I am new to this forum, and I hope I am not violating any rules by posting this. I normally do not bash anyone, but I wanted to bring something up that happened to me this week.
I purchased my last two Bianchi holsters, an X15 and a 5BHL, in 1982. As far as I was concerned, they made the finest holsters available to me at the time. And as they are still doing great 18 years later, and they get used a lot, it appears I wasn't too far off in that opinion back then.
Just this week I purchased a new Bianchi Cyclone Model 111 holster and when it arrived, I noticed it just seemed different.
Unfortunately, like so many other American-made products, the one I received is no longer Made in the USA and the quality is not what it used to be.
The stitching is thinner than my older holsters, is now nylon instead of waxed cotton, and the problem is it is no longer pretty much countersunk into the suede lining on the inside.
On the one I received, the stitching sits up on top of the suede inside and it creates a very rough area wherever it is - especially where the belt loop is attached to the main body, where there is a lot of it - and which appears that will certainly affect the finish of your prized firearm. I was bitterly disappointed.
This one is going back, and I wanted to caution others on this fine forum. I love vintage Smith & Wesson revolvers, and there is no way I would subject the finish of one to the abrasion that would be caused at least during the break in period of one of these holsters, if not forever.
Just letting everyone know. I was hugely disappointed, and consider myself very fortunate to purchase two nice vintage ones off a large internet site that will work just fine. They will not affect the finish on my pieces at all. I know this because my other ones are doing great many years after I purchased them.
The way you know is the vintage ones have thread that appear yellowish. Time will have made the once-white thread a light tinge of yellow. On the new ones, it is brown and thinner, and you can tell just by looking at the stitching outside the holster.
Again, not trying to bash their company, but "it is what it is" and the truth is the truth. For both we as consumers, and they as the producers of consumer products.
I am not sure if Safariland made this decision, and it was probably a non-firearm shooting project manager trying to make him or herself look good by cheapening the materials used in a product they were now in charge of, but keeping the practices of the old company after purchasing it would have kept this from being an issue.
Just thought I'd let you know.