A nozzle holder for a laser processing head of a laser processing system, the nozzle holder comprising: a hollow body shaped to matingly engage a laser nozzle, the hollow body defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the nozzle holder being characterized by the following: the hollow body further defining a plurality of apertures dispersing around a circumference of the hollow body, each aperture extending from an inner wall to an outer wall of the hollow body; a plurality of pawls configured to operably engage the laser nozzle within the hollow body, wherein each pawl has (i) a distal portion configured to extend through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures of the hollow body to operably engage the laser nozzle and (ii) a proximal portion configured to facilitate disengagement of the pawl from the laser nozzle; and a sleeve coupled to the hollow body while substantially surrounding at least a portion of the hollow body and the plurality of pawls, the sleeve including a pawl retractor that is movable along the longitudinal axis with the sleeve to apply an external force on the proximal portions of the plurality of pawls to physically displace the plurality of pawls axially and radially relative to the longitudinal axis away from the hollow body for disengagement of the plurality of pawls from the laser nozzle, wherein the pawl retractor maintains physical contact with a proximal portion of each of the plurality of pawls. a hollow body shaped to matingly engage a laser nozzle, the hollow body defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the nozzle holder being characterized by the following: the hollow body further defining a plurality of apertures dispersing around a circumference of the hollow body, each aperture extending from an inner wall to an outer wall of the hollow body; a plurality of pawls configured to operably engage the laser nozzle within the hollow body, wherein each pawl has (i) a distal portion configured to extend through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures of the hollow body to operably engage the laser nozzle and (ii) a proximal portion configured to facilitate disengagement of the pawl from the laser nozzle; and a sleeve coupled to the hollow body while substantially surrounding at least a portion of the hollow body and the plurality of pawls, the sleeve including a pawl retractor that is movable along the longitudinal axis with the sleeve to apply an external force on the proximal portions of the plurality of pawls to physically displace the plurality of pawls axially and radially relative to the longitudinal axis away from the hollow body for disengagement of the plurality of pawls from the laser nozzle, wherein the pawl retractor maintains physical contact with a proximal portion of each of the plurality of pawls. the hollow body further defining a plurality of apertures dispersing around a circumference of the hollow body, each aperture extending from an inner wall to an outer wall of the hollow body; a plurality of pawls configured to operably engage the laser nozzle within the hollow body, wherein each pawl has (i) a distal portion configured to extend through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures of the hollow body to operably engage the laser nozzle and (ii) a proximal portion configured to facilitate disengagement of the pawl from the laser nozzle; and a sleeve coupled to the hollow body while substantially surrounding at least a portion of the hollow body and the plurality of pawls, the sleeve including a pawl retractor that is movable along the longitudinal axis with the sleeve to apply an external force on the proximal portions of the plurality of pawls to physically displace the plurality of pawls axially and radially relative to the longitudinal axis away from the hollow body for disengagement of the plurality of pawls from the laser nozzle, wherein the pawl retractor maintains physical contact with a proximal portion of each of the plurality of pawls.