History of the Bianchi 5B Holster?

[mtice]

I picked up and excellent condition black Bianchi 5B from the 1966 - 1969 timeframe for my 1966 Chiefs Special and I am really loving this vintage holster. The holster is molded nicely to the revolver and still provides snug retention even without the thumstrap snapped.

I am wondering if Red could give us a brief history lesson on Bianchi’s development and what/who influenced the design. The minimalist design with slight FBI cant and retro exposed trigger really works well for carrying the Chiefs Special OWB. I know that the exposed trigger is frowned upon nowadays but the thumbstrap retention guards against am AD by preventing the hammer from coming back in the event the trigger did get pressure. Thanks in advance Red for any background you can offer.

 

[rednichols]

I picked up and excellent condition black Bianchi 5B from the 1966 - 1969 timeframe for my 1966 Chiefs Special and I am really loving this vintage holster. The holster is molded nicely to the revolver and still provides snug retention even without the thumstrap snapped.

I am wondering if Red could give us a brief history lesson on Bianchi’s development and what/who influenced the design. The minimalist design with slight FBI cant and retro exposed trigger really works well for carrying the Chiefs Special OWB. I know that the exposed trigger is frowned upon nowadays but the thumbstrap retention guards against am AD by preventing the hammer from coming back in the event the trigger did get pressure. Thanks in advance Red for any background you can offer.

The 5B is technically before my time but I know the story anyway. Its distinction from the later 5BH is that the belt loop of the 5B is folded out of the holster body as Gaylord and others did it; the 5BH uses a separate panel stitched top and bottom as Safariland and others did it.

I suppose the real story of the 5B is the story of the thumbsnap. John has claimed early and often to have invented the thumb snap, but the patent for it was filed by Mr. Bucheimer and the lesser-known Mr. Kippen (who worked for several companies and apprenticed at Heiser) before John took up holsters in 1958 after leaving the Army.

John's version appeared not in his earliest 1963 Protector Brand catalogue but in his 1966 Bianchi Holster catalogue. Ten years is a long time in patent history; where one man beating another by a single day is decisive.

Revolvers were king in those days, so there was a pause before the 19 appeared for the autos; first as the Nelson M&P patterned after Paris Theodore's well-publicised range that used the Eastern School of construction, then as the No. 19 with a welt inside (incorrectly called a Threepersons) that used the Western School.

I'll put up some pics. Gotta run.

 

[rednichols]

The downside to the earliest thumb snaps, is that the fold over the hammer is perpendicular to the strap itself, rather than to the fold of the holster body. Safariland got it right from the get-go, thanks for which go to Gordon Davis who did the production engineering for all of Neale's first line launched 1967. But John did not, and the consequence is that the snapped strap could and did push off the hammer spur itself. This meant that if there were fixed sights involved, the revolver could be drawn regardless; and regardless of the sights, that the hammer could be cocked with the elbow, or worse -- fired in the holster. I corrected this flaw when I was given charge of its successor, the 5BH.

 

[crazyphil]

Back around or after 2008 I read an article in a Guns & Ammo Magazine dated January 1973. Title of the article was THE "NARC" GUNS DOPE PEDDLERS FEAR! In part the article stated that federal narcotic agent academy graduates are given a Bianchi thumb-break holster and a Bianchi belt to carry their issue S&W Model 10 with 2" barrel.

I asked John Bianchi which holster it was, and he responded as follows:"Model 5B High Ride, Thumbsnap style-Has been in continuous production for 40 years, currently in Bianchi Int. 08' catalog"

So, I got on Optics Planet and bought one. But by that time it was the 5BH. "Imported" from Mexico. Thanks for the history Red.

Here is a photo with my S&W Model 10 with 2" barrel on board.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I just got a 5B for a Detective Special off fleabay for $14.99 and shipping . Fits my 30-1 just as well . I like it . It is marked Bianchi only and Detective Special 5B , no star on the snap . Any idea how old it might be ?

 

[rednichols]

I just got a 5B for a Detective Special off fleabay for $14.99 and shipping . Fits my 30-1 just as well . I like it . It is marked Bianchi only and Detective Special 5B , no star on the snap . Any idea how old it might be ?

Always post up pics, front and back, for the best-reasoned answer from any/all of us . "Bianchi Only" can mean very, very, very early (before "Safari" which was Safari Ltd, or 1963) or it can mean kinda early ("Holster" or "Monrovia" ground off and replaced by the size marking, circa 1972 after the shift to Temecula).

 

[rednichols]

Back around or after 2008 I read an article in a Guns & Ammo Magazine dated January 1973. Title of the article was THE "NARC" GUNS DOPE PEDDLERS FEAR! In part the article stated that federal narcotic agent academy graduates are given a Bianchi thumb-break holster and a Bianchi belt to carry their issue S&W Model 10 with 2" barrel.

Thanks for that, LuckyB, I was able to locate an original copy from your description . The 5B of that era is very different from the 5BH that followed, much less one from Mexico (don't get me wrong, I worked in Mexico and the folk there are very capable of world-class quality if one shows them what it is; which the anecdotal evidence is that Bianchi did not).





