I carry a 640-1 (.357 Magnum) most of the time. Usually I use a Kramer horsehide holster on the left front side. It disappears under a T-Shirt. There are times when I want something a little more hidden.

I recently found a Steve McQueen (style) Bullitt holster for J-Frame. I have been wearing it around the house for the past few days (UNLOADED) just to see it the thing actually stays in place..

It is going to take a lot for me to take it out in public!!

Attached Images

Bullit Holster 1.jpg (35.1 KB, 225 views)

I had one similar to that one and after some time the elastic stretches and the gun fall out movement like going down stairs and gets worst. I tried a small fold in the elastic and sewing it and also tried a leather shop but lost confidence. I stick with a IWB, pocket or ankle depending on conditions.

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IN GOD WE TRUST     ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I use the Bianchi version of this holster with my S & W model 940-1. The designer of this might chime in. The original was designed and marketed by Berns- Martin. Bianchi as I understand bought the rights to make this holster. The Bianchi version uses a spring instead of elastic. Mine works flawlessly, and has never dropped the gun. Very secure.

Certainly have to admire the stying and ingenuity that went into that one, vs the standard style. The Bullit film's holster was made by Safariland, though. Yes, Berns-Martin created the first one, which used a spring vs. the elastic; very hard to mass produce so the mid-60s to late-70s saw a lot of the elastic style made. Nope, though Bianchi bought the name (1974) the company was already producing the original 9R (1971) that replaced the elastic-loaded 9. The best of them, if I do say so, are the 9R-1 and 9R-2 with the hammer guard and twin belt slots. In close second are the 208 and 209, which were a return to elastic but configured very differently, and all examples I'm aware of STILL pass the factory test; to wit:

There is a factory test for these holsters, that judging from the OP's image I reckon it won't pass, which is: with the unloaded revolver seated as best you think it should be, grasp the rig by the middle of the leather harness opposite the holster itself; hold the suspended revolver and holster over your bed; lift and then SNAP the set, hard, towards the bed. It must stay in with three of these snaps in a row (no fair re-seating the revolver) to be safe to wear. Clearly if the revolver is dangling from the holster even on the third, it's a fail.

Now: that particular holster is not one of the known versions of its era (everyone made the elastic one), which suggests that it was made by a modern leathersmith and so he/she is unlikely to understand its physics. So I do not expect it to pass the snap test. Let us know :-).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thank you to Mr Nichols for chiming in. As I stated I wear a Bianchi 9R with my S&W model 940-1 and it is a beautiful piece of work. Very secure. Bought it of EBay and it is like new, and still passes Reds test easily. Now looking for a 9R 3 for my S&W model 60 3 inch

I hope you never find it! Don't believe there is a 9R-3, although there is are 9R-1 and 9R-2 for the 3" barrel; the number does not indicate barrel length. It's a factory marking of a production 'change' number.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Here's a picture of an original Bianchi 9R on the left.
It's marked on the back that it is made for 2.5" .357
but shown with my Colt's Agent. It will hold anything,
from a J frame up through the K frames, very securely.
Bianchi called it "Special Agent" in his earlier ads.
Lawrence called his pigskin holsters Special Agents too.
My Lawrence Special Agent with 2" model 10 on the right.

By the way, from a fairly reliable source, Steve McQueen
as Bullit wore the Safariland model 19.

Attached Images

	SAM_0880.jpg (74.5 KB, 113 views)
	SAM_1043.jpg (101.1 KB, 98 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

Please note:
Even oblique mentions of ongoing auctions are prohibited, the idea is to not discuss them at all, as it says here in the rules:


11. NO Links to current or upcoming auctions or promotion of current or upcoming auctions or discussion of current or upcoming auctions, even in vague and general terms, or GunsAmerica ads, Guns International ads, or other internet listing sites should be posted without permission.
Do NOT participate in discussion of current auctions or ads.
Links to CLOSED auctions and ads are permitted.

Anyone on the forum who doesn’t know they can go on any number of auction sites to search for literally anything probably isn’t interested and surely doesn’t need to be reminded. No discussion of any kind about any current auction site or auction.
Closed auctions are a different matter.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

My full lug 60-10 fits fine in a 2 1/2" 9R2. When it's bottomed out in the holster the cylinder cutouts in the holster engage the recoil shields.

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On the whistle draw and fire 6

Following up Mr. Nichols' reply, there is an additional problem associated with the elastic versions of these upside down holsters. Elastic fatigues. Holsters that pass the mentioned test may not pass a few years of wearing-using down the road.
***
Undocumented feature of the Bianchi 9R2 is that it fits revolvers that did not exist during its production run. Ruger's SP101 with three-inch barrel fits, holster functioning as it should. Mr. Nichols was surprised that the SP101 with its nearly covered rear of cylinder would not "drop out" of the revolver. I was unaware of a generally used function test for this holster configuration. I luckily chose to test the SP101's fit and function as recommended. But I flung holstered revolver with harness being my "retainer" 25 times rather than three. Other than becoming bored, test series was bland and uneventful.

I suspect a three-inch barreled Colt revolver of the same cylinder frame size as Detective Special/Cobra series will fit, as might Charter Arms' 44 Special with 2.5 and 3-inch barrels. Again, those trying revolvers not specifically identified by Bianchi as being a satisfactory fit, use the recommended test. I strongly recommend my 25 repetitions rather than three.

Hope this helps.

Red, I have a S&W version with elastic with the numbers
03 62 on it (space between is intentional, as on the holster). It fits my Colt DS extremely well and tight. Any idea which company made this one for S&W?

The original S&W holsters of the 1960s were made by Wolfram Leather in Monrovia; they also made Colt's; and their own called Blazer. Then, I suppose, so were the rest of S&W's holsters when S&W bought the Wolfram Co. (from G.F. Cake and Safariland, of all people) and the line first appeared in '69.

It is believed that Wally Wolfram was the one who invented the style. John Bianchi's followed Wally's, and Safariland's followed John's, etc. In my opinion the best of those early elastic holsters was Safariland's: it was shaped at the welt to inhibit the muzzle of the revolver from shifting inside the holster.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Duly noted, thank you so much, though, for the timely reminder. In my defense it was a closed auction, and my goal was to have the poster see what a 3" looks like, vs. a 2-1/2" K or 2" J/D. I followed the rules and sent the link to the closed auction via PM :-). In my experience I have encountered heaps who don't know they can find closed auctions on various sites.

I'll do better.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I don't think that was aimed at you Red. I am the culprit. John, or
someone, deleted the infraction worthy comment that I made. I
can always plead insanity, but in this case I think it was senility.

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In Omnia Paratus

Must've been a guilty conscience on my part then :-).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Thanks for chiming in and telling the difference between the 9R, the 9R1, and the 9R2, and the 9R3. I mistakenly believed the 9R3 was for 3 inch guns. I'm still lurking around the sites trying to find a 9R for my S & W model 60 Pro Series 3 inch barrel

I found 1 marked as above. Does not mention barrel length. Or frame size. Guessing J or K up to 2 1/2 inch? Might give it a try with a 2 1/2 inch L frame

I have had no problems with the Bianchi 9R1 for 3" J frames.






My Bianchi 9R was worn by my former boss daily for many years with a 2" model 36. He did not have a problem with it. I have worn it since I got it but I prefer the 3" so I use the 9R1 when I am using a shoulder holster.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

The 2-1/2" 357 marking was/is for the Combat Mag. Won't fit an L (or we'd have marked and made it for the Python). Weight is the enemy in these kinds of holsters (so surprising that Safariland chose to make it for the 4" K frame, a bridge too far with the elastic).

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Red Nichols The Holstorian