncommon. It was challenging enough to manage a holstered weapon while wrestling with a suspect. And I was younger and a lot stronger then. I just never saw any advantage to the bikini style holster.

In fact, I sent you one jimmyj, a black RH for a S&W 457/4516. I don’t climb in and out of a car much; mine are mostly used in the field.

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It's just another tool in the box.
I've used them on the range for IPSC matches, but never for a duty gun or off-duty carry.

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John

In the ‘70s we had the Border Patrol style holster for uniform duty. As a leftie the cruiser’s seatbelt unsnapped the strap that went over the hammer and my issued Model 15 slid onto the floor in the backseat. After that I kept a close eye on how my seatbelt went over the holstered weapon.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Belt slide holsters were very popular during the later 1960s and through the 1970s. Economical to purchase, comfortable in use, but the OP put his finger on the biggest issue, external pressures (car seats, body motions, etc) tending to push the muzzle upward and out of the holster body. Retention was likely to be an issue in normal use.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I've told this story here before.

About 2017, I was an advisor with a foreign military. I was sitting on the concrete roof of a building with my counterpart watching a training exercise. He was carrying a Glock in a Yaqui Slide style holster. He slid himself sideways to make room for someone and I heard the muzzle end drag across the rough concrete surface. I was suddenly glad my M9 was in a pancake style holster.

I use a belt slide holster for my Glock 42. It is a snug fit and being skinny I wear it just to the right of my belt buckle in the abdominal position. Stays put when seated or standing and makes for a very rapid draw under an un bloused shirt or fleece jacket.

No Go for me.
I want the barrel- sight covered and protected.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I have never tried a belt slide as they just don't cover enough of the gun in my opinion to protect it. However, years back there was a product called a "Beltster" (spelling?) which was a belt with an abbreviated minimal holster sewn into it. Oriented towards 1911's and Highpowers with the gun removed even the very observant would have to look twice to know it was other than a heavy duty belt. Wish I had bought one just to see how it worked but I believe they are long out of business.

If the poster needs or wants a belt slide with retention have a look at Lock Leather holsters.....Both OWB and IWB models available with an inside the holster trigger frame lock latch.

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Hipcocked & Locked

I wrote about the holster I had made for me by Lobo for my 945-1 compact. It has been great.

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NHI, 10-8.

I remember. I used it with my 457. it rode high enough on my belt that sitting, the bottom of the holster was still high enough off the seat were it was no issue.

Thank you.

ATS Tactical has the sewn in loop on one of their rigger's belts.
It will not accommodate my 4" M19, but both the 1911 and G30 fit very securely. You control the degree of retention by how tight you cinch up the belt.

I've been out pruning dead canes in my blackberry and black raspberry bramble patches, and with all the bending, twisting and nearly falling from tangled up feet, the rigger's belt held my 1911 tight and secure.


ATS Tactical Gear Riggers Belt

Colonel JEFF COOPER was an advocate of their use.

That’s good enough for me. User error notwithstanding.

I've been using 'pancake' style holsters for years. Never encountered any issues with them (as long as you get one of high quality). Very comfortable and minimal printing.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Back in the day, when I was shooting a 1911 with a local IPSC club, I used a Smith and Wesson branded belt slide holster for matches and liked it. There was no concealed carry in those days, unless you knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone else. I didn't know anybody, so CC was out of the question. Even I could see though that a gun would take a beating carried like that anywhere but the range, but I thought it looked "cool."

I've still got one in my big Bag-O-Holsters hanging by the safe. Who knows?

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John 3:16 .