How safe to carry BHP pistol at half cock?
- Thread starter JustKen
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smalls
Member
Get a new holster.
What's keeping it from keeping the hammer cocked.
What's keeping it from keeping the hammer cocked.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Safe enough to carry it as long as you get it to half-cock okay. Be careful and don't get in a hurry.
Certaindeaf
member
Thumb snap? Leather stretches. Get the leather good and wet where the snaps are and holster your oiled and baggied Hi-Power and then stretch the leather straps so it'll snap securely. Let dry slowly for a couple of days.
SharpsDressedMan
member
I'm going to go with chamber empty.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
If I owned a holster that didn't let me carry a gun in a full readiness mode, I'd either be breaking out some tools to adjust the holster or I'd have a different holster, pronto. Talk about ten cents holding up a dollar!
This is the equivalent of having a Corvette and buying a set of tires you really like but which only let you drive 35 mph. "Dear THR, I really like long road trips but with my new tires I can't drive my Corvette over 35 mph. Any tips for a good 'slow-moving vehicle' sign to strap on it?"
This is the equivalent of having a Corvette and buying a set of tires you really like but which only let you drive 35 mph. "Dear THR, I really like long road trips but with my new tires I can't drive my Corvette over 35 mph. Any tips for a good 'slow-moving vehicle' sign to strap on it?"
Can you provide a picture of the two conditions so we better understand what you're dealing with?
dogtown tom
Member
I can't imagine a holster made for the HP that DOESN'T allow carry at full cock.
Are you sure that this holster is made for a Hi Power?
Are you sure that this holster is made for a Hi Power?
scaatylobo
Member
@ SharpsDressedMan
If you are going with empty chamber - do yourself a favor and dont bother to carry a gun that is UNLOADED.
You might make the mistake of thinking your armed.
A good majority of confrontations involve 1 hand occupied,that means you will have a hammer that looks just like a BHP.
Get a DAO revolver or DAO semi-auto pistol and carry it loaded,please.
If you are going with empty chamber - do yourself a favor and dont bother to carry a gun that is UNLOADED.
You might make the mistake of thinking your armed.
A good majority of confrontations involve 1 hand occupied,that means you will have a hammer that looks just like a BHP.
Get a DAO revolver or DAO semi-auto pistol and carry it loaded,please.
SharpsDressedMan
member
He asked about carrying at half coclk safely. An empty chamber would be entirely SAFE. There are many ways to carry safely loaded. Half cock is not one of the better ones.
It isn't as rare as you might think.
I still remember the first on I saw...it was from Bianchi or Safariland, back when they were competitors...about 30 years ago.
Not that long ago I came across another made by a custom holster maker. It was Horseshoe Leather out of the UK. Andy Arratoonian makes a great holster...especially for the CZ75...but, unless you specify, when you order a safety strap on one of his designs, that you intend to carry your gun in Condition 1, he'll cut the safety strap to fit the gun with the hammer down.
I've wondered if it is his little dig at folks who use safety straps on concealment leather
BCRider
Member
If it's an older military holster then most forces required their officers to carry with the hammer down on a round or chamber empty.
But that was then and this is now. I tend to agree with the folks that are suggesting you hit the leather with some water and stick the cocked n' locked gun in there in a baggie to protect it. I'd even go so far as to suggest that you lay a small scrap folded over from an old shop towel that bulks up the hammer a hair in thickness and width so that the leather forms with a touch of clearance.
To keep the flap flexible you want to use cold to lukewarm water. Do NOT use hot water or it'll harden the leather to some extent. The hotter the water the harder the leather will become.
Of course by molding the leather in this way it'll produce a notchy like action when it fold open. So instead of this you may want to consider removing the snap button either on the flap or on the holster and re-attaching it so that the hammer is able to be cocked and locked and the flap will still fold over the pistol.
But that was then and this is now. I tend to agree with the folks that are suggesting you hit the leather with some water and stick the cocked n' locked gun in there in a baggie to protect it. I'd even go so far as to suggest that you lay a small scrap folded over from an old shop towel that bulks up the hammer a hair in thickness and width so that the leather forms with a touch of clearance.
To keep the flap flexible you want to use cold to lukewarm water. Do NOT use hot water or it'll harden the leather to some extent. The hotter the water the harder the leather will become.
Of course by molding the leather in this way it'll produce a notchy like action when it fold open. So instead of this you may want to consider removing the snap button either on the flap or on the holster and re-attaching it so that the hammer is able to be cocked and locked and the flap will still fold over the pistol.
JTQ
Member
FAQ #1 from the Galco website
http://www.usgalco.com/QA.asp
Since a Galco holster for a 1911 is, I believe, the same model number for a Hi-Power, I'd think a Galco thumb break holster for a Hi-Power would also require hammer down carry.
Certaindeaf
member
Wow, you're right. I sure wouldn't buy one of these/those from Galco.
SharpsDressedMan
member
A police officer friend of mine got his 1911A1 Colt to go off from the half cock notch when it dropped from his back waistband while he bent over to pick up a UPS package, the bullet cut a 6-8" groove in the tile, slammed into a leather Lay-Z-Boy chair, and flopped on the carpet, while the UPS driver stood there. He truly believed the half cock was safe until then. After that, he used cocked and locked. I'm assuming a Hi Power hammer could slip from the half cock notch while getting banged, dropped, etc, and find a way to go off when you don't want it to.
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David E
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Ditto
OP
OP
JustKen
Member
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- Dec 20, 2010
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Thanks for the input gentlemen. I'll try the oil mold thing and if that doesn't work I will shop for a new holster. I can't swing a new pistol right now. I tow cars in the Detroit area nights and it gets hairy sometimes. People don't like their cars towed.
average_shooter
Member
From my personal experience the Galco Fletch for 1911s can be used C&L, you've just got to stretch the strap a little and break it in similar to what was posted up the thread. After carrying for a week or two I had no problems snapping the strap on a 1911 cocked and locked.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
If the fully cocked hammer is preventing a thumbbreak strap from closing over it, the holster either needs the strap fitted better, or perhaps the strap needs to pass between the slide and the hammer. Or go to an open-top holster, if it is to be concealed.
Apachedriver
Member
"Dear THR, I really like long road trips but with my new tires I can't drive my Corvette over 35 mph. Any tips for a good 'slow-moving vehicle' sign to strap on it?"
The High Road is an online discussion board dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership. As such, there are only a few house rules, one of which is:
1. All topics and posts must be related to firearms or 'Right to Keep and Bear Arms' (RKBA) issues.
Please try one of the many corvette forums as you may find them to be a more appropriate venue for your query. Thank you.
Bwahahahahaha
OT: I don't recall seeing any holsters that allow you to carry C&L'd with thumb straps. All of mine are strapless, fitted leather or Kydex.
Certaindeaf
member
All of my holsters for my Hi-Powers have thumb snaps for condition one.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Is gun. Gun not safe.
No dropped gun is as safe as it is if it's not dropped. Don't drop it.
No dropped gun is as safe as it is if it's not dropped. Don't drop it.
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