Difficulties in finding an OWB holster for the Girsan Witness Brat

One of the major issues I encountered with the Brat was the lack of available OWB (outside-the-waistband) holsters. Since the Brat follows a 2011 pattern, I assumed that holsters made for Staccato pistols might be compatible. Taking a gamble, I ordered a universal Staccato OWB holster from Gritr via Amazon.

The holster is designed to accommodate several Staccato models—including the P, CS, XC, and XL—making it the length of the longest variant. While it technically works out of the box, I wasn't a fan of the excess length and dead space at the bottom.

After taking some quick measurements, I marked the desired cut line with blue painter’s tape and used a simple hacksaw to cut the Kydex. It cut through easily and gave me a cleaner, more customized fit.

After making the cut, I used a grinding wheel to smooth out the edges and round the corners. To clean up the fuzzy residue left from grinding, I used a hobby torch for a quick pass along the cut. Additionally, I had to relocate one of the retention screw holes—I drilled a new one using a 3/16” bit. Since I’m a bit neurotic about finishing touches, I applied some heat to the front edge and beveled it slightly for a cleaner look.

I also noticed that the section of the holster near the takedown/slide release was longer than necessary for the Brat. To fix this, I applied heat to the area and used the handle end of a small screwdriver to mold it down closer to the Brat’s actual takedown/slide release location.

To improve retention, I deepened the trigger guard area by applying heat and pressing it inward. This gave a much more secure fit—refer to the picture below for a visual guide.

This modification isn’t necessary to complete the holster—but for me, it absolutely was. One of my favorite OWB holsters is the Baba Yaga model from Gunfighters Inc, which features a battle cut. When I first ordered it, I was skeptical about the design, but I quickly realized it’s a fantastic feature.

The battle cut makes breaking retention easier without compromising security and significantly improves the ease of reholstering. It prevents the awkward fumbling that can happen with full-coverage holsters—so you don’t end up looking like that DEI Secret Service agent on Trump’s detail in Butler, PA, struggling to holster her Glock after multiple attempts.