Shooting from the Hip

A garage seems like an appropriate setting for the birth of a rock band, not a future multi-million dollar company. Yet, like Mattel and Apple Inc., Bianchi International began in 1958 with John Bianchi, a full-time Southern California police officer, simply constructing affordable quality holsters in his garage.

Follow the quantitative history of what later became an industry leader in holster creation and innovation and is now a part of the Safariland family.

• 1960 – The year Bianchi’s innovative thumb snap first seen on the Model 5BH/5BHL took the holster market by storm.
• $36 million – Bianchi International’s sales in 2004.
• 4 – Years of research that went into its synthetic universal military system holster design, or M12, which was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1984.
• 1992 – Bianchi introduced its AccuMold holsters, accessories and belts in this year, and these products continue to be its staple in the gun holster industry.
• 32 – Years the NRA Bianchi Cup Championship pistol tournament has been scouting the best marksmen in the world.
• 110,000 – Total amount of square feet in Bianchi International headquarters in Temecula, Calif., and its additional manufacturing facility in Imperial Valley, Calif.
• 20 million – The estimate of how many belts and holsters John Bianchi designed and manufactured during his career.
• 1 – Number of books authored by John Bianchi. Bluesteel & Gunleather, his one and only book published in 1978, gives an extensive history of gun holsters and its continuing development.
• 1983 – Year Bianchi acquired Gregory Mountain Products, an external-frame backpack manufacturer.
• $60 million – Amount Armor Holdings Inc. paid for Bianchi International in 2004.
• 105 – Miles separating GunHolsters.com headquarters and Columbia, Mo., the location of Bianchi’s first pistol-shooting tournament.
• 40 – Percentage of Bianchi’s business that came from Gregory packs in 1993.
• 1975 – The year that Bianchi produced its one-millionth holster.

And now it’s time to check out a western-inspired Bianchi holster that was first produced in the 1980s.

Apparently history just isn’t enough for The History Channel anymore. It’s venturing into the reality show world with a bang. Albeit a bit delayed (didn’t this whole “reality” trend start back in early ‘00?), Top Shot promises to give gun enthusiasts a 10-episode fill of competition-fueled fun.

So, what will shooters compete for? Well, money, of course. Like every reality show ever, there will be a cash prize — $100,000 to be exact — as well as a chance to break a world record.

From the producers of Dirty Jobs and The Ultimate Fighter, the new show will challenge opponents by having them recreate famous shots like William Tell’s apple-on-head assault or Annie Oakley’s playing card trick.

Due out in 2010, Top Shot has already begun its search for someone with “mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality.”

If you actually are interested (and have unmatched mad shooting skillz), e-mail TopShotCasting@gmail.com with your name, city/state, phone number, a recent photo of yourself, and a brief explanation of why you should be on the show by is Jan. 18. Or, check out the official casting call page here.

In the meantime, you’d better brush up on legendary marksmen, starting with William Tell.

Last week, we gave you some of the craziest gun nicknames that have appeared throughout history. This week we offer up 36 original nicknames that all come right out of one man’s arsenal.

The gentleman, who decided it was best to remain anonymous, was kind enough to let us take a peek at his gun collection. Not only was he kind enough, he was thorough enough to remember why he gave his guns pet names like Baby Nasty and Frankenlove.

For your viewing pleasure, we placed our favorite top 10 nicknames first along with pictures and listed the remaining 26 in no particular order.

1. Baby Nasty
Manufacturer: Mossberg
Model: 500
Caliber: 12 gauge
Explanation: The smallest shotgun I own. Very capable and mean looking, too.

2. Birthmark
Manufacturer: Glock
Model: 23
Caliber: 0.40
Explanation: Bought on my birthday with serial number one less than my SS#. And it had a strange mark on it.

3. Sprocket
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
Model: 93
Caliber: 0.223
Explanation: Very German looking with extra accessories. The name comes from the Saturday Night Live skit “Sprockets”.

4. Mr. Clean
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
Model: 91
Caliber: 0.308
Explanation: Twenty-five years old but looks brand new and no accessories. Everything clean cut.

5. Huggy Bear
Manufacturer: Yugo
Model: AK
Caliber: 7.62 X 39
Explanation: A completely chrome-plated AK, so I named it after the Starsky & Hutch pimp.

6. Red Scare
Manufacturer: Norinco
Model: AK
Caliber: 7.62 X 39
Explanation: Very communist looking AK with dark red furniture, too.

7. Ms. Perfect
Manufacturer: Glock
Model: 26
Caliber: 9mm
Explanation: This gun is oddly perfect. Not a scratch, dead bull’s-eyes at any range, immaculate.

8. The Conservative
Manufacturer: Springfield
Model: M14
Caliber: 0.308
Explanation: This is an über-American sniper rifle that’s very military and conservative looking.

9. Trouble
Manufacturer: Glock
Model: 21
Caliber: 0.45
Explanation: Such an insanely capable, simple, durable handgun in a big round. It brings trouble.

10. Squatter
Manufacturer: Remington
Model: 870
Caliber: 12 gauge
Explanation: Ready to go at all times. It defends my house like an Oklahoma squatter.

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Galco International Headquarters in Phoenix

From the real cops and military personnel to the ones we watch on the big screen, all have at one time or another used one of Glaco’s world-famous holsters. Their products can certainly make you feel like any type of action figure. And now that you’ve been formally introduced, it’s time to get to know Galco a little more intimately. That way, if Galco ever pops up on a Trivial Pursuit question, you’ll be ready to throw down.

• $7.25 million – According to Dun & Bradstreet, a business information provider, this is how much Galco rakes in each year.
• 5 – Number of seasons the iconic Miami Vice aired in the ’80s, where the Galco Miami Classic shoulder rig garnered national attention as a recurring character — worn by pretty boy Don Johnson. And this, according to Galco themselves, is the No. 1 gun holster trivia question!
• 2,071 – The number of miles Galco’s headquarters in Phoenix are from its top competitor Safariland’s Jackson, Fla., headquarters.
• 1980 – That’s when Galco International was formally branded. The holster company was initially called “The Original Jackass Leather Company,” which kinda of has a ring to it.
• 130 – The estimated number of people who work for Galco, another tidbit from Dun & Bradstreet.
• 20 – Pop “Galco International” in YouTube’s search, and this is how many results you will find. Watch one of the results (below), an interview with Galco’s own Mike Barham about the company’s Hollywood history, as posted by Spookybacon.
• 1969 – The year Galco was founded by Mr. Gallagher. No, not that Gallagher. Richard N. Gallagher to be more precise. We apologize for the confusion.
• $49.95 – The price of Galco’s latest holster: Triton Kydex IWB Holster

Developing pet names for inanimate objects is nothing out of the ordinary, especially when it comes to possessions as prized and powerful as guns. Yet sometimes these nicknames come not from adoration, but from pure disdain or infamy. Here are five historical gun names that are, at times, a hybrid of both good and evil.

1. The Pig

It wasn’t just the M60’s appetite for bullets that contributed to its porker of a moniker. The machine gun’s substantial weight at 23 pounds and unreliability also played a hefty role. The belt-fed machine gun made its debut in 1957 and has been employed by every branch of the U.S. military since. With the ability to shoot up to 1,200 yards, the M60 can be fired accurately at shorter ranges, too, because of its design.

2. Burp Gun

This gaseous nickname for the German MP38 and MP40, according to the Urban Dictionary, comes from its resemblance to a classic gun toy that blasted ping pong balls and was manufactured by Burpco — no joke. Developed in Nazi Germany, the submachine gun was used by paratroopers, platoon and squad leaders along with other troops during World War II. Both weapons were a more simplified version of the MP 36, which was constructed from machined steel.

3. Bloop Tube

We’d be lying if we told you that Bloop Tube was the only nickname for the M79 grenade launcher. It’s also referred to as Thumper, Thump Gun, Blooper and Wombat Gun. We just like Bloop Tube the best because it’s fun to say. Originating in the United States, the M79 struck a chord with American soldiers in the 1960s calling it “the platoon leader’s artillery.” While popular at one time, it was soon replaced by the M203 because of its weight and single-shot ability.

4. Hitler’s Chain Saw

Tacking “Adolf Hitler” to any name gives it an immediate ominous connotation. However, the pairing of it with “chain saw” makes it that much more menacing. It’s probably why the MG 42 was once called the “most terrifying infantry weapons” in Nazi Germany. With the ability to fire 1,200 to 1,500 rounds per minute, it’s no wonder they compare the MG 42’s sounds to the revving of a chain saw.

5. Plumber’s Nightmare

World War II soldiers had a love-hate relationship with the Sten gun, particularly the Mark II variant, because it wasn’t the most reliable gun to carry on the battlefield (jamming, random discharging, etc.). Especially detested by frontline troops, the submachine gun earned a few names: Plumber’s Nightmare, Plumber’s Abortion or Stench Gun. Created in the United Kingdom, Stens were also used in the Vietnam War and Korean War.

