Bianchi Leather

[saemetric]

Recently picked up a nice old production, made in USA, Bianchi Cyclone Holster for my 4” 629. Can be worn crossdraw or strong side. The older production is so much nicer than the new stuff. When John Bianchi sold out, the quality went with him.

 

[Texas Star]

Nice! Your grips look good, too.

I think your holster is an excellent choice for that gun. Agree about Bianchi quality.

 

[flagman1776]

Bianchi was always my first choice back then... great holster.

 

[loeman]

Great rig for your 629! I love vintage Bianchi products. I bought a few way back in the day that I still have. I also buy them whenever I see them in the used holster pile even when I don't have a gun that will fit! I'm just not going to pass on a $20 vintage Bianchi. And with some TLC, they can usually be made to look almost new.

 

[Highhawk1948]

I have found that their older holsters won't except the new thicker gun belts.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I've only owned one Bianchi holster. It was their Pinch model for my Beretta 92FS. It was an open-top holster with a little plastic "clamp" that snapped onto the front of the trigger guard for extra retention. It was fairly thick, and used a tunnel loop on the back side of the holster. It was marketed as a concealment holster, but I think it was too chunky to conceal under anything except a heavy jacket.

From what I remember, I also had a single layer Bianchi belt that didn't help pull it into my body, either. Like Highhawk1948 said, I doubt a double-layer belt would fit.

I'm pretty sure I still have it in my closet at my parents' house. Maybe I'll see if I can dig it up on my next trip home.

Edit: Now that I think about it, I don't think it was a true "tunnel" loop because I think it could be worn strong-side or crossdraw.

 

[stansdds]

Bianchi was really good, production grade gun leather back when they were Bianchi. The current form of Bianchi is a shadow of its former self. I can say this because I have a bunch of Bianchi belt and shoulder holsters made in the 1980's. I have just a couple that were made in the current era and there is a significant difference in quality. The 111 Cyclone is a great design, as I look at my collection of 5BHL holsters, I wish I had paid a little more and bought Cyclones instead.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

I'm not seeing a difference in product with or without the company's founder. I've found that old and new bianchi examples are essentially the exact same. Rugged construction? Check. Positive gun retention? Check. Durability often matched but rarely exceeded by other holster makers? Check.

Can someone point out the actual merits of old bianchi holsters over the new bianchi holsters? Or is this one of those "back in my day" things where nostalgia gets the better of a man and he imagines something being better in a more simple time?

 

[brucev]

Have a Bianchi belt. Currently wearing it. It was bought about 1982. Excellent condition. Have numerous Bianchi holsters ... 5BHL and 111, old and new. Old are used. Condition is good but like any holster, not tight light brand new. Have two newer production 111's, for N and K frame. Excellent holsters. Very pleased. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[stansdds]

I'm not seeing a difference in product with or without the company's founder. I've found that old and new bianchi examples are essentially the exact same. Rugged construction? Check. Positive gun retention? Check. Durability often matched but rarely exceeded by other holster makers? Check.

Can someone point out the actual merits of old bianchi holsters over the new bianchi holsters? Or is this one of those "back in my day" things where nostalgia gets the better of a man and he imagines something being better in a more simple time?

I have 3 or 4 old production X-15 holsters, they worked well and fit well. I guess it was about 4 years ago I bought a replacement X-15 (medium) to replace one that was very well worn. The new one has thinner leather in both the holster and yoke and the elastic strap is shorter than any of my older X-15 holsters. The shorter strap is an issue because the reduced length puts the adjustment buckle very near the base of my neck, creating a difficult to conceal and uncomfortable bulge.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Bianchi were my "go to" holsters in the 70s and 80s....... bought some in the last 20 years for guns I didn't have back then and a couple of left hand models for my wife........... The 111 Cyclone is one of my favorite holsters to carry in Penn's Woods

I "like" the looser boning of the older ones.

 

[cmansguns]

vintage Bianchi

I don't know anything about "modern" Bianchi products, but I am very well pleased with my Bianchi S&W K #10 recently bought from another Forum Member. It fits my Model 66 4 inch like a handmade glove, looks great, rides right tight to my body on my Galco SB 5 double stitched 1-3/4" gun belt. No sag, no flop, easy draw, 13 degree forward cant.

