Upside Down Shoulder Holster Recommendation?

[rwsmith]

My body shape......

Comfortable or not, my body shape suits a shoulder holster. My Remora is very adjustable in position with top grade velcro.

 

[s&wchad]

Some excellent suggestions already. I have a few more you may want to consider.

The Galco Executive is a very comfortable rig with a tension adjustment screw. The cross shoulder strap is elastic and attaches with a suspender style clip. There's no fear of the gun falling out when properly adjusted, as you can tighten it to point where two men and a boy can barely get it out!

The down side is they're out of production and finding a left hand version for a J frame may be difficult.

My current favorite is an older Alessi Bodyguard. This is also a very comfortable rig and features a pull-through retaining snap. Later models had an off-side speedloader pouch, but I prefer a dump pouch because it's flatter.

These are also out of production, but Alessi is more of a custom maker and may be willing to set you up.

You might also look at the Ken Null City Slicker. I've handled them, but don't own one. The holster is polymer, has a pull through snap and is under $100. If I wasn't so happy with the Alessi, I'd buy one.

 

[ldryder]

As a couple of posters already mentioned... You should really take a close look at one of the holsters made by K.L. Null. The 340 won't fall out of it.

 

[LittleCooner]

A real world review of the Bianchi 9R-1 to assure the OP he will never, ever drop a revolver from one.

i have spent my life mostly as a surveyor in the Appalachian Mountain area of the Southeast. In 1978, I purchased a Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special to carry in the woods for snake protection and to have a sidearm in the wild and woolly terrain that work produced at times. I have in my hand this morning my 9R-1 that has been thru three elastic bands and two over the shoulder "hangers" in the past 40 years. This rig has been in some of the most inaccessible places that most "flat landers" would consider mountain climbing while I carried survey equipment and supplies up, over and around. It has been a constant companion over the years, especially the first 20 years of ownership and with work, it was just another tool, strapped to my body and I forgot it was there most of the time. It has never become dislodged. The old bulldog has very little blue remaining as it has been saturated with perspiration thousands of times in the summer humidity of the southeast. I believe it is totally impossible to dislodge the bulldog from my 9R-1 today unless you put your hands on the gun and extract it from the holster. One of the best tool purchases of my lifetime.

 

[crazyphil]

A real world review of the Bianchi 9R-1 to assure the OP he will never, ever drop a revolver from one.

i have spent my life mostly as a surveyor in the Appalachian Mountain area of the Southeast. In 1978, I purchased a Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special to carry in the woods for snake protection and to have a sidearm in the wild and woolly terrain that work produced at times. I have in my hand this morning my 9R-1 that has been thru three elastic bands and two over the shoulder "hangers" in the past 40 years. This rig has been in some of the most inaccessible places that most "flat landers" would consider mountain climbing while I carried survey
equipment and supplies up, over and around. It has been constant companion over the years, especially the first 20 years of ownership and with work, it was just another tool, strapped to my body and I forgot it was there most of the time. It has never become dislodged. The old bulldog has very little blue remaining as it has been saturated with perspiration thousands of times in the summer humidity of the southeast. I believe it is totally impossible to dislodge the bulldog from my 9R-1 today unless you
put your hands on the gun and extract it from the holster. One of the best tool purchases of my lifetime.

Hard to beat a testimony like this one. If the holster fit wear it.

 

[chucks_44]

Bianchi 209 manufacturing dates?

My first post--and probably a question to Red! Would you please have the manufacturing dates for the Bianchi 209? I recently bought a brand-new one (really!) in the original (quite yellowed) Bianchi bag!
I'm in the process of breaking it in with my S&W 642.
Many thanks!

 

[Greyman50]

Have 3 original “ *******” holsters , 2 for semi autos and a revolver one. Have to check the snap as thats what keeps the pistol from falling out.

 

[rednichols]

My first post--and probably a question to Red! Would you please have the manufacturing dates for the Bianchi 209? I recently bought a brand-new one (really!) in the original (quite yellowed) Bianchi bag!
I'm in the process of breaking it in with my S&W 642.
Many thanks!

