TG235AA Taigear Universal Horizontal Shoulder Holster ACU Digital Camouflage

U.S. Army GEN. David Patraeus (left), Commander, Multi-National Forces ' Iraq, reenlists STAFF SGT. Patrick Guidry, 984th Military Police (MP) Company, 759th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, on Feb. 24, 2007, at Camp Victory, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by SGT. Rob Summitt) (Released)


Taigear's Universal Horizontal Shoulder Holster ACU Digital Camouflage, item number TG235AA. Photo from their website taigear.com.

Taigear describes their gear as for airsoft and paintball use. They only sell in bulk, but I found one reseller that offered this holster for $8.64 plus shipping.

What struck me about this photo is the extremely cheap quality of the holster, the ink is so bad it has turned from gravel camo to granite camo. This is juxtaposed by General Patraeus standing directly in front of him. If this cheapest of the cheap gear, which is not even marketed for military use, is fit for display to the highest ranking officer in Iraq, than anything goes.

I don't know how I feel about commercial items like this. They are certainly interesting, but a real pain for collecting.

Good article & analysis. Thank you!

Just another sighting of one in use


Spc. Jonathan Pierce, Joint Area Support Group- Central checks the bumper number of a vehicle he is about to repossess.
BAGHDAD, IRAQ
10.15.2008
Photo by Spc. William Addison
44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

On the broader subject of commercial equipment here's Captain William D. Swenson wearing a Condor Modular Operator Plate Carrier (MOPC) in "ACU".
I also found this review left on the Condor website for the MOPC:

Victor Grey (USA) 6/7/2009 7:54 PM
Great value for the dollar!!! I have abused this product in the both Afghanistan and Iraq (Not at a cushy static site either). It performed well under fire and in and out of vehicles. Also, it didn't hinder my movement while carrying a fully loaded 3-day assault pack up and down the mountains. As great as this plate carrier is, I find there are 2 areas of improvement I hope your company remedies. I will address the issues and the soulutions I used to overcome them. Here goes; the first issue is the amount of velcro on the front "flap." I had to sew more on there so that the entire "flap" was secured and curling up at the corners. That was an easy fix. The next thing was more crucial. I found the cumberbund lacking in rigidity. My combat load, and other accessories, would begin to sag outward. So I undid the stitching and placed a hard, yet flexible (10" x6"), piece of plastic in the sides, and re-sewed it back up (I refered to the USMC's cumberbund). Once I improved these two areas, the plate carrier out performed similar and more expensive products from other BIG Name companies. Condor, you will make more money and have a much more loyal customer base by continuing to sell your qualiity products at honest, realistic prices. To hell with those other "by-my-name-not-my quality" companies. Respectfully, Vic.

GWOT was a private purchase bonanza wasn't it? Crazy how stuff like the holster creep into active units like your pictures show. Nothing seems to be off-limits and makes you wonder the story of how STAFF SGT. Guidry got this holster.

I have an easier time understanding non-issued body armor given needs change on any given mission but a low quality holster seems something to avoid. Sorry I missed this post from a couple years ago.

Good thread ~
MZ