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Thread: Bianchi Shadow problems

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  1. #1
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    Bianchi Shadow problems

    I have a Bianchi Shadow pancake style holster with a thumb snap. The strap won’t go over the Commander style hammer on either of my1911s, and though it fits and will snap for cocked-and-locked carry, the strap disengages the thumb safety every time. Anyone know of a fix, short of replacing the thumb safety lever?

  2. #2
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    I am right handed. The only problem I ever had with any of the Bianchi holsters while carrying a Combat Commander, G.M., or 1991A1 on duty was when riding in the right front seat of the car. As I turned to get out of the car there was pressure against the high ride holster. This caused the thumb safety to disengage about 1/4 of the time. None of my pistols have the extended safety. This problem did not occur when I used a "Border Patrol" style holster or during the years when I used a swivel holster. It was only with the high ride Bianchi holsters, and never on nights when it was my turn to drive.
    i sold all my handguns. . . . . . . . . . except for the 1911 style pistols in .45 ACP.

  3. #3
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    Can you post a couple of photos? The difference between a Commander-style hammer and a Government style hammer is the spur, which is out of the way when carrying cocked and locked. The exposed face of the hammer is the same.

    As for disengaging the safety -- does your pistol have an ambidextrous (bi-lateral) thumb safety?
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  4. #4
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    I’ll try and get pics up. The ones on the website show the strap riding under the spur with the hammer down. My pistols have a single side safety, with the extended pad, which I believe is the problem. I just wondered if there was some way to maybe stretch the leather in that area to accommodate it, rather than altering the safety. Guess I could just buy another holster, too, that would solve the problem for sure.

  5. #5
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    Where does the Bianchi web site show a 1911 in a Shadow holster? All the photos I find of the Bianchi Shadow show it with a Glock.

    More to the point -- why would you want to carry with the hammer down? 1911s are carried cocked and locked (unless you're in the U.S. Navy, in which case you carry an unloaded paperweight). The thumb straps on every 1911 holster I've ever encountered have been designed to ride across the back of the slide with the hammer cocked. I have to assume that the Bianchi is the same.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  6. #6
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    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...adow-2-holster

    Here’s a pic from the Midway site. Cocked and locked is what I’m looking for, but the strap disengages the safety when I snap,it. I thought someone might have a fix or a workaround without altering or replacing ths safety lever.

    I notice that this holster is a Shadow 2, which may be an improvement.

  7. #7
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    May I suggest seeking a Bianchi 7L holster? They're out of production but you can find them used on eBay. Here's a recent photo of one made in the 1980s with my series 80 Government Model in condition 1.
    28-Jul-2017 Bianchi 7L holster small.jpeg
    i sold all my handguns. . . . . . . . . . except for the 1911 style pistols in .45 ACP.

  8. #8
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    Thanks, I’ll look. Does your pistol have the extended safety lever?

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by scattershot View Post
    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...adow-2-holster

    Here’s a pic from the Midway site. Cocked and locked is what I’m looking for, but the strap disengages the safety when I snap,it. I thought someone might have a fix or a workaround without altering or replacing ths safety lever.
    Switch the view to the black holster, which doesn't have a pistol in it. Take careful note of how the thumb strap aligns with the tab on the back that the strap snaps to.

    Now look again at the brown one. The strap doesn't seem to be pointing toward the tab. I would bet that the photographer doesn't know anything about 1911s and just tucked the strap behind the pistol without snapping it. I don't think it could have been snapped in that photo.

    I would suggest expending your efforts of figuring out why the strap disengages your thumb safety.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside

  10. #10
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    Good eye! I didn’t pick up on that. Thanks!

    I know why my safety strap disengages the safety, it’s because the lever is longer on my Commander than my government model. I thought there might be an alteration to the holster that would allow it to work properly, but I guess not. I’ll relegate this holster to the GM and HiPower, and get another one for the Commander.
    Thanks for all the help.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by scattershot; 3rd April 2019 at 12:13.


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