This is an old level II retention holster for a S&W model 10 that law enforcement used to use. Thumb snap on hammer with a permanent loop over the trigger guard. You have to undo the thumb snap and push the gun forward to release it which makes a gun grab from behind near impossible. There is also a folded piece of leather in front of the top strap to allow the gun to move forward enough to clear.

 

intersting, so the snap is basically on the inside pushed open by pressing inwards, I'll try that next time I come across more leather.

 

I have a ankle holster that has a similar retention system for my .35 snubbie. It takes some getting used to.

 

There was one holster that I saw where the leather retention strap was very interesting.

The front retention strap snap was sealed with LocTite and the 2nd snap in the rear would unsnap to release the firearm.
I guess if somebody tried to do a surprise gun grab they would be unable to release or unsnap that front snap.

The only down side is that a draw from that holster might be decently slow.
I guess with practice a draw could be sped up???

 

Your design is very similar to that used by Hunter, Buccheimer, and several others over the past 80 years or so. Simple envelope-style holster body with a folded belt loop connected by a snap-loop around the holster, and a snap-strap retention. Perfectly adequate for many needs in field, range, farm, and ranch applications.

Advice to offer? Be careful! I started doing leather holsters in about 1972 as a young cop trying to make what I needed without taking anything out of the family budget that was already stressed with house payments and feeding a couple of hungry kids. Before long I was making products for the guys I worked with, then the word spread around and I was pounding hides during much of my off-duty time. Started a little sideline business with a few bucks for a new tool here and there, started getting creative with my own interpretations of other popular makers and their designs. Part-time business lasted until my retirement, which corresponded with the new INTERNET era. Put up a website and before I knew what hit me I was working 7 days every week for the next 20 years trying to keep up with orders, shipping to all 50 US states and more than 30 foreign countries. Grew out of the garage, out of the house, rented shop space, eventually purchasing and refurbishing a commercial building while also hiring and training others to assist in the basic production.

Be careful what you wish for because you might find it. Lots of demand, more than enough for another capable person with the willingness to learn and build a business. Even better for the people who have the gift of visualizing the final product and making it appear on paper, in prototype form, revising as needed, and delivering to the market only when it has been tested and ready for the intended use, then standing behind their workmanship with warranty service.

Leatherworking can be a hobby or it can be a business. I hope you make sure your choice is made up front. A hobby can be rewarding, but running a business takes a bit toll on you (emotionally and physically) and everyone close to you.

I am an old retired guy now, just looking back on my life since I was young and ready to chase any opportunity to get ahead.

Best regards.

 

many and I mean many years ago I was at my LGS and this kid walks in with a holster he bought the day before, apparently he put the gun in and snaped the thumb strap, I think the gun was a Glock, but the TS would not release, the owner tried, I tried, and another guy tried the TS will not release, since then no thumb straps for my carry guns, and the holster was good quality from Bianchi, the owner ended up cutting it off and returning the money.

And it gets better, now it happened to me, I bought in Amazon a holster for a Beretta 92 FS for $21. + open top, my fault I didn't read the description, been in a rush because there is not many IWB for the Beretta, well it has a trigger lock, once you put the gun in can't get it out, unless twisting and forcing the holster and off the belt, it was designed in California, guess they want to give the criminals a chance, go and check it, in Amazon open top belt clip in black Beretta 92

 

many and I mean many years ago I was at my LGS and this kid walks in with a holster he bought the day before, apparently he put the gun in and snaped the thumb strap, I think the gun was a Glock, but the TS would not release, the owner tried, I tried, and another guy tried the TS will not release, since then no thumb straps for my carry guns, and the holster was good quality from Bianchi, the owner ended up cutting it off and returning the money.

43 years in the business of making leather holsters, nearly all of my warranty returns were due to failed hardware (especially snaps). Manufactured by the millions by a dozen companies, US and foreign, and not always possible to tell what you might be getting by the labels on suppliers' packaging.

A snap that works just fine a hundred times may fail completely on the 101st attempt. A broken or non-functioning snap takes about 3 minutes to replace, but it requires the proper tools and good replacement parts.

Mr. John Bianchi was a very successful manufacturer of excellent products. Started as a young police officer working on his kitchen table, ended up with an international company while simultaneously serving in the USAF Reserve and rising to the rank of brigadier general. Following his retirement and sale of the company nearly all production has been moved outside the United States; prior to that Bianchi was a standard in the industry for quality products.

 

Consider adding a thumb break strap - it's the most effective retention method for leather holsters. Also, wet-molding the leather more tightly around the trigger guard can provide significant passive retention. Brands like Simply Rugged and Galco offer good examples of secure leather designs.

 

Yes, tight stitching lines (tight to the outline of the gun) and wet molding are helpful even when there's an additional security device, since the molding holds the firearm in the correct place for the retention device to work. If a holster can twist/shift in the holster enough, a retention strap may not work as intended.

Especially important with shoulder holsters, since...well, gravity.

Larry

 

If you just want a strap, this probably won't interest you but Urbancarry carries them that have an inside latch that can be loostened or tightened to retain the firearm. Got one for my Girsan MC1911SC and it works for me.

 

Some old designs from late 70s - 80s placed a false snap on the outside. Real snap was on the side facing the body. Later morphed from strap into the thumb snap holster.

While fine for revolvers and 3rd generation DA/SA pistols I would never use a strap holster with a striker pistol. History has proven accidents with the striker and strap combination. Repeatedly.

 

Consider adding a thumb break strap or molding the leather tighter around the trigger guard for better retention. Historical designs like Berns-Martin offer good examples of secure leather holsters that remain accessible.

 

Yep, wet molding would be a good choice. Another approach might be to install a leather thong to to wrap around the hammer like the cowboys did to secure their single action revolvers. You'd have to cut down the top a bit but you'd have a more "western cowboy" look!