PHLster | Phenomenal Philadelphia EDC Gear

Weapon-light-switch-ARC Agency Arms
June 14, 2019  
|  2 Comments
Categories: Guns

PHLster was once known for a couple of very nice holster designs. Now it’s known for several nice holster designs and a number of different EDC doohickeys and upgrades as well!

Read up.

PHLster ARC Weapon Light Switch

PHLster Floodlight

PHLster PEW

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PHLster ARC

6-14-19

The ARC weapon light replacement switch is available now [we just ordered one, 6-14-19, 17h30 CST]. Built using the same principles of the field expedient “Fisher Switch1” (as in Steve Fisher, Sentinel Concepts2), the ARC allows users to decrease the distance between their activation finger and the WML switch. That’s a Good Thing.

“If you have short fingers, are tired of compromising your grip to activate the WML, dislike grip switches, need more reach to activate the switches when installed on certain pistols, or just want to make WML activation faster and easier, the PHLster ARC is a necessary upgrade.” PHLster

Weapon light switch (ARC) from PHLster.

The ARC is an excellent upgrade to your weapon mounted light – a nice, store-bought alternative to the DIY modifications folks have been making for years!

The ARC ships as a set of three (3) pairs of switch enhancements that will optimize their light for both right- and left-handed use. This is going to improve speed (and consistency) of activation and (quite significantly) can be reliably engaged with gloved or wet hands.

Each ARC set includes a Large, Extra-Large, and Extra Large (Blank) set of switches (the latter allowing for shaping, carving, whittling, stippling, or other “personalization”). Large and XL versions are aggressively textured. All are holster friendly.

PHLster advises,

Large, XL, and stock switches can be mixed and matched, to optimize the WML for right or left-handed use, based on your preferred activation technique, decrease the distance to the switch on some models of firearm, or to simply improve momentary or constant-on activations.

No permanent modifications to the WML are necessary to install the ARC. The original switch caps are easily removed with a small screwdriver or pliers and the ARC switch enhancements press directly on to the switch armature bar. Please watch the instruction video prior to installation. Be aware that the switches are right and left-hand biased, so pay attention to the markings on the ARC switch enhancements. 

Weapon-light-switch-ARC SIG Gray Guns

 

Depending on the age of your light, manufacturing tolerances, and their intended use, some users may want to apply a tiny dab of adhesive to the switch armature bar as a final step in their installation, after determining their optimal switch configuration. 

The PHLser ARC for Surefire WMLs fits all popular light bearing holsters.

 

Bill Blowers of Tap-Rack-Tactical on the ARC weapon light switch

“ARC switch replacements are legit. I was fortunate to help do some testing. Never lost one during that time. Whether you’re a trigger finger guy, support thumb guy or hand bump guy these make life a little easier. Consideration for SHO/WHO also need to be accounted for. Great product from a proven manufacturer that only makes the X series of lights better.” Bill Blowers, Tap-Rack Tactical

Switch installation is easy and requires no permanent modification. The stock switch nubs are easily removed with pliers or a small screwdriver and the enhanced switch end-caps press on to the switch armature bar. And, the ARC switch enhancements fit pretty much every decent WML holster on the market, including Safariland and many, many others.

Weapon-light-switch-ARC Beretta

Weapon-light-switch-ARC CZ weapon light switch

You can find em on the PHLster website: but if you’re gonna buy one, be sure to use your Tactical Buyers Club discount code!

Read more on The Firearm Rack.

Here’s COWAN!‘s impression of the ARC.

 

 

PHLster is a part of the House Morningwood Tactical Buyers Club

1 Dave Merrill wrote about this a few years ago when talking about the SureFire X300U

2 Online at Sentinel Concepts (@sentinel_concpts); pay attention to the Sentinel Concepts Facebook page too, Steve’s doing Facebook Live and dropping knowledge constantly. 

 

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PHLster Floodlight

12-4-18

PHLster (@phlster) recently released what may be the best universal(ish) light-bearing appendix holster we’ve seen to date – the Floodlight. Its the result of a collaboration between PHLster (PHLsterholsters.com) and Andrew Henry of Henry Holsters (@henryholsters, q.v.). According to many posts on social media (from people I respect, not just random people with a holster fetish), they’re an outstanding, even ingenious design, and they’re beginning to hit mailboxes en masse as of today.

A PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster in use by COWAN! of Sage Dynamics.

COWAN!’s Floodlight(s), courtesy of Sage Dynamics.

