Best shoulder holster....

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Cellar Hound

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I am looking for a shoulder holster for a S&W 629 Classic - 6.5" barrel 44 magnum. Would like some thoughts on the best quality set-up. I am interested in quality material and comfort over cost. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.
 
I've got a Galco (horizontal) shoulder rig (loose ammo pouches) for my S&W Model 66 w/ 4" barrel. I picked it up used of Ebay awhile ago. Great quality. It had worn well. Comfortable, quality.
 
Cochise Leather Works is my choice . The owner Dave Le Fleur has made several for me . Go to his website , lots to choose from . He is a one man shop and doesn't have lots of time for phone calls . His lead time is usually 2 months . I have a left handed shoulder holster for my 29 , 6" barrel . Good Luck on your search
 
Bianchi x15 . Has been in production for many years. I carried a k frame 2" in one back in the 1970s. Sold it in the 1980s and wish I had it back. They are up around $150.
 
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For hunting, choose the Bianchi HUSH bandolier style shoulder holster. Carries the weight across the body, the synthetic materials will stand up to crawling towards game, optional removable flap keeps out rain, snow, mud. Even a version for scoped guns. One of my designs for them in the 80s that was personally field tested on hunts in the Northwest.
 
I can recommend the "Springbreak" from Andrews Custom Leather. I have one in chocolate brown with two speed strip pouches for a 4 inch model 66 and really like it. It's a vertical clam-shell design and the spring tension holds the gun very firmly in place. He uses a soft and pliable leather for the shoulder and back straps, which makes the rig very comfortable. I stopped by his old shop before he relocated to St. Augustine to drop off a couple knives for custom sheaths to attach to the right-hand side of the rig and got a tour of the shop while I was there. His sons help some, but he pretty much does all the work himself. Expect to wait at least half a year and pay a pretty penny, but the end result will be worth the wait and cost. He's got some videos up on Youtube, in particular one featuring the horizontal "Monarch" version of the shoulder holster which will give you an idea of the design and the quality of his work.
 
Groo here
Is this for CCW, backpacking, or general carry.
Do you need speed of draw or protection of gun.
Under or over coat.
I might suggest a Safepacker if for outside and "just in case"
With the shoulder strap, the weight is not on the belt.
The flap protects the gun from rain/snow and the holster protects you from the gun.[none of us ever fall off our horse/bike/4 wheeler/
our own dum feet etc ]
As far as the others, try an Uncle Mikes.
Cheep enough to see if one will work.
 
SeamasterSig said:
I can recommend the "Springbreak" from Andrews Custom Leather. I have one in chocolate brown with two speed strip pouches for a 4 inch model 66 and really like it. It's a vertical clam-shell design and the spring tension holds the gun very firmly in place. He uses a soft and pliable leather for the shoulder and back straps, which makes the rig very comfortable. I stopped by his old shop before he relocated to St. Augustine to drop off a couple knives for custom sheaths to attach to the right-hand side of the rig and got a tour of the shop while I was there. His sons help some, but he pretty much does all the work himself. Expect to wait at least half a year and pay a pretty penny, but the end result will be worth the wait and cost. He's got some videos up on Youtube, in particular one featuring the horizontal "Monarch" version of the shoulder holster which will give you an idea of the design and the quality of his work.
Click to expand...

That's a dead knockoff of my X2000 and X2100 Phantom for Bianchi in the '80s. So much for originality. Can't any of these newbies come up with their own work; even re-interpret others' designs so that their pics don't look like they came right out of an old Bianchi catalogue? If it weren't for the basketweave finish I'd have thought the pic to BE of a Bianchi product.

A FB page 'dedicated' to the old makers lists all the sacred cows, but I objected when they didn't mention John Bianchi. I pointed out that everything made today originally came out of the Bianchi stable and not from those 'dead poets'. Even Safariland wouldn't exist if Neale hadn't become John's partner; which means even Bill Rogers wouldn't have made his fortune.
 
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rednichols said:
That's a dead knockoff of my X2000 and X2100 Phantom for Bianchi in the '80s. So much for originality.
Click to expand...

Imitation is the best form of flattery. But instead of feeling flattered, you just sound bitter. For what it's worth, Andrews design has straps over both shoulders with a butterfly plate between the shoulders and a horizontal strap across the lower back. I don't see the similarity to the x2000 and x2100 or the newer x15 unless you mean just the shape/design of the spring-retention holster.

