Blackhawk’s CQC SERPA Holster

8/3/2019 Blackhawk’s CQC SERPA Holster

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/blackhawks-cqc-serpa-holster 1/4

FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

14 November 2011 By: Sal Palma FOG HORN BLOG Blackhawk’s CQC SERPA Holster

Before you tune me out saying this is another

SERPA holster review, give me an opportunity to

give you my perspective on holsters.

The holster is part of your weapon system

period. You can have the most finely tuned

pistol on the planet seated in a poorly designed

holster and you might as well opt for a slingshot.

Holsters function to provide you with a means

to carry your pistol or revolver; sometimes for a

long period

of

time;

so,

they

have

to

be

comfortable. You need to be able to sit, stand

and squat without the firearm or holster getting

in the way.

The holster must also provide you with ready

access to your firearm. In other words it must

facilitate drawing the weapon.

Finally, the holster needs to contribute to

weapon retention. It should assist you in

retaining control of the weapon during a close

quarter confrontation.

Those are the three key ingredients that any

holster must

satisfy

in

order

for

me

to

give

it

thumbs up.

I wish I had a nickel for every holster I’ve

purchased over the years – only to end up in a

drawer. It’s like buying socks I guess.

I’ve had holsters that were very quick on the

draw but if I ran in them the pistol would fall

right out. I’ve also had holster with thumb

breaks that wouldn’t release.

While in the service, I used to moonlight a bit

providing armed security. A hotel located in a

high crime

area

retained

me

as

plainclothes

armed security. My job was to detect illegal

activity; deter it when possible or hand it over to

the local PD.

Although you’d never guess it by the look of the

property, the inflow of drugs and prostitution

kept everyone busy.

One rainy Friday evening, a guest from

Memphis, TN checked in and setup shop in one

of the rooms. By about 1:00 a.m. Saturday

morning, there was a steady stream of people

going to and coming out of the room. I

contacted

the

police

and

informed

them

of

suspected drug trafficking. When the police

arrived, they set up surveillance and reached

the conclusion that the individual had a shooting

gallery up and running.

The officer in charge asked me to escort four

officers up to the floor where two officers

secured both ends of the hallway and two

officers would enter the suspect’s room.

While just outside the guest’s door, the officer

standing directly behind me – I will never forget

this ‐ says “use the master key to open the door

then go low and I’ll go high.”

What ensued

could

only

be

described

as

assholes and elbows. I’ve never seen a more

Chaplin like scene than that one. Everyone

running into the toilet to flush the evidence, it

was intense. Luckily, no one was armed. But, it

gave me a snapshot of what can take place, and

as important, it gave me a feel for firearm

access and control.

What’s the bottom line? Your holster is as much

part of your weapon systems as the weapon,

magazines and/or ammunition. It all works

together.

The

urban

settings

in

the

Iraqi

conflicts

of

Desert

Storm and Iraqi Freedom accelerated and

formalized a type of combat operation called

CQB or close quarter battle, and CQC or close

quarter combat. This setting demanded new

approaches, new equipment and new training.

In reality CQC and CQB are not new concepts at

all. The law enforcement community, especially

S.W.A.T., has been engaged in CQB and CQC for

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, dba Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.

http://www.twobirdsflyingpub.wordpress.com/










quite some time, we just didn’t have a name for

it. And, in fact, many of the techniques

employed by

the

military

and

special

operators

today have law enforcement origins.

The Blackhawk Industries CQC SERPA holster

was bred in that environment. Operators had a

need for a holster that would provide

exceptional weapon access yet provide

retention above what was currently available

which was the military style flap holster.

As operators refined their techniques, the

technology to support them followed. We began

to see widespread use of pistols with high

capacity magazines, rails and accessories such as

rail

attached

lights

and

aiming

lasers.

Holsters,

as well, evolved to support these emerging tools

and we began to classify them, rather

informally, as Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

A Level 1 holster is one that relies on friction to

keep the weapon in the holster. Here a number

of techniques are employed to secure the

holster. Holster shape / angle and tensioning

screws are the principal mechanisms.

Level 1 holsters are principally used as

concealed carry holsters or range holster where

aggressive physical activity is not expected and

where weapon retention is not as critical.

A Level

2 holster

offers

friction

and

a secondary

mechanism such as latch – mechanical or strap.

