cabopc
Member
After much research and deliberation I ordered a Bell Charter Oak Summer Heat holster in left-handed black for a S&W Model 60. As told, it took 7 weeks and I paid $84. It was well worth it. I've had off the shelf holsters before but this is my first custom holster and what a world of difference. The leather is firm yet soft. The holster firmly grasps the revolver yet still slides out easily. It's a deep-drop style holster so it sits very low on the waist. If you're used to a holster that sits higher this might take a little getting used to. With this holster the only thing that protrudes above my waistline is the grip. It's very concealed. The Summer Heat model has a hammer shroud which is the feature that attracted me to it in the first place. Another holster I had by a different company did not have this feature and the hammer of my Model 60 would sometimes rub against my skin causing irritation after prolonged exposure, especially if I was carrying in the 10 or 11 o'clock position. The hammer shroud on this holster is perfectly aligned so that it protects the hammer of my revolver from rubbing my skin but not so much that there's any danger of it getting hung up on the draw. (Update - I had the gun de-horned so I no longer have to worry about a hammer). Another nice design feature of this holster is that the solid and sturdy belt clip is offset from the cylinder making the holster less bulky. The only negative of this feature is that this offset allows the cylinder to rotate in the holster if you exert a lot of pressure on the hammer. However, you really have to exert a lot of pressure on the hammer for this to happen; so much that it's not a realistic concern. In other words, even though the cylinder technically can rotate while the revolver is the holster it's not feasible that this is going to happen especially when you are wearing it. The only reason I even mentioned it is that I know with some holsters this isn't possible. Of course the manufacturing and components quality of the holster is all first rate. As I mentioned the clip is very sturdy. In fact, once it is clipped to your belt it's difficult to get off. It's easier to just remove your belt. The only negative of this holster is that when you remove your gun it does not stay open for easy re-holstering. You need two hands to reholster your weapon. I knew this was the case prior to buying the holster so no surprises here. Overall, I highly recommend the Summer Heat model by Bell Charter Oak.
