I bought a SOC-C Modular Belt from Blue Force a while back, was looking for something that I could run during training or classes without running an entire chest rig or armor. I really like the way that the belt rides and the amount of space to mount necessities. The only thing I was missing was a way to mount a holster. I am not a huge fan of drop leg holsters, just personal preference. I like the Raven holsters that I have been running but couldn’t find an easy method to mount one securely to the belt.
So there is the problem, getting one of these
Onto one of these
Enter Andrew at Bawidamann Blades (http://bawidamannblades.com/ ). I met Andrew out at SHOT and was quickly impressed with the quality of his knives and kydex work. All of his stuff is a family affair and made completely in-house. We first started talking because I was interested in a way to mount a knife to my belt and after talking for a few minutes the idea dawned on me that I could probably use a couple of his single mounts on a Holster. At $20 it was easy to justify getting them just to try it out.
The kit comes neatly packaged in a zip lock bag. It includes the 2 slim adapters, an instruction card, Allen wrench, enough backer nuts and screws for 10 holes and 4 rubber spacers.
After removing the belt loops from my Raven Concealment Systems holster I selected the holes on the PUP adapter that would line up best on the holster for the height on the belt. The nice part is you can adjust the holster up or down on the adapter until you get just the right height. As the kit came to me there were 4 holes per side but there is enough room to drill a couple holes on the adapter if you find that it doesn’t line up just perfect for your system. I ended up placing 2 screws in each side but may go to 3 depending on a full range session.
After sliding the PUP through the webbing on the belt I used one more screw per side to close the adapter.
To say that the holster/gun is secured to the belt in an understatement. There is absolutely no movement with the PUP adapters. Here are a few pics with the belt on.
Overall, I am very happy with this small little adapter and look forward to using it. Andrew is a real nice guy and will take care of you with anything that you need. If you are looking for a way to mount a Kydex Holster on a belt check out the PUP adapters. I am looking forward to getting a new kydex sheath for my knife and using his adapter to mount it on here as well.
I met Ben Bawidamann earlier this year - he is a nice guy and the PUP is a good solution for this particular mounting application.
I know the thread title is for general “kydex” holsters, but since one of ours is pictured I’ll provide a few thoughts.
From our FAQ:
[i]How do I mount my holster/mag carriers to MOLLE?
Our gear is designed and built as belt worn concealment wear. We do not make a specific MOLLE attachment.
That said, our customers report good results using 550 Cord, Zip Ties, or even the factory belt loops (when/if they line up, spacing varies upon the item) to lace their gear to a MOLLE platform.[/i]
It appears the PUP offers the adjustability required to also perform this task. Just know that each configuration of holster will have a bit different spacing. A zero degree cant non-light holster will be a bit thinner than a 10 degree cant LC holster, as more material is needed to “fit” the combination in the holster. However, with the number of holes on the PUP, you can probably still make them work.
Thanks for the insight, I also tried it with my M&P9L with light, worked great. I need to order another holster from you guys so I can leave one on here all the time and have the same holster for carry.
Tom,
Are you guys looking into providing a dedicated molle attachment option for your holsters? Just looks like a good option to have as part of your accessories.
We have had working prototypes of multiple designs for years, but it’s really pushing our product outside of its design parameters. We have always been clear that we recommend a different product for that application. I personally feel a Safariland ALS or SLS is right at home on a war belt.
That said, the demand for guys wanting to put concealment items on overtly worn belts is increasing. We have a few ideas we’re tossing around, but nothing is solid just yet. You wouldn’t expect Arredondo to make IWB loops for their holsters, but guys always want MOLLE stuff from us.
We built a “Battle Chassis” system years ago that was similar to a War Belt, but was a dedicated system with kydex carriers all the way around. These were developed for guys using our gear overseas who wanted to carry more gear. In the end, those guys preferred to just mount everything to their pants belt, and our order volume was ever-increasing, so the Battle Chassis idea had to be put on a back burner. We may approach it again at some time.
So far, the best application I’ve seen is some of the newer war belts that allow you to bypass the MOLLE and use the inner belt. This allows you to put a Phantom (or any other belt holster) directly on the inner belt and not have to worry about mounting to the MOLLE at all.
We are always evolving the product line and may release one of our MOLLE specific designs in the future.
Tom, while I see your point of view I like the idea of having the same feel when I draw, whether it be from my belt concealed or a war belt. While the position of the Holster might not be exactly the same between the two the muscle memory and feel is almost identical. I am not sure I would trust any “conceal” type kydex holster on a belt that is meant to be used like a war belt might, fortunately you guys make a top notch product that will withstand that use.
We and some T&E guys have been doing some pretty rough testing of different MOLLE attachments. The weak point is usually the attachment. A properly made kydex holster will hold up to a lot of abuse if the correct materials are used. I wouldnt worry about running it on a war belt.
Thanks for the review on this product. It looks very promising. The attachment seems very solid and innovative. Making a dedicated MOLLE attachment that is considered Duty Grade is harder than one would think. It looks like these guys did it.
