Safety and holster design

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pards,
A topic on TOW which mentioned a gun going off in a crossdraw holster, probably from a snagged shirtsleeve, brought to mind something in which I strongly believe about holster design, especially with crossdraw, shoulder and twist (cavalry) draw holsters:

Most of the original Western holsters buried the gun in the body of the holster so that only the grip was exposed, but many did leave the triggers exposed by means of cutouts in the holster body.  Until about the 1890's, the hammer spurs were NOT exposed, even if the triggers were.  Now, for single action revolvers, the hammer must be at least partially cocked...enough so the cylinder turns the live round under the firing pin.  Even if partially cocked, there is a strong possibility that the so-called "safety" notch or half-cock notch will catch the hammer before it can fall fully down and fire a cartridge.  While it isn't impossible to catch a shirt or coat sleeve on an exposed hammer spur of a "straight" draw holstered gun, you are far more likely to snag the hammer with a butt-forward carry gun. As a result, when I do make the exposed hammer holsters, I put in a specific warning NOT to use it crossdraw!  Do NOT depend on hammer thongs or tabs to prevent the problem as leather stretches, and may not stop a hammer from moving.

Likewise, DOUBLE-ACTION revolvers and semi-autos should NEVER have the triggers exposed, as the triggers can be snagged by brush or clothing!

Something for all of you to think about when making your own rigs, Pards!  Cut the tops of the holsters high enough to shroud the hammer spurs!  (Cavalry holster bodies generally do leave the hammer spurs exposed when the flap is opened, but the flap protects the spur from snagging UNLESS it is tucked behind the belt.  If you do that, BE CAREFUL!)

RIDE CAREFUL, PARDS!

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

                               Good advise Trailrider, many thanks for sharing. 


                                                       tEN wOLVES 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Sound advice. Thanks.

[Springfield Slim]

I must be missing something, 'cause I haven't seen one holster made on this board where the hammer spur was covered. Hell, all of the gamer holsters used nowadays have the hammer, trigger AND most of the cylinder uncovered.

[HorsePen Henry]

I pattern mine off of old timey proven and trusted traditional designs. Good 'nuff then, good 'nuff for me now.

I may put a safety belt and a roll bar on my 1870's Colorado Mountain saddle though. Just in case OSHA comes by to check things out at my work station.

X Horse Pen

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I may put a safety belt and a roll bar on my 1870's Colorado Mountain saddle though. Just in case OSHA comes by to check things out at my work station.

[outrider]

Springfield...ahhh another pard who frowns upon "gamer" holsters"...we have similar opinions here  ...have you seen the article in the newest Cowboy Chronical  talking about how Bianchi International has gone back to their roots...they now offer a cowboy style holster with a "tension screw" and adjustable cant....I always thought that John Bianchi started out of his garage with concealment holsters not cowboy rigs....anyway this new rig is similar to the one that Kirkpatrick offers with the adjustable cant.

We have shooters here at our local club who actually have their holsters bolted to the gunbelt,  The holsters are also steel lined and are formed so that the butt of the pistol sticks out an an angle which puts the grips about 4 to 5 inches away from the body....Quick Draw McGraw for sure.

[Ace Lungger]

Good morin Pards,
First off this topic is endless, there are several ways to look at safety! first, I would think, if you have your pistol loaded properly that you are as safe as there is, with a gun that loaded properly, 5 in the cylined hammer down on a empy camber there isn't any way that pistol can go off do to holster design! The only way that pistol can go off is human error, and that isn't the holster fault . If you have a hot rod gun that has a main hammer spring so light that you can jerk it to full cock 0f a shirt sleeve caught then I don't know how it has enough to power to fire the primer! My pair of 45LC Homeries have a 2 1/2 pound trigger pull but still have a nice main spring!
Most likely the person that's gun went off in his holster was thumb busting and had the the trigger pulled and there thumb slipped off he hammer, that isn't the holster fault!
I am for sure not trying to argue with anyone, I am just making the comment that safty is in the hand of the shooter and not the holster design.

Thats just my 2 cents worth

You all have a good day and be safe!!

ACE

[Trailrider]

I pattern mine off of old timey proven and trusted traditional designs. Good 'nuff then, good 'nuff for me now.

I may put a safety belt and a roll bar on my 1870's Colorado Mountain saddle though. Just in case OSHA comes by to check things out at my work station.

X Horse Pen

Have you ever seen that cartoon "Cowboy After OSHA"?  I wish I had a copy to post, but it is hillarious!  Roll bars, shields for the horse's eyes, training wheels as outriggers, even a receptacle (which I've actually seen on carriage ride horses) for "you know what"!   

[Russ T Chambers]

Have you ever seen that cartoon "Cowboy After OSHA"?  I wish I had a copy to post, but it is hillarious!  Roll bars, shields for the horse's eyes, training wheels as outriggers, even a receptacle (which I've actually seen on carriage ride horses) for "you know what"!   

Do you mean this dude!

[HorsePen Henry]

Dadburnit Russ,

You almost made me stomp on my hat. It's been many years since I saw that one and it is still good.

X Horse Pen

[Russ T Chambers]

Dadburnit Russ,

You almost made me stomp on my hat. It's been many years since I saw that one and it is still good.

X Horse Pen

Horsepen

Had a copy of that on the wall in my office for years!