1911 Holster

[gruntpain1775]

Still working on getting good. This is awesome compared to the crap I started trying to make. lol

[KB8UVM]

Your work looks good but I would feel more comfortable with the trigger covered while carrying it cocked and lock but that's my personal preference.

[gruntpain1775]

Thanks! I'm catching some flack about the trigger. Personal preference I guess. There are holsters out there that don't cover the whole trigger, I wouldn't do it for a Glock or something like that, but a 1911 has enough safeties that I don't see a problem. I also have had people say they wouldn't carry in the rig cause it looks like it isn't boned. It is boned very well, the snake skin covers it up though. Anyway, what can I improve on?

[KB8UVM]

Thanks! I'm catching some flack about the trigger. Personal preference I guess. There are holsters out there that don't cover the whole trigger, I wouldn't do it for a Glock or something like that, but a 1911 has enough safeties that I don't see a problem. I also have had people say they wouldn't carry in the rig cause it looks like it isn't boned. It is boned very well, the snake skin covers it up though. Anyway, what can I improve on?

I have no room to tell anyone where to improve, I'm still learning myself.

As for people that say they wouldn't carry it because it looks like it wasn't boned I would tell them that it wasn't made for them and go pound sand.

If a holster carries a pistol securely and comfortably then it's doing what it was designed to do and everything past that is personal preference. For every 1 person that likes it you'll have 10 that don't. And the same is true the other way, for every 1 person that dislikes it you'll find 10 that like it.

Make what makes you happy and the customer.

That's my 2-1/2 cents.

Edited July 20, 2010 by KB8UVM

[gruntpain1775]

Agree there. Seems that when it comes to guns everyone has their way and few like to change. I'm not really making anything for customers...just making them for myself right now. I enjoy having something to piddle with. As far as retention goes, with the amount of gun in the holster it holds great. upside down no problem. comfortable on the waist. I used 8 oz leather and it seems to hold the weight a lot better than thinner leather does.

[katsass]

Agree there. Seems that when it comes to guns everyone has their way and few like to change. I'm not really making anything for customers...just making them for myself right now. I enjoy having something to piddle with. As far as retention goes, with the amount of gun in the holster it holds great. upside down no problem. comfortable on the waist. I used 8 oz leather and it seems to hold the weight a lot better than thinner leather does.

gruntpain........nice work. Much better than much of the work I have seen done with exotics. In my opinion 'boneing' is over rated for retention. I don't 'bone' any holster I make........I tightly mold the leather to the specific firearm by hand and, basically, force dry to form a very firm holster. I like your work and one makes for himself what he likes. Keep it up! JMHO Mike

[TwinOaks]

Very nice job with the exotics.

As far as improvement, well, I like to see a bit more holster to gun ratio. It looks like a western rig sized for a wheel gun in the "single-six" or "rough-rider" size. There's nothing wrong, per se with using a western style holster, but that one seems about a size small. Maybe it's just a proportion thing, but even if you have the trigger partially exposed, it would ride a bit more securely with more gun in the pouch. As far as boning- to each his own, I suppose, but I'm in agreement with the idea that detail boning puts more leather in intimate contact with the weapon, giving better security. (Appologies, Jeff or Kevin, I can't remember which one of you posted that.) Keep in mind that the 1911 platform is butt-heavy when loaded, and the more exposed the trigger guard is, the lower your fulcrum point. If you can get the fulcrum point around the area of the magazine release, the pistol will 'lean forward' into the holster. If the fulcrum point is more towards the dust cover, it 'leans' backward. All just a matter of balance, unless you're using compression tension.

[Arley]

Way far more Craftsmanship than I'll ever accomplish exceeding my abilities., that said I think the gun clashes with the holster. Also as mentioned I prefer more holster along with the  trigger being covered. I suppose its supposed to be a BBQ rig I don't know but it does nothing for me, Sorry. Finally, I don't know how Glock entered the equation none the less, Excellent work though pard!

[hivemind]

I'd never say this in any other forum except "Critique My Work", but I have to agree with Mike that I really don't like the look of the western-style holster with a 1911. The concho and general style just scream "six shooter" to me, and it really clashes with the 1911, which I think of as a very modern gun (even though it's been around for a hundred years now, it's from the modern age). I guess this is probably sacrilege on this forum, but I'd never keep a 1911 in anything but a Serpa anyways...

[Reaper]

Thanks! I'm catching some flack about the trigger. Personal preference I guess. There are holsters out there that don't cover the whole trigger, I wouldn't do it for a Glock or something like that, but a 1911 has enough safeties that I don't see a problem. I also have had people say they wouldn't carry in the rig cause it looks like it isn't boned. It is boned very well, the snake skin covers it up though. Anyway, what can I improve on?

mm. not trying to sound like a smartass. But this is onr of the points we make when giving personal protection classes at the Police Range.

1911 is a very safe weapon, yes. But, if someone goes for your gun and you are both wrestling for it, the safety is dropped, and in the tussle the memory/speed pad is depressed, a finger tip hangs and BANG, there goes a knee cap, foot, shin, ect...

Something to seriously consider if you carry...