A Level 2 holster is intended for situations

where it is reasonable to expect aggressive

physical activity and weapon retention is a

concern resulting from close proximity to an

opposing aggressor.

Lastly, A Level 3 holster offers three retention

systems – friction, a primary latching system and

a secondary latching system.

Level 3 holsters are common among police

officers where weapon retention is of

paramount

importance.

What makes Blackhawks’ CQC SERPA holster

such an exceptional choice is not its Level 1, 2 or

3 characteristics. Rather, it’s the

implementation of these to create and effective

and efficient holster system.

The CQC (Close Quarters Concealment) SERPA

comes with three subassemblies. The holster, a

paddle mount and a belt mount.

The

holster

is

made

from

a

reinforced

carbon

fiber that is impervious to moisture, retains it

shape and is highly durable. The holster body

also houses the retention mechanisms.

The tensioning screw, just forward of the SERPA

latch is adjusted an 8th

of a turn at a time to set

the precise desired level of friction.

In the picture below, I’ve elevated the holster

and weapon and depressed the SERPA latch.

Note that the SIG remains in the holster and

does not fall to the surface below. This is your

Level 1 at work.

The SERPA latch built into the holster provides a

mechanical restraint that is defeated when the

latch is

depressed,

and

this

is

your

Level

2.

In

a close quarter confrontation, the opposing

aggressor would not be able to unholster your

firearm unless they new to depress the SERPA

lock.

Having a Level 2 or Level 3 holster of any make

is no substitute for weapon retention

instruction. If you carry a firearm for self ‐





defense or work, I strongly suggest that you get

that level of guidance.

For obvious

reasons

this

is

a high

priority

with

police departments and officers receive weapon

retention training at regular intervals to

maintain proficiency.

The SERPA system has a further benefit. The

location and design of the SERPA lock forces the

operator to extend his or her index finger along

the side of the holster to release the weapon. As

the weapon is pulled from the holster, the index

finger remains in its correct position along the

pistol’s frame and out of the trigger guard until

the operator is ready to fire. This is extremely

important

for

safety

and

greatly

improves

muzzle and firearm control.

Index

Finger

Extended

Depresses

SERPA

lock.

Weapon Release

Weapon drawn and ready to be placed into action.

I also spoke about access. I have worn a variety

of holsters that keep the pistol or revolver very

close against the body. This may be good for

conceal carry but it makes it difficult for the

operator to access the weapon particularly in

stressful situations. To enhance accessibility,

Blackhawk Industries engineered a mounting

system that places the holstered weapon out

from the operator’s body about a quarter to half

an inch;

as

such,

it’s

easy

to

slip

your

hand

over

the weapon’s grip and draw the weapon

without being entangled by clothing.

Finally, we arrive at comfort and here too

Blackhawk did an exceptional job. The SERPA

holsters are shipped with two different

mounting arrangements.

The first is a paddle mount, which I prefer over

the belt mount.






When selecting a tactical holster system try to

remember that gunfights aren’t won by quick

draws and

putting

five

rounds

down

range

before the first empty shell casing hits the

ground.

Instead, they are won by the methodical and

consistent application of doctrine, and mastery

of the tools available to you.

The CQC SERPA is such a tool ‐ practice with it,

develop proficiency and consistency – “slow is

smooth and smooth is fast” but always

remember to place safety first.

Be sure to visit Blackhawk Industries for a

complete line of exceptional products. The paddle slips between your pants and your

belt. The large horseshoe paddle slips into your

pants

and

the

smaller

paddle,

which

contains

the holster attachment points traps your belt

using adjustable hooks provided. It is completely

solid and quite comfortable. I like it because I

don’t have to remove my belt to put on or take

off my holster.

‐SP

You’ll also note that the holster’s angle can be

adjusted front or back. I favor the FBI can’t

which is the slight forward cant readily seen in

the picture above.

The belt mount offers the same degree of

flexibility as the paddle mount, which means

that it can be adjusted for cant and belt size.

But, it

means

threading

a belt

through

the

loops

and I’d rather not, so I fly with the paddle

mount.

In closing, Blackhawk’s CQC SERPA holster

satisfies all of the essential requirements of

comfort, accessibility and retention at an MSRP

of $40.99. I give it great big thumbs up!

It’s not hard see why SERPA designs have

revolutionized tactical holster technology.

http://www.blackhawk.com/




Documents

Blackhawk’s CQC SERPA Holster