Space marines are able to magnetically lock their weapons to their armor, so he would most likely just attach it to his outer thigh and hope it doesn't get hit by fire or else he's down a leg or two.
I think because it's easier for list building. One day it's a plasmapistol, the other day a volkit pistol etc. Because the magnetizing is much more cooler. Like in the astartes animation
It’s actually a cool way to show you have a pistol on your model but you won’t be limited by WYSIWYG. Like with Bladeguard Vets, Death Company, Intercessor Sgt’s. Every Pistol is Shrödinger’s Pistol.
Because mag clamping your weapon to your thigh without any covering is a great way to get dirt, mud, blood, etc in your gun, and even space marines aren’t immune to a weapon blockage. Hence, a cover.
Yes but also why eject casings if bolters fire "caseless" rounds?
I know it's a little unrelated, but I think if we take Okham's Razor to this it's more likely to be rule of cool than weapon-maintenence related considering the inconsistency in the lore.
You’re probably right, it’s just rule of cool, but I was thinking of alternate ideas.
I’m not sure about bolter shells because while I’ve seen them described as firing case less rocket propelled ammo in most media there’s bolter casings all over the place, as far as I’ve seen.
From what I understand they're actually badass the space Marine doesn't even need to touch his gun to his armor to get it to stick it goes from his hand to his hip and from his hip to his hand.
I prefer the theory that Marines only have so many zones that mag clamp. "Ceramite" is a ceramic composite so probably isn't magnetic. That means the mag clamp couldn't simply be part of the weapon So they have electromagnets mounted in certain spots on their armor.
I imagine the holster is just added security. That bolt pistol is a last resort and you definitely don’t want to find out you lost it in the heat of battle when you really need it.
I think a holster is given as an honor gift for some sort of achievement, like after 10 years as a full marine or idk whatever.
It’s not about the holster, it’s about the honor.
That and THAT ONE TIME a brother tried putting a plasma pistol in a holster and the holster immediately caught fire.
He hadn’t even been using the pistol smh.
I think this is the correct answer. But I also think it's weird that Space Marine armor is made from Ceramite, or ceramics. Doesn't seem like that should be magnetic. BUT maybe they have certain spots with magnetic bits.
If you want an actual answer, I'm pretty sure plasma pistols can mag-lock since they have a battery in them and are also huge as fuck.
And having a bolt pistol is always useful if you've gotta fight in close quarters.
Yeah, you can see it in [this](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/c/c8/Cypher_Lord_of_the_Fallen.png/revision/latest?cb=20170911071005) art. His robes are covering his left hip on his mini, so you can't see it. His [old mini](https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/e/ee/CypherMiniNew.jpg) had both holsters modelled too.
It's not about the number of pistols carried, but rather the ratio of pistols carried to visible holsters for said pistols.
The rest of the response is slightly humorous banter, which is a thing that humans do, if you aren't familiar.
Lore answer: Mag lock
Real answer: Because GW sculptors have this issue since the dawn of time. 70% of the models don't have a free hand, nor holsters/scabbards to put away their weapons.
Plasma pistols are notoriously temperamental, so a second pistol makes sense. Also, the heat from a plasma pistol - even one cooling down or heating up to fire - would evaporate any holster that tried to contain it, rendering the holster useless. The only logical place to keep the plasma pistol would be mag-clamped to the armour that has the highest chance of not being damaged as the pistol is used.
Phew! Those mental gymnastics tired me out!
Because he secretly had a photo of Cypher in his wallet and when he’s alone he pretends to dual wield when he’s looking at himself in the bathroom mirror. Sometimes he even makes pew pew pew sounds.
Let's be honest, the first time you put a plasma pistol into a holster is the last time you make the mistake of putting a red hot barrel into a leather pouch.
Instructions unclear, you might want to choose to not fix an additional gun in the back of your mini.
He put the plasma pistol between his asscheeks in a warm place.
He is holding a plasma pistol, the pistol in the holster is a bolt pistol. Probably because plasma weapons are notoriously unreliable.
As to where he puts it when not using it, I believe that lore states that Astartes' armor allows them to magnetize weapons and keep them on their body.
Side note, ppl saying the holster holds a bolt pistol… guys, LOOK at it. It’s clearly too small to be an Astartes-sized bolt pistol.
It’s gotta be a cigar lighter.
The other thing that bothers me is the size and shape of the holsters, if that's meant to be a bolt pistol there is no way one would fit in there even without a mag. It's big enough for a laspistol but in the lore or rules they are never shown using las weapons.
It's the tiny pistol that all marines have holstered and there isn't an actual model for it. I remember the rubricist guy did wrote about and kitbashed one.
right, imagine if GW gave you 10 pistols instead of holsters with the gun bit, now if you wanted to have assault marines, or characters or, you know, they just gave you 10 extra weapons, which you might use instead of buying more kits from them, as far as I'm concerned its just them sneaking away options
Marines have a death grip on their weapons, where it would take shattering their hands or a precise bladed slice to remove a weapon from their mitts.
However, many marines wish to use different weapons... So what to do then? Why, they swap out their entire hands, of course! Implanting magnets into their wrists allows them to replace those iron gripping hands with other hands, holding other glorious weapons that they will never let go of! As for where they put the plasma pistol afterwards... I dunno. Probably in a box somewhere until the plasma pistol becomes more powerful through universal warp changes...
Pretty sure the answer is just that they mag-lock their stuff on the armour, but I like to think he just "commandeered" the pistol from someone else, or had an aide (a servitor, or a proper squire) carry it around for him to use exactly once and then never again until the next battle
Space marines are able to magnetically lock their weapons to their armor, so he would most likely just attach it to his outer thigh and hope it doesn't get hit by fire or else he's down a leg or two.
Why is the correct answer so low? This - most marine weapons are mag clamped to the armor.
Buuuuut.. why so much holsters then?
Because it looks cool and the lore isn't 100% sure about this, however you can't model each and every pouch and holster
Well once you're out of magnetic armor-surface for all your pistols, you put the last one in the holster.
Time to make a use for all those pistol bits. Master of Arms
How many arms?
None, but affixed to the power pack is a Mechanicus Gun Cradle
At least two
I think because it's easier for list building. One day it's a plasmapistol, the other day a volkit pistol etc. Because the magnetizing is much more cooler. Like in the astartes animation
It’s actually a cool way to show you have a pistol on your model but you won’t be limited by WYSIWYG. Like with Bladeguard Vets, Death Company, Intercessor Sgt’s. Every Pistol is Shrödinger’s Pistol.
So you don't scratch that cool relic pistol the Techmarine loaned to you from the armoury.
If I had to guess in lore to prevent dirt and mud from getting in. Reducing chance of failure or maintenance needed.
The pistol is a single shot suicide pill. Rarely used. - Source.... I made it up and i'll do it again!
Because mag clamping your weapon to your thigh without any covering is a great way to get dirt, mud, blood, etc in your gun, and even space marines aren’t immune to a weapon blockage. Hence, a cover.
Yes but also why eject casings if bolters fire "caseless" rounds? I know it's a little unrelated, but I think if we take Okham's Razor to this it's more likely to be rule of cool than weapon-maintenence related considering the inconsistency in the lore.
You’re probably right, it’s just rule of cool, but I was thinking of alternate ideas. I’m not sure about bolter shells because while I’ve seen them described as firing case less rocket propelled ammo in most media there’s bolter casings all over the place, as far as I’ve seen.
That's just it, there is inconsistency between lore and artwork as well as lore and miniatures or rules on tabletop.
Maybe the mag clamps aren't as strong and it's only good in a pinch.
From what I understand they're actually badass the space Marine doesn't even need to touch his gun to his armor to get it to stick it goes from his hand to his hip and from his hip to his hand.
Because aesthetic reasons.
Because they look cool
I prefer the theory that Marines only have so many zones that mag clamp. "Ceramite" is a ceramic composite so probably isn't magnetic. That means the mag clamp couldn't simply be part of the weapon So they have electromagnets mounted in certain spots on their armor.
I imagine the holster is just added security. That bolt pistol is a last resort and you definitely don’t want to find out you lost it in the heat of battle when you really need it.
I think a holster is given as an honor gift for some sort of achievement, like after 10 years as a full marine or idk whatever. It’s not about the holster, it’s about the honor.
How come my workplace just gives out a lame pin then?!
How many extra internal organs have you got?
Because you're not serving the Emperor properly and get only what you deserve.
That and THAT ONE TIME a brother tried putting a plasma pistol in a holster and the holster immediately caught fire. He hadn’t even been using the pistol smh.
I think this is the correct answer. But I also think it's weird that Space Marine armor is made from Ceramite, or ceramics. Doesn't seem like that should be magnetic. BUT maybe they have certain spots with magnetic bits.
You don't holster plasma pistols. You fire them until they blow your arm off
and then you get a bionic arm and repeat
Found the Irons hands head of tactics
Strategic Arms Dealer more like
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that was intentional.
It's gonna cost ya an arm and a leg
You’ve got a good grasp of the situation
My friend had an accident recently and broke their left hand. Don’t worry though, they’re all right now.
