Strap vs. Thumb Break on Conventional Autoloaders

[Darkenfast]

Back when I was into revolvers, I defaulted to thumb break holsters for general use. They were very natural to operate for me. My last one was a Bianchi 5BHL for a six-inch L-frame, purchased in the mid-80s.

These days, I'm a 9mm fan. While my Gen 1 Glock 17L is happy and natural in Kydex, I've been wondering if I should treat my old Browning Hi-Power to a nice leather holster, just in case I get invited to a barbecue or something.

I discovered two things about thumb breaks and that Hi-Power. One is that the cheaper holster I bought will only hold the pistol securely if the hammer is down. If the pistol is carried in Condition 1, it can slip out the back of the holster. Ouch!

The second thing is that, unlike revolver holsters, the thumb break is very awkward for me to use. When I switched back to an old Uncle Mike's holster for dry-fire drills that I practice regularly, it was much easier and quicker to use its conventional safety strap (the big buckle on the end of the strap makes it easy to hit quick)

Does anyone else have this preference of thumb break for wheelguns and straps for autos?

BTW, my current front-runner on the wish list for my Hi Power is Lobo's take on the Threeperson. This would be for trouser belt use, not gun belt. Anyone have one for a hammer-equipped autopistol that they would care to comment about? Will it get me invited to barbecues?

Thanks!

 

[Heinz]

I have a Lobo combat classic for my S&W 4516. Works great for me. I do not carry my 1911 Tisas locked and loaded but have a great holster for it from bamabiker on this forum that will get your invitation.

 

[Heinz]

Photos of the Tisas and the bamabiker holster. I also like the Lobo Gunleather Combat Classic holster

 

[Marshal Tom]

First I would tell you that you don't need a thumb break or a strap if you have a holster that properly fits the gun. Second, I do not ever suggest straps on holsters for semi autos, especially for striker fired firearms for the obvious reason of getting something in the trigger guard. A Lobo pancake for instance is great for retention and does not require any additional retention device that you must defeat when drawing. I carried both Hi Powers and 1911's for years in a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB that was extremely secure.

 

[gwpercle]

Most of my holster's seem to have ... straps !
I don't know why ... I never thought about it ...
I'm just old school and have used straps my entire life !
They work well ... and if something works ...
I'm loath to fix it !
Gary

 

[BE Mike]

I've carried both. I kinda like the thumb strap under the hammer of a cocked, with thumb safety on, 1911. I also like a well-fitting open top holster, but if you are in a position where you are going to do some running, the thumb strap holster is preferable.

 

[CH4]

Straps?! We don’t need to stinking straps!
Although I have a few holsters with straps, I prefer those without.

 

[WR Moore]

Some makers of thumb break holsters have a problem getting it just right. I've had a couple but don't recall names. Sometimes the thumb pad isn't right, other times it's that the maker doesn't understand the cocked & locked idea. Sometimes, you can stretch the leather strap, other times, it's how the strap is crafted. "Cheaper" may have been a clue.

If you go thumb break, make sure the maker knows you do the C&L thing and the holster has to fit that need.

A properly designed strapless holster will retain the gun through some interesting gymnastics. I have a preference for holsters with adjustable tension, but have had good results from holsters without.

 

[Notch8]

I can't believe how timely this thread is. I just logged on to post about this very subject, straps on autoloader pistols. Specifically, for my Browning Hi-Power. I just ordered a field holster from Diamond D Leather and it is made with a strap, which I did want. However, in it's factory configuration it fits around the grip so I asked them to make it fit between the cocked hammer and the firing pin for just a little more safety since my gun doesn't have a firing pin block. We'll see how I like it when it comes in in a few months. I also have an El Paso thumbbreak holster for the same gun and I haven't decided yet if I like it or not.

 

[Denverd0n]

I'm with the folks who prefer neither -- open-top holsters for me. I'm too old to do any gymnastics, so the retention I get from a well-fitting kydex or leather holster is more than enough.

 

[rednichols]

As someone who has 'been here' ever since the thumbsnap came into popularity, I can say that the thumbsnap is ideal for DA revolvers and terribly unsuited to the 1911 et al. It was invented by the J.M. Bucheimer chaps in '59 and as originally conceived, with the strap covering the revolver's hammer, it's a gem. Ideally it should not ever have been used with the old Threepersons design and it is very well suited to the enclosed trigger guard such as Gaylord used in the '50s with this 'new fangled' thumbsnap. It was popularised, though, by Bianchi which company used it with the TP and improperly shaped, even a hammered revolver could pull out from beneath it.

For some reason, and I was there, too, the thumbsnap was extrapolated to the big autos, of which JB was a big fan. His erstwhile employee Bruce Nelson had it right, by enclosing the trigger guard on the auto; but JB dropped the design and swtiched to a more TP-like holster. Big mistake.

But even bigger, was the way the thumbsnap switched off the safeties on these pistols. And the wearer had to lift his thumb high on the autos, vs place it low on the DA revolvers. All this was 'solved' by the likes of Milt Sparks 'outsmarting' the problem and simply eliminating all straps.

This made the cogniscent appear 'clever' when instead, the entire holster had been reshaped to be like Chic's, then emulated by Theodore, then even Bianchi. In the end, it is not moulding that retains the pistol but enclosing the trigger guard -- which in turn is the very OLDEST configuration, in the Brill for the Texas Rangers at the beginning of the 20th century.

 

[cracker57]

Yesterday I took my shield out of its pocket holster and slipped it into my Milt Sparks VMII. you can hear it "click" when inserted and it holds the gun firmly, no strap needed. This is a IWB and when snugged tight by the belt it holds it even more secure.
with the right holster, no strap is needed.

 

[BE Mike]

Back in the day, I carried a Colt Satin Commander in a Roy Baker pancake holster with thumb snap (strap under hammer). I liked it a lot.

 

[canoeguy]

I ordered an El Paso Saddlery "Threepersons" holster for my Springfield Armory SA-35 Hi-Power clone with a retention strap. I like it so much I have ordered another for my 1911......



The Threepersons style is perfect for my world, most days carried in the field on my property, occasionally in town under a jacket or untucked collared shirt. Plus, it just looks good!

 

[URIT]

Purdygear has some nice Hi-Power holsters that would be great at your next BBQ, and they are available now.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I prefer thumb break holsters over strap holsters in all cases where I can get an option. All my revolver holsters except one (a "Tanker")have a thumb break retention strap.

On semiautos, I prefer a formed holster that secures the gun by its shape, generally capturing the trigger guard. I only have two of these but they work on all my semiautos that get carried, which are either 1911's or a BHP. They are all carried C1, so no strap for them to slip out from under. I feel that a properly designed 1911 holster with a thumb break would take into account the hammer position in C1 but work for C2/3 just as well.

 

[SG-688]

I'm a contrarian again. I like a thumbsnap with auto pistols - 1911 and S&W.
I never had any trouble working the strap at speed. Just lucky, I guess.

Technique matters some. Pushing down through the snap rather than trying to push the tab away from the snap worked for me.

The inboard strap must be rigid front to rear to prevent movement disengaging the safety on a 1911 or engaging the safety on a DA/SA if your wont is to carry off safe.

I don't remember if it was LAPD or LASO that had a tab on the strap so that the safety had to be off on their Beretta pistols. (I think it was LASO, but might be wrong again.)

Picture of modified Safariland strap attached.