Wallet holsters illegal???

Onslaught · December 13, 2000, 10:54 AM

I have heard conflicting reports about certain deep concealment rigs and their legality.

My father has a GREAT little Galco wallet holster for his High Standard .22 magnum derringer. It has a finger hole so it can be fired while in the holster.

While inquiring about them for NAA Guardians, (need new pocket pistol) I have been told by several gunshop folks that they are illegal to use. I can't seem to find them anywhere, so I'm almost ready to believe it.

A couple of these guys went so far as to say that even POCKET holsters were now FEDERALLY illegal, although I strongly doubt it, considering that pocket holsters are everywhere.

Any thoughts? BS or factoid?

Thanks for the help!

George Hill · December 13, 2000, 12:34 PM

BUT - they are considered NFA weapons if they can be fired through the wallet. As NFA, to own it requires you to have all the right paperwork and tax stamps... just like FA weapons, Silencers, Short barrled rifles or shotguns, or to put a shoulder stock on a pistol.

EnochGale · December 13, 2000, 01:00 PM

http://www.naaminis.com has a discussion, they dropped their wallet for the revolvers.

Onslaught · December 13, 2000, 02:21 PM

Yikes!

So does that mean, that the wallet holster that my dad bought legally several years ago WITHOUT any tax stamps on it, that he carries all the time,(and I currently have in my back pocket) should no longer be carried, or is there some grandfathering (yeah right) ?

Thanks for the tips!

Mikey · December 13, 2000, 03:37 PM

No grandfathering! It's not illegal to own one or buy one. It only becomes an NFA weapon if it's "assembled" with the pistol. Kinda like owning a pre-ban upper for your AR. It ain't illegal until you mount it to a post ban receiver.

Mikey

ctdonath · December 13, 2000, 03:53 PM

Onslaught - If the holster is made for firing a gun while the gun is inside the holster, don't carry it. Don't let him carry it. Destroy it immediately, as there is no amnesty or grandfathering, and punishment for possessing it is a $250,000 fine and 10 years in federal prison. By inserting gun into holster once, and having not paid the proper $5 tax, you've permanently made the holster an illegal AOW. Trust me - the reasoning behind all this is mind-bending, but the BATF takes it VERY seriously.

Onslaught · December 13, 2000, 04:48 PM

$5? Surely that's a type-o!

Five bucks to register and use the holster?

Okay, so I go home, take the gun out of the holster, CHECK.
But then, how about registering it with the BATF? Following whatever red tape I'm supposed to so that Dad can carry it again? I mean, there's no way for them to tell if the gun was in the holster before of after the law was made, right? This thing was purchased MANY MANY years ago.

Alternative suggestions on "where to go from here" are quite welcome.

Thanks for looking out for my #$$ there CT!!

navaho · December 13, 2000, 06:41 PM

[ This is a long post. But if you really want to
[ keep your Galco wallet holster, I suggest you
[ read this post carefully.

Be VERY CAREFUL about who you consult for advise. As mentioned earlier, the penalty for being wrong is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Clinton administration would be only too happy to prosecute (it takes the spotlight off their other evil deeds).

There's a very professional magazine called "Small Arms Review" (SAR) that has a lawyer who answers legal questions like this in his column called "The Legal Side". The URL for SAR is:

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/

The magazine's main focus is restricted weapons (machine guns, silencers, etc., ie, "Class 3" weapons, aka "Title II" weapons), particularly in the context of civilian ownership.

I've learned some very scary legal stuff from SAR. I knew that saying, "Officer XYZ told me it was okay" wouldn't hold much weight in court.

But... what I was horrified to learn was that what the ATF tells you also can't be relied upon for your defense in court. EVEN IF THEY GAVE IT TO YOU IN WRITING!

Yup, it's true. Here's a quote from "The Legal Side" article on p17 of the Nov '99 issue of SAR:

"While the ATF administers the National Firearms Act, attorneys from the Department of Justice, not the ATF, will prosecute you for a violation of that law. Ultimately, what DOJ thinks the law means, not ATF, will determine whether you go to trial. Indeed, sometimes courts and DOJ attorneys will disregard the ATF view on what a law covers. There are a number of published cases in which that happened, and the defendant was convicted even though ATF apparently didn't consider the conduct unlawful, and said so."

And here's a related quote from the editor of SAR, on p14 of the Nov '97 issue of SAR:

"I can name three prominent Class III dealers [ie, dealers who are allowed to sell Title II weapons: machine guns, silencers, and Any Other Weapons like your pocket holster --navaho] who had years of problems with the federal government because they got a determination IN WRITING, from the local ATF office. They then acted on the letter, and Washington later overruled the regional office which left the dealers in violation."

The editor then goes on to point out:

"The gun laws in the US do not make any sense because they are NOT the laws that they writers intended to write."

He then explains that in 1934, the government wanted to ban machine gun ownership by civilians. The attorney general told them that they couldn't (2nd Amendment), but... they could TAX them. Nudge, nudge, wink wink. So in 1934, the federal government imposed a $200 tax on machine gun ownership. This is 1934, when $200 is a huge amount. Even huger considering that 1934 was _the_ worst year of the Great Depression, and we had an unemployment rate of 35%!

In other words, what the feds really want to do is ban ownership of firearms. They can't, so they have created a legal mishmash of laws that makes the US Tax code look logical and trivial in comparison.

----

One last note. The June '98 issue of SAR contains an article about the Galco wallet holster. Here are some relevant excerpts:

"The ATF defines an Any Other Weapon (AOW) as, 'any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive'. By using this definition alone, this could one day be used to cover almost any concealed firearm, for example a pistol that can be discharged through a coat pocket."

...

Since the wallet doesn't have a serial number, the ATF required the _firearm_ and wallet to be registered as a combination, on an ATF Form 2.

"The Galco line discontinued these items as of Oct 2, 1997... due to 'extreme customer service attention needed to field dealer questions' which has 'made it unprofitable to continue its sale'."

...

"After all the paperwork and red tape required to register the pistol/holster combo, one is left with the question, 'Was it worth it?' Truthfully, probably not. The holster combo does make an excellent backup piece for concealed carry. However, due to the classification of the holster combo as an NFA weapon, the holster will end up in the back of my safe as a curio only. It will probably never be taken out except as a conversation piece."

Bushwhacker · December 14, 2000, 10:50 AM

I found this on Dillions site, so my question is howcan they be illegal?
http://dillonprecision.com/template/...3&min=0&dyn=1&

I going to check and see if I can get one for my Sig P-230
Gary

alamo · December 14, 2000, 11:47 AM

it is legal because it doesn't have a hole in the leather where the trigger is to fire it without removing from the holster.
with legal pocket/wallet holsters, the gun has to be removed from the holster in order to fire it.

Thumper · December 14, 2000, 01:29 PM

alamo is right...if you can fire the gun with the holster on it, it is illegal. Silly but true. And the tax stamp to make it legal is five(5) dollars. ...but the red tape is a pain...

Onslaught · December 18, 2000, 11:08 AM

Wow, Navaho, and all other respondants, THANK YOU!

I'll be checking into the fix for Dad's, and I'll be looking to a "pocket holster" for my Guardian, when I get it.

Thanks again!

STeve

navaho · December 18, 2000, 11:53 AM

Onslaught,

You're very welcome!

Glad I was able to help. I've got every single issue of Small Arms Review (40 or so), and was on the verge of throwing them out 'cause I never refered back to them, and the wife was whining about storage space.

I think I'll hold onto them for a while longer now

DoctorWho · February 11, 2016, 01:09 PM

Are you all sure it is only $5 ? to buy it from a manufacturerer as an AOW, is one thing, but as far as I know, getting a wallet with a view to joining it to a gun is "Making" and has to pay the full $200 just as when you make an AOW from scratch.

OK, $200 if you do it all yourself,

$5 if you go through a AOW dealer / manufacturer, they will charge you something additional anyway.

