Ever since I’ve had the Bond Arms Bullpup 9 to work with, I have been searching for additional holsters for this outstanding concealed carry arm. Even though it fits in holsters designed for the original Boberg XR9 pistol (which Bond Arms bought the rights to), there are not a lot of choices available. That is certainly likely to change, as the refinements made to the design by Bond Arms — including a major reduction in MSRP — should boost sales considerably.
For now, there are still some great choices available, and one of them — the subject of this article — is available from DeSantis: the Model 019 Mini Scabbard.
DeSantis has an extensive and wide-ranging product lineup that includes not only its foundational line of leather products but also a wide array of holsters and concealed carry items made from various synthetics. I have found their quality and design to be top-notch over many years of use — particularly while carrying handguns off-duty.
The Mini Scabbard belt holster is one of their designs that I had not had an opportunity to try — at least until the Bullpup 9 came along — and its name tells a lot about it.
The “Scabbard” part of the name describes its traditional form. A scabbard is simply a sheath that is designed to hold a knife or a sword (the term is most often applied to swords). Once firearms came along — particularly carbines carried by horse-mounted troops — saddle-born scabbards were developed to hold them. Scabbards for firearms generally had no retention features other than a close fit of the leather to the rifle, so other than perhaps ornate decoration, they were — and are — pretty minimalist. The Mini Scabbard is no different.
The “Mini” part of the Mini Scabbard name refers to the relatively small amount of leather used very efficiently in the holster’s construction. But this doesn’t mean that the Mini Scabbard is only available for smaller pistols like the Bond Arms Bullpup 9. DeSantis makes a model for nearly all currently available defensive handguns. Going down through the list, I found Mini Scabbards available for no less than 20 different manufacturers and, if my math is correct, 153 different models of pistols and revolvers. That about ought to cover any handgun you are likely to carry for defensive purposes.
The Mini Scabbard is an unlined rig that appears to be formed from one piece of leather stitched at the rear and molded to the form of the gun. The belt “loop” is formed from the same leather piece and folded over and stitched to the bottom of the holster. The bottom of the holster is open for the muzzle, which helps to eliminate the trapping of any significant amounts of dirt or lint.
The outside portion of the Mini Scabbard covers the holstered handgun — in this case the Bond Bullpup — past the ejection port to protect the finish of the handgun from scuffs or scrapes. The inside portion does not come up that high, because that is the portion of the leather that forms the belt loop. If you wear this rig under a covering garment such as a 5.11-type concealment shirt, you will definitely want to wear an “A” or T-shirt underneath to protect your skin from contact with the gun. Like I said, minimalist!
The Mini Scabbard, being leather, can eventually experience some stretching over time. If you really want to avoid stretching with any leather holster, never use your holstered handgun as an arm rest. However, if the Mini Scabbard does loosen, a tensioning screw is positioned at the rear of the holster to help take up some of the slack that may develop or to assist with initial fit.
Since this holster is truly a scabbard, there is no operator-activated retention device. As you already know (if you have read any of my writings about holsters in the past), I prefer having a retention device on any carry holster. This comes from having survived three gun-grab attempts in my law enforcement career, the latter two thwarted by duty holsters that were security-enhanced.
I would not wear any holster like the Mini Scabbard without a covering garment. That being said, the Mini Scabbard is one of the best of the breed. It is set up with a muzzle-rearward cant, which makes it difficult for someone to pull the gun from the holster in a rear gun-grab attempt. It is also just as difficult to pull the gun straight up out of the holster. This presents a slight issue for the wearer.
If you are used to neutral-cant, vertical-draw holsters, you will need to practice drawing (with an unloaded gun) with this rig before carrying it. Rear-muzzle-cant holsters require initiating the draw with a bent wrist and pulling the gun forward, which was once the way most every combat holster was set up. Rearward cant also helps set up a crouched shooting position, which makes you a smaller target. I was reminded of this in my first draw attempt as I was trying to come straight up out of the holster — a definite “no go.” This initiated some practice time before carrying. Because of the muzzle angle, you are still susceptible to a grab from someone who is directly in front of you, which is why wearing a covering garment is critical in helping to protect your carry gun from gun-grab attempts.
The Bond Bullpup 9 carries very well in the Mini Scabbard and hugs close to the body. When seated in a car, the muzzle-rearward position becomes a neutral draw, which may help you clear your gun quicker in a carjacking attempt. It is as comfortable to wear when seated as it is while standing. MSRP is $62.99.
More info at: www.desantisholster.com