(Images via Wikimedia Commons)

Blogs and forums are buzzing about the redesigned fourth-generation Glock, set for release in 2010.

Richard over at Gun Holsters and Gear says the new Glock, or the “Next Generation of Perfection,” is rumored to have an adjustable grip for hands of all shapes and sizes as well as a textured finish.

AccurateShooter.com mentions that grip on Glock handguns has been a point of contention for some time. Glocks have been manufactured by Glock GmbH in Austria since 1963. The company’s is known for its strike-fired polymer-framed pistols.

“Glock has been losing market share as police departments nationwide have traded in their Glocks in favor of the more ergonomic Smith M&Ps,” said the editor at AccurateShooter.

When the fourth-gen G22 RTF2 Glock was first released this year, Steve at The Firearms Blog wrote: “I think 3rd gen glocks will be considered the ‘classic’ and having an older one will be ‘cool.’”

Will the newly redesigned Glock make it into the ‘cool’ category?

This oldie-but-goody video of a DEA agent shooting himself in the foot while lecturing about gun safety is a painful reminder of the importance of a good, secure gun holster.

In the video, you will see that he accidentally pulls the trigger while trying to put his gun back in its holster. From the video: “I’m the only one in the room professional enough that I know of to carry this Glock .40. I’m the only … (shoots himself and pauses) … Is everybody all right?”

Although we’re constantly amazed by his ability to not freak out after being shot, we’re equally amazed by his utter stupidity. Granted accidents do happen, things like this probably shouldn’t in a classroom filled with students learning about gun safety.

In 2006, two years after that nearly fatal mistake, the injured agent in the video, Lee Paige, became internationally infamous and filed a suit against the government over his humiliation. According to The Smoking Gun, Mr. Paige claimed that the DEA was responsible for the video’s distribution that was widely circulated online and on TV, which ultimately led to public shame and kept him from taking part in future undercover operations and motivational lectures.

“And I actually had an accident where I almost hit my femoral artery, and I could have died,” Mr. Paige said in a 2006 CNN interview. “The physician indicated I would have died in 22 seconds had that happened. So, and also, my — my safety and my ability to do my job is compromised.”

Below is an excerpt of Mr. Paige discussing the incident on ABC.

Kydex Gun Holster

Kydex, a durable leather-alternative, has quickly become a favorite holster material for gun enthusiasts alike. Although it’s not as sturdy as its injection-molded carbon fiber counterparts (like the Blackhawk Serpa Holster line), Kydex’s popularity has steadily increased during the last decade because of its sturdiness and its scratch and water resistance.

When it was first manufactured 44 years ago, Kydex was intended for aircraft interiors (think: tray tables, air ducts, armrests). Now the line of plastic can be found in almost everything—from medical equipment to exhibition displays.

With a hardness of 90 on the Rockwell R scale, the material can be purchased in most gun holster styles from brands like Blade Tech or Uncle Mike’s. The holsters typically start at about $25, which can be a little more expensive than nylon or synthetic ones.

The informational video below walks you through the decision-making process that goes into buying a Kydex gun holster.

Glock Holster by Fobus

The basic function of a holster is to secure and hold a firearm, or another object, in a location where it can be easily accessed. A holster needs to tightly hold onto your firearm, but it also needs to be taken out relatively easy, so users must decide what balance they want to strike between security and accessibility. The simplest holster is a pouch that fits close to the gun. These simple pouches give a fair amount of protection and security, depending on material, and provide much more protection than clip-on holders, which can sometimes be flimsy. Pouch holsters can have a spring-flap closure to keep the gun inside the holster but also keep it even more secure.

A wide range of shapes, materials, and retention/release mechanisms are available on firearm holsters, and some even cover the entire gun. Because gun holsters are used in a wide variety of situations, a lot of options exist. Holsters are usually designed to be used with one hand, and because of this, the holster is usually made of relatively stiff material. But here a balance is necessary, too: if the material is too stiff, the holster might break when pressed between the user’s body and another object, like a wall. Most handgun holsters are made from leather, but nylon and molded plastic, such as Kydex, are also popular choices. Holsters can be worn a number of ways: attached to a belt, clipped to clothing, or inside a pocket. The holster is usually kept near the chest, waist, or upper thigh for easy access.