Browns fan
Member
Looking for a 6 inch holster for a 686 what do you guys recommend 
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6 inch 686 Holster
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Mike in Reedley
Member
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.
StrawHat
SWCA Member
For a long time, I carried and liked the Bianchi 5BH holster.
Kevin
Kevin
Been using one as a field holster for over 30 years.
StrawHat
SWCA Member
scooter123
Member
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.
rednichols
Member
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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27 Man
SWCA Member
I like the Bianchi 5BHL and the Safariland 29. Both great holsters.
zumatodd
Member
StrawHat
SWCA Member
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.
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.
rednichols
Member
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.
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Great pic, Red!
Those are some salty lookin' fellas, for sure.
Those are some salty lookin' fellas, for sure.