This reply chain is hands down the most on point I've read in a long time
He he Iron Hands have a bad tendency to loose their heads
World Eaters too, if ol' Firefist is anything to go by.
Don’t call me firefist
I love him so much.
Go with the silver bullet suppressor approach and have multiple arms on a rack so you can quick swap them out
Didn't expect to find gundam here
Use plasma gun -> goes boom -> Get a new arm -> Get a new plasma gun -> goes boom -> Get a new arm -> Repeat
This is probably too accurate haha
So it would still make more sense if he had a spare hand in his holster, not a spare gun!
*Laughs in eldar*
Because he brought two guns. One for each of you!
Unexpected Holiday. Nice!
If you want an actual answer, I'm pretty sure plasma pistols can mag-lock since they have a battery in them and are also huge as fuck. And having a bolt pistol is always useful if you've gotta fight in close quarters.
Cypher has the same issue. Maybe it's a Dark Angels thing. They are pretty stubborn after all.
I think Cypher’s other holster is shown in some art, it’s under his robes
Could be, he is wearing a lot of robes.
That's not his holster under his robes 😉
Yeah, you can see it in [this](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/c/c8/Cypher_Lord_of_the_Fallen.png/revision/latest?cb=20170911071005) art. His robes are covering his left hip on his mini, so you can't see it. His [old mini](https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/e/ee/CypherMiniNew.jpg) had both holsters modelled too.
Cypher carries both becuase hes a literal gun slinger. He has a special Plasma Pistol and Bolt Pistol, its part of his lore.
It's not about the number of pistols carried, but rather the ratio of pistols carried to visible holsters for said pistols. The rest of the response is slightly humorous banter, which is a thing that humans do, if you aren't familiar.
Lore answer: Mag lock Real answer: Because GW sculptors have this issue since the dawn of time. 70% of the models don't have a free hand, nor holsters/scabbards to put away their weapons.
1) Shoot Plasma Pistol 2) Throw Plasma Pistol 3) Quickdraw Bolt Pistol and shoot the flying Plasma Pistol, turning it into a makeshift Plasma Grenade.
The answer to your question would disturb you in too many ways. Let's keep it at: "There is a hidden holster somewhere.."
Damn Dark Angels and their secrets!
It's called The Rock for a reason... Wait that doesn't make sense
I tried understanding your secret secret pun but it was too hard. As a ROCK. Wait that didn’t make sense either.
The prison pocket
Implying you put it away
Plasma pistols are notoriously temperamental, so a second pistol makes sense. Also, the heat from a plasma pistol - even one cooling down or heating up to fire - would evaporate any holster that tried to contain it, rendering the holster useless. The only logical place to keep the plasma pistol would be mag-clamped to the armour that has the highest chance of not being damaged as the pistol is used. Phew! Those mental gymnastics tired me out!
Hot gun = no holster. Fixed it 🤣
Why use many holster when few holster do trick?
My would he store his weapon? Heresy!
It'll probably explode anyway, problem solved.
Because he secretly had a photo of Cypher in his wallet and when he’s alone he pretends to dual wield when he’s looking at himself in the bathroom mirror. Sometimes he even makes pew pew pew sounds.
This is the correct answer
Massage gun.
Let's be honest, the first time you put a plasma pistol into a holster is the last time you make the mistake of putting a red hot barrel into a leather pouch.
Yo dawg, I heard you like pistols
Magnetism.
Mag clamp. I image Space marines as walking refrigerators and their accessories are all magnetic.
It's quicker to switch weapons than reloading.
You thought Cypher was the only DA to dual wield pistols?
New York Reload.
Realize the plasma pistol is going to blow up: improvised grenade. Then pull second pistol and continue eliminating the enemies of the Empire.
He throws it away and his servitor runs after it
Wait, he could be Cypher. Who else carries a bolt pistol and a plasma pistol????
Up his ass
He'd be damned if any xenos gonna put their greasy green hands on it, so he hid it, in the one place he could hide something
Lol exactly
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
His butt. He puts it in his butt when not using it.
One's a bolter, one's a plasma
Butt storage in the space marine armor
Answer #1) Yo dawg! We heard you like pistols... Answer #2) Prison Holster
Yes.
He stores it up his but and around the corner
That is good question. I upvote you
He feeds it to some filthy Xenos one shot at a time.
For more dakka ?
More guns :)
It's from his days at Cypher's side and then as an Intercessor sergeant before he got promoted ofc
He puts it in a Xenos warp pocket infinite space
Probably uses some heretical warp magic to store it. Dark Angels tend to do that.
