Thumb Breaks: Good or Bad?

[rednichols]

That claim has always puzzled me. I've not seen a revolver holster where a full grip can be obtained and then the snap released. Even that odd S&W holster with a button didn't allow that - at least as I envision the claim, meaning thumb down.

For me - with large hands, long fingers ... and thumbs ... I have contact on the butt with all of my hand but for the thumb and then work the snap the same with either style.

We two curmudgeons will be going at this forever. Great fun!

I recall an article describing some of those long straps as an 'elbow release'!!

Thanks for the picture of that fingertip release Safariland. I was looking for one in the catalogs but started to think I'd dreamed it.

Yessir, but I'm the oldest! Of the two of us. Because nobody's older than LuckyB.

This image from the Bucheimer patent shows a full grip on a revolver for release of a thumbsnap. Nearly identical one is in an early Bianchi catalog (both images are together, in the book Holstory).



That was also the notion behind Berns-Martin's safety strap: flip it off with the trigger finger after grasping the revolver.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I hear tell that even our predecessors of years past felt the need for some type of secure method to retain a gun in some fashion or another.

Cute buscadero rig, very Hollywood but not very accurate in a historical sense. Yes, hammer thongs were frequently used, but belts with drop loops supporting holster worn low on the thigh were not the norm (until the movie script called for such equipment).

 

[DevilDog72]

I get a full grip on my K snubs in this Galco.



I have several thumb break rigs for revolvers and 1911's and am happy with all of them.

 

[rednichols]

Cute buscadero rig, very Hollywood but not very accurate in a historical sense. Yes, hammer thongs were frequently used, but belts with drop loops supporting holster worn low on the thigh were not the norm (until the movie script called for such equipment).

You surprise me sometimes, Lobo . This has been covered many times; the buscadero was created by Myres to Captain Hughes' specifications (as was the Brill for Hughes). If ever there was a non-Hollywood, serious gunfighter it was Hughes and he made a worthwhile impact on 20th century gunleather for real Western gunmen.

Today it's called a Hollywood holster because Arvo's original company was called Hollywood Fast Draw Holster Co., not because it was intended for Hollywood. The way he tells it, Arvo came out to California to teach actors how to handle guns properly; guess he didn't know about Rodd Redwing already being on the job there.

Ed McGivern is pictured, as is Charlie Askins, doing their trick shooting from Myres buscaderos; most notably in the former's 'Ed McGivern's Book' aka 'Fast and Fancy Pistol Shooting'. Ed was mighty impressed with them for his purposes.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

I had intended to chime in w my .02 , but the wealth of knowledge in this thread is tremendous.

I'll sit in the back and listen...
thx guys
good stuff here..