A BIT OF BIANCHI HISTORY

crazyphil · #1 07-19-2021, 03:51 AM

John Bianchi started his holster business in the late 1950s, and
I believe at first he called it Combat Action Holsters. Here is an
early ad, on the left, calling his holster Protector brand.
John and Neal Perkins founded Safari Ltd. See ad 2nd from left.
A few years later they split. Perkins became Safariland, and John
became Bianchi Holsters. Ad 3rd from left. Last I heard Bianchi,
called Bianchi International, was owned by BAE Systems PLC, a
company in the UK.
John is still in business as Frontier Gunleather. 4th from left.

diyj98 · #2 07-19-2021, 08:21 AM

I remember staring at the Bianchi Wild Bunch poster as a kid and wishing I could have a western holster rig.

Mike, SC Hunter · #3 07-19-2021, 10:27 AM

I remember adds where John in a tuxedo was concealing about a dozen handguns.

Skyhunter · #4 07-19-2021, 10:59 AM

I didn't realize he was still in the business! I have half a dozen of his holsters and they have served me well. I remember that tuxedo ad as well!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

PALADIN85020 · #5 07-19-2021, 11:11 AM

Here's a pic of John and me at a Shot Show several years ago.

John

LoboGunLeather · #6 07-19-2021, 11:13 AM

Another little known fact is that John Bianchi served in the US Air Force Reserve for decades while running his growing and thriving business. Eventually retired as a brigadier general.

crazyphil · #7 07-19-2021, 11:35 AM

CORRECTION: John Bianchi was Army, not Air Force. 40th Infantry Div.
2nd Infantry Div. and California National Guard. It's easy to assume he
was Air Force because he was stationed at Ladd AFB, Alaska.
He retired as a Major General, not Brigadier.

LoboGunLeather · #8 07-19-2021, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

CORRECTION: John Bianchi was Army, not Air Force. 40th Infantry Div.
2nd Infantry Div. and California National Guard. It's easy to assume he
was Air Force because he was stationed at Ladd AFB, Alaska.
He retired as a Major General, not Brigadier.

Thanks for correcting my post.

wyo-man · #9 07-19-2021, 12:32 PM

My brother went to high school with him in Monrovia, California.
Mr. Bianchi was also a Police Officer for Monrovia PD.

wyo-man

Scharfschuetzer · #10 07-19-2021, 12:44 PM

Soldier, Police Officer, business man. Quite a resume.

I wore Bianchi leather while on the USBP in the early 80s.

Miami_JBT · #11 07-19-2021, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike, SC Hunter

I remember adds where John in a tuxedo was concealing about a dozen handguns.

turnerriver · #12 07-19-2021, 12:55 PM

1963 catalog cover.

An early Combat Action Protector Brand marked holster.

Regards,
Witty

Mike, SC Hunter · #13 07-19-2021, 08:23 PM

This is a good thread!

CALREB · #14 07-20-2021, 01:04 AM

Funny, sometimes on Gunsmoke but a lot of what look like Bianchi speed rigs on the Virginian, rear cant ,cut out front,not regular cowboy looking rigs.

gwpercle · #15 07-20-2021, 09:35 AM

Every holster I have ... you know the holster's you use, like and don't get thrown in the cardboard holster box ...
Are all Bianchi ... most when John B. owned the company but the last holster I bought for a Ruger Blackhaek was a Bianchi #1L Lawman , simple belt holster w/ strap ... yes it is made in Mexico ... but to be honest ...
I like it ... well worth the $60.00 I paid for it .
Even though I have a DeSantis Wild Hog for a brand new Ruger Wrangler ... it's not as classy and nice looking as the Banchi #1 Lawman ... the price has gone up $10.00 but even at $70.00 it's still a sweet holster in nice tan leather ... I'm going to get one !
Hard to beat Bianchi ...
Gary

crazyphil · #16 07-20-2021, 09:51 AM

Here is my vintage Bianchi #1 Lawman, with 4.75" SAA replica.
That 2nd snap on the retention strap is in case you want to snap it
around the front of the holster for a quicker draw. #1 - I wonder if
that means it was Bianchi's first commercial offering?

gwpercle · #17 07-21-2021, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

Here is my vintage Bianchi #1 Lawman, with 4.75" SAA replica.
That 2nd snap on the retention strap is in case you want to snap it
around the front of the holster for a quicker draw. #1 - I wonder if
that means it was Bianchi's first commercial offering?

Thanks for posting photo....
Nothing like a little leather porn in the morning .
My Ruger Wrangler is whispering ... " I would look so good in an outfit like that ." after seeing ... I'm believing she would !
Gary

Toyman · #18 07-23-2021, 04:42 PM

A few Bianchi items.

Oldsalt66 · #19 08-05-2021, 11:34 AM

The last Bianchi Holster I bought was a model 57 “The Answer” (for an M&P 9c), which unknown to me at the time, was made in Mexico as are all current Bianchi Holsters since Safariland bought the Bianchi brand name and moved production to Mexico.

It’s not a bad holster, but it’s the last “Bianchi” I’ll ever buy.

Too bad, another bit of notable Americana has bitten the dust.

Oldsalt66 · #20 08-05-2021, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyhunter

I didn't realize he was still in the business! I have half a dozen of his holsters and they have served me well. I remember that tuxedo ad as well!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

He is not.

crazyphil · #21 08-05-2021, 11:55 AM

John Bianchi is still in business. Frontier Gun Leather.

Oldsalt66 · #22 08-05-2021, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyphil

John Bianchi is still in business. Frontier Gun Leather.

Thanks for posting, I didn’t know that he could still use his own name in advertising.

But “Bianchi Holsters” isn’t “him” anymore.

Onomea · #23 08-06-2021, 06:10 PM

Looking at the pix of a discreetly but extremely well armed John Bianchi in his tuxedo, reminds one that back in the day metal detectors were few and far between.