Levels of Retention - Level I,II,III,IV+Updated a month ago
We have various levels of retention available depending on your needs, whether it be for every day carry (EDC), or off-duty carry. Most conceal carry (CC) holsters on the market today are considered Passive or Level I holsters. Law Enforcement and Military are generally required to carry a Level III when on duty. We'll go into this and explain the reasons below. Let's discuss our holster retention levels first.
What are our Holster Levels of Retention:
- G3-The Urban Carry G3 Below the Waist Band (BWB) holster may be considered a Level IV+ holster. This is one of the highest levels of retention available. The unique design of the the below the belt access, the design itself, and the active retention system all play into this holster being a level IV+. It is very difficult for an aggressor to access this holster based off the design and location alone. The G3 is ideal for concealed carry when you want to be discreet yet comfortable. Note: as with all holsters a belt is strongly recommended.
- LockLeather - The LockLeather (both OWB and IWB) with locking retention is/are considered a Level I, potentially a Level II depending on the governing authority. It is a friction holster with Active Retention.
- Mavado - The Mavado (both OWB and IWB) with locking retention is/are considered a Level I, potentially a Level II depending on the governing authority. It is a friction holster with Active Retention.
- Hyperion - TheHyperion (IWB/OWB) line is a Passive Retention and by some definitions may be considered a Level I.
Retention Levels and Testing Authority: To understand the classification you must first understand the qualifications for testing. Know that there is not actually a single industry standard nor is there an actual certifying authority for testing of the Levels. Instead, there are interpretations, guidelines and references that many companies may follow. This is why we use the language we do, and why we provide the conservative estimation of Retention Levels. Again there is no standardized way to test a holsters retention. Thus understandably, there is often confusion surrounding the various levels or testing. The issue with this is that one holster company may offer what they believe is a Level III holster while another company may consider the same holster a Level I. Because there is no actual authority making a determination can be a challenge as they may both be correct from their vantage point.
The History of Retention Levels: In the 1970s a FBI Fire Instructor, Bill Rodgers, began investigating incidents of Law Enforcement Officers being disarmed, and the alarming fatality rate that resulted. This lead Rogers to making a "retention" holsters for law enforcement that made it more difficult for an assailant to retrieve the firearm from the wearer. Later, in the 80s Rogers joined forces with SafariLand to make various levels of retentions holsters for law enforcement and together they created what is known to many as the Retention Levels.
Since the 80's the method of testing has evolved as have the products. Many companies have developed their own method of testing, and SafariLand themselves have reevaluated their criteria and testing and fine tuned it.
In 2014 the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) announced their ongoing effort to develop a standard to ensure that Law Enforcement Officers have access to holsters that meet their specific operational requirements for performance and safety. While we have not yet seen that report (as of this writing) we rely upon a Bulletin from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Constables Education and Training Board regarding Level II holsters. We often rely upon this data in part because on May 29, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court published a series of requirements that impact the operations of constables and their deputies "IV d.1.e.“a constable shall, when carrying a firearm, secure the weapon in a Level 2 or higher security holster.” The Bulletin laid out the defining characteristics. This is one of the few records we were able to obtain from a governing authority identifying retention levels.
Today, there are still several methods of determining retention levels. Many also argue that only an OWB may have various levels of retention or that only those carrying an OWB need active retention. In either case we don't necessarily agree (but do understand the logic).
Different Types of Retention: What Does it All Mean? Two terms often used when discussing holster retention are the terms Passive and Active. It is important to understand the difference between these two so you might better understand the intricacies of the various Levels and how these two terms are incorporated.
- Passive Retention. Passive Retention requires only that the friction of the holster "hold" the firearm in place. The definition of "hold" is widely interpreted and loosely utilized but generally refers to a holster that utilizes friction to maintain the firearm inside the holster. The friction can occur from the type of material utilized or that the material, be it nylon, kydex or leather. There is disagreement among the industry whether a Passive Holster may also be considered a Level I. Level I holsters are generally most form fit holsters without any type of active retention devices securing them.
- Active Retention. Active Retention requires some sort of retention device holding the firearm such as a thumb break, hood, button or trigger guard that "actively" retains the firearm in the holster. In other words, something that locks the firearm in place. The active retention contributes to the higher level(s) of retention and does not include the passive friction only retention. To further complicate the matter, a single retention device that requires two actions could provide two separate levels or retention. One could argue that the retention screw as part of the trigger guard provides two levels of retention, while another authority may consider it a single level of retention despite the two requiring separate actions.
A Few Key Details About Leather Holsters vs. Kydex Holsters and Retention
Leather Holster have the natural benefit of the material itself to cause friction and retain the firearm. If the leather is raw (not smooth and sanded down) inside this allows the leather to grab onto the firearm creating friction. By creating a molded leather holster, form fit to the firearm, you have created an ideal passive retention holster. Kydex does not have these same abilities to retain the firearm naturally as it is a smooth material that must be formed into shape. The security of kydex comes from retention screw and/or the addition of active retention. Our G3 and LockLeather incorporates both - the natural friction of leather (passive), with the security of our clip retention mechanism (active retention), and the tension screws that allow for a more secure fit.
Does the average person need a retention holster? It depends. For most conceal carry holsters a good passive retention or Level I is generally sufficient enough. A Level II or especially a Level III (or higher) require extensive training and practice to become proficient enough to allow muscle memory to take over.
Typically the higher levels of retention (Level III+) are reserved only for Law Enforcement and Military - - and there is a good and valid reason for this. Military and Law Enforcement Officers are subject to rigorous and frequent training with their equipment. Further, they are much more likely to encounter a hostile situation in the course of duty.
Training matters regardless of the type of holster you choose to carry or profession. There is simply no substitute for training, and even a person carrying a Level III holster can be disarmed when training fails.
Truth of the matter is that Active Retention (and the higher levels of holster retention) is/are only as useful as the person who trains with it. If you are unfamiliar with the active retention device you may fail to draw when needed. Concurrently, without an active retention a potential assailant may more easily acquire your firearm and use it against you.
The accessibility of a passive retention is appealing but the downsides must be considered for each individuals situation. It is important to know your own level of training and commitment and decide which is best for you.
We strongly encourage you to educate yourself on the scaling and determine what is best for your particular need and level of training.
References:
https://www.pccd.pa.gov/training/Documents/Constable%20Education%20and%20Training/Reports%20and%20Publications/Training%20Bulletins/Constable%20Training%20Bulletin%2075%20September%202013.pdf
https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/nlectc/243316.pdf
A closer look at the LockLeather retention clip offered in the LockLeather IWB, LockLeather OWB, LockLeather Optics Ready IWB, LockLeather Optics Ready OWB, LockLeather Shoulder Holster, and the Urban Carry G3 holster:
Last edit: Feb 19, 2025