**************************************

BATFE LETTER

" WALLET GUNS
ATF has received numerous inquiries regarding
wallet guns and wallet holsters.
As defined in section 5845(e) of the National
Firearms Act (NFA), the term “any other weapon”
includes certain concealable weapons. Various
types of disguised weapons such as cane guns, belt
buckle guns, and briefcase guns (with remote
control firing mechanisms) fall within the “any
other weapon” category. It is unlawfil to make,
possess, or transfer such firearms without
complying with the provisions of the NFA.
During the 1970’s, ATF determined that various
small handguns combined with certain “wallet
holsters” fall into the “any other weapon” category
and are subject to the provisions of the NFA.
These wallet holsters are generally rectangular in
shape, are designed to disguise the appearance of
the handgun, and are designed to allow the weapon
to be fired while it is contained within the wallet.
The handgun combined with the wallet holster
constitutes an NFA firearm. page 1

"A conventional pistol or revolver which is
possessed without the wallet holster would not be
an NFA firearm. A wallet holster alone is not
subject to NFA controls and cannot be registered
or transferred a- a firearm. Firearms contained in
conventional holsters, trouser pockets, purses,
gun cases, or various other forms of carrying
cases have not been determined to fall within the
definition of an “any other weapon,” even though
it maybe possible to discharge a firearm while it
is carried in such a manner.
In order for an individual to lawfully “make” a
wallet gun, that is to say, acquire both the
handgun and the wallet holster, the person must
first submit an Application to Make and Register
a Firearm (ATF Form 1), pay a $200.00 making
tmq and receive approval of the application. The
serial number appearing on the handgun should
be used to register the firearm. Transfer of a
wallet gun requires an approved transfer
application and payment of a $5 transfer tax. A
transfer will not be approved unless the wallet
gun has been registered to the transferor.
Mere sale or possession of the wallet holster
without the handgun is not a violation of the
NFA. However, 18 U.S.C. section 2 provides that
a person who aids or abets another person in the
commission of an offense is also responsible for
the offense. Therefore, sale or distribution of a
wallet holster with knowledge that it will be used
to make an unregistered NFA firearm may also
place the seller or distributor of the holster in
violation of the NFA." page 2

**************************

So to be completely legal, you buy the gun first.
Then file the paperwork and pay $200,

Then wait for BATFE approval / tax stamp / paperwork,

Once you have approved paperwork and tax stamp in hand,

Then aquire or buy or make the holster.

It is well worth the hassle for the advantage or edge it gives you !!!!!

If you contact a dealer, see what they charge and figure out if it is cheaper than doing it yourself, all costs considered, time and gas a day or two off from work etc.....

Bill DeShivs · February 11, 2016, 03:46 PM

AND, you can't do it for your dad- unless you form a trust that he is a member of.
The best thing to do with these is toss them in the trash. If you can legally carry a gun, it doesn't need to be disguised as a wallet.

TimSr · February 11, 2016, 03:51 PM

Wow, this thread is so old it was probably originally started on a 9600 baud modem.

samsmix · February 11, 2016, 04:29 PM

HOLY SMOKE! That IS one from the vault. I am glad it got dragged up though. I was thinking JUST TODAY about a holster like that for hip pocket carry!

I think I'll pass on the idea. I've never met "Bubba" and I wouldn't care to.

Sharkbite · February 11, 2016, 04:48 PM

Old thread or not...

What about any of the nylon pocket holsters for any revolver. You certainly could carry one in a coat pocket and shoot the gun while still in the holster.

How does that differ from the holster above?

Carmady · February 11, 2016, 05:37 PM

"What about any of the nylon pocket holsters for any revolver. You certainly could carry one in a coat pocket and shoot the gun while still in the holster.

How does that differ from the holster above?"

From Post #14:
Firearms contained in
conventional holsters, trouser pockets, purses,
gun cases, or various other forms of carrying
cases have not been determined to fall within the
definition of an “any other weapon,” even though
it maybe possible to discharge a firearm while it
is carried in such a manner.

unit 900 · February 11, 2016, 06:28 PM

The "NFA" regulated holsters are made with a hole at the trigger area and designed so it can be easily fired without moving the pistol from the holster. You can pretty much shoot any pocketed gun from a holster in a pocket if your fingers are able to get to the trigger.

