Thumb Break Question

[paris3200]

I'm getting ready to start on my first holster with a thumb break for 1911. Never made one before, but every one I've seen has a metal plate on it. What is the purpose of the plate? Also any tips related to the the thumb break would be appreciated.

[camano ridge]

The metal plate is a stiffiner. Normaly you use your thumb to pop the thumb break. The stiffiner give support to the leather so that when your thumb pushes against the thumb break it breaks open. If the stiffiner is not there you will have a harder time opening the thumb break the leather will simply try to fold away from your thumb instead of breaking the snap. The stiffiners are relatively cheap and can be made at home or purchased from a supplier such as High Dessert Leather and I just noticed he has a post today that he has a new shippment in. In the past Rob at the Bluegun store has had them. Make sure there is enough strap with stiffiner extending past the snap so your thumb can catch it.

Edited October 14, 2013 by camano ridge

[Jeff L]

Rob even has some nice stainless one too... The only advice that I can offer is make that strap TIGHT... You can stretch that strap a little bit if it is too tight... If it's too loose... It goes in the scrap box.

[chiefjason]

My first couple stiffeners I made from kydex. I'll probably buy a few here soon. If you buy them look for the plastic inserts that go in the snap too. Keeps the metal snap off the gun.

Best advice, cut the strap extra long on the pattern. Once the holster is 90% finished you can set everything up and trim the strap to the right length.

Also, most 1911's are carried cocked and locked. Most blue guns are hammer down. If you have a 1911 to work from, no worries. If not you might want to try to get one to get the strap right. It's not a huge difference, but it may be loose if you set it on a hammer down blue gun and you certainly don't want to guess.

[longtooth]

Rec'd the other day from Rob a Commander cocked and locked. Even the locked part is in the right position.

[paris3200]

Thanks for the replies. That is what I needed to know.

[Haystacker]

Another option for thumb breaks. I sew a reinforcement piece for my thumb breaks. I do not use the metal or kydex stiffeners.

I am not sure if you can tell from the photos. The front piece has a hole that the snap is recessed into. The reinforcement is sewn onto the front piece. The snap set into the reinforcement piece.

This is just personal preference. Not any better than the metal. May even take longer. But I like doing thumb breaks this way.

Just thought I would let you know there is more than one way to skin this cat.

Best regards.