This photograph was posted to a group on MeWe (I can’t link to it directly, because MeWe doesn’t provide that facility). Click the image for a larger view.
Let’s narrow our focus to that pistol, shall we?
Would someone please inform me:
- How the hell he expects to “draw” (or rather disentangle) that pistol from his belt if he needs it in a hurry?
- How the heck he expects to avoid a negligent discharge if/when the relationship between belt and trigger gets a bit too tight for comfort?
I thought I’d seen it all. Clearly, I hadn’t . . .
Peter
EDITED TO ADD: In a comment below, fellow blogger The Intrepid Reporter explains the image.
The pic was taken +/- a few months in 2004 at the Baghdad DFAC… it was b/c the DotMil didn’t issue proper holsters, and as stated before, they hadda have their weapon on them at all times…
This pic was used to justify the IPBO (Installation Property Book Office) where I worked at the time for doing an emergency purchase order of the Blackhawk holsters, both SERPA and shoulder rigs cos a lot of units didn’t have holsters believe it or not.
We even hadda use FOU money (For Other Use) which was like the unit cash-kitty, literally pay cash to buy holsters from the Iraqis to get our guys rigged up properly.
And @Aesop, dude, every weapon was loaded back then… “gooks in the wire” was a constant threat on VBC back then…. good times, good times…
Thank you, sir!
I would be very much surprised if that wasn't a case of someone misplacing a pistol and being forced to wear it that way for an extended period so fellow soldiers could know what he did.
Ding ding ding. I think we have a winner!
IdahoHunter
I'm going to assume that this is a photo from a military base overseas.
So, they are only carrying it because they are required to be "armed".
It's probably in condition three, too.
Evolution at work?
Darwin would burp in satiation if this was down at Taco Bell in an open carry state. But it isn't likely that.
But it looks more like a .mil situation, and I'm going with there's probably no live ammo in the weapon, and carrying it obviates having to lock it up or leave it unattended and unsecured. When even your sergeant couldn't take it away from you while you're hands free, that's a win.
Context is everything.
What the…
The pic was taken +/- a few months in 2004 at the Baghdad DFAC… it was b/c the DotMil didn't issue proper holsters, and as stated before, they hadda have their weapon on them at all times…
This pic was used to justify the IPBO (Installation Property Book Office) where I worked at the time for doing an emergency purchase order of the Blackhawk holsters, both SERPA and shoulder rigs cos a lot of units didn't have holsters believe it or not.
We even hadda use FOU money (For Other Use) which was like the unit cash-kitty, literally pay cash to buy holsters from the Iraqis to get our guys rigged up properly.
And @Aesop, dude, every weapon was loaded back then… "gooks in the wire" was a constant threat on VBC back then…. good times, good times…
I agree with previous commenters, that it is likely a .mil situation, given the clothing and condition of what is obviously a well travelled M9 (straight dustcover is a dead giveaway).
Likely condition 3 with an empty mag, worn either as a sop to regs "all personnel on FOB outside of quarters shall go armed at all times" so PT can be done without awkward pistol belt, etc., or as a punishment for an improperly secured weapon (leaving it in the head would be my first guess).
With no belt loops, it would be remarkably quick to "draw" that pistol from what looks to be a velcro inner duty belt.
The risk of ND would still be high (if loaded…the safety is at least engaged), but Pvt Snuffy is certainly not going to drop or forget his weapon any time soon …
Nah, full mag, and considering normal army policy, I'd say it most likely has an empty chamber. I do know a few people who had to do similar in Kandahar in 2010 when they banned a bunch of holsters as unsafe – no more slides, flaps, or shoulder holsters.
BigCountryExpat nailed it. The Bazaar shoulder holster you could get at Slayer would fall apart in a couple of months. I took some 550 cord and wrapped the grip leaving a loop to wear it over my head and arm with the barrel tucked into my PT shorts. I called it my "Tuco" rig for the gun necklace the character Tuco wore in "the good, the bad, and the ugly". When I was in DCU's I had a M-16A3. I was base commo and never left the wire.
Someone should have told the kids about the boot lace trick.
Very Welcome!
My own personal experience was my EDC sidearm was a former Iraqi Police FN Browning Hi-Power SA. Like z.e.r.o. tactical or even tacticool holsters to be found. Until I ran into the Ukrainians, who got me a Fobus that worked. Shades of Wild Wooley days of the Wild Wild West, as stated by tsquared… I think I might have seen you a couple of times bro LOL!
@BCE,
Given the added context, even better.
But the new Freaking Fabuolous Army will be issuing squirt guns that shoot strawberry scented unicorn farts.
And the weapons will all have orange plastic muzzles.