A Country Boy's Battle Belt

[chiefjason]

A family friend of mine approached me a while back for a holster. That turned into a belt, which turned into this wild idea of a cross between a battle belt, duty holster, and cowboy rig. He wanted to put a gun, ammo, and knife on the belt but not have them slide around. That's what the leather strips and Chicago crews are for. And he wanted to be able to wear it over his jacket in the winter. Basically, and grab and go kit to check out his barns and stuff at night. There has been a rash of break in's in the area. So here it is in all it's glory.

Holster is for an L frame S&W. Avenger with a thumbreak. 8-9 oz leather. Belt is 15 oz Harness leather. I used his buckle and had to trim the belt down to fit. I have to say, this was fun. And he absolutely loves it! I really wish I had gotten pics of it with his stainless Smith in it. But we were both busy this afternoon. I need to talk him into matching sheath, speedloader holder, and flashlight carrier. lol

[katsass]

From the grump. Can't see a damned thing wrong with your design nor work --- except (gotta get one of those in here and there) the thumb break. Actually, the location of the thumb break. I think that in time that strap will try to work it's way off of the recoil bulge and end up too loose to do any good - sitting very loosely right above and behind the hammer. My suggestion would be to take it tightly across the hammer, in front of the hammer spur. JMHO. Mike

Edited November 2, 2013 by katsass

[Red Cent]

Looks great ChiefJason.

[benlilly1]

Nice! Great looking stitches!

[chiefjason]

Mike, that was my first thought too. And I won't claim to have done a lot of revolver thumb breaks either. So I'll ask, do you try to trim the leather to fit behind the hammer or just run the strap across? I was just not happy with how it was going to fit, or actually not fit, behind there. It looked like the strap would collapse over time and loosen up there too. Not disagreeing with you, since that's where I wanted it too. It just did not fit well there. I ran the snap back a little to try and pull the strap to the rear. Time will tell. If I'm right, great. If you're right I may be building a replacement later.

Thanks for the compliments. As for the stitches, it's hand stitched with Tippmann 346 natural thread.

[olds cool]

I like your dye job

[katsass]

chiefjason; when I do attach a thumb break (pretty seldom) I place the thumb break a bit behind the hammer and bring the strap above the front sight and in front of the hammer, no trimming needed. This way, even if the strap loosens up, it still functions as needed. Here is a pic of a law enforcement holster with a K-frame S&W in it. The strap is not a thumb break but sits in exactly the same location as would a thumb break safety strap, and is the best pic of the proper location for such a strap I have. Hope this helps. Mike

Edited November 2, 2013 by katsass

[chiefjason]

Thanks Mike. I was looking more behind and over the hammer. If I get another one I'll likely find a different way to do it. Either your way, or figure out over the hammer. That front snap is easy enough. With a thumb break I would have to tinker with it to figure out where the snap would be behind the gun. I'm still figuring out the thumb breaks. I don't do many, but they crop up occasionally.

[Matt Alsaker]

Thanks Mike. I was looking more behind and over the hammer. If I get another one I'll likely find a different way to do it. Either your way, or figure out over the hammer. That front snap is easy enough. With a thumb break I would have to tinker with it to figure out where the snap would be behind the gun. I'm still figuring out the thumb breaks. I don't do many, but they crop up occasionally.

I initially put the "thumb" break or safety strap behind the hammer (as pictured on this cross draw). The feedback I got was that the strap placement slowed or got in the way while drawing. The strap drags along the back of the hammer. Maybe a shorter safety strap would not, but I've switched to placing them where Mike does. The strap placement being more forward seems to keep the strap out of the way or at least the strap does not hang up on the firearm. I don't do many revolvers either, so I don't really speak with much authority on the matter.