It's an old skool thing. A lot of old duty holsters for revolvers were like that. Same with off duty holsters. It dates back to a time before lawyers roamed the earth looking for agencies to sue in federal court. I think the theory was it was a faster draw and you could start prepping the trigger at the very beginning of the draw. A safety strap was supposed to keep the hammer from moving back when holstered.

I avoid them as much as possible.

 

I carried a Model 65 S&W in a Bianchi #58 for a while. Pulled it out of the drawer for this post. This left an exposed trigger, but the thumbsnap would keep the hammer from being cocked, I guess. I never really worried about it. This was for an armored car service I worked for while getting my LE degree and LEO license, but I remember it was common gear during the 80's for Sheriffs departments around my area.

It seems they still produce a similar version-

 

Ahh! I knew there was something I was missing! The thumbsnap!

 

"or am I just to paranoid about stuff like a shirt accidentally pulling the trigger?"

You're not the least bit paranoid, especially when talking about a pistol, even a Glock. I want that trigger completely covered.

Same with a revolver. But that's just me. Another reason I won't use clip draws on a pistol for carry. Cover that trigger, IMO.

I know lots of folks don't, but I would never carry anything without the trigger covered, and in some cases the hammer also. Depends on what type of handgun you're talking about, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

Difference between a 5.5# trigger and a 10# trigger for one thing. Plus the safety strap keeps the hammer from being cocked by accident unless you apply a lot of force.

The only thing that used to worry me, and I carried a Jordan Border Patrol holster for almost 4 years, was the possibility of falling or running into something like underbrush or a fence rail and cocking the hammer and not realizing it. At that point, the exposed trigger could have become a problem. Not enough to make me carry the issue Askins Border Patrol holster though, those were crap, talk about lowest bidder!

 

It is much harder to accidently pull a double action revolver trigger. The thumbsnap would also make it hard for the action to cycle. I don't like retention devices on my holsters. A good snug friction fit is better to me. I would still get a holster that covers the trigger guard. I like the Simply Rugged holsters that cover above the cylinder to better protect the gun while it's in the holster.

 

What do you mean by "exposed trigger"? Do you mean the trigger guard has been removed? Or that the trigger and guard are not covered by the holster?

 

It wasn't just revolver holsters with exposed triggers. Same were the style for autos too. Exposed triggers were a common holster design until about the early 80s. Do a websearch on Jordan Holster, Border Patrol holster, Tom Threepersons holster. All were made with exposed triggers for revolvers or autos. Even the military holsters issued by the USAF for the Model 15 had exposed triggers.
The one thing we've seen with the covered trigger is it can result in a negligent discharge if a person has their finger on the trigger and shoves the gun in a holster with a covered trigger. The covered part of the holster pushes against the finger causing the trigger to move and gun to fire. Same with some item that could get wedged in the trigger when holstering such as coat material or those plastic cord stops found on some jackets. With the exposed trigger that wasn't a problem.
The holster pictured below was the FBI's standard issued holster until the late mid 70s. It's a Bucheimer Hank Sloan model. Note the exposed trigger. No trumb strap. The piece over the hammer is a hammer shield which Hank Sloan modified on the original issued Bucheimer holster. The shield had nothing to do with gun retention. Sloan modified the holster that way because the exposed hammers ate the heck out of a suit jacket lining in just a couple of days. With the Sloan hammer shield it protected the jacket lining. Until the Sloan modification it was common to put a slip on pencil erasure on the hammer to protect your jacket.
The first picture is for a K Frame S&W.
The second and third pictures is the Hank Sloan for a J Frame. You can see the back side of the holster and see how the extended flap was placed to cover the hammer. What kept the gun in the holster was a leather piece that could be adjusted which pressed against the frame in front of the trigger. Properly adjusted it was pretty secure and it was a fast holster. Didn't conceal real well tho as they tended to hang out a lot more than the later pancake models.

