CrossFire Holsters – A New Approach to Nylon

Accessories Misc. Authors Brian Jensen SHOT Show 2012
An earlier design, the Rocket model, holds the gun securely in place via an elastic strap.

An earlier design, the Rocket model, holds the gun securely in place via an elastic strap.

The Shadow holster’s thumb strap springs to the side, and out of the way, allowing for easy re-holstering.

The Shadow holster’s thumb strap springs to the side, and out of the way, allowing for easy re-holstering.

The Shadow with cuff and magazine cases included.

The Shadow with cuff and magazine cases included.

Company President Jarrod Barr with the CrossFire holsters.

Company President Jarrod Barr with the CrossFire holsters.

The Range Deluxe Range Bag…Nice size for a range trip and just plan convenient with all the pockets.

The Range Deluxe Range Bag…Nice size for a range trip and just plan convenient with all the pockets.

By Brian Jensen

https://www.crossfireelite.com/

The holster scene is pretty packed with companies pushing new iterations of old designs, or copying others that they find a market for. I found a new group, CrossFire Holsters, who’s just going to the beat of a different drum. Their motto: “A Different Kind of Product and a Different Kind of Company.”

I spoke with Jarrod Barr, the company founder and president. He made it clear, from the get go, that his company is a firm believer in going, “outside the box” for solution to do things, and do them right. Barr said his initial design came from when his father fell in the hills while trying to give aid to what he thought was an emergency. On the way, he tripped and his gun fell out of his unsecured holster, then went off as it hit the ground. The round struck his dad in the knee and he had to crawl back to their home.

Barr wanted to make a holster that would be safe, and ergonomically sound. He also wanted to avoid the trap of traditional snap holsters that had the strap get in the way while re-holstering. And yes, he decided to get away from conventional designs and do something different.

His first design was what is called the Rocket, that has a nylon pancake design, but uses an elastic strap that goes over the back of the gun to lock it in. When you draw, you push the strap forward over the top, where it stays out of the way. It is indeed an unconventional design, but Jarrod says that with practice, people can get quite fast.

New Products for this Year

New for this year, is the Shadow line, Tracer and Panther models. These new systems go with a new idea from Barr, using a spring-loaded thumb break strap that once the snap is opened, the strap springs out of your way, and stays there. This is still a nylon and synthetic design. He said he did this for two reasons. First, because he recognized that some people just want a thumb strap. Second some guns don’t work well under the elastic strap system of the Rocket model because the strap rests against the back strap of the gun, and will de-activate a grip safety as found on a 1911 or XD style pistol. The Shadow line has models geared towards law enforcement that have a magazine and a set of handcuffs as well. All of the Shadow line has a strap to hold a badge on the side.

I asked Barr what makes his system different. He said that instead of using a molded plastic like seen in many other designs, he uses a synthetic memory-style foam that is compressed and heated to make the guts of his holsters, which are then surrounded with high quality nylon. This does two things, first, it helps it keep shape, but secondly, over a little time, the foam compresses around the holstered weapon and takes shape like it was molded to the weapon – viola, just like a custom fit holster.

What’s nice about this system is that one holster can adapt to other firearms. Bar explained, “you may have a great holster, but if you sell the gun, you might as well sell the holster too.” Now, this system can adapt to different guns. Just let the holster set for a week or two and the foam will decompress enough to start over with your new pistol. It’s just different enough to make you take notice.

CrossFire makes a full line of holsters, and all have something to offer everyone from the peace officer, armed civilian, hunter or casual shooter. The also offer a pretty neat little range bag called the Range Deluxe. It has pockets for two pistols, adaptable pockets for magazines, bullets, your ear protection, and is nice and compact.

Everything made by CrossFire is made with US materials and in their factory in Nampa Idaho. The price point of many of these holsters is just under $30, so they are reasonably priced as well. However, check with CrossFire for details.

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  • Terry Christensen June 28, 2012, 6:20 pm

    These guys are onto something here. I love the innovation and I love “Made in America”.

  • Mark Negie January 31, 2012, 12:40 pm

    I agree with the comment on their website, it’s not very useful or informative for Internet sales. I sent an email to Crossfire on who handles their products on the web with no reply. Does anyone here know of Crossfire dealer with an active website with information on sizes for gun fit and prices? I tried “Sportsman’s Warehouse” web store with no luck. Any help will be appreciated, but the difficulty of getting a bead on how to order their products make me wonder on the company’s stability. Thanks, Mark

    • Mark Negie January 31, 2012, 6:50 pm

      Follow up on my comment: I received an email from Scott Nash of CrossFire this evening. In the email Mr. Nash said that crossFire’s web site is still under construction and soon will be completed with full product information and on-line ordering. So keep an eye on CrossFire’s website for the good stuff to break out. Thanks, Mark

  • Alec Andrus January 27, 2012, 11:00 pm

    Crossfire is a great company – a USA company – in Nampa, Idaho. How cool is that. I just enjoy watching good folks build a business based on quality and value and these people are doing that.

  • Dan Minnaert January 26, 2012, 6:11 pm

    I have one of their holsters and it’s AWESOME! This company is making holster the other manufacturers haven’t even thought of yet.

  • Bob Gardner January 26, 2012, 9:43 am

    Where are the holsters that fit guns with lights mounted? Two new lights from Crimson Trace and no holster support. Same old story for 10 years now.

  • mike garus January 26, 2012, 9:05 am

    Check Activeprogear.com they’ve been doing this for 20 years!

  • Kevin Black January 26, 2012, 8:41 am

    After being a cop for the last 16 years I was just wondering why you would have your handcuffs on the same side as your pistol?

    • Ross January 29, 2012, 12:49 pm

      Because some “experts” think cuffing and your firearm are mutually exclusive. Further, there is some assumption that one can only use their dominant gun hand to perform tasks. After 30 plus years in the business it’s not hard to assume that the plan was developed by somebody who had never found a use for their off hand.

  • jesse john January 26, 2012, 7:20 am

    i hope their holsters are better than their website.

  • Aubrey Nabb January 26, 2012, 7:07 am

    Awesome looking holsters and looks like a very fair price !

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