Help me find the rabbit?

[Blkhrt13]

I’ve been down a hole looking at tanker holsters. I can’t seem to find out if this holster is military issue or a knock off. It looks like a tanker. Fits my 92s beretta like a glove. But I don’t have the straps and want a set. If you can Identify it? It would be greatly appreciated. No markings that I see on it to help either.

 

[Blkhrt13]

From the back. Pardon the dog hair I’m going to have a go with a sticky roller.

 

[herrwalther]

Looks like a knock off holster to me. I was at the end of the camo period where things went from black/od green/BDU camo into the digitized patterns ACU/Multicam etc. Not many items were issued in black. The clips on the back are called ALICE clips. A precurser to MOLLE webbing. Which is on everything from hats to backpacks that have "tactical" in the name. The clips fit onto the era pistol belt. A tan or coyote brown belt that connected to a load bearing harness for carrying holsters, pouches, first aid, ammo etc.

https://fullmetaljacket.com/products/usgi-lc3-alice-pistol-belt-large

The standard issue holster of the time is called the M12 which has a full flap, not just a thumb strap. Those are much easier to find and will fit the 92 just fine.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Looks like a knock off holster to me. I was at the end of the camo period where things went from black/od green/BDU camo into the digitized patterns ACU/Multicam etc. Not many items were issued in black. The clips on the back are called ALICE clips. A precurser to MOLLE webbing. Which is on everything from hats to backpacks that have "tactical" in the name. The clips fit onto the era pistol belt. A tan or coyote brown belt that connected to a load bearing harness for carrying holsters, pouches, first aid, ammo etc.

https://fullmetaljacket.com/products/usgi-lc3-alice-pistol-belt-large

The standard issue holster of the time is called the M12 which has a full flap, not just a thumb strap. Those are much easier to find and will fit the 92 just fine.

I was a surplus rat when I was a kid and still have my belt and canteen with Alice clips. I think they were Vietnam era creation Alice clips that is. I figured it was a knock off but can’t find a similar one at the moment. I will look up the m12 thanks! I honestly didn’t think about the lack of a full flap.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I think I’m going to buy some webbing and clips and try to recreate the harness system. That’s really more of what I’m after. The tanker style is easy to transition from driving to kayaking and retain access. The m12 I see are mostly drop leg units.

 

[herrwalther]

I was a surplus rat when I was a kid and still have my belt and canteen with Alice clips. I think they were Vietnam era creation Alice clips that is. I figured it was a knock off but can’t find a similar one at the moment. I will look up the m12 thanks! I honestly didn’t think about the lack of a full flap.

Closest one I found to yours is labeled as a Blackhawk chest holster. No ALICE webs on the back and a squeeze buckle instead of a snap. Also, no metal loops or rings for webbing around the edge. Yours looks molded around the trigger guard, so it is not like a lot of the new holsters coming out of Chicom these days.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMjV5MeIjPUCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

I think I’m going to buy some webbing and clips and try to recreate the harness system. That’s really more of what I’m after. The tanker style is easy to transition from driving to kayaking and retain access. The m12 I see are mostly drop leg units.

I was never issued an M12. We had decent issue holsters and were encouraged to buy better ones when we could. I think the M12 had a folding flap on the back where it could attached to a drop leg or be mounted on a pistol web belt normally, without the need for a different holster. I would like to build a few, not all, of my issued setups. Probably soon, as the older stuff is getting harder to find. One of my last setups before going to MOLLE was the Load bearing vest, instead of the older harness/suspender kind. Did a better job of moving the ammo weight off my hips and more on my shoulders. Mine was attached to a web belt so I could still attach canteens.

https://armynavyoutdoors.com/u-s-govt-issue-load-bearing-vest-lbv-ii-military-surplus/

 

[Blkhrt13]

Yeah that vest looks like it could help spread weight quite well. I think I bought the holster to either go on the belt or fit new straps. It was a junk box find. I didn’t know if it was still in production. I had similarly less fruitful google searches. But that black hawk holster helps in showing me a way I can go. Thanks!

 

[CapnMac]

Appears to be patterned after the US M-7

Only with "Alice" hardware.
After the M-7 passed into history, the Bianchi rig took over

With MOLLE and various plate carrier rigs taking over, there's nothing really specific to US tankers anymore. They basically get a MOLLE compatible holster and stick it on the plate carrier to best convenience.

 

[12Bravo20]

We kept using the M7 holsters even after we had to turn our 1911s in for the M9s. The M7 fits both. I also have a open top military holster that snapped onto flight/survival vests that helicopter pilots wore at that time.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Appears to be patterned after the US M-7

Only with "Alice" hardware.
After the M-7 passed into history, the Bianchi rig took over

With MOLLE and various plate carrier rigs taking over, there's nothing really specific to US tankers anymore. They basically get a MOLLE compatible holster and stick it on the plate carrier to best convenience.

Yeah you can see the lineage in it for sure. I can see the M7 in it.

 

[bannockburn]

Blkhrt13

This is the Bianchi U.S. M12 holster. It was adaptable with straps to be an extended drop leg version or could also be converted with a chest harness and straps into a shoulder holster.


I also have a Boyt M7 shoulder holster which I got many years ago from some Army/Navy surplus store.