LAS VEGAS -- The Safariland Group is touting its new tactical holster series, the 7TS, which uses a special polymer that makes the product tougher and lighter.
The rugged design is made from a new nylon material supplied by Dupont called SafariSeven, which allows the company to do injection molding and other manufacturing practices, according to Tommy Campbell, a technical specialist with Safariland.
The material allowed the company to remove unnecessary items such as the tension screw, muzzle plug and protective suede lining, which was added to shield the firearm but which can collect dirt and grime, Campbell said. At the same time, the holster, which is 30 percent lighter than comparable designs, can accept standard mounting and quick release systems, he said.
"It doesn't care about heat, doesn't care about salt water -- it's perfect for a military environment," he said during an interview with Military.com here at SHOT Show. "If you're swimming with this, take the gun out, rinse it in freshwater, let it air dry and you're good to go."
The material is structurally sound at extreme heat and cold tolerances, from 300 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 50 degrees Fahranheit, Campbell said. The holster, which retails for $160, can also come in any number of colors, from desert brown to foliage green, he said.
"What we have here is a better holster body that allows us to do things we could never do before," he said. "You're going to see more and more of this in the future from Safariland."
The company also touted two new wide-body versions of its 578 Pro-Fit holster line to better accommodate pistols from such manufactuers as Springfield Armory, Sig-Sauer and Glock, according to James Dawson, category director of duty gear at Safariland.
"We have four fits currently in the standard width," he said. "We're introducing two additional fits in what we're calling the wide fit. These will fit your Springfield XDs, XD(M)s, the very popular Sig P320, and it's also a better fit for the legacy Sigs, as well as the Beretta M9. We're trying to expand the family to encompass practically every pistol out there."
The 578 Wide-Fit retails for $55 for the paddle and belt-loop combo and $50 for just the belt loop or clip, Dawson said. Safariland also plans to introduce a Slim-Fit in coming months to accommodate 1911-style handguns, he said.
--Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
