DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard

I ordered holster 001BA33Z0 on 11/25/18, which is the black version for 3" medium frame revolvers. It now houses my concealed carry '72 snubnose Python, 2.5" not 3"! This holster fits the Python frame perfectly. In fact, judging from the molding I believe it was molded to an actual Python dummy. After seeing other models holstered, I believe it gives the best fit & most coverage protection to actual Pythons which would make sense then. If you have a Python, more frame coverage is usually desired for protection, like almost full trigger guard coverage. This holster gives it, especially with the retention strap design. Price: The holster was retailed at $43 prime shipping when I bought, but then with random Amazon discounts for unknown reasons, and some reward credits, I only paid $19 shipped out of pocket for this holster. What a deal because price was keeping me from a leather, high ride pancake holster. Not anymore, and boy I'm glad I went with DeSantis. 100% made in the USA, which they need to tout more!!! The quality is excellent and the material is perfect for the design. Gives a great high ride for concealment OWB. I'm comfortable at the 3:30 position most. Keeps the gun held tight against the side so it doesn't print and just feels secured to you. No movement in the holster to cause finish wear. Drawing and re-holstering is easy. Pretty much everything you want in a nice pancake but without the $100+ price tag. Be smart and team it up with a real gun belt, if not your holster will fail to perform optimally. I believe these holsters are discontinued, so get one while you can or the supply might dry up. Should have grabbed a spare at the time in case this one ever wears out down the road. Here are some pics to help decide, other's helped me so repaying it forward.

Not everybody carries holsters for Taurus (or lists it as compatible firearms for that holster) but Taurus is usually a clone of the S&W and the Taurus Tracker is equal'ish to a Smith & Wesson K-frame. The DeSantis TA14Z0 fits the Taurus Tracker like it was made for it. It's embarrassingly perfect at how well it fits. It almost completely covers the trigger guard with very high stitching right up the the edge and totally envelopes the hammer which holds it in place very securely. I will wrap the revolver in an old bandana then force that into the holster for a month. It is a very snug fit and that will help break it in. It's a real comfort to have something like this when you're in the woods hunting or hiking. I've never been anything but impressed by DeSantis holsters, assuming you get the appropriate holster for that firearm.

For the price, this is really a great pancake holster. My only small complaint would be the thumb break strap is a little bit long. 1911’s are meant to be carried in a cocked and locked condition. Meaning a round in the chamber with the hammer back and safety on. The strap should block the hammer from falling on the firing pin in case something goes horribly wrong. See pics. Some people don’t like to carry this way and I completely understand. They prefer to carry with the hammer down on an empty chamber. See pics again. There are so many different manufacturers out there making premium grade 1911’s with various parts from mil-spec hammers to skeletonized hammers (like mine) etc etc. so DeSantis has done what they could to accommodate us all. I personally think they’ve done a pretty good job. They have added an adjustment screw below the trigger to not only adjust how tight the holster squeezes the pistol, but also how high your pistol will ride in the holster, which in a way will determine how the thumb strap secures the hammer. See pics again. Overall, it’s a very high grade holster. The leather is thick and firm and preformed nicely. Double stitching throughout. And the belt slots are pre-curved so it fits very close to the body for comfort while still being easily deployed. Because it fits snugly against the body, “printing” is at a minimum. One of the issues with some pancake holsters for 1911’s is the thumb break can knock the safety to the off position. So far, I haven’t had an issue with this. If for some reason it does this in the future, I will come back and amend this review. But so far, I would definitely recommend this holster to a friend or anyone else looking for a good holster at a very good price!!

I bought this holster for an Armscor M206, which has the same external dimensions as a Colt Police Positive, and it fits perfectly. I love these holsters. For me, the DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbards and Speed Scabbards keep a handgun close to my body, exactly where they need to be for ideal concealment without having to reach too high to draw. I have a Thumb Break Scabbard for every full sized hand gun I own. I've had two issues, which have nothing to do with the holster. One is that my 4" Ruger Redhawk's grip is a tad too high for a comfortable draw, but that thing is so huge, the placement is a great compromise between concealability and ease of draw. I would have never thought the Redhawk could even be concealed until I tried a Thumb Break Scabbard. My other issue is with this gun/holster combination, and, again has more to do with the gun than the holster. The M206 has a large, squared, rubber grip that tends to grab my shirt as I pull it up. Since I also have an M200 with a wood grip that I use with other holsters where the grip won't matter, I'll just swap grips to resolve. But, if you have a stock M206, you may run in to this too. I'll probably get a lot of flak for this statement, but I also have a couple of Thumb Break Scabbards for my 1911s. Since I've carried plastic DAO handguns for the last ten years, my reflexive thumb sweep to flick off a manual safety has somewhat atrophied. So, I carry my 1911s cocked, with the safety off, and the retention strap across the back of the slide. I've tried to fire them in the holster like this, pointed downrange of course, and they don't fire. So, if anybody wants to critique carrying a 1911 like this, please do some homework first to see who actually concocted the numbered conditions, and the manual of arms regarding the manual safety before you cite, "as JMB intended." Great holster, but I agree with the reviewer that commented on this version of it only having two slots, not three, as depicted. I personally have no need for a vertically positioned holster, but the page should be accurate.

I own several DeSantis holster and consider them to be a good quality/value. I don't carry every day, so these are more than adequate. However, this 1911 holster has a small quirk that could be considered a safety concern and worthy of mention. When carrying a 1911 it is not uncommon to have the pistol in battery (loaded and with the hammer back). As such, the safety lock on the side and grip (beaver tail) are critical. Unfortunately, when snapping the strap in place, the safety lock lever is pushed out of the safe position, EVERY TIME. So, if you carry a 1911 in battery, be mindful when securing the strap. Keep your thumb on the safety to keep it in place or reset it after holstering.

A perfect fit for my Ruger Security Six !!! I love it !!!

Love these holsters.

Holster fit my Dan Wesson model 15, 4in revolver 100% perfect. Quality is outstanding, thick quality leather which is rigid to hold firearm snug. Thumb break was perfect, quality snap. I have many holsters and I dare say this is the best of the bunch. Home run!!