The guiding principle of the 5BH was to give the higher ride that "everyone is asking for" when instead it was to emulate what Safariland had been doing for a decade.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Here you go Red . Do these help ?

 

[Texas Star]

I have a couple of the 5BHL, I think, which means lined. Basketweave stamped, too. . I wore one on a Bianchi River Belt for over 20 years, and it was very satisfactory.

I have another, plain dark tan, for a three-inch barreled Chiefs Special. I used it with a M-36-1. It does not accept the full-lug barrel of my M-60-4. I asked Bianchi if they could provide one for the M-60-4. I was told to just stretch the normal model. I have never since bought a new Bianchi holster. I also don't think the work and the leather are as they were when the brand made its name.

I got El Paso to make me a Model 2 specifically to accept the M-60-4.

 

[rednichols]

Here you go Red . Do these help ?

As you requested by PM, Eddie:

I would be pretty safe saying 'circa 1970'. Little details like the thumb tab reinforcement, and the mark, could force it either way before/after (that is, it would've been easy to be dead accurate 50 years ago, but difficult to be more accurate today). The stitching of the welt is more my time so I would suggest more likely soon after, than before, 1970.

 

[crazyphil]

As you requested by PM, Eddie:

I would be pretty safe saying 'circa 1970'. Little details like the thumb tab reinforcement, and the mark, could force it either way before/after (that is, it would've been easy to be dead accurate 50 years ago, but difficult to be more accurate today). The stitching of the welt is more my time so I would suggest more likely soon after, than before, 1970.

Does the H in 5BH refer to the "High Ride"?

 

[Protected One]

I don't have a 5B, but I do love the Bianchi 8 Shadow that I carry my M60-0 Chiefs Special in.

 

[jhnttrpp]

This is my 5BH for the S&W 44 that I recently found. It still needs a gun

 

[Eddie Southgate]

As you requested by PM, Eddie:

I would be pretty safe saying 'circa 1970'. Little details like the thumb tab reinforcement, and the mark, could force it either way before/after (that is, it would've been easy to be dead accurate 50 years ago, but difficult to be more accurate today). The stitching of the welt is more my time so I would suggest more likely soon after, than before, 1970.

Thanks Red . Knew I could count on you .

Eddie

 

[REM 3200]

I would be pretty safe saying 'circa 1970'. Little details like the thumb tab reinforcement, and the mark, could force it either way before/after (that is, it would've been easy to be dead accurate 50 years ago, but difficult to be more accurate today). The stitching of the welt is more my time so I would suggest more likely soon after, than before, 1970.

Red and Eddie,

While stationed in Alaska, I bought a new model Colt DS in early 1972
along with a 5BH to carry it in.
The thumb tab had no reinforcement on mine.

The price for pistol, holster and a 50 round box of S&W 110gr. "+P" SJHP was $99.00,
a lot of money for a young "Buck Sergeant" back then.

Hope this helps with the establishment of a date.


Edit: The more I read and see pictures, I think mine was a 5B, not a 5BH. I do miss the DS and that holster.
Shouldn't have sold them.

 

[Protected One]

Red and Eddie,

While stationed in Alaska, I bought a new model Colt DS in early 1972
along with a 5BH to carry it in.
The thumb tab had no reinforcement on mine.

The price for pistol, holster and a 50 round box of S&W 110gr. "+P" SJHP was $99.00,
a lot of money for a young "Buck Sergeant" back then.

Hope this helps with the establishment of a date.

Do you still own it?

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'm 64 now ...... these have been my standard outside waistband field holster (along with the 111 Cyclone crossdraw) since the mid 70s............... must have them for everything from 2 & 4inch" J-frames to 6" L frames and 4" N-frames.

Loved the good old days when you could find "used" holsters;that had never really been used, in LGSs for pennies on the dollar..... would buy these models for guns I didn't even own...... yet.

I too prefer the older used models to the Mexico made..... too heavily boned for my taste.

Thanks Red!

 

[REM 3200]

Do you still own it?

No, I sold the gun and holster in 1998 to a young man
who was willing to pay enough to get me to part with it.

 

[dirty & hairy]

Don't mind me, just adding to a excellent thread regarding the Bianchi 5B. This one came in the mail today, I believe it's from the late 60's. Fits my 1975 M60 like a glove and is quite comfortable. Very tight on my belt but I think that will change once I wear it awhile.

 

[rednichols]

Don't mind me, just adding to a excellent thread regarding the Bianchi 5B. This one came in the mail today, I believe it's from the late 60's. Fits my 1975 M60 like a glove and is quite comfortable. Very tight on my belt but I think that will change once I wear it awhile.

Your dating is very good; Bianchi Holster was actually the name of the company founded 1966 when the Safari Ltd. venture became Safariland under Perkins instead. The #5B itself was introduced that year. These stamps had been changed to Bianchi Monrovia by 1970 and then the Monrovia ground off in 1972 when the company shifted to Temecula.