We’re seeing an explosion in synthetic and polymer duty gear these days, but many agencies still mandate leather Sam Brownes, holsters and accessories for their personnel.
Additionally, many police officers choose holsters made from leather for appearance, comfort and stealth, particularly for off-duty use or non-patrol assignments.
One of the leaders in the police leather goods industry is Aker Leather, located in Chula Vista, California. Aker has been producing top-notch gear in the USA at the same factory since 1981 and is frequently the choice of agencies and officers looking for high quality leather products. This year, they have several new product introductions that may interest you.
Nightguard Compact Holster for Small Guns
The Model 147C Nightguard Compact is a thumb break scabbard designed for the compact service and concealed carry pistols from Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson.
The Nightguard is designed to accommodate pistols equipped with a weapon-mounted light on the frame rail, including the most popular compact units from Streamlight and Surefire.
New for 2018 are fits for the ever popular M&P Shield and Glock 43 handguns, pistols that have become leading choices for police officers seeking a compact, ergonomic and capable off-duty weapon. The new version of the Nightguard Compact will carry these light-bearing pistols high and close to the body, providing excellent concealment for these subcompact blasters.
Swivel Radio Holder for Motorola XTS 3000
The Model 588 radio holder for the popular Motorola XTS 3000 radio has been upgraded for 2018 with a new swivel mount that allows the user 16 locking adjustments to the cant of the radio. An officer can set up the pouch to carry the radio at any angle, and the durable polymer clip will hold it in that position. As with all Aker Leather duty accessories, the 588 is offered in a choice of plain or basket weave finish. Fits for the XTS 5000 and APX 6000 radios are forthcoming.
Polymer-reinforced FBI Straight Draw
The 174 FBI Straight Draw holster is new for 2018 and features a polymer reinforcement liner stitched between the layers of leather. The polymer liner will reinforce the mouth of the pouch and the base of the thumb break strap to preclude the pouch from collapsing, particularly in the area around the trigger guard pocket. The holster retains the boned fit and premium quality leather that Aker holsters are known for, and offers an adjustable tension screw, full-length molded sight channel and curved belt slots that will carry the pistol close to the body with comfort.
Tourniquet Pouch
The most exciting 2018 offering of all is the Aker Model 525 tourniquet pouch for Sam Browne duty belts – the market‘s first leather tourniquet pouch designed specifically for duty belts.
A tourniquet is an essential piece of equipment for a patrol officer, but many officers have struggled to find an appropriate place to carry one of these lifesaving devices on duty, particularly if their duty uniform doesn’t include tactical-style pants with extra pockets.
Additionally, some agency uniform policies prohibit officers from using accessories made from synthetics or polymers on their leather gun belts. As a result, many officers leave their tourniquets in their patrol cars instead of carrying them on their person, where they belong.
The Model 525 is a single-cell leather pouch designed to fit the popular Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T), which is the US Army’s standard tourniquet. The Aker 525 fits both GEN 6 and GEN 7 C-A-Ts, as well as other makes with similar dimensions, and can be purchased in either plain or basket weave finish.
The single cell Model 525 is also joined by the Model 526, which places a single magazine pouch alongside the tourniquet pouch. The pouch is cut with belt slots for vertical or horizontal carry, allowing an officer to carry additional ammunition, as well as the tourniquet.
The Model 525 and 526 are currently in production, and give police officers an excellent way to ensure that they keep their lifesaving medical equipment with them.
Summary
For information on any of these new introductions, see the Aker Leather website at www.akerleather.com
