what type of holster would accomodate a CROSS DRAW-- K frame 4 inch, bobbed hammer OWB?
Because I have a bad back I only carry cross-draw and found that the pancake type with the extra slot are passable but they really don't support much of the guns weight when used cross-draw. Because of this you either have to snug up your belt to the point it's uncomfortable or live with the grip canted out some from your body, how much will depend on your build. Another key factor is a good, properly sized belt. Even though that factor applies to all holsters, having a belt that is as wide as the holster slots will accomodate is even more critical when using one of these 3-slot pancakes for cross-draw. Any slop will only increase the outward cant (from the body) of the grip and end up with a person fiddling around, repositioning the holster after getting up from a seated position.
For my semi-auto's I have no problem since my Galco & DeSantis cross-draw holsters work fairly well for the firearms I carry in them, it's when I get into the 4" barrel length Revolvers that things get a little more complicated. I have carried my 686 SSR (4") in a Bianchi pancake with the extra slot and have just started using Galco's new "Wheelgunner" holster for my SSR.
Personally I think Galco missed the boat with the Wheelgunner, at least when used in the cross-draw application. While you can get a decent, not good, cross-draw cant with the WG and it supports the weight of the gun very well the holster itself, which is separate from the belt loop portion and is held in by a snap, can move around pretty freely in the belt loop part of the design. What this means is that the gun can pivot from a cross-draw to a strong-side cant very easily while wearing it and the only thing that saves the design from this being worse than it is, is that the gun is positioned extremely high on the body so your leg doesn't push up on the barrel when in the seated position. I'm 6' tall and the butt of the grip of my SSR comes just under my nipple when wearing the Wheelgunner, which is too high for my liking..........
I also wish Galco would have cut a small slot to tuck in the end of the leather snap strap since I can see it easily coming unsnapped in the event of a struggle. It hangs down about an inch or so below the snap on the outside of the holster and has a pointed end, just waiting to catch on something and if it does come unsnapped the holster portion will easily fall right out of the belt loop section.
I carry my S&W 632 "Carry Comp" (J-Frame) with a 3" barrel in a dedicated Mernickle cross-draw holster and it supports the weight very well thus keeping the grip nice & close to the body. Because of this it's running on the borderline as far as how low the barrel rides but not to the point of being uncomfortable.
I just ordered a similar Mernickle for a new 686+ but it only has a 3" barrel so that design should work well with the larger frame and since the Galco Wheelgunner didn't work out as I had hoped for cross-draw I'll probably call Mernickle and see what he says about the 4" application. He calls out that the cant will differ depending on gun model so I'm hoping that I can get something from him that will allow me to carry the SSR and not have to wear it so far over to accomodate the longer barrel. I like the fact that his holster supports the weight of the gun extremely well, much better than any other cross-draw holster I've tried, even better than the ones I use for semi's.
Here's the link to Bob Mernickle's cross-draw revolver holsters.
http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/ps10dar1.html
If you decide to go with a pancake type holster give Rob at Simply Rugged a call and tell him that you will be using it cross-draw. The one he made for my SP101 has the 3rd slot but after he learned what application I would be solely using it for he said he cut the 3rd slot a little different than the norm. It works good with the 101, but it too only has a 3" barrel and the weight of the gun isn't supported as well as a dedicated cross-draw, but you can't expect it to be since it's all a matter of compromise. You generally got to give something up somewhere when trying to cover more than one application..........
