Radar 5074: the invisible holster
One of the many concealed carry holsters offered by the Italian Radar 1957 company, the model 5074 is also dubbed the "Invisible"... and aptly so
The Model 5074-0902 holster, manufactured in Italy by Radar 1957
The "Invisible" monicker given to Radar's model 5074 holster is definitely fitting for such a product, specifically conceived for deep concealment in daily CCW.
In this case, what we have here with the Radar 5074 "Invisible" model is an inside-the-waistband holster, specifically conceived for the everyday carry of compact or subcompact semi-automatic defensive pistols.
The Radar 5074 "Invisible" holster is manufactured out of microfiber, and replicates the look and feel of suede
The Radar Model 5074 Invisible holster is manufactured out of a special microfiber fabric that replicates the look of chamois and the feel of suede when worn.
Lightweight and thin, the special microfiber fabric is 100% environment-friendly and extremely resistant to wear.
The microfiber fabric is also easily washable – definitely a must-have feature for an accessory that is likely to suffer from the effect of human sweat due to long-term carry all-year long inside the user's pants.
A quality inside-the-pants holster must allow quick and easy drawing while at the same time granting deep concealment
We are now more than used to the fact that full-size and semi-compact pistols must be always carried in a holster.
But when it comes to compact or subcompact pistols, the temptation to carry them without a holster is still high.
But as comfortable as it can seem, leaving a small gun loose in a pocket or a purse is never actually nearly as practical as it feels.
And, let's be honest: blindly putting a hand in a pocket where you keep a loaded gun is not the smartest, safest thing to do.
If you want, or must, carry a gun for self defense, it has to be on your person in a holster that's adequate to your clothing.
A polymer liner wraps both sides of the holster
The belt clip of the Radar 5074 holster, located on the right side, is adjustable for height
The holster is available in several sizes and can fit full-size, compact and sub-compact handguns. The sample portrayed in these pages is the Model 5074-0902 holster, tailored to fit subcompact pistols.
A single screw allows the holster clip to be adjusted in height; athe clip and the outer beak allows the holster to be carried inside or outside the waistband, but always firmly secured to the belt
The Radar 5074 Invisibile holster features a patented adjustable clip system – dubbed the D-EYES – which allows either standard outside-the-waistband carry or IWB deep concealed carry.
The belt clip system can be set to four different positions in height through a single Allen screw. Just like all Radar 1957's adjustable holsters, the Model 5074 "Invisible" holster comes with a factory-issued adjustment key.
The adjustment system allows the user to find the position of the holster within the waistband that suits him or her better for an optimum grip on the gun during extraction. A beak on the belt clip will securely keep the holster hooked to the belt, preventing it from sliding out when unholstering the pistol.
The Radar Model 5074-0902 holster is compatible with compact or sub-compact pistols
We tested our sample with a Taurus PT-709 9mm subcompact pistol, distributed in Europe by Prima Armi
The holster mouth is reinforced with an outer polymer lining
The different adjustment settings available for the Radar 5074 model allow the gun/holster combo to adapt to each shooter's indiovidual physical build, making defensive carry safer and more comfortable at the same time, with easy and quick extraction in case of need.
One of the main downsides of IWB soft holsters is that their mouth tends to be squeezed between the shooter's hip and his or her pants when the gun is unholstered; this would lead the mouth of the holster to be closed, making reholstering of the gun difficult. The Radar Model 5074 "Invisible" holster, in all its variant, solves the issue with an outer polymer lining around the holster mouth; not only the solution is effective, but looks quite pretty.
Particularly when carrying a subcompact pistol, a holster that will position the pistol grip on axis with the shooter's strong arm is essential to perform a correct draw and quickly point the gun towards a threat.
A simple but yet effective inside-the-waistband holster such as the Radar Model 5074 will always keep the gun in the proper position, allowing quick draws and good control – and at the same time an optimal concealment if compared to other types of holsters.
The Radar Model 5074 Invisible holster, in all its variants, is sold in Europe at a suggested retail price of approximately €30,00. For further information, visit the RADAR 1957 website
The outer beak on the lower portion of the belt clip will securely fasten the holster to the belt for quick and secure drawing