Niner4Tango · February 11, 2016, 07:04 PM

The DeSantis Pocket Shot holster is legal apparently because the muzzle rides above the holster and the slide is not covered. Currently available at Midway, Cabelas, etc.

Also, Bud's sells a Ruger LCP Wallet Pocket holster, in stock.

-Sent via my 9600 baud modem-

DoctorWho · February 11, 2016, 07:13 PM

This is a great thread, with so many new shooters that might not be aware of this facet of the law, someone might either find a holster like this or get one as a gift and start carrying contrary to law.

A thread like this could very well save someone from a long prison term and the permanent loss of their firearms rights.

2ndsojourn · February 12, 2016, 10:21 AM

Interesting, glad I saw this thread...I'd have never known.

What's also interesting, the first one listed on evil bay is a Desantis that has holes to access the trigger while holstered.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...wallet+holster

DoctorWho · February 12, 2016, 01:30 PM

This holster is not an AOW as per BATFE since the slide is exposed.....

Skans · February 12, 2016, 02:47 PM

What Dr. Who said is correct. As long as the slide is exposed, you are ok. It's a better design this way anyway! In fact, my EDC uses a very similar holster to the one posted by Dr. Who - I modified it for my Diamondback DB9

Two things to note about this kind of "wallet" holster: 1) There is no trigger protection - be very careful "quick drawing"; and 2) While you can shoot it accurately in a holster like this, the finger hole is awkward, uncomfortable and takes a lot of getting used to!

December 13, 2000, 12:34 PM	#2
George Hill Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,546	No - they are not illegal. BUT - they are considered NFA weapons if they can be fired through the wallet. As NFA, to own it requires you to have all the right paperwork and tax stamps... just like FA weapons, Silencers, Short barrled rifles or shotguns, or to put a shoulder stock on a pistol. __________________ MAD OGRE

December 13, 2000, 06:41 PM	#8
navaho Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2000 Posts: 117	contact the legal expert at SAR [ This is a long post. But if you really want to [ keep your Galco wallet holster, I suggest you [ read this post carefully. Be VERY CAREFUL about who you consult for advise. As mentioned earlier, the penalty for being wrong is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Clinton administration would be only too happy to prosecute (it takes the spotlight off their other evil deeds). There's a very professional magazine called "Small Arms Review" (SAR) that has a lawyer who answers legal questions like this in his column called "The Legal Side". The URL for SAR is: http://www.smallarmsreview.com/ The magazine's main focus is restricted weapons (machine guns, silencers, etc., ie, "Class 3" weapons, aka "Title II" weapons), particularly in the context of civilian ownership. I've learned some very scary legal stuff from SAR. I knew that saying, "Officer XYZ told me it was okay" wouldn't hold much weight in court. But... what I was horrified to learn was that what the ATF tells you also can't be relied upon for your defense in court. EVEN IF THEY GAVE IT TO YOU IN WRITING! Yup, it's true. Here's a quote from "The Legal Side" article on p17 of the Nov '99 issue of SAR: "While the ATF administers the National Firearms Act, attorneys from the Department of Justice, not the ATF, will prosecute you for a violation of that law. Ultimately, what DOJ thinks the law means, not ATF, will determine whether you go to trial. Indeed, sometimes courts and DOJ attorneys will disregard the ATF view on what a law covers. There are a number of published cases in which that happened, and the defendant was convicted even though ATF apparently didn't consider the conduct unlawful, and said so." And here's a related quote from the editor of SAR, on p14 of the Nov '97 issue of SAR: "I can name three prominent Class III dealers [ie, dealers who are allowed to sell Title II weapons: machine guns, silencers, and Any Other Weapons like your pocket holster --navaho] who had years of problems with the federal government because they got a determination IN WRITING, from the local ATF office. They then acted on the letter, and Washington later overruled the regional office which left the dealers in violation." The editor then goes on to point out: "The gun laws in the US do not make any sense because they are NOT the laws that they writers intended to write." He then explains that in 1934, the government wanted to ban machine gun ownership by civilians. The attorney general told them that they couldn't (2nd Amendment), but... they could TAX them. Nudge, nudge, wink wink. So in 1934, the federal government imposed a $200 tax on machine gun ownership. This is 1934, when $200 is a huge amount. Even huger considering that 1934 was _the_ worst year of the Great Depression, and we had an unemployment rate of 35%! In other words, what the feds really want to do is ban ownership of firearms. They can't, so they have created a legal mishmash of laws that makes the US Tax code look logical and trivial in comparison. ---- One last note. The June '98 issue of SAR contains an article about the Galco wallet holster. Here are some relevant excerpts: "The ATF defines an Any Other Weapon (AOW) as, 'any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive'. By using this definition alone, this could one day be used to cover almost any concealed firearm, for example a pistol that can be discharged through a coat pocket." ... Since the wallet doesn't have a serial number, the ATF required the _firearm_ and wallet to be registered as a combination, on an ATF Form 2. "The Galco line discontinued these items as of Oct 2, 1997... due to 'extreme customer service attention needed to field dealer questions' which has 'made it unprofitable to continue its sale'." ... "After all the paperwork and red tape required to register the pistol/holster combo, one is left with the question, 'Was it worth it?' Truthfully, probably not. The holster combo does make an excellent backup piece for concealed carry. However, due to the classification of the holster combo as an NFA weapon, the holster will end up in the back of my safe as a curio only. It will probably never be taken out except as a conversation piece."

February 11, 2016, 03:46 PM	#15
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,982	AND, you can't do it for your dad- unless you form a trust that he is a member of. The best thing to do with these is toss them in the trash. If you can legally carry a gun, it doesn't need to be disguised as a wallet. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 11, 2016, 04:29 PM	#17
samsmix Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2006 Location: Montana (Montucky?) Posts: 1,273	HOLY SMOKE! That IS one from the vault. I am glad it got dragged up though. I was thinking JUST TODAY about a holster like that for hip pocket carry! I think I'll pass on the idea. I've never met "Bubba" and I wouldn't care to. __________________ You'll probably never NEED a gun. I hope you never do. But IF you do, you will need it worse than anything you've ever needed in your life. IF we're not supposed to eat animals, howcome God made 'em outta meat?

February 11, 2016, 07:13 PM	#22
DoctorWho Member Join Date: February 10, 2016 Posts: 19	Great Thread ! This is a great thread, with so many new shooters that might not be aware of this facet of the law, someone might either find a holster like this or get one as a gift and start carrying contrary to law. A thread like this could very well save someone from a long prison term and the permanent loss of their firearms rights.

December 13, 2000, 10:54 AM	#1
Onslaught Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,749	I have heard conflicting reports about certain deep concealment rigs and their legality. My father has a GREAT little Galco wallet holster for his High Standard .22 magnum derringer. It has a finger hole so it can be fired while in the holster. While inquiring about them for NAA Guardians, (need new pocket pistol) I have been told by several gunshop folks that they are illegal to use. I can't seem to find them anywhere, so I'm almost ready to believe it. A couple of these guys went so far as to say that even POCKET holsters were now FEDERALLY illegal, although I strongly doubt it, considering that pocket holsters are everywhere. Any thoughts? BS or factoid? Thanks for the help!

December 13, 2000, 01:00 PM	#3
EnochGale Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2000 Location: southwest Posts: 823	http://www.naaminis.com has a discussion, they dropped their wallet for the revolvers.

December 13, 2000, 02:21 PM	#4
Onslaught Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,749	Yikes! So does that mean, that the wallet holster that my dad bought legally several years ago WITHOUT any tax stamps on it, that he carries all the time,(and I currently have in my back pocket) should no longer be carried, or is there some grandfathering (yeah right) ? Thanks for the tips!

December 13, 2000, 03:37 PM	#5
Mikey Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1998 Location: Tennessee Posts: 885	No grandfathering! It's not illegal to own one or buy one. It only becomes an NFA weapon if it's "assembled" with the pistol. Kinda like owning a pre-ban upper for your AR. It ain't illegal until you mount it to a post ban receiver. Mikey

December 13, 2000, 03:53 PM	#6
ctdonath Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 1999 Posts: 1,904	Onslaught - If the holster is made for firing a gun while the gun is inside the holster, don't carry it. Don't let him carry it. Destroy it immediately, as there is no amnesty or grandfathering, and punishment for possessing it is a $250,000 fine and 10 years in federal prison. By inserting gun into holster once, and having not paid the proper $5 tax, you've permanently made the holster an illegal AOW. Trust me - the reasoning behind all this is mind-bending, but the BATF takes it VERY seriously.

December 13, 2000, 04:48 PM	#7
Onslaught Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,749	$5? Surely that's a type-o! Five bucks to register and use the holster? Okay, so I go home, take the gun out of the holster, CHECK. But then, how about registering it with the BATF? Following whatever red tape I'm supposed to so that Dad can carry it again? I mean, there's no way for them to tell if the gun was in the holster before of after the law was made, right? This thing was purchased MANY MANY years ago. Alternative suggestions on "where to go from here" are quite welcome. Thanks for looking out for my #$$ there CT!!

December 14, 2000, 10:50 AM	#9
Bushwhacker Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 1999 Location: Somewhere in USA Posts: 323	I found this on Dillions site, so my question is howcan they be illegal? http://dillonprecision.com/template/...3&min=0&dyn=1& I going to check and see if I can get one for my Sig P-230 Gary

December 14, 2000, 11:47 AM	#10
alamo Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,060	it is legal because it doesn't have a hole in the leather where the trigger is to fire it without removing from the holster. with legal pocket/wallet holsters, the gun has to be removed from the holster in order to fire it.

December 14, 2000, 01:29 PM	#11
Thumper Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2000 Location: Sugar Land, Tx Posts: 1,507	alamo is right...if you can fire the gun with the holster on it, it is illegal. Silly but true. And the tax stamp to make it legal is five(5) dollars. ...but the red tape is a pain...

December 18, 2000, 11:08 AM	#12
Onslaught Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,749	Wow, Navaho, and all other respondants, THANK YOU! I'll be checking into the fix for Dad's, and I'll be looking to a "pocket holster" for my Guardian, when I get it. Thanks again! STeve

December 18, 2000, 11:53 AM	#13
navaho Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2000 Posts: 117	Onslaught, You're very welcome! Glad I was able to help. I've got every single issue of Small Arms Review (40 or so), and was on the verge of throwing them out 'cause I never refered back to them, and the wife was whining about storage space. I think I'll hold onto them for a while longer now

