fonejack54
US Veteran
Any recommendations for OWB holsters for a 3 in. Model 36 ? Only stipulation is that it keeps the gun close to the body. Thanks !!
Holster for Model 36 3 inch
- Thread starter fonejack54
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I've got a Milt Sparks PMK, a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake, and a Lobo Leather snap-loop pancake holster for mine. All good holsters for the money.
The Lobo Leather snap loop is the easiest on and off; in horsehide it is also the thinnest.
The Lobo Leather snap loop is the easiest on and off; in horsehide it is also the thinnest.
Will Carry
Member
I use an Uncle Mikes soft IWb for my 3". The same one I use for my Glock 19. It offers good retention, it's comfortable and quick to draw.
I also Have a Nate Squared (N8 squared) that is uber comfortable.
I also Have a Nate Squared (N8 squared) that is uber comfortable.
This Lobo pancake has served me well for my 3" Model 36-1. It hugs the body and conceals very well . . . it offers excellent retention even without straps . . . and offers a quick and convenient draw.
The only downside is difficulty re-holstering . . . a common tradeoff for maximum concealability. Lobo offers a reinforced "mouth" to ease re-holstering, but I believe it takes away from the super pancake profile.
There are other excellent holster makers here on the Forum who also make a quality product . . . I simply don't have first-hand experience to offer. You might check the Vendor section for further information.
I'm a strong supporter of the 3" J-frame for concealed carry. Don't give up until you find the perfect OWB pancake holster to make it as comfortable as it is effective.
Russ
Triggernosis
Member
I used a Lobo holster too, but can't remember the model name...it was one that was designed for the Secret Service or something or other....
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
The top gun and holster here is a model 36 3". I bought the holster and another like it for a 3" 66-3. A dealer was at a gunshow and I cant remember the price, but they were cheap. The maker name on the back is nevada gun leather. They are quality holsters and at the show were cheaper than their priceing on the site. http://nevadagunleather.com/Holsters_c2.htm
Holsters
Holsters
hotrod150
Member
I like that black western-style holster, looks like an El Paso Duke or knock-off. Maybe not too great for concealedment, but perfect for woods carry & BBQ's!
stu1ritter
US Veteran
I use a Lobo enhanced pancake for my Model 37 for carry and it keeps the gun very tight to the body. I have a Model 60-10 on order with 3" barrel for CCW and just received the Lobo enhanced pancake for that. It also will keep the revolver tight to the body. Ray makes some really nice stuff.
Stu
Stu
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Hotrod, that black one is a El Paso.
hotrod150
Member
I like it! And the floral-carved thumbbreak holster above it. A-IWB carry works for me for concealing my 2" j-frames, but for open carry I really like the older western (and western-ish) style holsters. I think of them as 1930's style, when a lot of people were transitioning from Colt SAA's to S&W and Colt DA's. Haven't seen him on this site, but a guy who posts as Wyatt Burp has posted pics on other forums of quite a few holsters along that line that he's made, generally for large-framed snubbies-- cut-down Colt New Services, S&W M1917's, & the like. A friend of mine recently took up leather work, and he just made a floral crossdraw holster for me -- I'm looking forward to getting it soon, along with some leather-working tools he's sending along so I can give it a try myself.
If anyone else is interested in holsters like this, check out coltforum.com-- they have a leather & accesories section that has a lot of cool holster photo's.
If anyone else is interested in holsters like this, check out coltforum.com-- they have a leather & accesories section that has a lot of cool holster photo's.
mc5aw
Member
+1 on Lobo. I have have several of Ray's holsters. A true gentleman and skilled craftsman. Also take a look at what Lefty @ Bell Charter Oak has to offer. Both are great makers of high quality holsters, as well as forum members.
OP
fonejack54
US Veteran
Thanks for the help.Pics were especially appreciated !!
scattershot
Member
Check the Street Combat by El Paso Saddlery.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Hotrod, that floral one I had made by alfonso around 1971.
Fast draw competetion leather gun holsters
Wyatt burp posts a lot over on the colt site. Never met him in person but we have E-mailed back and forth. He`s a favorite of mine and is here a lot too.
Alphonso also did this matching belt at the time. Dont know as I would recomend the belt though, as mine shrunck 14"s in the 42 years!
Fast draw competetion leather gun holsters
Wyatt burp posts a lot over on the colt site. Never met him in person but we have E-mailed back and forth. He`s a favorite of mine and is here a lot too.
Alphonso also did this matching belt at the time. Dont know as I would recomend the belt though, as mine shrunck 14"s in the 42 years!
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scattershot
Member
Dont know as I would recomend the belt though, as mine shrunck 14"s in the 42 years!
I have that
problem, too.
hotrod150
Member
Like you, I appreciate hand-tooled gunleather & also have shrinking-belt-syndrome. Makes it an iffy proposition to invest much money in a fancy belt-- but a nice holster is a pretty safe bet.
Probably the first holster project after I get geared up & up to speed a little on this leather work business will be a crossdraw holster for my 3" 36-1, styled along the lines of these holsters by Burp. (if you look close at the first one, the belt & holster combo, you'll see that it was a LH rig that I flip-flopped with photoshop) I'm sure it will be a long long time before anything I make looks that good, but maybe someday...
Probably the first holster project after I get geared up & up to speed a little on this leather work business will be a crossdraw holster for my 3" 36-1, styled along the lines of these holsters by Burp. (if you look close at the first one, the belt & holster combo, you'll see that it was a LH rig that I flip-flopped with photoshop) I'm sure it will be a long long time before anything I make looks that good, but maybe someday...
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hotrod150
Member
I'm curious as to the model-- is it marked with the model number or just the maker? I'm guessing that it's a #44 "Duke". Anyway, it looks great-- nice to see a traditional western holster wrapped around a double-action revolver.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
It has a small K 4 and s&w under that. Fits my m&p, 66-3, colt troopers and pythons very well. Looking at the el paso site its closest to the austin and the #44. They are proud of them. I see they are $118s + $80s for the floral tooling. Seems I remember paying about $50s 40 years ago. But also in those days I only paid $60s for my custom alfonso belt and holster shown.. Oh well, belive it or not I paid $165s for that nickle python new in the box! Got it for 1/2 price on a sale I wrote about lately. Over at the colt site several guru`s that nickle 2 1/2" would go to close to $3,000 if I wanted to sell it!
hotrod150
Member
At first I thought it might be a #1930 Austin, but those ride a little higher plus the Austin holster is convex not concave across the top. Pretty sure yours a #44 Duke. Yeah, EPS proud of their stuff these days but so is everyone else. Like you pointed out, look at the price of guns. Might be that holsters have gone up less than guns or for that matter cars, etc.
I'm new on this site so don't want to stir up any trouble (not yet anyways!), but I'd sure like to see a "holsters & gunleather" forum. IMHO holsters deserve their own category & shouldn't be lumped in with knives, belt-buckles, and other doo-dads.
I'm new on this site so don't want to stir up any trouble (not yet anyways!), but I'd sure like to see a "holsters & gunleather" forum. IMHO holsters deserve their own category & shouldn't be lumped in with knives, belt-buckles, and other doo-dads.
Lobo that came with a 3"Model 36 purchased last year:
