I went back and watched this more than three years later so that I could accurately respond to a comment. I can't believe it's got 3.9 thousand views. This is before I had my reload bench set up for filming with an overhead mount. Before I had a lapel mic. Before I used a better smartphone with better video quality. Thanx to everyone who stopped in to check out the video. Hopefully some of you found this useful.
Awesome video. It appears Hill Country Leather used to be Cathey Enterprises based off a few things I've read. I do like how the hardware on these is some alloy and not metal, so it doesn't rust.
I've got some other milsurp videos in the works, but I haven't made time to film and edit them. I'd like to make time for it next year after I work on some other projects. I keep a lookout for new old stock and used holsters when I am shopping online for other stuff. I may end up adding another to the collection at some point. Thanx for Watchin'.
Thanx. I get push back for open carry. I get push back for the kinds of firearms I prefer. I get push back for my stance and grip when I'm shooting. Most of the people that give me that push back haven't been into firearms or Second Amendment rights very long, if at all. I'm an old guy and I've been doing this for a while so I've already got my opinions and habits. I've never said that my way is the one only right way.
Thanks for the videos, I just did a little research on M12s because I'm going to buy one, a couple of bits of info I saw, an ex-military guy in a forum mentioned that the Bianchis were made in the 80s but that the other manufacturers were post 93 or 94, and some of the M12s came with a larger plastic insert that the trigger guard apparently slipped into. I've seen these on Ebay in my search. I'm looking for one to hold my Glock 21 Gen4, and an ex-cop on a forum said he was a SWAT team member back in the day and they were issued M12s for their issue G21s, said they fit great, but he did mention that the ones with the plastic trigger guard insert might be a problem for that gun, but he didn't have any experience with it. So I'm avoiding them. Keep up the good work!
I just picked up a Cathey holster. I knew Bianchi made them and was wondering if mine was a cheap knock off. Nice to know it's legit milspec. Learning about the other subcontractors was interesting too. I'm a year late, but thanks for the video.
Yep. Work hard = Get stuff. I got other stuff I haven't opened. Maybe I'll shoot some videos this weekend. I'm hoping someone sees this and can give me some information that I don't already have.
I have some info! Guess I'll start chronologically... In the WW1, Interwar, and WW2 periods, M1916 holsters were given manufacturers stamps near the belt attachment point on a factory by factory basis. Some had stamps, some did not. You can date holsters this way, one example is that Graton and Knight produced holsters during the Second World War. These holsters were brown or undyed. Following the Korean War, the US Military decided to start dying the existing stocks of M1916s black. Although the dye would tend to seep out on the back side and get stain the old OG107s. To my understanding, some of these holsters floated around until the 1980s. They government did contract the drop leg holsters, they are called M1425 tactical hip extender (NSN:1095-01-339-2213). Some italian military issue M12s came permanently attached to the hip extenders. The govt also contracted a shoulder harness (1095-01-247-3917) that you could attach the M12 to. In 1985, an NSN was assigned (1095-01-220-0692) For the G100 General Officer's Holster, which was the Bianchi M12, but made in black Leather. Pretty slick looking, I've seen them range in price from 40 to 400 dollars Finally, there is a Mystery Piece m12 holster that is made in all black nylon and has no NSN. It's called the UM84/92. I myself also collect this old gear, I like the way it looks and feels. Happy to see others who share this hobby of mine Since the US Military is replacing the M9 across the board with the M17, they are now procuring holsters made out of a hard thermoplastic, that has a metal clip that attaches to the trigger guard, completely eliminating the need for any external flaps. I guess that all remaining stocks of ALICE, LC-2, and IIFS gear is being phased out for good soon, but I've heard that to this day the USMC still uses the old ALICE packs for some rear echelon radiomen. Hope you are having a good one, stay safe my fellow michigander
@@gooby8953 Thanx for all of this information. As far as I know from way back the UM84/92 available in different colors to include 6-color day desert at one point was the civilian variant of the M12. I had a friend loan me a holster to do some research on, but I have gotten nowhere. Eventually I'll do a video on it entitled "Mystery Holster." I'll send you a link to the unlisted video before I publish it through the comment section if you'd like to take a look. Based on your avatar, I am thinking you might collect gas masks as well. I am working on some M17 videos, but I am not sure when they will be completed or how many I will make. If you have any information on the Czech M10 or Polish MP4, I could use some help with that. Also, I guess I am a Michigander because of residency, but really I am a North Carolinian. Thanx for Watchin'
I went back and watched this more than three years later so that I could accurately respond to a comment. I can't believe it's got 3.9 thousand views. This is before I had my reload bench set up for filming with an overhead mount. Before I had a lapel mic. Before I used a better smartphone with better video quality.
Thanx to everyone who stopped in to check out the video. Hopefully some of you found this useful.
Awesome video. It appears Hill Country Leather used to be Cathey Enterprises based off a few things I've read.
I do like how the hardware on these is some alloy and not metal, so it doesn't rust.
I've got some other milsurp videos in the works, but I haven't made time to film and edit them. I'd like to make time for it next year after I work on some other projects. I keep a lookout for new old stock and used holsters when I am shopping online for other stuff. I may end up adding another to the collection at some point. Thanx for Watchin'.