February 11, 2016, 01:09 PM	#14
DoctorWho Member Join Date: February 10, 2016 Posts: 19	Wallet Holster Are you all sure it is only $5 ? to buy it from a manufacturerer as an AOW, is one thing, but as far as I know, getting a wallet with a view to joining it to a gun is "Making" and has to pay the full $200 just as when you make an AOW from scratch. OK, $200 if you do it all yourself, $5 if you go through a AOW dealer / manufacturer, they will charge you something additional anyway. ************************************ BATFE LETTER " WALLET GUNS ATF has received numerous inquiries regarding wallet guns and wallet holsters. As defined in section 5845(e) of the National Firearms Act (NFA), the term “any other weapon” includes certain concealable weapons. Various types of disguised weapons such as cane guns, belt buckle guns, and briefcase guns (with remote control firing mechanisms) fall within the “any other weapon” category. It is unlawfil to make, possess, or transfer such firearms without complying with the provisions of the NFA. During the 1970’s, ATF determined that various small handguns combined with certain “wallet holsters” fall into the “any other weapon” category and are subject to the provisions of the NFA. These wallet holsters are generally rectangular in shape, are designed to disguise the appearance of the handgun, and are designed to allow the weapon to be fired while it is contained within the wallet. The handgun combined with the wallet holster constitutes an NFA firearm. page 1 "A conventional pistol or revolver which is possessed without the wallet holster would not be an NFA firearm. A wallet holster alone is not subject to NFA controls and cannot be registered or transferred a- a firearm. Firearms contained in conventional holsters, trouser pockets, purses, gun cases, or various other forms of carrying cases have not been determined to fall within the definition of an “any other weapon,” even though it maybe possible to discharge a firearm while it is carried in such a manner. In order for an individual to lawfully “make” a wallet gun, that is to say, acquire both the handgun and the wallet holster, the person must first submit an Application to Make and Register a Firearm (ATF Form 1), pay a $200.00 making tmq and receive approval of the application. The serial number appearing on the handgun should be used to register the firearm. Transfer of a wallet gun requires an approved transfer application and payment of a $5 transfer tax. A transfer will not be approved unless the wallet gun has been registered to the transferor. Mere sale or possession of the wallet holster without the handgun is not a violation of the NFA. However, 18 U.S.C. section 2 provides that a person who aids or abets another person in the commission of an offense is also responsible for the offense. Therefore, sale or distribution of a wallet holster with knowledge that it will be used to make an unregistered NFA firearm may also place the seller or distributor of the holster in violation of the NFA." page 2 ************************ So to be completely legal, you buy the gun first. Then file the paperwork and pay $200, Then wait for BATFE approval / tax stamp / paperwork, Once you have approved paperwork and tax stamp in hand, Then aquire or buy or make the holster. It is well worth the hassle for the advantage or edge it gives you !!!!! If you contact a dealer, see what they charge and figure out if it is cheaper than doing it yourself, all costs considered, time and gas a day or two off from work etc..... Last edited by DoctorWho; February 11, 2016 at 01:45 PM.

February 11, 2016, 03:51 PM	#16
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	Wow, this thread is so old it was probably originally started on a 9600 baud modem.

February 11, 2016, 04:48 PM	#18
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	Old thread or not... What about any of the nylon pocket holsters for any revolver. You certainly could carry one in a coat pocket and shoot the gun while still in the holster. How does that differ from the holster above?

February 11, 2016, 05:37 PM	#19
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	"What about any of the nylon pocket holsters for any revolver. You certainly could carry one in a coat pocket and shoot the gun while still in the holster. How does that differ from the holster above?" From Post #14: Firearms contained in conventional holsters, trouser pockets, purses, gun cases, or various other forms of carrying cases have not been determined to fall within the definition of an “any other weapon,” even though it maybe possible to discharge a firearm while it is carried in such a manner.

February 11, 2016, 06:28 PM	#20
unit 900 Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 130	The "NFA" regulated holsters are made with a hole at the trigger area and designed so it can be easily fired without moving the pistol from the holster. You can pretty much shoot any pocketed gun from a holster in a pocket if your fingers are able to get to the trigger.

February 11, 2016, 07:04 PM	#21
Niner4Tango Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 287	The DeSantis Pocket Shot holster is legal apparently because the muzzle rides above the holster and the slide is not covered. Currently available at Midway, Cabelas, etc. Also, Bud's sells a Ruger LCP Wallet Pocket holster, in stock. -Sent via my 9600 baud modem-

February 12, 2016, 10:21 AM	#23
2ndsojourn Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,416	Interesting, glad I saw this thread...I'd have never known. What's also interesting, the first one listed on evil bay is a Desantis that has holes to access the trigger while holstered. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...wallet+holster

February 12, 2016, 01:30 PM	#24
DoctorWho Member Join Date: February 10, 2016 Posts: 19	wallet holsters This holster is not an AOW as per BATFE since the slide is exposed.....

February 12, 2016, 02:47 PM	#25
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	What Dr. Who said is correct. As long as the slide is exposed, you are ok. It's a better design this way anyway! In fact, my EDC uses a very similar holster to the one posted by Dr. Who - I modified it for my Diamondback DB9 Two things to note about this kind of "wallet" holster: 1) There is no trigger protection - be very careful "quick drawing"; and 2) While you can shoot it accurately in a holster like this, the finger hole is awkward, uncomfortable and takes a lot of getting used to!