spacelordmaster
Active Fanatic
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2020
- Messages
- 27
I am curious. What is your take on carrying a 1911 in an OWB holster with a thumbreak?
Like many, I've accumulated quite a few holsters over the years.
The idea of both a hammer block and the additional security makes the thumb breaks look good....on paper.
All that means is that I have a couple in my holster drawer but never use them.
One benefit of the thumb break is that the back strap provides leather between the sharp edges of my pistol and my tactical muffin tops.
Some open holsters have this additional leather on the back or inside of the holster though.
My problem with the thumb breaks holster is the additional resistance felt on the draw as the strap pulls through under the cocked hammer.
Now, before someone who is proud of their thumb break tells me....I'm using a couple of Bianchi thumb breaks and I understand they are probably not the finest available. One is a IWB and the other is an OWB.
Unless you know someone who will let you try one out for yourself it's sort of tough.
My bet is that many found comfort or peace of mind with thumb break holsters for the very reasons you explain.I have one but don't use it. it's quite old. Got it when I first started with guns. Like everyone who is new at guns, especially 1911s, I didn't feel safe carrying that 1911 cocked but years of experience teach you that the cocked hammer is just intimidating and looks scary, but nothing more. We 1911 users know it takes a few steps to make the gun go bang. They are perfectly safe. The gun design hasn't survived 109 years for being unreliable and unsafe.
Nothing more to add...totally concur...I use both depending on the situation & mode of dress...but mostly no thumb break...I even use a military holster with a flap at times...I don't use a holster with one.
A quality holster will provide the retention needed. Some of the lesser quality holsters use the thumb break to retain the pistol.
Of course there are quality holsters that incorporate a thumb break as an option, some LE are required to have them
I don't really like a thumbreak. I usually carry in Condition 3 so to me it's just another complexity added to the draw. When I carry a 1911 it's normally with a Galco Avenger owb holster without thumbreak.I am curious. What is your take on carrying a 1911 in an OWB holster with a thumbreak.
The only time I used a thumb break owb holster was when I was a copper... Other than that no thumb break..
Baltimore City 74 to 99..Did not know you wore the copper shield.....thank you for your service Sir
First off ... Many reputable companies produce thumb break holsters..They do so because it is a desired product proven over many years.I am curious. What is your take on carrying a 1911 in an OWB holster with a thumbreak?