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  #1  
Old 12-20-2017, 01:52 PM
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Default Bianchi Holsters

This is what I have,all made in the U.S.
Dick


Last edited by vrichard; 12-20-2017 at 01:54 PM.
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Old 12-20-2017, 02:34 PM
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Nice - The older Bianchi's are great holsters
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Old 12-21-2017, 03:08 AM
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Some of the finest leather produced in this country. Timeless designs and quality, dedicated and fine craftsmen and women. For a large company producing thousands of holsters and leather gear accessories each year for over 40 years, John Bianchi was a proud and fine name to add to the leather producers in this country. I am glad that I lived in a time that was able to purchase and use some of his leather....
Today I am carrying a Model 66, 2 1/2” barreled revolver in a “Pistol Pocket.” It just cannot be bettered by anything else for concealed and secure carry.
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Old 12-21-2017, 12:52 PM
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Bianchi is my favorite brand of holster. I have been known to buy used ones at gun shows for guns I don't have -- there is always a chance I might have one in the future.
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Old 12-21-2017, 06:14 PM
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Is there a source that identifies the revolver (or semi auto) that the different numbers of older Bianchi holsters were made to fit? I assume that these numbers probably continued to apply to the holsters that were made in Mexico? I know a few of them for the longer barrels, although much of my experience is with the 111 series that could be worn strong side or cross draw. I looked a bit on e-bay and might be interested in some of the K Frame sized holsters for the shorter barrels (2.5, 3, and maybe a 4"). It's pretty much impossible to tell for sure just by looking at the pictures. As I remember, most of those shown were model numbers in the single digits (3, 4, 7, etc).

Any help anyone could give would sure be appreciated. Thanks!
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Old 12-21-2017, 07:21 PM
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Top photo, top left - I have a S&W branded leather holster just like that on for my Model 10, 15, and a Co!t Official Po!ice also fits. Did Bianchi make the S&W holsters?
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Old 12-21-2017, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Aircrewman View Post
Some of the finest leather produced in this country. Timeless designs and quality, dedicated and fine craftsmen and women. For a large company producing thousands of holsters and leather gear accessories each year for over 40 years, John Bianchi was a proud and fine name to add to the leather producers in this country. I am glad that I lived in a time that was able to purchase and use some of his leather....
Today I am carrying a Model 66, 2 1/2” barreled revolver in a “Pistol Pocket.” It just cannot be bettered by anything else for concealed and secure carry.
I suppose its bare braggadocio to point out that I designed not only the No. 3 Pistol Pocket for John, but in fact all of his holsters from 1970 onwards :-). That includes the Askins Avenger and every other seminal holster design after the 1960s because Bianchi Holster, founded in 1966, used clones of the then-defunct Heiser range (the Story of Heiser is quite complex, but the short story is the company changed hands several times after WWII and the active Heisers had died by 1961).

