# Unusual WW2 holster.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-ww2-holster/839177>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 24, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-ww2-holster/839177 "2019-08-24T21:03:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-ww2-holster/839177/1 "2019-08-24T21:03:16Z")

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Watching a WW2 documentary I noticed a man with an odd looking holster which hangs down at his knee! In this screen grab he is the one standing to the left of Montgomery: [https://imgur.com/a/KcXrsNj](https://imgur.com/a/KcXrsNj). What gives?

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**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-ww2-holster/839177/2 "2019-08-24T21:18:43Z")

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Looks like a tank-crew holster: [https://www.google.com/search?q=ww2+tank+crew+holster&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjVtZ71tpzkAhVTHd8KHQr4B6cQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=ww2+tank+crew+holster&gs\_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3...27903.41467..41945...2.0..0.235.3313.38j1j2......0....1.......5..35i39j0i24j0j0i67j0i5i30j0i30j33i299j33i10.v-\_mEXtiddY&ei=HKlhXdU307r8Borwn7gK&bih=915&biw=1366&prmd=sivn&rlz=1C9BKJA\_enUS787US787&safe=off&hl=en-US#imgrc=b1wzA2tUPbsLsM](https://www.google.com/search?q=ww2+tank+crew+holster&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjVtZ71tpzkAhVTHd8KHQr4B6cQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=ww2+tank+crew+holster&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3...27903.41467..41945...2.0..0.235.3313.38j1j2......0....1.......5..35i39j0i24j0j0i67j0i5i30j0i30j33i299j33i10.v-_mEXtiddY&ei=HKlhXdU307r8Borwn7gK&bih=915&biw=1366&prmd=sivn&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS787US787&safe=off&hl=en-US#imgrc=b1wzA2tUPbsLsM)

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-ww2-holster/839177/3 "2019-08-24T22:01:28Z")

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In WW2, many European armies wore uniforms with belts that were much higher than where we wear belts today. As a result of this, a belt holster on the right was difficult to draw from since it was up so high, and these armies would typically use cross-draw holsters on the left instead.

In a tank or other armored vehicle, the commander is already squeezed into a narrow hole, and a straight draw on the right is easier than a cross draw on the left while in such a confined position. But then you’ve got the problem of the belt still being up too high. Hence, the dangly style holster. It’s just a practical way of making the pistol easier to draw.

Soldiers who were issued tank holsters would occasionally re-arrange them so that they ended up being cross-draw shoulder holsters with the pistol hanging just under the left armpit.