It is the only one of the elastic-loaded inverted shoulder holster that can be counted on for excellent retention even after all these years, when bought on eBay. It appeared first in a 1977 ad:

 

[pasound]

I have two. Liked the idea for many years. Used to carry a Charter 44 with a 3" size one back in the 80's. Don't remember the brand - sold it with the Charter. Now I have a Bucheimer 188-11 and a Nevada Gun Leather J2. My J's don't fit well these days, as I'm using aftermarket grips, which fill the area below the trigger guard and block the ability to roll in tight. Still, a right or left hand grab under any coat or jacket was a wonderful thing to have at hand.

 

[SuperMan]

Have had a half dozen of the R9-1 over the years...none even looked like the could, let alone would, dump a gun...

One time even found a DOUBLE rig that I should have never sold...

Currently have one right hand harness with two holsters, a 2" J and 2.5" K that will also take a 2.5" Diamondback...

Super comfortable to wear.

They should be brought back by someone....Bob

 

[WR Moore]

Decades back I ponied up for a Null SMZ. When I got it, my first thought was: " I paid $$$ for this?" Then I wore it. Worth it. The draw takes a bit of practice, one lifts slightly and twists the gun to pop the retention snap. BUT, it isn't gonna fall out. Nor is the harness going to print.

 

[Matt_X]

It is the only one of the elastic-loaded inverted shoulder holster that can be counted on for excellent retention even after all these years, when bought on eBay. It appeared first in a 1977 ad:

Were there instructions or guidance on how to adjust the 208 or 209 "Silent Partner" harness to the person wearing it?


Do you have any guidance on adjusting?

On the one I have there are several snap positions front and rear, as well as three slots for the elastic web strap - plus a buckle to adjust length.

 

[rednichols]

Were there instructions or guidance on how to adjust the 208 or 209 "Silent Partner" harness to the person wearing it?


Do you have any guidance on adjusting?

On the one I have there are several snap positions front and rear, as well as three slots for the elastic web strap - plus a buckle to adjust length.

I expect you're not referring to the mechanics, but how the holster s/b positioned when the harness is properly adjusted. Here's a pic:

 

[Matt_X]

My question might be what you are calling mechanics. Should one simply experiment until the front d-ring is about hte hight of the armpit?

What about the strap? Should that be centered on top or slightly down the back?
I ask because it seems that these points affect how well the holster will stay in the postion shown in the advert.

 

[Marshal Tom]

One of my lefty friends passed and I got several holsters from his wife. One of them was a Safariland upside down J frame LH # 19. I only put it on to try it out with my 649. I don't even see this one mentioned here. Is it one of the bad ones?

 

[rednichols]

One of my lefty friends passed and I got several holsters from his wife. One of them was a Safariland upside down J frame LH # 19. I only put it on to try it out with my 649. I don't even see this one mentioned here. Is it one of the bad ones?

All the elastic loaded shoulder holsters of the sixties and seventies were adequate when new. Since then the anecdotal evidence is that only the Bianchi 208 and 209 have stayed strong. This is more than the elastic we chose but also the contours of the leather which trap selected parts of the da revolver to resist the drawing motion.

 

[sigp220.45]

I wonder if the OP is still looking for a holster recommendation after 7 years?

 

[rednichols]

The thread restarts in the current year, around #26 and is addressed to me professionally. I'm treating the thread as an holstorical treatise inspired by the OP.

 

[Naphtali]

The question around which Bianchi 9R/9R2 proponents and opponents dance is why is this holster series nearly failure proof - OR how can my Ruger SP101 three inch pass the "Snap Test"? And yes I did the test with my couch acting as catcher if the revolver failed any of my 25 throws.

Visualize revolver holstered. It is upside down, grip to rear. The front of holster, as you wear it, is split and closed by strong spring pressure. At the rear the bottom of trigger guard, again as you wear it, does not hang free. Revolver is not retained only by spring's closing the clamshell. Bottom of trigger guard is rigidly held by three pieces of leather - two sides of holster pouch, plus doubled layer of harness affixed to holster. This whole shootin' match is stitched into a single assembly. The single assembly results in trigger guard resting within solid multi layered barrier. Spring tension only holds revolver in position for guard to retain revolver against this solid barrier.

And this solid barrier will resist any straight downward force that does not tear through the sold barrier. The solid barrier slides away when revolver is yanked forward or around your chest, again as you wear the holster. If revolver is not drawn in an instinctive "yank", revolver remains in holster.

I hope this description of how and why the SP101 fits my Bianch 9R2 clarifies rather than confuses.