Today we have a look at the EFA-2k Makarov holster that was “made for Spetznaz”. I am extremely skeptical that any Spetznaz operator ever actually deployed with one of these things, though. It’s a holster with a neat mechanical function; you can push the pistol down through the bottom of the holster and it will automatically disengage the safety and rack the slide (chambering a round) in the process (ejecting the chambered round out the hole in the holster is there is one chambered).
This sounds like a a good idea, but it’s really not. It is an ND just waiting to happen, it’s not a good concealment holster size-wise, and it only has one true purpose. That is to be a workaround for people/places where it is mandated to carry the pistol chamber empty, and with the safety engaged. In reality, the Makarov’s double action trigger is a completely safe and effective safety mechanism for carry, and there is no actual reason to carry one with an empty chamber.
Nice to know the Russian Army is saddled w/ the same innane rules on FOBs the US Army is. I expect the Russian officer corps is slightly less afraid of knives, however.
No, it’s completely permissible to carry your knife with one in the chamber.
Running out of ammunition for knive might sound absurd, but is possible whilst using http://modernfirearms.net/en/handguns/handguns-en/russia-semi-automatic-pistols/nrs-nrs-2-eng/
In Russia everyone who allowed to carry a weapon expected to carry it with chamber empty and safety on. This is true for both military and police personel. Same rules apply for “less lethal” rubber bullet shooting pistols avaible for civilians.
Hunting weapon expected to be carried disassembled if possible, with ammunition in separate container, not in magazines.
About year ago there was new military regulation in some units, it was viewed as a joke at first. Here is a video:
www. youtube.com/watch?v=9GmHeCUdvk8
“Officer’s ammo carry box” should hold 2 magazines with 8 rounds each. Sometimes keys are not included and must be found in armory before using weapon. It helps at same time to issue live ammo and avoid negligent discharges completely.
“Spetsnaz” label looks cool, so it is often slaped onto anything remotely related to military to improve sales.
“Spetsnaz” is one of those advertising buzzwords that has come to evoke the same, bemused smirk as “black ops” or “operator”. It asks people to accept a lot of stretch.
I think the Ukrainians have shown that spetsnaz troops need a bit more training….
Maybe if they had better holsters. Last I heard, they prefer Glocks like the rest of the world anyway.
Then there was the holster someone came up with for a chambered P7 — you squeezed the cocker to unstrap the pistol! I never read if you were supposed to unsqueeze until your sights were on target …
I should look up the acknowledgements for REMDE by Niel Stephenson. Great book, highly entertaining, prescient as Stephenson was in those days. Anyway, the ex-spetznaz baddie turned goodie carries his Makarov in one of these rigs concealed. If this is the same design as the original CCCP issue, yea, not so much and of course, no need.
So somebody finally came up with a “holster” more dangerous to the user than the Bridgeport device.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport_rig
clear ether
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Heh! the return of the skeleton holster Bridgeport rig. I wonder if it could be made to rotate when you draw.
Yet another physical testimonial to the idea that you shouldn’t try to overcome with gadgets what you really ought to be working on through training and policy…
Surprised the Israelis didn’t try something like this, with their routine policies for handguns to be carried with empty chambers…
Still prefer the Glock approach: Loaded chamber at all times, passive safeties, and a reliably trigger-blocking holster. Also, training policy that if the gun is out of the holster, it’s dangerous. Period.