Looking for something lighter weight for a model 638 . Any and all recommendations appreciated!

A Bianchi 9R is what I use. I think some manufacture's still make something like them, or you can pick them up on ebay.

Looks like this:

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Lang May Yer Lumb Reek.

Nevada Leather makes a nice holster for j frames

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TomD

To my knowledge, the absolute lightest shoulder rig for a J-frame has to be a Null City Slicker. It's all plastic (polymer), and will accomodate a J-frame of any barrel length. I have one and use it quite a bit when I elect to carry in a shoulder holster. The drawback is the drawstroke is definitely unique, and requires practice. The upside(s) are its lightweight, easy to keep clean, very thin and unobtrusive (makes it easy to hide under a light shirt as a cover garment), and can accomodate a 2.0 inch or 3.0 inch barreled J-frame without any problems or adjustments. Ken Null has a website where you can learn more about his products.

Best of luck,

Dave

I don't have any firsthand experience with J-frame shoulder holsters, but whenever I think about trying one for my 642 the first one to come to mind is the City Slicker by Ken Null. It's a polymer upside-down shoulder holster similar to the 9R posted above. It's lightweight with minimal bulk. If I ever get around to trying a shoulder holster the City Slicker will probably be my first choice. It might be worth checking out.

Galco makes a shoulder holster called the Executive. It's very comfortable and light, but it's a bit pricey unless you can find one used.

The old Safariland upside-down shoulder holsters are nice too.

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"I also cook."

I use a Galco Executive with my 649 - 357 mag. I think it works great. I got it free when I bought the revolver. I also have an Alessi Bodyguard for my Glock 26. The Alessi is a far better shoulder rig and about the same price, but they can be hard to come by.

I like the Galco because it's vertical, right side up carry. Sinfully expensive like all Galco stuff, but very well made.

Ken Null SKR.

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Centennial Every Day

Another vote for the Null.

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Pray for Gridlock

I have an Alessi bodyguard...great rig but to be honest, I seldom use it since a shoulder rig always feels like too much leather for such a small gun...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Google Ken Null, he has what you need.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Does the Null rig have a belt clip/tie down on the opposite side, or is it a spare ammo attachment?

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I'm with the banned ...

Attaches to the belt. My first reaction was "I paid $$ for this?" After getting it properly adjusted, the man's a genius.

D&L Sports JX2 Shoulder Holster System

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Centennial Every Day

Photoman ... Thank you for that link. Very interesting NY reload rig; price on request according to the website.

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I'm with the banned ...

if you get a price on that could you let us know the ballpark figure.

Another very pleased Ken Null user. Use it with 638 under the shirt, off side clips to drawers.

Photoman - any idea of the price of that rig? Interesting. It looks like they had to do some carving on those rubber grips to get the proper fit into the holsters.

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Tony

The D&L rig is $225 plus 10 for shipping. Available in Kydex and leather. I received a response to my email inquiry in very short time ...

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I'm with the banned ...

Safariland has a new ALS shoulder holster designed specifically for the J-Frame. Elastic cord is used to wrap around the support side shoulder which should save some weight.

Thanks for the update. I hadn't had a chance to check. Any information on delivery time?

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Centennial Every Day

Photoman ... The email response noted both Kydex and leather are in stock.

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I'm with the banned ...

Thanks for the info!

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Centennial Every Day

Any wearer photos of the null slicker?
Interesting.

Here are some I found on line:

Drawstroke Variations - Shoulder Holster


It should be pointed out that Null produces several similar looking inverted shoulder holsters (polymer and leather) that have different draw strokes, and were designed for different uses. As an example, the City Slicker was designed to be worn under a (suit) coat or jacket, and requires a "pull through" type of draw stroke. The City Slicker is very similar in appearance to the SMZ, but the SMZ requires a twisting type of draw stroke, and it was designed to be worn under a pull-over type of shirt or sweater, though it can obviously be worn under a suit coat or jacket as well.

Best of luck,

Dave

Thanks guys, for the link. That city slicker looks pretty cool. Not a SR fan but can see the advantage to an Airweight Centennial in that rig.