Great comment on 'open carry'!
Thanx. I get push back for open carry. I get push back for the kinds of firearms I prefer. I get push back for my stance and grip when I'm shooting.
Most of the people that give me that push back haven't been into firearms or Second Amendment rights very long, if at all.
I'm an old guy and I've been doing this for a while so I've already got my opinions and habits. I've never said that my way is the one only right way.
Thanks for the videos, I just did a little research on M12s because I'm going to buy one, a couple of bits of info I saw, an ex-military guy in a forum mentioned that the Bianchis were made in the 80s but that the other manufacturers were post 93 or 94, and some of the M12s came with a larger plastic insert that the trigger guard apparently slipped into. I've seen these on Ebay in my search. I'm looking for one to hold my Glock 21 Gen4, and an ex-cop on a forum said he was a SWAT team member back in the day and they were issued M12s for their issue G21s, said they fit great, but he did mention that the ones with the plastic trigger guard insert might be a problem for that gun, but he didn't have any experience with it. So I'm avoiding them. Keep up the good work!
I just picked up a Cathey holster. I knew Bianchi made them and was wondering if mine was a cheap knock off. Nice to know it's legit milspec. Learning about the other subcontractors was interesting too. I'm a year late, but thanks for the video.
Thanx for Wacthin'
These are perfect for the Spanish Star 30M. The Spanish Military uses this same pattern.
Informative indeed!
I still have a khaki colored Bianchi made first Gulf War contracted M12 with matching mag pouch in un-issued condition !!!
Not aware of any being issued other than OD green. Bianchi did make them in tan, black, and six-color day desert for civilian sell.
I have one of these hill country m-12's use it for my 2011a2 10mm in case of bear or coyote attacks in the fall and spring of sparse years.
can you get a thumb break snap for the um84r holster to work with a revolver without the flap on it
A thumb break and a hip extender are available for the M12. They may work on the UM84. I've never tried it though.
@@Squib1911 ok thanks i looked for thumb break snaps on but every one i seen says will not fit um84r
@@rambostone6400 ok
Is there any noticeable difference between these holsters? I’m interested in buying one for use on the range, not so much for collecting. Thanks
No noticable difference. Any manufacturer would be about the same. Thanx for Watchin'
@@Squib1911 I’m probably going to get one with the thumb strap. I appreciate the feedback, thanks!
@@mikem2132 Thumb break is a separate piece and should fit any of them.
nice
Yep. Work hard = Get stuff. I got other stuff I haven't opened. Maybe I'll shoot some videos this weekend. I'm hoping someone sees this and can give me some information that I don't already have.
I have some info! Guess I'll start chronologically...
In the WW1, Interwar, and WW2 periods, M1916 holsters were given manufacturers stamps near the belt attachment point on a factory by factory basis. Some had stamps, some did not. You can date holsters this way, one example is that Graton and Knight produced holsters during the Second World War. These holsters were brown or undyed.
Following the Korean War, the US Military decided to start dying the existing stocks of M1916s black. Although the dye would tend to seep out on the back side and get stain the old OG107s. To my understanding, some of these holsters floated around until the 1980s.
They government did contract the drop leg holsters, they are called M1425 tactical hip extender (NSN:1095-01-339-2213). Some italian military issue M12s came permanently attached to the hip extenders.
The govt also contracted a shoulder harness (1095-01-247-3917) that you could attach the M12 to.
In 1985, an NSN was assigned (1095-01-220-0692) For the G100 General Officer's Holster, which was the Bianchi M12, but made in black Leather. Pretty slick looking, I've seen them range in price from 40 to 400 dollars
Finally, there is a Mystery Piece m12 holster that is made in all black nylon and has no NSN. It's called the UM84/92.
I myself also collect this old gear, I like the way it looks and feels. Happy to see others who share this hobby of mine
Since the US Military is replacing the M9 across the board with the M17, they are now procuring holsters made out of a hard thermoplastic, that has a metal clip that attaches to the trigger guard, completely eliminating the need for any external flaps. I guess that all remaining stocks of ALICE, LC-2, and IIFS gear is being phased out for good soon, but I've heard that to this day the USMC still uses the old ALICE packs for some rear echelon radiomen.
Hope you are having a good one, stay safe my fellow michigander
@@gooby8953 Thanx for all of this information. As far as I know from way back the UM84/92 available in different colors to include 6-color day desert at one point was the civilian variant of the M12.
I had a friend loan me a holster to do some research on, but I have gotten nowhere. Eventually I'll do a video on it entitled "Mystery Holster." I'll send you a link to the unlisted video before I publish it through the comment section if you'd like to take a look.
Based on your avatar, I am thinking you might collect gas masks as well. I am working on some M17 videos, but I am not sure when they will be completed or how many I will make. If you have any information on the Czech M10 or Polish MP4, I could use some help with that.
Also, I guess I am a Michigander because of residency, but really I am a North Carolinian.
Thanx for Watchin'
As of 2024 new old stock Cathey M12s holsters are still available for $40 and chancge.
So which one is better made?
They're all made to a mil-spec
will a glock 34 fit?
Couldn't tell you. Glocks aren't my thing.