Do you really expect every new craftsman to reinvent the wheel for the sake of originality? Most holsters are just slight variations on designs that have stood the test of time. And those designs were most likely inspired by long-since forgotten sources. Andrew's Springbreak holster works well and is very high quality. As a holster buyer, what more could you ask for?
 
SeamasterSig said:
Imitation is the best form of flattery. But instead of feeling flattered, you just sound bitter. For what it's worth, Andrews design has straps over both shoulders with a butterfly plate between the shoulders and a horizontal strap across the lower back. I don't see the similarity to the x2000 and x2100 or the newer x15 unless you mean just the shape/design of the spring-retention holster.

Do you really expect every new craftsman to reinvent the wheel for the sake of originality? Most holsters are just slight variations on designs that have stood the test of time. And those designs were most likely inspired by long-since forgotten sources. Andrew's Springbreak holster works well and is very high quality. As a holster buyer, what more could you ask for?
Click to expand...

Ever tried to eat flattery? You should try it some time, then re-visit your post and tell me how filling it was for you. Maybe your kids, too, do they like to eat?

You have no dog in this fight until then.
 
rednichols said:
Ever tried to eat flattery? You should try it some time
Click to expand...

As a business owner, I sympathize. But only a little bit. Patents expire, new competitors enter the market. You can't rest on your laurels, you have to keep proving yourself to potential customers. If you can't recommend a holster to the OP, then maybe you can tell us about your plan for competing with the newbies in a separate post.
 
That's a huge gun to carry in a horizontal shoulder holster so you're probably going to gravitate to a vertical one, maybe even with a belt loop on the gun side. My "backup" gun for the winter used to be a Model 25-5 with a 4" barrel and a Jackass (Galco) worked well for that but it was under a fairly tight uniform Ike jacket so concealing it wasn't an issue.

Is it for a work situation or everyday non-work carry or hunting?

"Comfort" is going to be very relative with a gun that big in a shoulder holster.
 
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RSanch111 said:
That's a huge gun to carry in a horizontal shoulder holster so you're probably going to gravitate to a vertical one, maybe even with a belt loop on the gun side. My "backup" gun for the winter used to be a Model 25-5 with a 4" barrel and a Jackass (Galco) worked well for that but it was under a fairly tight uniform Ike jacket so concealing it wasn't an issue.

Is it for a work situation or everyday non-work carry or hunting?

"Comfort" is going to be very relative with a gun that big in a shoulder holster.
Click to expand...

This will be for carry during hiking. My friends and I often hike in bear country. I use to carry a .357 but decided to move up to a .44.
 
If you intend to wear the revolver beneath a winter coat or parka, The out-of-production Desantis swivel shoulder holster is particularly useful.

Its advantage is that however you might "yank" revolver from holster, whatever your position - including prostrate - holster follows your hand's drawing vector.

I owned one for an 8-3/8 inch "N" frame into which my Ruger SRH 480 fit beautifully.
***
While I do not know whether any emulation of this holster is in production, I do know that Desantis' holster was a close copy of another [unknown] maker.

Hope this helps.
 
I had one made by Craft Holsters for my 3" N frame. It's a tilt vertical carry. When you unsnap it, it tilts forward for the draw. The bottom is open, and it also excepts my Colt Python 6" and my 629 6.5". I recently got a 686 2.5" and it fits also. Very versatile holster if you have several revolvers.
 
Don't have first hand knowledge but looking at the old Lewis shoulder holster it seems it would be more comfortable with the single strap securing it to the off side than the elastic strap. I never could get use to those. I use a jackass rig when I wear a shoulder holster.
And in reference to the desantis swivel rig I believe you can get a version of that from Alessi holsters.
 
I don't think there's much difference in any of the quality shoulder rigs. What's important is knowing how to properly adjust it and to carry accessories on the opposite side to serve as a counter balance. This is easier to do with semi autos as loaded magazines make excellent counterbalances.
 
Decades ago, I bought a Safariland 100/101 (one of those is for autos, the other for revolvers, can't recall which is which) for my 6.5 inch model 29. If it's still in production, go for that as first choice. It uses surgical elastic for retention and still holds as tight as new.

I have a X-15, it was originally developed for the 1911 .45. Been a pretty poor fit for anything else.
 
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