1911 carry without a thumb break

[Soundtrackzz]

Hey guys, i just got a new OWB holster for my 1911. Unfortunately this particular holster doesnt have a thumb break or anything else it is simply open top. im wondering if carrying cocked and loaded is inherently dangerous without a thumbreak.

Thanks

 

[FMF]

the thumb break is just holding it...if the "sideways" tension is enough to hold it in during normal movement and some running I don't see why it would be a problem if the safety is on.

What holster? Make and model?

 

[Kind of Blued]

No, sir. The hammer isn't going to fall unless there's something horribly wrong with the gun, in which case, you shouldn't carry it regardless of holster type.

 

[David E]

If your gun has an ambi safety, you can accidentally knock it off "safe" and not know it.

If the holster does not have a "shirt shield" on the body side, you're going to pinch yourself while reholstering, catching some meat between the gun and the top edge of the holster.

The Kytac Braveheart has a shirt shield and actively engages the thumb safety to prevent its disengagement, even with ambi's.

www.kytac.com

 

[tkopp]

I carry cocked and locked with my RIA 1911 in a Desantis Cozy Partner II without issues. Mine isn't an ambi safety though, so it's well-protected.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I've carried 1911s for many, many hours in holsters without a thumb break, without mishap.

 

[GRIZ22]

It's not an issue as long as your safety locks up positive. Do take notice of the ambi safety if you have one as David E says.

 

[Dr.Rob]

No problem with that in a single sided safety model in 1911 or BHP. Never had an issue with my Galco G-slide which is open top and minimalist.

 

[Quack]

carry my 1911's C&L'd w/o a thumb break holster. no problems at all.

 

[BlindJustice]

A non-thumb break holster for a 1911, as long as the gun is held
securely with the trigger coverd when holstered is not a problem
unless the gun's safety is defective, or the operator is using unsafe
gun handling.

Randall

 

[EHL]

I've never had any of my ambi's "disengage" when merely holstered. I carry IWB.

 

[Onmilo]

I have carried 1911 handguns in BladeTech Kydex holsters with no thumbbreak strap for years with no problems.

Remember that even if the thumb safety becomes disengaged, that pesky grip safety will still prevent the gun from firing.

 

[Drail]

Onmilo, that "pesky grip safety" only blocks the trigger. It does not lock the hammer or sear.

 

[Gryffydd]

Onmilo, that "pesky grip safety" only blocks the trigger. It does not lock the hammer or sear.

So...how's the gun going to fire without the trigger moving?

 

[metallic]

I also carry a 1911 C&L'd in an open top kydex holster. Perfectly safe, haven't managed to shoot myself yet.

 

[amkus]

I've always wondered why people would want a thumb brake on a ccw holster. Just seems like something you don't need that can cause a problem.

 

[ROBBY.1911]

the galco matrix 3X will do it. the gun literally snaps into place so you can walk, run, etc. it is cut down in the front and lightning fast for competition. best of all it is around $25.

 

[Iggy]

Carried a 1911 off and on for over 40 years in a holster without a strap.


So far, so good!!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A thumb break holster can be positively dangerous with the M1911. Many designs (the Galco Fletch is an example) put the snap right against the safety lock, and the safety can be disengaged by the snap.

Carrying cocked-and-locked witout a strap is perfectly safe -- the pistol was designed to be carried that way. A cavalryman needing both hands to control his horse after an engagement would simply engage the safety lock and drop the gun in the holster.

If your holster design permits it, you can glue or sew a piece of leather flush with the mark the safety lock lever leaves on the holster backing, thus ensuring the safety cannot be disengaged with the gun in the holster.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

Onmilo, that "pesky grip safety" only blocks the trigger. It does not lock the hammer or sear.

On guns with Swartz (sp?) safties, such as series II Kimbers, it blocks the firing pin as well.

 

[Drail]

How many people here think that a 1911 cannot fire unless the trigger is pulled? If you really believe it can't, then you don't understand the design of the 1911.

 

[Zerodefect]

So how deos the 1911 fire without its trigger being pulled. I've got a Kimber CDP II 5" right here.

Safety off, I'm shakin it, dropping it, playing with the trigger takeup, spinning it on my finger like a cowboy.....still nothing.

I wouldn't worry about the thumb break it really isn't needed. As long as you have a good holster that covers the trigger your set. I prefere the MTAC holster for 1911's and Glocks.

Seriously, the 1911 is a pretty safe gun. Been carrying mine for years, sometimes I do bump the safety off. I wouldn't worry 'bout it.

I had a day where I was working in "bumpy" conditions, so I decided to carry empty chamber for a while. I decided that would be a good day to experiment with the hammer cocked and the safety off.

Since it was an empty chamber, if the hammer accidentaly fell because the safety was off, then nothing would happen.

At the end of the week, the hammer was still cocked after all that time without the safety on.

Even without the safety off and no thumbbreak and rough handleing for a week, hammer never fell.

So proper carry, cocked and locked= perfectly safe, even without the thumbreak.

 

[1911shooter]

The thumb break is only there to secure the gun if you buy a quality leather holster you wont need it, it is perfectly safe with out the thumb break, plastic holsters are ok for some guns but it is just sacreligous to put a 1911 in a plastic holster.

 

[tegemu]

I have carried a 1911 in a non-strapped holster for years. With a good quality holster it shouldn't be a problem. I feel it is so secure that a gymnast could wear one through his routine and the gun still be in place.

 

[Deanimator]

I carry a Norinco M1911 IWB all the time. No thumb break, no problems.