I can envision some degree of concealed carry with a blazer, suit or sport coat, but I use this rig for open carry, hiking, field duty, etc.

My EDC remains a J-Frame in vintage S&W leather, also on a Galco SB 5 but in black.

Sorry to hear about quality degradation on Bianchi products. So far hasn't affected me. I am on the lookout for some good quality leather for my 39-2 but haven't spotted anything yet that looks like what I want.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

I have 3 or 4 old production X-15 holsters, they worked well and fit well. I guess it was about 4 years ago I bought a replacement X-15 (medium) to replace one that was very well worn. The new one has thinner leather in both the holster and yoke and the elastic strap is shorter than any of my older X-15 holsters. The shorter strap is an issue because the reduced length puts the adjustment buckle very near the base of my neck, creating a difficult to conceal and uncomfortable bulge.

I'm sorry this is an issue for you as an individual, but isn't that why there are different model holsters? Keep in mind that, while the shorter elastic band and thinner leather don't work for you, they were perfect for someone else. Thinner leather does tend to conceal better for every body type.

Once again, sorry if they changed up your favorite holster, but I'm still not seeing these changes as inferior. I'm not dogging the old stuff at all either. I think galco has always made good carry leather.

 

[Ranger514]

I have a couple of Bianchi belts and holsters, including a Cyclone for my 6-inch 686+ that's marked "made in Mexico." In my experience, the leather in all their products is plenty thick and sturdy. Just a postcript: I ran across an article on some of his Frontier Gunleather products being reviewed in "True West" magazine. I went online and was surprised to see that he also makes leather for current model handguns, as well as SAA and clones.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

The vintage Bianchi products are far superior to the current Made in Mexico stuff. I've got some of each and having learned the hard way will not even consider buying any more of the newer Bianchi gear marked Made in Mexico.

 

[saemetric]

Previous thread

Bianchi Leather - What Happened?

 

[rednichols]

Previous thread

Bianchi Leather - What Happened?

Bianchi Holster's quality didn't change for the worse when John was fired by new owners around 1992; but when I left the company 1988 after he sold it thinking I would automatically go with the sale. I personally established all of the company's quality standards and operated Bianchi's quality assurance program 1970 to 1988.

And after both John's and my time the new owners began to take advantage of the maquiladora program in Mexico, which provided favorable duty treatment (otherwise quite high) to goods made in Mexico using American materials exported to the factory for that purpose.

Nothing wrong with Mexico quality; I trained workers in a different maquila for Easton sporting goods circa 1990 and in the end, their quality was actually superior to the American originals. But one has to KNOW what high quality looks like and Bianchi Holsters' new owners including a Colt executive certainly did not know; so did not train their maquila workers well. For this at least part of the blame has to lie with my replacement who was from Strong Leather (and they were not known for high quality anyway).

Mexico includes hard workers who will use whatever tools and knowledge given to them; but if they need a milling machine yet are given a file, they'll do their best without being able to duplicate a mill's work. Ditto with gunleather

 

[AManWearingAHat]

Great looking leather there man. I have a collection of leather holsters I was given by my dad and I've acquired over the years. I don't carry revolvers but they always make nice range or match companions!

 

[gwpercle]

I recently bought two new Bianchi holster's , 1L Lawman belt holster for my Ruger Blackhawk and a IWB #3S for a snub nosed 45 acp revolver . True they are made in Mexico but for the $60.00 and $50.00 I paid for them I have absolutely no complaints . In fact the only thing I can find is a very slight bit of dye over run on the safety strap edge of the #1L....and that's on the inside of the strap ...
The leather , finish , moulding and craftsmanship are all excellent .
The IWB #3S has a neat adjustable feature that I like a lot .

I'm no holster expert but I am a Totally Happy Camper with my new holsters...No Complaints !

Gary

 

[AZretired]

I have a Bianchi 1 3/4 inch single thickness basketweave belt and a 1 1/4 stitched double thickness belt as well as an upside down shoulder holster for a J Frame that are all over 40 years old and still in good shape. Granted they were never used daily as I have other belts and holsters but they were used , on average, about once week since 1978. I thinks that speaks well for Bianchi quality!