 

I don't think I have a single automatic holster where the trigger guard isn't covered......can someone give us some examples? Seems to me there are quite a few 1911 holsters with exposed triggers, but not many common holsters with exposed triggers for autos with DA type triggers.

 

 

I like to keep the trigger covered but that's just me...

 

The one thing we've seen with the covered trigger is it can result in a negligent discharge if a person has their finger on the trigger and shoves the gun in a holster with a covered trigger. The covered part of the holster pushes against the finger causing the trigger to move and gun to fire. ........ With the exposed trigger that wasn't a problem.

Guy where I work did this during his qualification run for our private security company. He's been around guns forever, is typically safe, but just had a brain fart that day. Bullet travelled into his outer thigh muscle and out just above his ankle - .45 ACP. Thankfully no bones broken. Ambulance came to the range, his final words were "dont' tell the guys". Needless to say, his nickname is still "Pistol Pete". He was off work about 2 months and has fully recovered. He's one tough dude. Keep your finger off the trigger!

 

Yep. Pretty common back in the day. From the 80's.

 

I don't think I have a single automatic holster where the trigger guard isn't covered......can someone give us some examples? Seems to me there are quite a few 1911 holsters with exposed triggers, but not many common holsters with exposed triggers for autos with DA type triggers.

My issued duty holster during the late 70s for our S&W 39s had exposed triggers. Can't recall the make. Too many holsters ago.
Somewhere in my Box O' Holsters is an original Roy Baker Pancake for a S&W 39 that has exposed trigger.
There were quite a few auto holsters made with exposed triggers prior to the 1980s. If you look at some of the makes which cater to the "Wild Bunch" type shoots exposed triggers are common.
Here's an El Paso Tom Threepersons style for a 1911.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/LEG500-33.html
I believe Triple K still makes holsters for autos which have exposed triggers.
The Hunter style holsters all have exposed triggers which are your 2nd and 3rd style you posted.
The holster pictured below is a Bucheimer from the early 70s for a 1911. I no longer have a 1911 so I stuck a 459 in it so you can see how the trigger is exposed. The military use to issue a dress black leather holster for the 1911 which looked a lot like this Bucheimer.

Guy where I work did this during his qualification run for our private security company. He's been around guns forever, is typically safe, but just had a brain fart that day. Bullet travelled into his outer thigh muscle and out just above his ankle - .45 ACP. Thankfully no bones broken. Ambulance came to the range, his final words were "dont' tell the guys". Needless to say, his nickname is still "Pistol Pete". He was off work about 2 months and has fully recovered. He's one tough dude. Keep your finger off the trigger!

A guy from another agency carrying a Glock 19 in a pancake did the same thing. The guy next to him said he saw him holstering it with his finger in the trigger guard and watched him put a rd thru the meat of his butt. Had he been using a holster with an exposed trigger then it wouldn't have gone off. You're right, brain fart. Happens too quick for anyone to say anything to stop it. This guy kept yelling "It missed me. It missed me." as he was bleeding all over the range floor. The range officer yelled back "Like heck it did. You got a hole in your butt." No sympathy for the stupid.

 

Your question is not stupid. Asking questions is how one learns. Holsters typically cover the trigger guards of pistols as a safety feature. That is not a concern with a double-action revolver. There is no risk that a double-action revolver could be fired accidentally while holstered. That is a concern with striker fired pistols. That is also a concern with single-action pistols carried cocked and (hopefully) locked. HTH. Sincerely. Brucev.

 

Your question is not stupid. Asking questions is how one learns. Holsters typically cover the trigger guards of pistols as a safety feature. That is not a concern with a double-action revolver. There is no risk that a double-action revolver could be fired accidentally while holstered. That is a concern with striker fired pistols. That is also a concern with single-action pistols carried cocked and (hopefully) locked. HTH. Sincerely. Brucev.

The moment you say there is "no risk", some idiot will prove you wrong.......just check the post from isp2605 just above yours! :wavey:

hog