Bianchi Minimalist holster

[wamj2008]

Hey - does anyone have one of these? I bought one that was supposed to fit the Colt Commander model, I have a 4" Kimber Pro Carry. It fits in the holster alright, but when I draw, the front sight snags on the seam, coming up through the holster. Just got it and it's already tore up. Any tricks to drawing from a holster where the barrel is exposed and has to come up through the holster?

 

[David E]

You have 3 choices:

Change the front sight to a ramped version, buy a new/good holster, or carry a 3" barreled 1911 in it where the sight doesn't extend past the holster.

Sometimes, if you rotate the grip of the gun outward, it aligns the front sight better with the sight tunnel better.

Short of an exposed duty rig, it's my philosophy that you should not have to accommodate any foibles of your holster, it should accommodate YOU.

 

[wamj2008]

Thanks, I'm considering a fobus. I can get a fobus with a double mag pouch here. Do they ride pretty securely? I have an IWB for concealment, but in Maine it is legal to carry OWB so I'm thinking of doing that while I jog at night, for the comfort. This Don Hume also looks pretty decent as well. Any opinions?

 

[JTQ]

The link to the Fobus would get you a holster that would also probably catch on the front sight just like your Bianchi minimalist. The only difference is it is plastic and a paddle holster. You are probably better off with the one you already have between the two.

I have an El Paso holster (the High Slide) that is similar to the minimalist. I use it for a 5" 1911 and had the same problem with the front sight making contact on the draw. The contact was never enough to damaged the holster. I no longer notice the contact on the draw. Either the holster opened up enough to clear the sight or I got better on the draw.

While the holster works OK for me, I won't buy another holster that doesn't cover the entire slide. The only advantage to the short holster is the advantage of carrying the same style pistol with different barrel lengths.

 

[David E]

FOBUS is an acronym: Found Out Being Utter Sh*t

I have one that had been on 2-3 prize tables before I got it. The front sight, regardless of profile, catches the holster severely. It's only your life on the line...........

Buy a GOOD holster.

 

[9mmepiphany]

if you decide to go with a Fobus, just get the model that fits your barrel length. you don't have to get a "short" one

my Fobus has been pretty good about aligning the front of the holster with the front sight as their seam is centered with both outer and inner halves of the holster meeting in the middle

 

[wamj2008]

In your opinion David, what makes a GOOD owb holster?

 

[mete]

www.thewilderness.com makes a fine minimal holster , the Zip Slide. Made of reinforced nylon I've had one for many years for my HK P7 M10 and use it for IPSC and carry.
These types of holsters have to be made very well to be effective.

 

[David E]

In your opinion David, what makes a GOOD owb holster?

Good question! As we've seen in this thread, not even a well known and established maker is immune from making a holster with a serious flaw. That said, a ramped front sight would minimize this flaw, altho it would result in a shiny front sight and a beat up holster over time. The Zip Slide also requires a ramped sight. A post sight will likely catch on that one, too.

I use a Heinie designed holster in my classes to demo that very thing. I get someone from the class to put it on and then make a draw. On their 2nd or 3rd attempt, they finally get the gun out.

1) A good holster should securely retain the gun. (gravity isn't enough!)

2) The gun should not flop around or rattle in the holster.

3) The holster allows a full firing grip at initial contact. The base of the trigger guard should be exposed at least a fingers width, not covered with holster. (if it's not exposed, it forces the hand to take a high grip.)

4) Besides an exposed police duty holster, it should not fight the user and should not require contortions or tricks to draw the gun.

5) Related to #4, the holster should align the gun with the hand for the draw. If the muzzle is pointing significantly away from the feet, the dreaded "Leaning Tower of Pisa" draw is required to get a proper grip on the gun. Fobus is notorious for requiring this draw.

6) The holster should allow a smooth draw, preferably from start to finish.

7) There should be a sight channel and it should go all the way up. (Most Galcos do not)

8) Holster should allow one hand reholstering without looking or "pecking." (like that Zip Slide video shows at the 1:33 mark)

9) Holster should remain in a fixed position on the belt, not sliding or tipping.

10) Holster should be durable.

11) Holster should not cause blisters or bleeding during a gun class.

12) The gun should be fully covered. The "belt slide" style holsters will give up the gun if the wearer sits down and hits the muzzle on the arm of the chair, etc.

13) If necessary, the holster should protect the mag release button from being inadvertantly activated. This is important for a left handed shooter where the mag release is facing away from the body, or for some models that have an ambidextrous mag release. It's critical for a pocket holster.

14) A nice, but not required feature of a holster is when it engages the safety of a 1911, or at least protects it from coming off while in the holster. The only ones I'm aware of that activate the safety are the handmade holsters of a THR'er here (can't recall his name) and KyTac's BraveHeart IWB. www.kytac.NET


These are most of the features a "good" OWB or IWB holster possesses. Remarkably, damn few holsters embody all of them.

 

[9mmepiphany]

^^^
i think i'm in agreement with David E about what makes a good holster

maybe i've just been lucky in holsters, but i've found that most of my holsters meet these points...but then, in mid-priced holsters, i'm a fan of Alessi (ACP & CQC/s) and Sparks (Summer Special) in leather and Comp-Tac (Settable Cant Paddle) in polymer

 

[wamj2008]

Thanks for the tips. I use a SuperTuck for IWB and that's pretty comfortable, I might get a concealco readyline IWB just to see if it holds the gun any closer or is more comfortable inside the pants. For OWB I picked up that Don Hume Open Top, we'll see if I get it in 2 weeks or 2 months.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use a Gould & Goodrich Yaqui slide with my Kimber UCC II. The sight extends past the holster and does not snag during the draw. Looking at yours I would say that you need to correct your draw posture. You are probably starting to bring it forward too soon...

 

[Kilo Sierra]

Which model zipslide do you use for the P7?

I want one for my M8.

Thanks,
ks

 

[Mike J]

wamj I use a Don Hume 721 open top with my XD-40 & Ruger P-series. I believe Don Hume to be a good value for the money.