MkIV Drop-leg Holster

What started life as an attempt to fix the MkII's holstering problems with the Hammershot has unintentionally evolved into the most versatile drop-leg holster we feel we've ever produced.

Meet the MkIV. It's almost like the MkII and the MkIII had a beautiful little baby to make this possible. Combining the foam reinforced aperture and thumb break strap of the MkIII with the adjustable interior retention of the MkII, the MkIV is our most versatile holster to date.

Externally, it looks very similar to the MkIII  but with the addition of the removable internal strap, it becomes a whole different beast.

The genesis for this one came after a particularly intense firefight which left me down to my sidearm on several occasions. Resupply for my main magazine would require me to re-holster the Hammershot and it was under that intense pressure the slight shortcomings of the MkII began to show themselves. The boxy end of the blaster argued repeatedly with the softer MkII apeture. Use in a MkIII couldn't happen because of vertical drop under gravity.

Post match assessment lead to the light bulb moment of installing a double ended removable strap. No idea why it took so long for this to come up but it did finally and we ran with it.. We made up a prototype without the aperture which roundly failed combat trials so we went with the foam. It holds the aperture open nicely and re-holstering in transitions is significantly better than either of the older models.

We took the opportunity  to re-jig a few things around. Following customer feedback, we moved the thigh strap buckles to the front of the holster and split the 50mm into 2 25mm buckles to fix the round the thigh swing that can sometimes occur with repeated re-holstering actions. With 2 25s you can position them either side of a belt loop to lock the holster in place. The prototype picture up there doesn't have this feature, it'll be on the production versions as they start running around.

Eventually, as this variant beds in, we'll replace the MkII and MkIII with a single MkIV Given the only blaster that won't effectively fit in this model is the Alpha Trooper, the Shotgun Holster won't change for that reason but there are advantages to going from 4 to 3 holsters.

The MkIV is available now from our website for £13.50 for 500D black Cordura and £15 for colours and camouflage. Prices include 20% VAT payable only within the EU so US and other non-EU customers will pay only £11.25 (~$18) for 500D black and £12.50 (~$20) for the others but local duties may be due upon arrival in the destination country. Shipping for a pair will top out at £4.70 to Australia, £4.50 (~$7.50) to North America. Lead time is 2 weeks tops, 5 days transit time. :)

Update on Fabrics and Prices

Well, they say challenges are sent to try us. I think we got through this one just fine in the end. We've sourced a new supply of 500D at a price a little higher than our last stuff but it has a new breathable coating on the interior so you won't bake in the heat of your gear!

We learned a lot of lessons from this particular crisis and we're now closer to the manufacturing process of our fabric with a roundly defined standard that we can take to other places if one supply fails to deliver. We've established a great rapport with our new people and we're buying directly from the mill that coats the fabrics we need. Essentially, we're as close as we can be to the source so no more middle men and fewer steps in the chain means less risk of a break down.

For you lovely people, that means a certainty not just in quality but also in price. We can guarantee a set standard of our fabric and at this volume prices remain a great deal more stable than at smaller scale.

Now, why did you go with the slightly more expensive fabric? Well, the answer is 2 part. First, the old stuff just wasn't available. We could have gone with a cheaper alternative but that would have compromised durability which is clearly unacceptable in a line of products that are used outside in some very tough situations. The second part is we now have a breathable coating on the inside of our 500D black Cordura. That means the fabric will breathe and solves a good number of the cooling problems that sometimes crop up in warmer climes when using our equipment. Yes, the UK is a cold and wet environment to Nerf in but we're lucky enough to have clients all over the world and Nerfing in non-breathable equipment in 30 degree heat (86 degree for you Imperial lovers) isn't a pleasant experience. By paying that little bit extra for a breathable coating, we can offer a slightly cooler Nerfing experience for all.

I'm in the process of updating prices. Everything's been done but the magazine holders so expect some changes there shortly. Otherwise, barring some small inflationary adjustments in the future, we're happy with these prices points and there unlikely to change signficiantly.

Anyway, here's to a future for Nerfing the world over. Now I'm off, back to spreadsheets!

Mike Harratt
Managing Director
Blastersmiths UK

Now for something positive!

Well, I've neglected the blog these last couple of weeks having been very, very busy with other things. I left it on a bit of a doom and gloom note what with our supply chain problems so I figured I'd post an update on the many, many things we're working on.

First up, the 500D Cordura supply problem has been fixed. We're taking delivery of it once we've burned through our supply of emergency 1000D. The new fabric has a special breathable coating that will make it better for rigs and other bits and pieces that take up a lot of body area. It's slightly more expensive than our old stuff but significantly cheaper than the fabric we're using at the moment so expect to see a price drop across the board shortly.

Next up, Stock Extenders. We're working through the last of the problems identified by our testers. We've got some reinforcement to do before we start rolling them out for sale. We'll be able to do custom lengths, too, so if you feel our standard 60mm addition isn't enough, we can work something out for you if you just drop us an email in the usual way.

