snap strap or hammer thong on holster ,which is best?

[remshooter]

got ruger .44 mag super blackhawk 4 3/4 inch barrel, want to order elpaso tom three persons holster, has option of hammer thong or snap strap, which is better? and the advantage or disadvantige of both. have used holsters with snap strap before but not hammer thong

[Terry Murbach]

THE HAMMER THONG DID NOT ACQUIRE THE NAME " WIDOW MAKER " FOR NOTHING !!

[vancelw]

THE HAMMER THONG DID NOT ACQUIRE THE NAME " WIDOW MAKER " FOR NOTHING !!

I didn't know it had that nickname, but I agree.

Snap for practicality and usefulness....

Leather thong for nostalgia.....and for when you have time to continually check to make sure its still on

[Old Savage]

Interesting commentary Vance.

[Malamute]

I like a strap. When the snap is located right, it can be popped with the trigger finger as the hand is on the gun in a shooting grip, and can be very quick. Most are located lower and require a separate motion to pop the snap. May be less of an issue with an SA gun, or if the ability to use your gun quickly matters.

The hammer on a Super can add to the difficulty in getting a thong off, as its wider at the spur.

[Pete44ru]

.

Over the years, I've made about a dozen or so SA revolver holsters for my own use, and every one had a thong - mostly because I didn't wanna get into installing the snap/etc.

I've never had an issue with the thong, though - even with the holsters that housed Ruger SBH's.

I have always, however, kept an empty chamber under the hammer of the non-transfer bar SA's I had (OM Rugers, & Colt SAA & .22 Frontier Scout).


.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have always preferred the strap and snap for safety but lately I am leaning more towards the Sam Brown stud. The thong is ok if you want that look but for real use I want a strap with a more secure fastener.

[765x53]

Hammer thongs can be made in many styles.

[3leggedturtle]

765x53 what a great looking holster. Is that Security Six in it?

[Griff]

Let me think... a thong that won't be used after a short time, as they're usually forgotten about until they either retain the gun in the holster or lost because they got pulled completely out in the heat of the moment; or a functional and convenient snap?

Tom Threepersons had them made for good reason. Nothing's changed. http://www.gunblast.com/WBell_PoliceHolsterHist.htm

[765x53]

765x53 what a great looking holster. Is that Security Six in it?

Thanks.
Yes, it's a 1973 Security Six.

[BigSky56]

A tight fitting holster works best, if ground conditions get steep or the pony is slipping and scrambling I put the thong on it otherwise I carry with no restraint. danny

[Buck Elliott]

As a holstermaker of more than just a few months' experience, I long ago concluded that a Properly Designed and Constructed holster needs neither thong nor strap.. Additionally, the vaunted Threepersons holster is Not a "proper" design, as it requires a retention device of some kind.. Sorry if that sounds like heresy to some, but it's true.

The only exceptions would be "flap" holsters, where gun protection is paramount..

Frazier, Meanea, Collins and their contempraries in the West and as far as California, had it figured right. The later "gimmick" holters are mostly inadequate answers to question that probably should not have been asked.

[JerryB]

I have a open top holster for my 3" .44 special that has no straps or thumb break or hammer loop. It was made by CME holsters down in Sinton Texas. I can holster the loaded gun and hold the holster upside down and the gun will not fallout. It will conceal very good under a Tee shirt, check out their site.

[Lastmohecken]

The snap is better, best of all is a holster that holds the gun securely enough that no strap is need. I never liked the leather thong slipped or tied over the hammer.

One proven method that I have used with a western holster with a leather thong is to pull the hammer back a little bit and place the leather thong between the hammer and frame. I have done this extensively for 40yrs with a Ruger single six, or any Ruger new model singleaction, for that matter. All I would do is pull the hammer back slightly during the draw, to release the thong, but I always left my trigger finger out of the guard until the gun is clear of the leather. With the transfer bar New Model, I never had an accident, and I bet I have drawn hundreds of thousands of times that way, but I suppose a klutz could figure out how to have an accident with that method if they tried.

[Buck Elliott]

The 'strip of leather under the hammer' trick was developed for revolvers with hammer-mounted firing pins, and because of the smooth finishes and lack of any protrusions under the hammer of a Ruger revolver, the strip is of no practical use in that case.. it may make you feel better, but is false security..