Gonna buy a new piece of leather. Gotta make a choice; pancake or BN55/Askins Avenger style. I know that any choice is subjective, but I'd value the recommendations of those who utilize both styles. Specific makers, position worn and perceived advantages and disadvantages of each style and maker.

This will be used to carry a 3" 1911 and I have robust belts on which to mount either style.

Thanks for your time and practical counsel.

I am a huge fan of the pancake style, especially as made by the late, great Roy Baker. I frequently carried a 4" M28-2 in such a rig quite comfortably (a sturdy and properly fitted belt is crucial).

The multiple belt slots allow you to switch from strong-side to cross draw and the design holds the gun in and tight to the body and just high enough that it neither shoves the muzzle into your car seat or the butt into your ribs.

This is a pet preference, but the Baker design with a thumb break aids retention and provides an extra level of safety for cocked and locked carry - which I never used with my revolver, but you probably will with you 1911.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

How are you planning to use the holster?

For maximum concealment I lean towards the pancake style. The Avenger style is somewhat easier to re-holster, but at a cost of being slightly less concealable.

I have both styles and find the pancake holster more comfortable of the two for concealed carry.

From a designer point of view, of your two choices you'll predictably get good performance from an asymmetrical pancake vs an avenger. That's because the design is self-regulating: a slot on either side forces the pistol into equilibrium on the belt. The most that can go wrong with the design is it carrying the pistol too high or too low on the belt.

In contrast, a well-executed avenger is a rarity because it was an evolution of a crossdraw design, where the trailing slot served a natural purpose: pull the grip in tightly.

But in an avenger, that single slot naturally tries to do too much of the work, and the rear belt tunnel too little, resulting in the rear sight coming out too much and then printing.

In my view, Galco and DeSantis make the best of the asymmetrical pancakes.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I carried a 3" 1911 in a Galco Concealable Belt holster. Worked great for me. It now carries a 4" with an officer style frame. Tucks in nicely and doesn't print.

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Quando omni flunkus moritati.

I've been very happy with both the Simply Rugged pancake holsters and the D.M. Bullard cross-draw. They are both comfortable once broken in and conceal quite well.

I like the Galco Combat Master. I have several for different weapons and they all work well. Muscle memory is the same for all the holsters.