sigp220.45
US Veteran
I like a thumb-break, but for bumming around in the woods I prefer a flap holster. Keeps the gunk out and the gun in.
I’ve got another holster question, guys! What are your thoughts on thumb break holsters?
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I’m looking for a good open carry holster for my Beretta 92A1 with mounted Streamlight flashlight, but there are few options. One is the Bianchi Model 140 Reveal (pictured above) and it seems to have good reviews.
I know many old lawmen here probably used thumb breaks in the past, as well as many other people here. Do you think this is a serviceable and good method of retention still today? Do you think it would work alright for an open carry holster? I’ll only be carrying on my own property and that of my friends and family, or in the woods or desert areas. Not in town or in public.
Thanks!
-Jay
I’ve got another holster question, guys! What are your thoughts on thumb break holsters?
![]()
I’m looking for a good open carry holster for my Beretta 92A1 with mounted Streamlight flashlight, but there are few options. One is the Bianchi Model 140 Reveal (pictured above) and it seems to have good reviews.
I know many old lawmen here probably used thumb breaks in the past, as well as many other people here. Do you think this is a serviceable and good method of retention still today? Do you think it would work alright for an open carry holster? I’ll only be carrying on my own property and that of my friends and family, or in the woods or desert areas. Not in town or in public.
Thanks!
-Jay
Interesting... Was the snap on the outside instead of the inside (closes to the body)? Can't say I've ever had that issue, but then again, not every holster is the same or uses the same components..
Can you post a picture of a design using this "thumrake" that you speak of? Thanks.Bad on automatics, good on DA revolvers. They were invented for the latter in the late 1950s and the thumb is down already for a natural release. For the automatics the thumb must be lifted high in an unnatural way; and on 1911s and other pistols with thumb safeties the very action of snapping one shut can switch the safety to off.
We labored with this at Bianchi throughout my time there; I think because we reckoned it had to be good to have a thumbsnap; but without realizing that the automatics are simply incompatible. I've learned since then to simply avoid them and that's easy because strapless is so popular nowadays; and I use a different design I call 'thumrake' that involves lifting the thumb upwards against the end of the strap.
Mr. Nichols makes very good points. They are great for revolvers but I have never seen a thumbsnap holster that I considered correctly made for a 1911 carried cocked and locked. In that case, I prefer an open top holster, but I don’t really consider it ideal.
I carried a design like this while in uniform for a few years. The thumb snap can bump open w/an elbow or the arm of a chair when you sit down. It’s not something I’d be comfortable with unless worn under a cover garment.
.... I have never seen a thumbsnap holster that I considered correctly made for a 1911 carried cocked and locked. ........
I have never known who (or which company) originated the thumb-break concept, but I wish I did. Perhaps Red Nichols can enlighten us on the development and marketing of this innovation (which I consider to be significant).
I await my education from the experts..............![]()
I use them for all my OWB leather holsters... I currently have 4 of them for my Shield 9mm and 45, M&P 2.0, and my one for J Frames. They are are Desantis Thumb Break Scabbard.
We disagree because the thumbsnap is meant to work after attaining a full grasp of the pistol. On a revolver a thumbsnap is then quite natural; on an automatic the release is quite unnatural.