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N-Frame Concealment Rigs?
- Thread starter ferretray
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texmex
Member
Hogue bantam grips. Don Hume JIT belt slide holster.
Packrattusnongratus
Member
I'm watching this thread with interest. I have a 3.25" N frame to carry too.
DR505
US Veteran
Here is my 3" Model 657 .41 Magnum. It rides in a Milt Sparks PMK holster and wears VZ G10 grips. A pleasure to carry.
wildenout
Member
Before you crucify me for saying 'and SP101 is like an N frame' hear me put lol. They're thicker than the J's and mine has the 3" barrel (little over three, but whos counting?). I carry it super comfortably in shtfgear.com holster, they'll do you up a custom one if yours isn't available.
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junglefighter
US Veteran
I use a Galco B5 belt,Galco Combat Master holster,Galco 2x2x2 ammo carrier.The belt is thick and holds my 629-6 PC revolver great.My bbl. length is 2 5//8 inch.I also carry 2 speed strips in my pocket.I also use VZ 320 G10 smooth grips.
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Autococker07
US Veteran
Am I the only one who sees "N-Frame Concealment Rigs?" and immediately thinks "London Fog"?? 
I sure would love to one day have a carry able N-frame, but so far the shorter bbl lengths have eluded me.... I am sure loving that milt sparks hide/657 though.... WOWSA!
I sure would love to one day have a carry able N-frame, but so far the shorter bbl lengths have eluded me.... I am sure loving that milt sparks hide/657 though.... WOWSA!
harleyvato
Member
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At the risk of trying to sound too interesting,"I don't always carry an N frame but when I do I prefer a simply rugged pancake IWB or a Sparks PMK for OWB .The Simply rugged and houge wood finger groove grips disappear under a t shirt.Spare ammo is carried on a speed strip in their ammo pouch that snaps on the belt,which I have come to prefer over speedloaders."I'm only their customer not affiliated with Simply Rugged,their turnaround time was shorter than advertised as well.
No pics but my personal experience with 4" or less barrel length N-frame holsters (all OWB) are:
ElPaso Saddlery #77 & #88
JW ORourke pancake
Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake
I tried these due to affordable pricing and all are good but the woods are full of other excellent holsters too.
ElPaso Saddlery #77 & #88
JW ORourke pancake
Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake
I tried these due to affordable pricing and all are good but the woods are full of other excellent holsters too.
N Frames and CC
Have carried N frames concealed for years, use a CABO ( I think they have gone out of business) for IWB for my model 58 & 29 4".....use El Paso #88 for OWB, use a Lobo Leather IWB and OWB for my 3" RB 24.....dress appropriately, and it can be done.....
Have carried N frames concealed for years, use a CABO ( I think they have gone out of business) for IWB for my model 58 & 29 4".....use El Paso #88 for OWB, use a Lobo Leather IWB and OWB for my 3" RB 24.....dress appropriately, and it can be done.....
indiandave
Member
I open carry my 28-2 in a Tom Threepersons holster. Scares the hell out of some of the New Yawkers and Jerseyites I meet on the hiking trails. LOL!
I the winter when I'm wearing more clothes I carry it concealed in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster.
I the winter when I'm wearing more clothes I carry it concealed in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster.
keith44spl
Member
Sumtimes in cooler weather, I can conceal this under a jacket...
N frame in .45 (please dis-regard the lit'l J frame hide-out)
This one hides purty good under a loose Carhart or Duluth Tradin' long tail'd pull over T-shirt,
Model 24-3...Three inch
N frame in .45 (please dis-regard the lit'l J frame hide-out)
This one hides purty good under a loose Carhart or Duluth Tradin' long tail'd pull over T-shirt,
Model 24-3...Three inch
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
The N-frame S&W revolvers are rather large, and most are quite heavy (scandium frames the exception). The cylinders are about 1.75" in diameter, making a significant "lump" to deal with for reasonable concealment. Loaded weight of the steel frame guns will usually run from 2.5 to 3 pounds.
A few observations:
1. To support the weight of the holstered revolver you must have a sturdy belt. The belt is the foundation on which the carry rig functions, so any attempts at shortcuts on the belt will probably lead to disappointments with the holster's performance.
2. A good pancake-style holster offers several advantages, including:
A. The weight is spread over a wider area of the belt and supported both fore-and-aft of the holstered handgun.
B. The outer shell of the pancake holsters form a convex shape, disguising the bulk of the revolver (especially cylinder diameter) and allowing the cover garment to glide over the holstered handgun with less chance of snagging or "printing".
3. Weight distribution of the N-frames, especially the shorter barreled models (4" and less) is usually balanced on a line through the trigger guard and toward the rear of the cylinder. Attempts to raise the ride height of the revolver that may place that balance point above the belt line can be expected to allow the revolver to tip out away from the body, compromising both concealability and security.
