What is a "Duty" Holster & Does It Need To Be Fast?
As it pertains to "armed professionals" (which is a REALLY broad spectrum), pistols have become synonymous with cops, secret service agents, and citizens to have taken it upon themselves to be their own first responders. Although how, where, and why they carry a pistol may be a bit different from one group to another, to goal is to always maintain a lethal force option available that is accessible when and if the need arises.
Though EDCers and executive protection details have all gone towards inside the waistband or concealed carry. Police and armed security have, by the nature of their presence and function as a deterrent, have to carry outside the waistband. This, being the most vulnerable way to carry a pistol poses 2 conflicting needs, retention and speed. A "Duty Holster" is designed with the two factors in mind.
Since 99.99% of cops/armed security never actually shoot their guns but 100% participate in arrests or work within arms reach of other people (who might want to take their gun), modern holsters like the venerable 6000 series Safariland holsters maximize retention requiring 3 specific movements to defeat the SLS (the strap-which has to be pushed down and then up) and the ALS with has to be pulled back to finally release the pistol (video explanation).
Though this is excellent for retention purposes, there is a trend of having upwards of 5 second draw times with this type of system from underdeveloped shooters. Though I will be the first to argue that those individuals should simply train more, stress and the loss of gross motor skills adds to even a proficient shooters ability to get their live saving device into the fight. This gets even more scary when considering the very real possibility of and ambush spontaneous gun fight from a motivated attacker that brings us back to wild west esque gun fighting where draw time starts to really matter. In rolls the methodology behind the Enhanced Duty Holster from Blackpoint Tactical.
Prioritizing Draw Time On A Duty Holster
The guys over at Blackpoint Tactical, approached the duty holster with a very different philosophy; there is the quick and there is the dead. The internal lock, which holds onto the ejection port, gets defeated by a natural push down on the thumb release towards the ground, an additional release within that downward travel also throws the strap forward and out of the way of your draw stroke. This button is protected and on the closest part of the holster to your belt. This only leaves the friction of the gun in the holster (which is adjustable) holding the gun in the holster. (video demo)
I did see my draw time go from a 1.4 second draw to A zone hit at 7 yards (with a QLS/SLS equipped Safariland holster) to a 1.1 with the Blackpoint. Bobby, my camera guy, had an even bigger margin. Him having next to no time on level 3 holsters, went from around a 1.6 to a consistently sub second draw on the same two holsters.
Though I can see an argument being made that the Safariland is an actual "level 3" holster due to it requiring 3 movements and not claiming "friction" to be one of them and the Blackpoint only being 2 if measured by the same criteria, with no set "industry standard", I'll let their marketing departments/fan girls argue about what that actually means. For the sake of this discussion, they both offer a strong internal lock and a strap behind the gun as a redundancy of somehow the internal lock gets defeated by a pull attempt or mechanical failure. The strap is mechanically assisted open like a folding knife upon a full press of the thumb release whereas the Safariland requires both a push down and forward to get it out of the way.
Build Quality & Compatibility
There is no question that Safariland has been one of the most trusted brands in this segment for decades now. Though the build quality of the Blackpoint feels solid, nothing replaces real world in field use. That being said, I do think the Blackpoint does a better job of covering the trigger (unless you look at the Ballast line of holsters) and is undoubtably faster without really giving up anything from a retention standpoint from a features standpoint.
I do like that the Blackpoint is compatible with most industry belt attachment systems and is made in the good old US of A. It is also a decent amount cheaper that similar Safariland offerings with light bearing and optics versions available. However, the Blackpoint holster is currently only available for Glock (17, 19, 21, 31, & 45), Sig (320), and Springfield Echelon, whereas I'm not sure there is any pistol Safariland doesn't make a holster for.
I think the Safariland series of holsters is still the best option if retention is your biggest priority, but the Blackpoint cost less, gives the user A HUGE advantage in draw time, AND requires less training reps to get accustomed to using; which isn't a nothing burger when you are having to roll equipment like this out to entire departments or agencies. It managed to accomplish this without giving up too much on the retention side to accomplish. For that alone I think it makes for a compelling option for folks in the market for a true duty style holster, if of course you fit within the pistol profiles offered by them.
