1911 Holster Question

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I have been asked to make two holsters - black, and brown - for a 3" Kimber 1911 with Crimson Trace laser grips. The only 1911 I have is my Dan Wesson CBOB 4.25" (Commander), and I don't see any 3" blue guns.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to produce these two holsters for this gentleman?

[Denster]

I have been asked to make two holsters - black, and brown - for a 3" Kimber 1911 with Crimson Trace laser grips. The only 1911 I have is my Dan Wesson CBOB 4.25" (Commander), and I don't see any 3" blue guns.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to produce these two holsters for this gentleman?

As long as they are open bottom holsters you can use your Wesson. The 3" barrel guns terminate about 1/8" forward of where the side of the slide starts to curve up on your Wesson. Just trim your pattern to that length and use your Wesson with the excess sticking out the bottom to form. The CT grips won't be in the road of anything so that is not a problem.

[dickf]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the frame size is the same. I would decline until I had the proper gun or mold to do it right.

[gundy]

I could be wrong, but I don't think the frame size is the same. I would decline until I had the proper gun or mold to do it right.

the frame on a 1911 is the same, some may have a shorter grip and/or slide but niether of those should affect the use of his current 1911 blue gun. if you do as denster says you will be fine. are these to be iwb or owb? is he going to carry c&l or hammer down? thumb break? those could (minutely)affect teh use of the blue gun(ie safety position)

[Bronson]

If you look at the specs from the respective manufacturer websites it appears that the Kimber may be nearly 1/4" thinner than the CBOB. I say "may" because the Kimber specs list it as the frame width and the Dan Wesson specs just list "width" so I'm thinking their dimension is the slide.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/crimson_carry/Ultra_Crimson_Carry/

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/dan-wesson-commander-classic-bobtail/

Bronson

[Denster]

If you look at the specs from the respective manufacturer websites it appears that the Kimber may be nearly 1/4" thinner than the CBOB. I say "may" because the Kimber specs list it as the frame width and the Dan Wesson specs just list "width" so I'm thinking their dimension is the slide.

http://www.kimberame..._Crimson_Carry/

http://cz-usa.com/pr...lassic-bobtail/

Bronson

Those measurements are at the widest part of the gun in the area of the thumb safety. In the area of the slide ,frame ie: what goes in the holster they are essentially the same.

[dickf]

Those measurements are at the widest part of the gun in the area of the thumb safety. In the area of the slide ,frame ie: what goes in the holster they are essentially the same.

The safety area isn't an area you want to fool around with on a cocked and locked holster, in my opinion. Get the right mold is still my advice.

[particle]

Thanks guys - I appreciate the info. I don't actually have a blue gun for a 1911 - I have an actual Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail (CBOB) with a 4.25" barrel. I'll have to look at some photos and compare the safeties of the Kimber with my DW. I thought that laser grips bulged out at the top, but I haven't researched that yet.

Denter - that's good info with the measurements.

For reference, he asked me to make a holster just like this one that I recently made, but for his 3" gun.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

the frame on a 1911 is the same, some may have a shorter grip and/or slide but niether of those should affect the use of his current 1911 blue gun. if you do as denster says you will be fine. are these to be iwb or owb? is he going to carry c&l or hammer down? thumb break? those could (minutely)affect teh use of the blue gun(ie safety position)

Actually, the dust cover of several 1911's are unique to their size and place of manufacture. Case in point, a 3" Springfield Micro has a dust cover that is 1/4" shorter than a Colt Commander, which is about 1/4" shorter than a full sized 5" Govt. model. Different manufacturers also use different dimensions on their dust covers, so all dummy guns are not good for all actual pistols. Case in point, a holster molded on a Springfield dummy may be loose on a Colt series 80.

[Lobo]

Looking at your holster design, I notice that the grips are partially covered by the holster. The CT Laser Grip places the laser module on the right side grip panel at the upper right (just beneath the slide), so you will need to accomodate that when fitting your holster. The Crimson Trace website has photos of their laser grips on a 1911-style pistol that will help you plan that aspect of the job.

Your pancake design (with adjustment for overall pistol length) should otherwise accomodate the 3" guns when formed on your CBOB. You won't be able to complete the detailed boning at the forward end of the slide, as you have on your CBOB holster. Dealing with the laser module will be the only real obstacle to overcome.

The safety area isn't an area you want to fool around with on a cocked and locked holster, in my opinion. Get the right mold is still my advice.

Dickf: A quick look at the holster design illustrated shows that the thumb safety area of the pistol is well clear of the leather. There will be no contact involved.