As always practice, practice, practice.

I've had a Null SKR City Slicker for a number of years. It's a great shoulder holster for an Airweight. It was designed specifically for J frames. Ken doesn't make it for any other model gun.
I have bad news, though. I just spoke to him last week. He advised me he's discontinuing the City Slicker. He says that the newer model J frames and all their variants don't fit the original pattern. If you want one of these I wouldn't waste much time.

The SKR does not come with an ammo pouch on the opposite side. It has a clip for attaching to the pants, or a loop for the belt around the pants. It attached either way.

The SMZ may look like a City Slicker and shares the same materials, but aside from the different release, it is designed to allow the usage of an attached silencer, maybe an added plus for some under very specific circumstances. I don't see where it is any different to conceal wearing any different clothing than the City Slicker. I have one for my Walther PPKs. This model is made for a variety of small handguns.

Null doesn't feel these holsters are designed to wear under shirts, but in my experience a City Slicker or an SMZ will disappear under a lose shirt, especially one that has a pattern such as an Hawaian shirt.

Malysh, you got me so worried with that comment, I finally got off my butt and ordered a City Slicker. OK, now no one else order one until we're sure mine has been shipped!

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low speed, high drag

I have the following:
1. Bianchi 16HL Heavier leather and has a double speed-loader pouch. This is fine under a Levis jacket or other medium weight garment, but would be bulky under just a shirt. I don't use it much, as my reasoning is; if I'm going somewhere that I think I need 3 loads for a snubbie, then why not just carry my Ed Brown or Kimber Commander sized .45's in a Lou Allesi should rig. Somebody mentioned this brand above, and I really recommend them for product design, quality of design and workmanship and great customer service.
2. My other snubbie shoulder rig is a Safariland A87, which is a very nice rig, and I carry a speed loader two in my pocket. Very nice quality and pretty light weight.
3. Probably my favorite holster for a 2" Model 10 is an Alfanso K2 upside-down leather shoulder rig. The gun hangs upside-down with the butt facing back, and thus the whole thing hangs very flat on the front side under your garment. They were/are a California company and I believe I saw an ad for their products in a gun magazine in the past couple of years. Very good design, and good quality in my experience. Your gun will come out pretty fast with one of these. Best of Luck in finding the right one for carry.

Haha - it was probably prudent you bought it now. The two rigs, the SKR and the SMZ are quite inexpensive. $60 and $65 If I remember correctly.
Ken didn't say when he was discontinuing the SKR and I didn't ask. This model is the lowest profile shoulder holster on the market. Rigs made with fine quality leather harnesses are more comfortable for extended wear, but they don't conceal well compared to the SKR.
I have to confess I don't use shoulder holsters very often but I find there is ocassionally a situation where I find I need to use one. I have the SKR for J frames, the SMZ for Walther PPKs, a few old Bianchis, and a lightly used Jackass rig I bought for next to nothing at a local gunshop years ago. The Galco rig is for SIG pistols but after testing with an unloaded gun I found it fit my Glock 19 perfectly. I could not get the Glock to fall out, nor was there a lot of extra play. My HKs were another story. They would not fit the Galco holster

I spoke with Ken today and discussed my City Slicker order. If I understood correctly, he explained that the City Slicker will accommodate only the pistol it was specifically molded for. The SMZ however, having been designed for a govt. agency, will work with any J-frame model and barrel length. I changed to the SMZ for this flexibility.

BTW ... Ken impressed me as a gracious and knowledgeable man. It was a pleasure speaking with him about his products.

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I'm with the banned ...

Ken actually called me today because he needed the code off the back of my credit card to run the transaction. He's a very nice guy and we talked for a few minutes. I asked him about the City Slicker (SKR) being discountinued and he mentioned that there had been so many inquiries about it lately that he was now going to have to think hard about it, though the price would go up if he decided to keep it. He also talked to me about the advantages of the SMZ, which he carries himself, but I decided to stick with the SKR because it seems like a more intuitive draw stroke.

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low speed, high drag