In Red Dead Redemption 2, customization plays a huge role in shaping your experience and appearance. Whether you’re choosing outfits, weapons, or horse gear, every detail adds to immersion. One aspect that some players wish to alter is the offhand holster. While having two sidearms can feel powerful and authentic to the gunslinger fantasy, others prefer a cleaner, more classic look with just a single holster. Unfortunately, RDR2 doesn’t provide a clear in-game option to remove the offhand holster in single player mode, especially after it’s been unlocked during the main storyline. Still, with a bit of effort and understanding of the game’s mechanics, there are workarounds that can help achieve a single holster look.
Understanding the Offhand Holster in RDR2
When It Becomes Available
The offhand holster becomes available in the single player campaign of RDR2 after a key moment in Chapter 2. Once Arthur receives his second revolver, the game automatically equips an offhand holster, allowing players to dual-wield pistols or revolvers. From this point forward, the holster is always visible whether you’re using one pistol or two. This change is permanent through normal gameplay, and there is no menu option to unequip or hide the offhand holster.
Why Some Players Want to Remove It
There are several reasons why players might want to remove the offhand holster in single player:
- Visual preference– Some players prefer the aesthetic of a single revolver and a cleaner belt line.
- Roleplay accuracy– For roleplaying purposes, especially in early game or minimalist builds, having just one pistol feels more immersive.
- Screenshot purposes– Players who take in-game photos might want a more historically accurate or cinematic appearance.
Unfortunately, Rockstar Games did not include an official toggle to remove the offhand holster once it’s been added. However, dedicated fans and modders have explored ways to change this through alternate methods.
Can You Remove the Offhand Holster Without Mods?
No Native Option in the Game
In the base game, there is no direct way to remove the offhand holster once it’s equipped. Even if you unequip your secondary weapon, the holster itself remains on Arthur’s belt. Swapping outfits, changing weapon loadouts, or visiting the gunsmith doesn’t affect it. It’s baked into the character model from that point forward as a permanent visual element.
Temporary Visual Fixes
While there’s no built-in toggle, there are a few actions that can give the illusion of having only one holster, though these are inconsistent and not guaranteed to work across all scenes or camera angles:
- Wearing specific outfits– Some players have noted that certain outfits (especially coats and vests) partially cover the offhand holster, making it less visible.
- Holstering both weapons– When you holster both sidearms and stand idle, the camera angle can obscure the second holster in some poses.
- Use of the bandolier– Adding a bandolier draws attention away from the hip area, which might reduce how noticeable the holster is in gameplay.
However, these are purely visual tricks. They don’t actually remove the holster model or affect how Arthur’s loadout is structured in the game files.
Using Mods to Remove the Offhand Holster
Mods Available for PC Players
For players on PC, several mods exist that allow further character customization including the ability to remove the offhand holster. One of the most popular tools for this is the Lenny’s Simple Trainer or the Rampage Trainer. These programs let you adjust your character model, clothing, weapons, and much more. With these tools, players can often disable the visual model of the offhand holster, giving Arthur a single holster look again.
Steps to Remove Holster with Mods
Here’s a general idea of how to remove the offhand holster using mods:
- Download and install a trainer such as Lenny’s Simple Trainer or Rampage Trainer.
- Launch the game and open the mod menu while in single player.
- Navigate to the clothing or weapon appearance section.
- Look for a toggle or option related to holsters or sidearms.
- Disable the offhand holster model or switch to an outfit without it.
Make sure to always back up your save files before using mods, as changes can sometimes cause instability. Also, mods are not supported on console versions of the game, so this method is exclusive to PC players.
Limitations and Considerations
Console Players Are Restricted
For those playing RDR2 on PlayStation or Xbox, there is no supported way to remove the offhand holster. Rockstar doesn’t allow third-party mods on these platforms, and there are no in-game workarounds that provide a clean removal. Console players will need to rely on the minimal visual tricks mentioned earlier, such as outfit adjustments or creative camera angles during photo mode.
Possible Impact on Gameplay
Removing the offhand holster doesn’t provide a gameplay advantage or disadvantage. It’s purely a visual change. That said, removing the second holster can prevent dual wielding, depending on how it’s handled with mods. Some players prefer it that way, while others might want to retain functionality but change the appearance.
Future Update Potential
As of now, Rockstar has not indicated any plans to include more customization options in the single player mode of RDR2. Their development efforts have primarily shifted to GTA Online and ongoing support for Red Dead Online. Therefore, unless an update or definitive edition is released, it’s unlikely the base game will receive new customization features like holster removal for single player campaigns.
Removing the Offhand Holster
Red Dead Redemption 2 offers an incredible level of detail and customization, but some features like the offhand holster are fixed once unlocked. While there’s no built-in method for removing the offhand holster in single player, players on PC have modding tools that can help them achieve the desired look. Console users are unfortunately limited to workarounds that only partially reduce visibility. Whether you’re going for a more historically accurate gunslinger or just want a cleaner visual style for Arthur, understanding your options is key. With a bit of creativity or the right mod you can tailor your RDR2 experience exactly how you want it.