Rewiring kits: we're going to make a bigger thing about these. The Rapidstrike kit is already available and the Stampede and Vulcan kits will be following shortly. Writing the guides for them is the key part and we're churning through those. Once they're complete, they'll be released to the community at large and linked on our website so everyone can make use of our expertise in an in-depth step by step fashion, even if you don't buy the kit from us (but you should because we include everything you need in a single package). :)

Our Vulcan and Triad springs have arrived. They're available for sale in the store, go get one and turn your heavy blaster/concealed pistol into a true dart slinging monster! They do fit in the Hammershot and will add around 5fps but it's not entirely worth stripping the whole thing down just for that. It's a shame but I figured we'd be honest about it.

Then there are some VERY exciting projects on the horizon that we can't discuss - only tease you with at great length. The only clue I'll give is that I hate cutting shells down so we're working to add new features that are only currently attainable through copious use of a saw. Oh and we're working on a way of resurrecting Stampede gearboxes without directly printing replacement gears but that's a little further out.

Finally, burst fire. Everyone's either waiting on it or working to make it happen. We've got a decent sized micro-controller (in fact, it's tiny, it's about the size of a 50p piece) but we've run into some bugs with the interrupts on the hardware that need fixing. It's taken a back seat for a little while as we're deploying our micro-controller skills on some internal production problems that need addressing right now.

Anyway, that's all a little more positive than the firestorm of a couple of weeks ago. We'll keep you all in formed. Thank you again for your continued support for this project. It wouldn't be possible without the amazing people of the world's Nerf and dart blaster communities!

-Mike Harratt
Managing Director,
Blastersmiths UK Ltd

What's Your Game 2014 - What to expect

We've already outlined our woes regards fabric supply this week which means we have less stock than we would like available to us for this weekend's What's Your Game Kit Fair. We've developed a system that will allow you to access our kit at Kit Fair prices despite not being able to walk up and buy something to take away.

First up, we'll have as much of our range on the stand to demonstrate as possible. Our staff will be more than happy to demonstrate everything, help you work out what's best for your play style and discuss any custom requirements you might have. Ask questions, try stuff out, we're here to help so don't be intimidated by the fact we're armed to the teeth! :D

So you've had a demonstration of an item, what then? Well, chances are we don't have it in stock on the stall (see this post for details on why) but never fear, we can fix that for you. You have 1 of 2 options. First, you could pay there and then for the item and we'd deliver it to you (for free) within 2 weeks (our usual lead time). Payment is via cash or PayPal (which handily takes credit cards, too). We'll take a few details from you to expedite your order.

The alternative is to ask for a voucher code from one of our staff. They'll take a note of your order in a notebook and then issue you with a business card with a unique code on it. When you get home, you can then drop us an email or use the website's Contact Us form. We'll honour any arrangements or agreements made on the day. Codes are valid until 28th February 2014.

Anyway, we're looking forward to meeting everyone over the coming weekend. There's not as much new stuff as we would have liked but after the week we've had, What's Your Game 2014 is going to be a welcome change and a chance to work and play!

See you all there,

Mike Harratt
Blastersmiths UK

PSA regarding our fabrics

Hi everyone,

I hate having to write this but everyone needs to know so here goes.

We've just had a chat with our Cordura supplier. Our most recent batch of 500D Black wasn't up to standard and they can't guarantee a supply of stuff that will be up to standard in the near future. To that end, all outstanding orders will now be filled in the more durable 1000D Cordura at our own cost. However, to make matters worse, the earliest we can be supplied with that is Tuesday morning.

From 6th February, we're going to have to raise the prices on our black items a little to cover the cost of switching to 1000D Cordura (colours and camouflage patterns won't be affected). Outstanding orders will be unaffected but all new orders will be subject to the new prices. I hope this won't be a permanent thing, we're working our arses off to get a new, reliable supply of 500D so that in the longer term, we can return to a fabric we're very happy, our customers have been very happy with and most importantly, a fabric that  our machines are very happy with.

There are a few clients whose orders will be affected by the delay in getting our fresh supplies. Those customers will be emailed shortly with the option to wait a few more days, the option to change to a coloured holster at our cost or to cancel the order and obtain a refund. I'll be sending those emails in the next few ours.

On a side note, it does mean we won't have any black fabric equipment to sell at the Kit Fair this weekend. We've been attempting to solve the supply problem since Monday morning and since there's clearly not going to be a resolution this week, we'll be issuing free delivery vouchers to anyone who approaches the stall asking for a black equipment on Saturday or Sunday. Essentially, Kit Fair customers will pay stall prices but receive their item a week or two later when our supply chain sorts itself out.

For more information on why we're so attached to 500D, please see this blog post.

Anyway, our customers and fans are very important to us so I figured I'd let you all know openly and honestly now. If you've any questions or queries then I'm reachable via the company Facebook page or my BSUK email address.

All the best, folks!


Mike Harratt
Managing Director, Blastersmiths UK Ltd