4. Overall profile of the N-frame revolvers might be thought of as a wedge-shape, with that large cylinder at the wider end of the wedge. This can create some challenges for retention in the holster, so a mechanical means for retention (such as the thumb-break retention) may be desirable for law enforcement application or anyone expecting to be involved in strenuous physical activities.
5. Within the various N-frame models there are 3 cylinder lengths, with both fluted and unfluted models made, and multiple barrel profiles (tapered, bull, ribbed & unribbed, no underlug, short underlug, and full underlug). This creates quite a variety, and for best fit and retention qualities your holster maker should be informed of the exact model and features of your revolver. Simply ordering a holster for "N-frame 3", or "N-frame 5", etc, can produce disappointments.
I regularly use 5 different N-frame revolvers in the shop for patterning and forming holsters to achieve the best fit (taking into account the various cylinders and barrel profiles). Even at that I can't match completely everything Smith & Wesson has chosen to produce.
Best regards.
A few observations:
1. To support the weight of the holstered revolver you must have a sturdy belt. The belt is the foundation on which the carry rig functions, so any attempts at shortcuts on the belt will probably lead to disappointments with the holster's performance.
2. A good pancake-style holster offers several advantages, including:
A. The weight is spread over a wider area of the belt and supported both fore-and-aft of the holstered handgun.
B. The outer shell of the pancake holsters form a convex shape, disguising the bulk of the revolver (especially cylinder diameter) and allowing the cover garment to glide over the holstered handgun with less chance of snagging or "printing".
3. Weight distribution of the N-frames, especially the shorter barreled models (4" and less) is usually balanced on a line through the trigger guard and toward the rear of the cylinder. Attempts to raise the ride height of the revolver that may place that balance point above the belt line can be expected to allow the revolver to tip out away from the body, compromising both concealability and security.
4. Overall profile of the N-frame revolvers might be thought of as a wedge-shape, with that large cylinder at the wider end of the wedge. This can create some challenges for retention in the holster, so a mechanical means for retention (such as the thumb-break retention) may be desirable for law enforcement application or anyone expecting to be involved in strenuous physical activities.
5. Within the various N-frame models there are 3 cylinder lengths, with both fluted and unfluted models made, and multiple barrel profiles (tapered, bull, ribbed & unribbed, no underlug, short underlug, and full underlug). This creates quite a variety, and for best fit and retention qualities your holster maker should be informed of the exact model and features of your revolver. Simply ordering a holster for "N-frame 3", or "N-frame 5", etc, can produce disappointments.
I regularly use 5 different N-frame revolvers in the shop for patterning and forming holsters to achieve the best fit (taking into account the various cylinders and barrel profiles). Even at that I can't match completely everything Smith & Wesson has chosen to produce.
Best regards.
(please dis-regard the lit'l J frame hide-out)
I don't think that's possible! 'Bout the purtiest little J I've seen in a while, why the heck would you hide that one?
Doug M.
Member
Go read Lobo's post. Read it again. Read it until you can more or less repeat it verbatim. He has probably forgotten more this week than most of us know about such issues. The point about different configurations of revolvers is something I had not considered in detail, but that's support for my position on the advice provided - the man forgets more than most of us know.
IMHO, the thing that most folks mess up is the belt. A good quality belt is a critical component, as it bears the weight of the holstered gun. I have 2 Kramer holsters I like; one an MSP paddle that works real well for me, the other a vertical scabbard. The vertical scabbard is a good holster under a bulkier garment, like a sweatshirt, but with old and decrepit shoulders the draw is not as easy as I would like.
IMHO, the thing that most folks mess up is the belt. A good quality belt is a critical component, as it bears the weight of the holstered gun. I have 2 Kramer holsters I like; one an MSP paddle that works real well for me, the other a vertical scabbard. The vertical scabbard is a good holster under a bulkier garment, like a sweatshirt, but with old and decrepit shoulders the draw is not as easy as I would like.
Another here who knows that Lobo knows what he's writing about. There are at least half a dozen skilled makers of pancake holsters for N frames. I have used Lobo, O'Rourke, De Santis and Galco. All have been excellent for the guns they were designed for. My personal preference in belts is thebeltman.net , but I am sure that there are many others.
CW3PA
US Veteran
My 325sc in an El Paso Saddlery Threepersons. I use a matching ranger belt or Wilderness Instructor belt for support.
Pig Hunter
Member
.I carry a4"n frame most every day with my copy of a Sparks Summer Special. I'm 5 10 195# more or less. Wrangler 13MWZ a size or two too big, a good belt, and a shirt not tucked in I've never been "made". Mark