Note: featured image from Terry Bohannon, @ninexnineteen

PHLster is the creation of Jon Hauptman, whom cognoscenti and serious-minded holster folks may recall from the excellent Philly EDC video series. Apropos to nothing, he is also the man whose name I misspelled for about 3 years by putting an extra n on the end. He’s wicked smart and really good at understanding and articulating even the seemingly minor aspects of the concealed and carry aspects of concealed carry. He’s just as good (or better) at addressing those things in his holster design.

Grunts: cognoscenti.

So what’s the Floodlight? Down past the nut-cuttin’, it’s a universalized holster predicated on the use of the SureFire X300U A or B. If you can attach that kind of WML to your handgun, and assuming that handgun is one of the even marginally common breeds of pistol, the Floodlight will almost certainly fit.

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) as used by Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics.

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) also as used by Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics.

This means you can very quickly switch from your Glock 19/17/35, M&P, STI, or Beretta 92 to your CZ P10, SIG P229, Walther PQ, or Springfield XD to your…well, whatever. To further increase its utilitarian potential, the Floodlight is ambidextrous and also accommodates every manner of comps, optics, threaded barrels, suppressor height sights, slide-mounted optics, and suppressor.

Whoa - the PHLster Floodlight seems to do it ALL. Strange things are afoot, and not just at the Circle K!

Note: don’t hold me accountable for the spelling, I didn’t make the gif. 

Here’s a shot of the Floodlight with a suppressor attached (PC @jwramp).

PHLster Floodlight with supressed pistol - not Photoshopped PC @jwramp

[Note: learn more about PHLster.]

PHLster Floodlight: Dudes Who Know, Opine

Chuck Pressburg of Presscheck Consulting avers,

“The Floodlight holds every medium and large frame semi-auto blaster with Uboat that I own. Adjustable tension and weapon agnostic. Comped or threaded? No problem… perfect for winter carry of the hand cannons! This one holster holds my double stack Nighthawk, Glock 34, comped 22, 17, 19, comped 19, and (with less than 1/8th of an inch of material removed) a CZ Bullshadow. Comps, threaded barrels, and suppressor height front sights are no problem.”

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) as used by Presscheck Consulting.

The PHLster Floodlight holster used by Presscheck Consulting.

To better suit such a wide array of handguns, the Floodlight is a tw0-piece design featuring adjustable slide contact. Thus its tension can be adjusted for specific slide dimensions and profiles. This, combined with the adjustable tension on the light-holding portion of the body (e.g. like its Spotlight holster predecessor), will allow the user to eliminate slip, rattle, and play in the holster.

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) as used by Scott Jedlinski.

The PHLster Floodlight used by Chirrut Imwe (pre-lasik).

Like the Spotlight holster, the Floodlight has adjustable retention. This allows the user to increase or decrease the friction retention on the body of the WML to tune the draw to their preference. Turn the screws attaching the ModWing grip-tucking hardware to dial the retention to your preference.

 

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) as used by Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts.

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) as used by Sandor Clegane, of House Sentinel.

The Floodlight was designed specifically for AIWB and strong side IWB in mind, so a prospective wearer could add a wedge for additional concealment if desired. It ships with loops and clips provides for adjustable ride height and cant angle and features ModWing adjustable anti-print hardware.

A PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster in use by COWAN! of Sage Dynamics. A PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster in use by COWAN! of Sage Dynamics. A PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster in use by COWAN! of Sage Dynamics.

Hauptman explains.

“It’s like any other light bearing holster insofar as the retention comes from holster engagement and (adjustable) clamping force on the shapes of the light. To make it more fully universal, the shock cord tension adjustment allows the user to control the degree of pressure against the slide to reduce or eliminate any slop or play, given different gun slide dimensions, and help improve the retention feel.”

There are two important things to make note of here.  First, you can adjust the slide tension. In fact, you should. That is the first step in getting the Floodlight to fit how you want. Second, this is not the Spotlight. I say that only because I’ve juxtaposed the two names at least half a dozen times while preparing this article. In fact, I’d give pretty good odds I do it at least once in the final version, and miss it.

Apologies in advance.

So what’s the difference between the Spotlight and the Floodlight? There are several, but as Andrew Henry advises,

“If you carry something that’s available in a Spotlight, it’s going to offer a more specialized, tailored fit to that exact weapon. The Glock Spotlight is really optimized for Glock, etc. The Floodlight is a little more of a Jack of All Trades. Also, if you want a molded-in wedge, the Spotlight is the way to go.”

Here are 3 different shots of the same PHLster Floodlight from Primary & Secondary, each with a different handgun aboard.

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) from Primary & Secondary with Walther PPQ aboard.

Floodlight from Primary & Secondary with Walther PPQ aboard.

 

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) from Primary & Secondary with a CZ aboard.

PHLster Floodlight from Primary & Secondary with a CZ aboard.