Bruce Nelson, whilst working for John, by 1968 tried to break away with his copies of the then-popular Seventies designs that even today exemplify the Eastern School of design. One of his appeared as the Nelson M&P and was replaced the very next year by a simpler design with a welt in it; both were called the Model 19.
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Old 12-21-2017, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by VaTom View Post
Top photo, top left - I have a S&W branded leather holster just like that on for my Model 10, 15, and a Co!t Official Po!ice also fits. Did Bianchi make the S&W holsters?
No pics in your post; but there was a brief period in which Bianchi, after being sold to investment bankers, under Hope Bianchi's supervision (John had been fired) there was an S&W by Bianchi range. That got off to a very bad start when the S&W people discovered Colts pictured in the holsters displayed in the brand new catalogue's first printing!
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Old 12-21-2017, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by rednichols View Post
No pics in your post; but there was a brief period in which Bianchi, after being sold to investment bankers, under Hope Bianchi's supervision (John had been fired) there was an S&W by Bianchi range. That got off to a very bad start when the S&W people discovered Colts pictured in the holsters displayed in the brand new catalogue's first printing!
Was referring to OPs posted photo. Have two older S&W branded holsters and both are top quality. Picked up one at an auction and one at a yard sale. The vintage ones generally bring good money in top condition and if f I come across one that fits something I have I buy it. Old school and I am partial to leather.
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Old 12-22-2017, 12:13 AM
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Mr. Nichols. I was aware of the part that you played in the majority/all of the company's designs from the close readings in this category of the forum and bare or bald braggadocio not-with-standing you are certainly correct in noting that fact. Your contributions made the company the leader it was in an industry that, at the time, was very competitive and challenging and in order to compete one needed insight, imagination and initiative to keep competitive. The one thing that I missed mentioning in my original post was that this company that was producing thousands of holsters a year in the highly competitive market that it was, was able to continue to produce a product that really never showed a lessening or cheapening of the product.... The introduction of the Pistol Pocket and the Askins Avenger and the Model 111 Cross Draw in the rather later stages of the company's history is, in my opinion, positive proof of my contention......Innovation is the introduction of those new models. Imagination is the same vein. Initiative was the introduction of those models mentioned and the many, many others that I haven't mentioned. That the quality of those new models remained the same as the early, first models that Bianchi manufactured is the result of the dedication of Bianchi himself and the many craftsmen and women who dedicated themselves to the company. I am sad in my heart that the company isn't really the same as it once was.
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Old 12-22-2017, 05:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Aircrewman View Post
I am sad in my heart that the company isn't really the same as it once was.
All of your sentiments are much appreciated. It was exactly thirty years ago, November of 1987, that the company was sold to investment bankers John had called in to help him finance his dream: to buy the then-for-sale Smith & Wesson. They bought him out instead.

I came to it slowly, but I did get there eventually: it was the Bianchi's company to do with, as they chose. They worked hard, sacrificed a lot, paid a big personal price. When they considered those who worked for them as merely supporting players, well, doggone it, we were.

And yet I wouldn't trade lives with them :-). Not for ten point five million dollars.
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Old 12-22-2017, 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by rednichols View Post
No pics in your post; but there was a brief period in which Bianchi, after being sold to investment bankers, under Hope Bianchi's supervision (John had been fired) there was an S&W by Bianchi range. That got off to a very bad start when the S&W people discovered Colts pictured in the holsters displayed in the brand new catalogue's first printing!
Here are my two vintage S&W branded holsters. One is for K frame 4" (I use it for my 10,15 and Colt Official Police) and the other is for J frame 4" (I have a Model 63 4" I carry in it).
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Old 12-22-2017, 03:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VaTom View Post
Top photo, top left - I have a S&W branded leather holster just like that on for my Model 10, 15, and a Co!t Official Po!ice also fits. Did Bianchi make the S&W holsters?
Now that you've posted up pics: yours are absolutely not by Bianchi, nor even similar to the construction of Bianchi products.

Smith had its own holster company from around 1970 onwards, founded on the old Wolfram company which they bought. Smith's holster company became Gould & Goodrich after Smith wanted out, offered it to Bob Gould for a song (he was the line's product manager), and the rest is holstory.
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Old 01-20-2018, 06:37 PM
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All of your sentiments are much appreciated. It was exactly thirty years ago, November of 1987, that the company was sold to investment bankers John had called in to help him finance his dream: to buy the then-for-sale Smith & Wesson. They bought him out instead.
I can’t help but wonder what S&W would be like today had John purchased it in 1987...
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Old 01-21-2018, 03:10 AM
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Here are my two vintage S&W branded holsters. One is for K frame 4" (I use it for my 10,15 and Colt Official Police) and the other is for J frame.
(I have a Model 63 4" I carry in it).
Sorry: those simply aren't Bianchi quality. Nor should you be using a holster for a Colt .41 size frame in a holster made for a K-frame S&W, which is smaller.

Colt's .41 frame is like S&W's L frame. Wearing an Official Police in a K-frame holster will stretch the leather.
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Old 01-21-2018, 07:07 AM
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Those 2 S&W holsters look like they could be Wesson Hide.
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