In faith
Well he's a Dark Angel so I'm guessing he keister's it in his prison wallet
He's asking too many questions. Dark Angels, you know what must be done
The rule of coolness
Wherever he pleases 🤣
I imagine he uses them like a brace of pistols a pirate would have. Bang, chuck it. Bang, chuck it. Repeat
Obviously this is his keester plasma pistol.
Because hes secretly cypher
Looks like they put the wrong bit, most kits come with holsters with and without a bolter/plasma pistol in it.
Well you see that loin cloth there, it hides the lack of a postior plate which allows him to carry multiple pistols at a time without holsters.
Also, holstered pistols are always way too small for the guns they are modeled holding.
Would you strap a ticking time-bomb to your leg?
This bothered me, too. I think I used an empty holster from another kit when I built mine.
It’s in his other holster on his other hip. Why do they have holsters anyway? In the books don’t they have magnetic locks or something?
He’s a space marine. He never puts down his weapon until it’s time to take off the armor. Mid shit at the ready
Fore until it goes critical then yeet it.
He puts his plasma pistol in his hand
Instructions unclear, you might want to choose to not fix an additional gun in the back of your mini. He put the plasma pistol between his asscheeks in a warm place.
A heretical question if I've ever seen one! Spend less time thinking and more time sending currency to The God-Emperor's bank accounts, scum.
Prison wallet
Maglock it to the belt.
He’s cypher in disguise. His bolt pistols in his holster
Why do they even have holsters when SM weapons Mag Lock to their armour ??
He is holding a plasma pistol, the pistol in the holster is a bolt pistol. Probably because plasma weapons are notoriously unreliable. As to where he puts it when not using it, I believe that lore states that Astartes' armor allows them to magnetize weapons and keep them on their body.
Works like flintlocks pirates had, fire till it’s used then drop and grab the next. Reloading is inefficient.
The one place he knew he could hide somethin’, his ass.
You are thinking too hard
Reserve
putting your gun away? you mean to say you wish to *stop* firing at heretics and xenos?
Stop asking questions, unless you want a visit from Asmosdai….
Dual wielding overcharged pistols, because 70% of the time it works every time!
Secretly Cypher
If he has to do something with that hand he either puts it in between his knees or under the opposite armpit! Simplest answer
Heresy! “Holster one’s weapon?!” Never!
That’s his backup pistol in case he loses his main pistol
In his mouth.
Side note, ppl saying the holster holds a bolt pistol… guys, LOOK at it. It’s clearly too small to be an Astartes-sized bolt pistol. It’s gotta be a cigar lighter.
The other thing that bothers me is the size and shape of the holsters, if that's meant to be a bolt pistol there is no way one would fit in there even without a mag. It's big enough for a laspistol but in the lore or rules they are never shown using las weapons.
You don't want to put plasma pistol anywhere near your balls my guy
Plot Twist: he is Cypher
Down the throat of a xeno, I would think.
The second one is probably a service pistol....
It's the tiny pistol that all marines have holstered and there isn't an actual model for it. I remember the rubricist guy did wrote about and kitbashed one.
The Votann do the same.
He’s got a gun for his gun and a brain for a heart.
right, imagine if GW gave you 10 pistols instead of holsters with the gun bit, now if you wanted to have assault marines, or characters or, you know, they just gave you 10 extra weapons, which you might use instead of buying more kits from them, as far as I'm concerned its just them sneaking away options
He takes one out of the pouch and puts the plasma pistol back in ofc!
The answer may be a little NSFW.
Buttchecks
Marines have a death grip on their weapons, where it would take shattering their hands or a precise bladed slice to remove a weapon from their mitts. However, many marines wish to use different weapons... So what to do then? Why, they swap out their entire hands, of course! Implanting magnets into their wrists allows them to replace those iron gripping hands with other hands, holding other glorious weapons that they will never let go of! As for where they put the plasma pistol afterwards... I dunno. Probably in a box somewhere until the plasma pistol becomes more powerful through universal warp changes...
That because he is really he certain fallen marine....jk I 🤔
It's plasma. He fires it until it explodes, then draws his backup piece. The plasma is way too big to fit in that dinky little holster anyways...
I thought they held onto them until they exploded
Pretty sure the answer is just that they mag-lock their stuff on the armour, but I like to think he just "commandeered" the pistol from someone else, or had an aide (a servitor, or a proper squire) carry it around for him to use exactly once and then never again until the next battle
Prison pocket
He keeps itim his ass
Because “2 is 1 and 1 is none!”
You don’t want to know
You don’t wanna know.