Holster- flap or no?

[CaptainVane]

For civil war era revolvers (not cowboy style) do you prefer flap or no flap. Trying to decide for new .31 Wells Fargo. Just looking to see what others prefer and why?

 

[The Saint]

Have used both and honestly have no real opinion for/against either. Both are fine.

 

[Threeband]

I don't think the .31s were routinely holstered.

 

[CaptainVane]

I don't think the .31s were routinely holstered.

Yes, pocket pistol, jeans pockets too tight, probably bigger pockets in 1849.

 

[Threeband]

Baggy pants, baggy jacket, lots of waistband/belt carry I think.

Army holsters had flaps. They were for bigger guns, of course. Sometimes civilians cut the flaps off.

Those little .31s were private purchase, not issued.

 

[CaptainVane]

I ordered with flap. It will protect the pistol especially the grip much better.

 

[lazarus]

Yes, pocket pistol, jeans pockets too tight, probably bigger pockets in 1849.

Cargo pants. Or front pocket on overalls.

 

[WatTyler]

To quote Josey Wales, "Well, that one in the center, he had a flap holster and he was in no itchin' hurry. And the one second from the left, he had scared eyes; he wasn't gonna do nothin'. But that one on the far left, he had crazy eyes. Figured him to make the first move."
So, I guess no flap. And don't look really crazy.

 

[The Saint]

My Colt Navy has a repro military flap holster, but my original Remington SA Belt Pistol, which is a commercial gun, has a standard flapless hand tooled leather one.

 

[CaptainVane]

So get this, toay at elk neck i started getting misfires. Bad caps? but looked fine to me; damp powder?, it was raining but i never had weather affect powder before. Finally i had 5 misfires out of 6. Older gentleman who was shooting BP looks at my Colt Navy and says the wedge wasn’t in far enough. It was showing on the right so Im thinking what the wedge got to do with misfiring. He says tap the wedge in a little more. I did. Well i be dammed but all 5 shots fired. Apparently the wedge has to be in tight. Whoda thunk.

 

[Doco Overboard]

My BP holster has a flap on it. Old Army style, waterproofed with melted beeswax to repel water for foul weather periods.
The bottom is sewn closed also to protect the muzzle from debris entering the holster.

 

[Bountied]

Indie had a holster flap, just sayin. He lost his gun but that wasn't the flaps fault.

 

[Threeband]

So get this, toay at elk neck i started getting misfires. Bad caps? but looked fine to me; damp powder?, it was raining but i never had weather affect powder before. Finally i had 5 misfires out of 6. Older gentleman who was shooting BP looks at my Colt Navy and says the wedge wasn’t in far enough. It was showing on the right so Im thinking what the wedge got to do with misfiring. He says tap the wedge in a little more. I did. Well i be dammed but all 5 shots fired. Apparently the wedge has to be in tight. Whoda thunk.

It sounds like the barrel wasn't wedged all the way back, allowing the cylinder to move forward a bit with the hammer fall, softening the blow to the caps.

 

[CaptainVane]

Cargo pants. Or front pocket on overalls.

I should have waited before ordering holster. Pistol arrived yesterday. Excellent condition but way smaller than I expected. Fits in front jeans pocket (Duh, pocket pistol?). Anyway for $45 the flap holster will protect it when in car trunk for transporting. Pistol not mine, pic from holster website. Dellsleatherworks.com