[45flattop]

I have a semi auto in .45 ACP in blued steel that is also made or was made by Taurus
in stainless that I like as my EDC since it holds 11 rounds of .45 in a singagazine.
The problem with it is this: the Bianchi holster made specifically for this model, the
PT145 is a thumbreak design and somehow when it left the factory QC must have
been asleep at the wheel that day because the thumb break itself simply will NOT
fasten with the pistol fully in the holster. I have a relative with the same model in
stainless and the same model holster and he has no trouble getting his to snap
shut but try as we both have, mine just is a no go no show.

It is just SO close to a proper fit that I wonder if one of the halves of the snap
mechanism just got set in its place a few millimeters off proper positioning but
that is only speculation on my part.

What I am wondering is if there is some leather conditioner/treatment/crème
that would allow me to apply it to allow with a bit of patience to get the snap
to stretch just that teensy bit necessary to let the thing snap shut? Bianchi
no longer makes this model since it went out of production when the model
Taurus did some years ago so sending it back to them is probably futile but
I really would like to get to use the holster as intended, the workmanship
is great in my opinion, there is just this ONE little issue on stretching to fit.
If anyone has suggestions, I'd sure like to hear, thanks.

P.S.
I first thought of Neat's Foot Oil like we used to use on our baseball mitts
but I seem to recall reading somewhere that is not good on steel or at
least not on blued carbon, stainless might be another thing entirely but
mine is blued.

John

 

[fordpkup]

Water

 

[Chicknman]

Yep wet it good. Wrap the pistol in Saran over a good coat of oil and snap it. Let dry.

 

[Vick]

John, use alcohol (rubbing, not drinking) to wet the leather instead of water...it works the same, but dries faster and won't rust the metal. You should oil the gun afterwards, though, because any alcohol that manages to get on the gun will dry out any oil that was there before. I had a custom holster for a 1911 that wasn't quite long enough to take the gun all the way in...I wet it down with alcohol and managed to stretch the holster almost 1/4". It fits fine now! You probably will only have to wet the snap strap area. Of course, I just might not snap it...I only use non-retention open-top holsters anyway.

 

[45flattop]

John, use alcohol (rubbing, not drinking) to wet the leather instead of water...it works the same, but dries faster and won't rust the metal. You should oil the gun afterwards, though, because any alcohol that manages to get on the gun will dry out any oil that was there before. I had a custom holster for a 1911 that wasn't quite long enough to take the gun all the way in...I wet it down with alcohol and managed to stretch the holster almost 1/4". It fits fine now! You probably will only have to wet the snap strap area. Of course, I just might not snap it...I only use non-retention open-top holsters anyway.

Vick, thanks for the advice. I will just apply it to the
strap since that's the part that is just the tiniest smidgen
too short to close fully. I suspect that saran wrap
should work ok as long as its thin enough, that holster
is TIGHT already just inserting the gun in it before I'm
unable to get it fully snapped, wish me luck.
I really don't have an alternative to using this holster
and would under other circumstances prefer an open
top non retention holster but it is what it is and cost
enough that I don't think I can afford a truly custom
replacement and let this one sit idle as its likely that
a custom would cost way more than an arm and a leg
and lord knows what other body parts. I have looked
at literally nearly 40 makers of holsters and this Bianchi
is the literally ONLY one made for this Taurus so I need
to go with the one I came with.:lol4:

I just now managed to locate a picture of the holster in question
with a pistol in it so I'll upload that now to let anyone know just
what it looks like and what part has to stretch.
Frodo, thanks much for the offer but the strap part in question as
you will see is an outgrowth of the body of the holster and
not something sewn on.

 

[45flattop]

Yep wet it good. Wrap the pistol in Saran over a good coat of oil and snap it. Let dry.

Good advice thanks, the only drawback to this approach
is that with the pistol IN the holster, saran wrap or not,
it will NOT snap shut. Though I get your drift in that
letting it dry over the pistol is exactly the area that needs
to gradually get a tad longer so I'll try it and we'll see
what's what and I'll report back on the final outcome here.

 

[frodo]

send it to me
i will remove the strap and replace it with one that is longer
If you pay the shipping both ways. I will charge you ZIP
anything to help a Brother out

 

[frodo]

Vick, thanks for the advice. I will just apply it to the
strap since that's the part that is just the tiniest smidgen
too short to close fully. I suspect that saran wrap
should work ok as long as its thin enough, that holster
is TIGHT already just inserting the gun in it before I'm
unable to get it fully snapped, wish me luck.
I really don't have an alternative to using this holster
and would under other circumstances prefer an open
top non retention holster but it is what it is and cost
enough that I don't think I can afford a truly custom
replacement and let this one sit idle as its likely that
a custom would cost way more than an arm and a leg
and lord knows what other body parts. I have looked
at literally nearly 40 makers of holsters and this Bianchi
is the literally ONLY one made for this Taurus so I need
to go with the one I came with.:lol4:

I just now managed to locate a picture of the holster in question
with a pistol in it so I'll upload that now to let anyone know just
what it looks like and what part has to stretch.
Frodo, thanks much for the offer but the strap part in question as
you will see is an outgrowth of the body of the holster and
not something sewn on.

View attachment 179497

it can still be added to
a 1'' [or what ever length is required] with a snap on both ends
one end snaps to the existing strap, the other to the holster

 

[45flattop]

it can still be added to
a 1'' [or what ever length is required] with a snap on both ends
one end snaps to the existing strap, the other to the holster

Frodo my way more practically minded friend than I ever
shall be, that simple straight forward solution never came
close to occurring to me, so as not to distract your
attention to the gift you're making for me for a relative,
I'll not send it your way until you're done with the bag
but I wish that you'd allow me to compensate you some
how, its not as if your time isn't at all valuable after all.

 

[frodo]

Frodo my way more practically minded friend than I ever
shall be, that simple straight forward solution never came
close to occurring to me, so as not to distract your
attention to the gift you're making for me for a relative,
I'll not send it your way until you're done with the bag
but I wish that you'd allow me to compensate you some
how, its not as if your time isn't at all valuable after all.

we will call this a holster snap coupling lol
would a 1'' center snap to center snap be long enough?
If you can tell me the width and thickness of the strap on your holster. I might be able to do this with out you sending it

 

[Vick]

John, wet the snap strap, put the gun in, and push hard on the strap until you get it to snap in place. Leave the gun snapped in until it dries and you'll be good to go. You may have to touch up the finish if it looses some color...I've had less trouble with factory holsters fading than I have with custom leather...I guess the custom ones don't soak in the die as much...just touch it up with some die and or shoe polish.

 

[fordpkup]

John, wet the snap strap, put the gun in, and push hard on the strap until you get it to snap in place. Leave the gun snapped in until it dries and you'll be good to go. You may have to touch up the finish if it looses some color...I've had less trouble with factory holsters fading than I have with custom leather...I guess the custom ones don't soak in the die as much...just touch it up with some die and or shoe polish.

This will work. If you have to prick the underside, to get water or alcohol to soak in.

 

[45flattop]

we will call this a holster snap coupling lol
would a 1'' center snap to center snap be long enough?
If you can tell me the width and thickness of the strap on your holster. I might be able to do this with out you sending it

I'll measure the strap length and thickness wise later
tonight. That 1" center to center might be nearly perfect
It might be tough to make the connector much shorter
than that without leaving the pistol less than totally
secure. The length of the problem I'm dealing with is
so close to just right snapping shut properly is less than
about half the width of the snap coupling itself. Like
I said this thing is just ALMOST so close. I'll get back
to you later this evening with the dimensions.