Looking for a 6 inch holster for a 686 what do you guys recommend ❓Thanks Group

The only one I have any personal experience with is a Bianchi Model 111 thumb break holster. Fits the 6" L frame nicely, though I have to admit I've never carried it.

Simply Rugged.

Don Hume and MTR Custom Leather both have IWB and OWB options for your 686 6".

Back when I open carried a 6 inch Dan Wesson 15-2 (fits the same holster as the Colt King Cobra, Python, and S&W L-frame), I preferred the Bianchi 5 BHL. If I were buying today, I'd opt for the Bianchi 111 Cyclone as it offers the added option of cross-draw carry.

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For a long time, I carried and liked the Bianchi 5BH holster.

Kevin

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Been using one as a field holster for over 30 years.

This brings up a good question. What is your intended purpose for carrying?

Kevin

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Galco offers open bottom hip holsters for K, J, and L frames that work quite well. However I can tell you from experience that drawing a 6 1/2 inch model 610 from the N frame version will feel like you are pulling than gun up to your armpit to clear the holster. I expect that is the primary reason why thigh level holsters are all you see in the westerns made after WWII. Because a Single Action Army with it's 7 1/2 inch barrel is a very long handgun.

Ooooh, the evidence does not support this. The longer SA barrel was used extensively in the West as a military arm and worn quite high on the belt. Civilian gunleather for this era -- late 20th century -- was uncommon but we do have Texas Rangers wearing them. Barrel too long? The solution then was to push the belt down low on the hips.

Post WWII western films? The product of the fast draw craze of the 1950s and those holsters were by Ojala, Anderson, and Redwing; two of these men were Hollywood gun coaches to the stars.

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	1956 06 gunsmoke season 1 jun ep 29 of 39.jpg (20.7 KB, 44 views)

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I like the Bianchi 5BHL and the Safariland 29. Both great holsters.

Simply Rugged Cattleman:

https://www.simplyrugged.com/store/Cattleman-p594525912

Red,

That image of the Rangers is one of my favorites! Particularly that there are no buckles showing. They put the buckles to the side or behind them to give better access to the cartridges or for comfort.

Personally, not fond of the narrow brimmed hats. I like a 4” brim, might have something to do with that big hunk of melanoma they carved out of my shoulder a couple of years ago.

Kevin

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Hey just adding my 2cents, but I would look into buying a Great Leather Holster from DeSantis they make a beautiful leather holster called the Dual Angle Holster that would look great on your gun, plus they always have great weekend discounts. Dan

An older Bianchi #111 - before they were made in Mexico - would work well with your L frame.

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Lee Erickson

The older ones aren't so heavily boned and the leather seemed heavier/thicker. As I noted above I've been using them.... yes "them".... for everything from 6" 686s to a 3" J-frame for general field use/carry.

Even better: avoid buying any veg tan Bianchi holster that is stitched with brown thread. First quality Bianchi holsters were stitched with 'natural' (you would call it 'white') meant to mimic the colour of the original linen threads used until the mid 1970s. Those made with the brown thread are post 1990 after the company had been sold to bean counters (I met 'em!). It isn't the brown colour that makes them bad -- but I dislike it immensely -- but all the quality decisions that were made around it. Here's a first quality Bianchi 111, a design that I executed for the company. Note the hand detailed moulding.

Attached Images

111 usa.jpg (51.5 KB, 27 views)

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Great pic, Red!



Those are some salty lookin' fellas, for sure.

I use a Bianchi #5B for a .38/.357 Colt, and it works great

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Bianchi 111 Cyclone.

Clean, strong, fits well & classy.

Another vote for the 111. (Older version). First leather holster I ever bought was a 111 in 1981. Have several. Best designed cross draw I have ever used.

Dan

I use an Elpaso Saddlery crossdraw flap holster. Makes it a little easier to get out.

Looking at those gun belts, those are rifle cartridges in the ammo loops, right? I wonder if they carried pistol ammo as well.

Looks to me like they assumed if they were to get in a shootout, they would need rifle ammo more than pistol ammo, which seems likely, when you think about it, all those old Hollywood westerns not withstanding.

Usually, when a Ranger mentioned he reached for his gun, he meant rifle. The side arm, then as now, was secondary.

Kevin

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The rifles look like 94's so I'm assuming the cartridges they're carrying are 30 WCF.

Not sure, but to my eyes they look a lot longer than a 30 WCF. But, the rifles do not look big, like an 1886. Is there a date on that photo?

Kevin

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Guy in the middle, standing up, looks like he needs a larger hat .

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

When you look at the original image that I posted you'll see it says '1890s'. Images with that little typed label at bottom were contributed by Ranger Gonzaullas for the founding of the Texas Rangers Museum. Obviously he wasn't old enough to have been there for the photo so we'll have to take his word for the date.

FYI all images of Capt. Hughes without a beard are during his tenure as Ranger; he grew his famous beard after being forced out in 1915. This kind of info helps us with dating images of him that on the 'net are often incorrect.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian