Holsters

A holster is a specialized article of clothing worn to hold a handgun about the person, most commonly in a location where it can be easily drawn for immediate use. more...

Basic function of a holster

Holsters are generally designed to offer protection to the handgun, secure retention, and ready access. The need for ready access is often at odds with the need for security and protection, so the user must decide how much they are willing to compromise on ready access to gain the security and protection.

The need for ready access is primarily for holsters designed to carry defensive handguns. If the handgun is needed quickly, and cannot be drawn quickly, it could be fatal for the user. On the other hand, an inadequately secured and protected handgun could be lost, damaged, or stolen, which could also be fatal, as it would not be usable when needed. Holster designs cover a wide range of shapes, materials, and retention/release mechanisms, from simple leather pouches hanging from a belt to highly protective holsters with flaps that cover the entire handgun, to highly adjustable competition holsters that hold the handgun at a precise position and release instantly with the right pressure.

Categories of holster use

Holsters can be divided into three broad categories by use: duty holsters, worn by uniformed police and military users; concealment holsters, worn by plainclothes law enforcement and licensed CCW armed civilians; and sporting holsters, worn for shooting sports and hunting.

Read more at Wikipedia.org