 

The PHLster Floodlight AIWB holster (appendix carry holster) from Primary & Secondary with a Glock 35 aboard.

Primary & Secondary Floodlight with Glock 35 aboard.

There are of course other options for how to mount the holster. A good one would be the excellent HLR clips from Discreet Carry Concepts (@discreetcarryconcepts, q.v.), as you can see here on these two pictures of someone I don’t really know well enough to make fun of, but who is not only wrong-handed but owns a substantially nicer pistol than I do.

PHLster Floodlight AIWB - IWB concealment holster

PHLster Floodlight – PC Jim Dexter with STI Tactically Sound Training Center.

 

PHLster Floodlight AIWB - IWB concealment holster

PHLster Floodlight  – PC Jim Dexter with STI, from Tactically Sound Training Center.

A full description and list of features can be found on PHLster’s Floodlight page, but before you go try to parse through all that, check out these videos.

At the very least watch Caleb’s. All the way to the end.

From Gun Nuts Media.

You can also check out this video from Scholl Security Group.

PHLster is online at PHLster Holsters.

The Floodlight can be viewed on the FLOODlight page.

To view more PHLster options, check out the entire Concealment section.

Many (not all) PHLster products are available on the BANG Aisle of Amazon Outfitters.

Some (not all) PHLster products can be be purchased from Weapon Outfitters.

If you’re interested in a model-specific holster, take a look at the PHLster SPOTlight.

Follow PHLster for product updates and pithy observations on Jon’s Instagram page.

That’s all for now, go forth and conquer.

Floodlights waiting to leave their sanctum sanctorum and venture forth into the world.

Floodlights waiting to leave their sanctum sanctorum and venture forth into the world.

 

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PHLster PEW: Pocket Emergency Wallet

11-12-17

You cain’t (yes, cain’t) always carry a gun or knife with ya. Maybe it’s the location. Maybe you’re one of those folks who don’t want to carry a gun or don’t approve of it. What you can do, all the time, every day (except for when you’re buck ass nekkid, and some of you could then too), is be equipped and ready to deal with a medical emergency.

Actually, you can be equipped properly, but it’d likely be a bit uncomfortable.

In any event, one easy way to be prepped and ready is to carry a medical wallet – the Pocket Emergency Wallet from PHLster.

That’s right. It’s the PEW. It’s another way to supplement your TQ and BCON (bleeding control) capability.

It’s a 4 x 5 in. elastic sleeve, sewn with three compartments (two for medical items and another for gloves). This sizes it properly for back pockets, cargo pockets, jacket pockets, hot pockets, all sorts of pockets. PHLster tells us the kit can be compressed to just 1.25 inches, properly loaded. If you order one they’ve pre-loaded, it’ll ship at 5.5 oz.

The PEW contains:

One pair of nitrile gloves

One H&H Mini Compression Bandage

One H&H Flat Compressed Gauze

WoundClot hemostatic (optional)

This obviously isn’t enough to treat a mass casualty situation, but it’s plenty to get you things started while awaiting EMS  or other professional help.

As PHLster explains,

As is the case with a tourniquet, having these items on your person is vastly superior to having them elsewhere. We designed the PEW around the premise that it will serve as a low profile/convenient EDC toolkit to reach a higher level of care by addressing the kind of massive hemmhorage which can be lethal within an expected response time. Rather than paring down or miniaturizing a military IFAK to fit this role, we started with a blank slate and asked, “What are the barest essentials to save a life from massive hemmhorage in a functioning urban or suburban setting?” We asked medics, first responders, and tac-med instructors, “If you could only carry two items beyond your tourniquet, what would they be?” With these strict criteria, we were able to build a solution to fit your pocket, both in terms of size profile and budget, the two biggest obstacles to individual medical EDC.

Don’t like their choice of medical loadout? You can get an empty one if you’d like. It’s described as fitting Celox Rapid gauze, Quick Clot Combat Gauze, Fox chest seals, NAR HyFin compact chest seals, SWATT tourniquets, and other items.

You can get one here on the PHLster website.

Maybe you want to equip an entire team or unit? Check out the Squad Deploy Bundle option.

Need more shoppin’ help? Check out the full lineup of the Banging Gift Guide 2017.

Oh, and if you get a few minutes, get involved with the Flatpack Users Group. They’ll learn you a few things…like this: 

How to flat-fold SOFTT and CAT TQs.

 

 

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⚠️ Some hyperlinks in this article may contain affiliate links. If you use them to make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s just one way to Back the Bang. #backthebang 

 

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Breach-Bang-Clear Staff

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2 Comments

  1. Scott Jedlinski

    That second picture of the floodlight with the G34 is mine homies!! 🙂

    Reply

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