iPac
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I finally did the last "modifications" my carry gun needed to be perfect for ME.
I've seen some discussion recently about related topics, such as the one thread about how much folks spend "customizing" a gun to their needs, or all the leather holster threads. So maybe this will help someone else out, without them learning by trial and error.
My carry gun is a 1972 Python 2.5" barrel. Has a highly tuned action and now all the equipment needed to make it a real "combat" weapon. Well, as much as a revolver can be, according to some.
I am starting this thread here because it has to do with my new holster, but includes other accessories I want to share as well.
My last "mod" was installing a front sight with colored insert. I had originally tried to paint my OEM sight, and used a layer of Testors white, then 2 coats of fluorescent yellow, then a top coat of finger nail polish. This worked well, but would never fully cure. When placed in my previous Bianchi Accumold holster, there was pressure on the sight post which smashed the painted surface.
A month or so before that, I was collaborating with a friend from TN who works on Colts and is doing good things in the community. I got some of his reproduction Python stocks and he gave me a free front sight with insert for the 4" barrel or longer guns. These were repops he made, and were excellent. So after the painting failed, I messaged him and asked if he had any of the .1" sights for the snubbies. He still had original OEM red insert sights for the snubbies and sent me one.
The red color was better than the orange. The original orange ones are very mellow and not bright at all. The red is actually better. Still, I wanted a fluorescent insert, so I removed the red insert and set about creating a brighter orange one. This was after I realized fluorescent yellow wasn't the best. I used EasyCast epoxy and let some Testors fluorescent orange paint dry, then pulverized it into powder. This worked pretty good and got the insert brighter than it ever could be using the paint as liquid dye. I know this because I tried to tint the epoxy with the paint still liquid, gave the same mellow orange color of factory inserts.
To go with the colored front, I installed a 2 dot rear accro sight blade. It was from a sight set I acquired from DFW years ago. It was a 2 dot white rear accro blade with a front white dot patridge post. I would have used both on my snubby, as I like the patridge better, but it's the .125" size for 4" or longer barrels. I didn't want to modify the front one to fit, so I just used the rear blade.
The pic below shows a factory orange insert .125" sight on the right & my created orange insert .100" sight on the left. Not perfect, but not to shabby either. Don't mind all the RenWax on the gun, it was before I buffed it off.
I installed that yesterday finally, this after receiving my new holster. I've been wanting a good leather holster for some time now, but never wanted to pay the required cost. I just don't like $100+ price tag for something that doesn't totally meet my needs, which most companies' designs don't.
My previous holster was a cheap Bianchi Accumold I got on ebay for $20, new. It almost served my purpose, gave pretty good frame coverage, medium high ride, and was concealable albeit the "body retention" of it was lacking due to design. Also the retention snap design prevented a belt from being threaded, so I had to modify that. For the price, not bad though and I lived with it for a couple years.
With Christmas coming, and family wanting to know what I want, I immediately considered a new holster. My previous thoughts were a Galco Combat Master, Desantis thumbreak speed scabbard, Lobo pancake, or Simply Rugged pancake. As those are the designs that meet my needs.
Originally I had the Galco and Desantis picked out, because they were the only ones made in a normal production capacity and had pictures of what they looked like. Although the prices were always $70-$95. So that's when I started looking at more custom makers.
Does anybody know how hard it is to find a suitable conceal holster for a Python? It's not easy.
Most custom makers don't even offer the option for a Python, and that's even if they have a style that meets my needs. The only two places that made a style suiting me, for anything close to a reasonable price, was Lobo and Simply Rugged.
Lobo didn't seem to give as much coverage as a Galco or Desanits. Simply Rugged gave excellent frame coverage/protection. However, both would have been about $100+ after I did some needed add-ons. I didn't really consider the Simply Rugged offering to be worth that amount, as they were just too basic and not even molded. Plus, if I didn't like a custom made holster, then what do I do with it?
Continuing my online search, I came across the Desantis thumbreak speed scabbard on Amazon for $43 free prime shipping now. They offered some kind of discount up to $10, so I put the holster in my cart. Proceeded to check out and the discount was $6, not sure for what though. Checked my Amazon card cash rewards and I had $20. That brought the price down to $19 with free 2 day shipping. I bought it immediately, as there were only 5 left in stock.
Once I got the holster, it was everything I dreamed it would be, and it did exactly what I wanted it to. The build is quality and the molding is excellent for the gun. Even has a sight channel to prevent snag, which would have helped with my sight painting project. Gives the perfect ride and nice tight body hold. The only time it prints is if you bend over, then the gun continues pointing straight up while you upper body is horizontal towards the ground. Other than that, completely concealable and would never know it's there. Easy to reach, break the snap, and draw. Although still a little tight in the drawing department as of now due to not being broken in yet.
Curious about the leather they use and where they source it, I sent Desantis an email. They responded stating they use quality top grain leather sourced from the US and construct the holsters in the US. I now feel even better with my purchase.
Price doesn't always equal quality. I'd be hard pressed to turn this Desantis holster down, even for the actual $43 cost, compared to any other custom maker at $150.
