A number of years in the past, I attended a coaching occasion placed on by Safariland, Walther, CHPWS, and Modlite at Wealthy Graham’s Full Spectrum Warrior facility. At that occasion, the Safariland head honcho confirmed us a secretive holster that may later develop into the Ballast, which we noticed formally launched in early 2025. No photographs may very well be taken on the time, however the holster intrigued me.
A Clear Safariland Holster
Primarily as a result of it was fabricated from a semi-transparent polymer. The aim of utilizing a semi-transparent polymer was to indicate off the varied SLS (Self Locking System) and ALS (Automated Locking System) options and provides individuals a greater view of how they labored. I’ve a manufacturing Ballast now—launched simply this previous yr—and like it, however that clear polymer prototype by no means left my thoughts.
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Once I ran right into a Safariland rep not too long ago on the Glock Gen 6 launch occasion, we bought to chatting. I made what I felt was an enormous ask: “Hey, do you guys nonetheless have that clear polymer Ballast? Can I borrow it?” The Safariland rep merely mentioned, “You may have it.” And right here we see it: the clear Ballast holster on full show.
Safariland Goes Clear
No matter what you say, it’s a looker, proper? Clear holsters are every kind of cool and considerably uncommon. Heck, clear something within the firearms world is fascinating. I used to be at all times enamored with ATI’s clear polymer decrease, even when it didn’t fairly make it as a mainstream manufacturing staple. Seeing how issues work is at all times fascinating versus merely figuring out they work.
This may result in the query: why not make a clear holster for the mass market? Or a clear decrease? Properly, it seems that clear polymers are usually weaker and extra brittle. If you happen to ever performed with Legos as a child, you’ve in all probability had a clear brick crack lengthy earlier than an opaque one.
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Clear polymers are additionally extra prone to UV degradation. UV rays can attain deeper into the fabric and break molecular bonds all through the plastic. That’s why they ultimately flip yellow and lose their structural integrity.
Safariland’s reasoning is straightforward: they make obligation holsters to a excessive customary. They don’t need to promote a holster that may break beneath the “crush” forces the Ballast is particularly designed to withstand, or degrade whereas sitting in a patrol automobile beneath the solar. It’s not a wise enterprise transfer for a corporation constructed on institutional belief.
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The Cutaway Holster
Consider this holster a bit like a cutaway gun. It’s designed to indicate you precisely how the mechanics function—how the ALS locks into the ejection port and the way the SLS hood rotates. It’s not designed to be fielded. The clear design offers it a putting, virtually “sci-fi” look.
It capabilities similar to the manufacturing Ballast. The SLS and ALS lock your gun in place and permit for an intuitive, quick draw. The holster works with all customary Safariland attachments, so you may drop it low with a UBL, trip it excessive, or throw it on a plate service by way of a TMA.
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I received’t be doing any of that, although. I treasure the uncommon, considerably odd nature of this piece. It’s going to sit down in my secure as a collector’s merchandise, one thing I whip out every so often to offer a novel have a look at the “guts” of contemporary holster expertise.
I’m unsure if that is Safariland’s rarest holster, however so far as I do know, only a few exist, and I’m stoked to have one available.
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