Which holsters are all those hammerless S&W Centennials ...

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John Joseph

John Joseph

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...riding in?
I understand S&W sells a lot of these, but I don't see many holsters being made available for hammerless revolvers.
 
http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/sw-centennial-review/

What would be significantly different about a holster for these guns? Are you asking about a thumb break holster?

I suspect most J-frames are carried as concealment guns and most concealment holsters are open top designs.

I suspect whoever makes a holster for a J-frame, makes a holster for a Centennial.

Mitch Rosen https://mitchrosen.com

Simply Rugged https://www.simplyrugged.com

Lobo Gun Leather http://lobogunleather.com

Bianchi, Galco, De Santis, etc...
 
Many makers produce something like this if you need a thumb break. 20-bi-13157_1.jpg
I have never seen the need, most holsters grip the revolver well enough to not need the strap.
 
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I've seen Galco, DeSantis and Bianchi offerings. The thumb snaps, if there is one, look unconventional at best. What I'm interested is which makes and models are most popular for CCW and why? IWB,OWB, or Pocket.
When I had a Detective Special I wore a Bianchi 3S but the thumb snap on the 3S for a J frame looks like it would be in the way on a hammerless, so open top would be the best option?
I don't know!
I was wondering what people who carried Centennials favored.
 
John Joseph

I like an IWB holster, like this DeSantis SOF-TUCK, for my Model 649 and Model 638. I have found that an IWB holster like this does a great job of concealing my revolver and keeping it in place without the need for any sort of retention strap.

The Bianchi 55L Lightnin' belt holster in Sistema1927's post has the retention strap in a much lower place on the holster (unlike the typically higher location above the hammer using a thumb break snap closure), in order to accommodate the hammerless design of the gun. The snap closure is supposed to be released by your middle finger but this might make for an awkward and difficult presentation of the gun while trying to accomplish this.

T72TXU7.jpg
 
I make holsters for the hammerless revolvers. Here's some pictures - one I made for a hammerless LCR (642 also fits) and a couple of OWB pancakes for a 642.
Anderson Custom Leather 27581502_2149446621952043_2380364656054108160_n.jpg collection.jpg
 
John Joseph said:
I've seen Galco, DeSantis and Bianchi offerings. The thumb snaps, if there is one, look unconventional at best. What I'm interested is which makes and models are most popular for CCW and why? IWB,OWB, or Pocket.
When I had a Detective Special I wore a Bianchi 3S but the thumb snap on the 3S for a J frame looks like it would be in the way on a hammerless, so open top would be the best option?
I don't know!
I was wondering what people who carried Centennials favored.
Click to expand...

John, I carry a S&W 642 quite often. And since I make holsters myself, I get to try basically any style you can imagine. Personally, my favorite for my 642 is a crossdraw OWB with thumb break. Here's a fancy one I did for a left-handed customer.
J-frame crossdraw.PNG
 
Wow! Thanks for all the ideas! I may end up with a large box of holsters after my search for one that'll work best for me
 
I just picked up a Safariland 6378 for a LCR, seems to be good belt carry with the ALS. Lock on the rear of the cylinder. I believe there is version for the J frame S&Ws
 
John Joseph said:
...riding in?
I understand S&W sells a lot of these, but I don't see many holsters being made available for hammerless revolvers.
Click to expand...
I have 4 holsters for my Model 642-2. Two are Don Hume J.I.T. Slides, one left-handed, one right handed. One is a Speed Safety spring holster that I wear crossdraw. The last is a generic pocket holster that usually rides in my duty uniform off-side cargo pocket. I had a Safariland ALS holster for a J-frame with the lever-controlled lock on the rear of the cylinder, but it quit working. I gave it to someone else to send back to S-land.
If I don't have a pocket that will conceal my 642-2, I generally just carry two K-frames under my Hawaiian shirts in thumb break holsters.
 
sean m said:
I just picked up a Safariland 6378 for a LCR, seems to be good belt carry with the ALS. Lock on the rear of the cylinder. I believe there is version for the J frame S&Ws
Click to expand...
There is. Durability with the lever seemed to be an issue for me. Best of luck with yours.
 
bannockburn said:
John Joseph

I like an IWB holster, like this DeSantis SOF-TUCK, for my Model 649 and Model 638. I have found that an IWB holster like this does a great job of concealing my revolver and keeping it in place without the need for any sort of retention strap.

The Bianchi 55L Lightnin' belt holster in Sistema1927's post has the retention strap in a much lower place on the holster (unlike the typically higher location above the hammer using a thumb break snap closure), in order to accommodate the hammerless design of the gun. The snap closure is supposed to be released by your middle finger but this might make for an awkward and difficult presentation of the gun while trying to accomplish this.

View attachment 797281
Click to expand...
I've only seen photos of the Lightnin' and was curious if the thumb could release the thumb snap instead of the middle finger. It seems like re-positioning the thumb lower when drawing would be less awkward than doing contortions with the middle finger. Could any Lightnin' users confirm this?
 
I made a Lightnin' style holster for my 642, but just didn't like it . I've made several since with a traditional thumb break with good feedback from my customers . IMG_20180216_071108_261.jpg
 
John Joseph said:
It doesn't look like does very well covering the trigger. Why was it forgotten? What did you find that works better?
Click to expand...
Most older revolver holsters do not cover the trigger at all. However, this isn't a problem due to the fact that the cylinder is gripped to avoid rotation.

As to what works better. For a J-Frame, pocket carry, or IWB using one like this Don Hume:
IMG_20180809_065428.jpg
(And as you have probably figured out, I am left handed.)
 
John Joseph said:
It doesn't look like does very well covering the trigger. Why was it forgotten? What did you find that works better?
Click to expand...
That trigger is going nowhere while the thumb break is snapped closed.

The DeSantis variant is more my speed, but that Bianchi holster will do the trick, too.

irt.com%2Ffcgi-bin%2Fiipsrv.fcgi%3FFIF%3D%2Fimages%2Fcheaperthandirt%2Fsource%2F2-dsg085ba02z0_1.jpg
 
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