I've seen some discussion recently about related topics, such as the one thread about how much folks spend "customizing" a gun to their needs, or all the leather holster threads. So maybe this will help someone else out, without them learning by trial and error.
My carry gun is a 1972 Python 2.5" barrel. Has a highly tuned action and now all the equipment needed to make it a real "combat" weapon. Well, as much as a revolver can be, according to some.
I am starting this thread here because it has to do with my new holster, but includes other accessories I want to share as well.
My last "mod" was installing a front sight with colored insert. I had originally tried to paint my OEM sight, and used a layer of Testors white, then 2 coats of fluorescent yellow, then a top coat of finger nail polish. This worked well, but would never fully cure. When placed in my previous Bianchi Accumold holster, there was pressure on the sight post which smashed the painted surface.
A month or so before that, I was collaborating with a friend from TN who works on Colts and is doing good things in the community. I got some of his reproduction Python stocks and he gave me a free front sight with insert for the 4" barrel or longer guns. These were repops he made, and were excellent. So after the painting failed, I messaged him and asked if he had any of the .1" sights for the snubbies. He still had original OEM red insert sights for the snubbies and sent me one.
The red color was better than the orange. The original orange ones are very mellow and not bright at all. The red is actually better. Still, I wanted a fluorescent insert, so I removed the red insert and set about creating a brighter orange one. This was after I realized fluorescent yellow wasn't the best. I used EasyCast epoxy and let some Testors fluorescent orange paint dry, then pulverized it into powder. This worked pretty good and got the insert brighter than it ever could be using the paint as liquid dye. I know this because I tried to tint the epoxy with the paint still liquid, gave the same mellow orange color of factory inserts.
To go with the colored front, I installed a 2 dot rear accro sight blade. It was from a sight set I acquired from DFW years ago. It was a 2 dot white rear accro blade with a front white dot patridge post. I would have used both on my snubby, as I like the patridge better, but it's the .125" size for 4" or longer barrels. I didn't want to modify the front one to fit, so I just used the rear blade.
The pic below shows a factory orange insert .125" sight on the right & my created orange insert .100" sight on the left. Not perfect, but not to shabby either. Don't mind all the RenWax on the gun, it was before I buffed it off.
I installed that yesterday finally, this after receiving my new holster. I've been wanting a good leather holster for some time now, but never wanted to pay the required cost. I just don't like $100+ price tag for something that doesn't totally meet my needs, which most companies' designs don't.
My previous holster was a cheap Bianchi Accumold I got on ebay for $20, new. It almost served my purpose, gave pretty good frame coverage, medium high ride, and was concealable albeit the "body retention" of it was lacking due to design. Also the retention snap design prevented a belt from being threaded, so I had to modify that. For the price, not bad though and I lived with it for a couple years.
With Christmas coming, and family wanting to know what I want, I immediately considered a new holster. My previous thoughts were a Galco Combat Master, Desantis thumbreak speed scabbard, Lobo pancake, or Simply Rugged pancake. As those are the designs that meet my needs.
Originally I had the Galco and Desantis picked out, because they were the only ones made in a normal production capacity and had pictures of what they looked like. Although the prices were always $70-$95. So that's when I started looking at more custom makers.
Does anybody know how hard it is to find a suitable conceal holster for a Python? It's not easy.
Most custom makers don't even offer the option for a Python, and that's even if they have a style that meets my needs. The only two places that made a style suiting me, for anything close to a reasonable price, was Lobo and Simply Rugged.
Lobo didn't seem to give as much coverage as a Galco or Desanits. Simply Rugged gave excellent frame coverage/protection. However, both would have been about $100+ after I did some needed add-ons. I didn't really consider the Simply Rugged offering to be worth that amount, as they were just too basic and not even molded. Plus, if I didn't like a custom made holster, then what do I do with it?
Continuing my online search, I came across the Desantis thumbreak speed scabbard on Amazon for $43 free prime shipping now. They offered some kind of discount up to $10, so I put the holster in my cart. Proceeded to check out and the discount was $6, not sure for what though. Checked my Amazon card cash rewards and I had $20. That brought the price down to $19 with free 2 day shipping. I bought it immediately, as there were only 5 left in stock.
Once I got the holster, it was everything I dreamed it would be, and it did exactly what I wanted it to. The build is quality and the molding is excellent for the gun. Even has a sight channel to prevent snag, which would have helped with my sight painting project. Gives the perfect ride and nice tight body hold. The only time it prints is if you bend over, then the gun continues pointing straight up while you upper body is horizontal towards the ground. Other than that, completely concealable and would never know it's there. Easy to reach, break the snap, and draw. Although still a little tight in the drawing department as of now due to not being broken in yet.
Curious about the leather they use and where they source it, I sent Desantis an email. They responded stating they use quality top grain leather sourced from the US and construct the holsters in the US. I now feel even better with my purchase.
Price doesn't always equal quality. I'd be hard pressed to turn this Desantis holster down, even for the actual $43 cost, compared to any other custom maker at $150.
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