How do I put this Bianchi 9R-1 shoulder holster correctly?

[mick53]

I just got a Bianchi 9R-1 "upside down" shoulder holster. I had a woven nylon strap made for it because it was missing the strap.

There's a pic of the set-up below. I'll be damned if i can figure out how to get it on the right way.

See where the snap part of the woven strap is inserted through a slit in the leather?

You can't see them, but there are three other slits in the leather in the widest part of the leather strap. I know the other end of the strap has to go through one of them but then I'm just lost as to what to do next.

And I can't figure out why two buckles are needed.

I don't think a verbal explanation is gonna cut it. Does anyone have a picture handy that will help me with this puzzle?

 

[Drail]

I can't draw you a picture but I believe the holster goes on one shoulder, one of the two other straps goes across your back and around your off side shoulder and the third one (the long one) goes down to your belt to stabilize the weight from the gun. Obviously you'll need to adjust the two nylon straps to the correct length to reach around the off shoulder and to your belt. I think the three slits in the leather shoulder strap are to be used to anchor the holster so it hangs the way you want it. Good luck. That's some old school stuff there. I like it. That looks like the rig Steve McQueen used in Bullit. You might be able to contact Bianchi and get the owner's manual for it.

 

[mick53]

I've talked to Bianchi 3 times about this and can't get by a couple of women, both of whom sound about 12 years old.

"That's a holster we no longer make."

I tell her I understand that, but you do have a repair center there for holsters, right?

"Yes, we do."

Can I just speak to one of the people that works there? I just have a simple question about a holster. Maybe there's someone there who can answer it.

"I'm not allowed to put anyone through down there."

I asked to speak to her supervisor who told me, "Sorry, your out of luck. Holster techs are forbidden to deal with customers.

Bianchi is now owned by SafariLand and both lines have some good holsters. Why don't you just buy a new one?"

F - Bianchi and F - SafariLand for that matter.

As for that strap. it's a single strap that was doubled over when I took the picture. There is no belt/pants attachment on this.

The strap goes around the off-shoulder and down behind the back somehow.
I even as my wife to be a mannequin for me and couldn't figure it out. We reversed the process and she couldn't figure it out either.

 

[dfariswheel]

Put the leather shoulder strap and holster on your right shoulder (obviously).

The nylon strap runs from the bottom of the leather strap where its snapped now and goes across your lower back, under your left armpit, up over the left shoulder passes across your upper back just below your neck and back to the leather holster strap.

The three slots are so you can adjust the hang of the holster to the right position.
You want the gun and holster hanging IN FRONT of your arm pit, NOT under it with the barrel pointing up into your arm pit.
The barrel should be in front of your shoulder pointing up.

If the gun is allowed to shift to the rear under the arm pit, you can't get a grip on the butt, and the gun butt will print through the back of your coat.
You'll see old TV detective shows with people wearing these holsters so far to the rear an orangutan couldn't reach the gun.

Moving the nylon strap down a slot allows the gun to shift farther under the arm.
Moving it up a slot pulls the gun forward in front of the arm pit.
You also adjust the snaps on the leather shoulder sling to move the gun forward and back, and higher or lower on the body.

There's a reason you don't see these types of holsters and shoulder harnesses much these days: Its just about impossible to get the gun into the correct position in front of the arm pit and KEEP it there. It tends to shift backward during the day.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i've actually worn one of these and dfariswheel has it right...except, being right handed, i wore the holster on my left shoulder.

the problem with trying to keep the holster in place is that tightening the straps to keep it from moving would feel like you were trying to make your shoulder blades touch...what it really needed were tie down straps on both sides to secure it to the belt.

BTW: it also makes a horrible break front shoulder holster

if you'd like a nice shoulder holster that carries a revolver with the muzzle up, try the Ken Null City Slicker (SKR)

 

[mick53]

Problem solved. Thanks guys.

 

[Rembrandt]

Some of these shoulder holsters can resemble a Chinese jock strap.....glad you got it figured out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Some of these shoulder holsters can resemble a Chinese jock strap

pray tell, i didn't know that jock straps had a nationality...has this been an area of study for you?

 

[rcmodel]

rc

 

[Rembrandt]

.....pray tell, i didn't know that jock straps had a nationality...

Chinese jock strap is a term to describe what's worn by Sumo wrestlers.

 

[9mmepiphany]

now i'm really confused

something worn in a Japanese sport is referred to by referencing a different culture's apparel?...apparently the urban dictionary hasn't heard or it either.

maybe it's regional slang

 

[Drail]

+1 rcmodel. Nice work.

 

[DBR]

Try here: http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/large/brownshoe.htm

 

[Boom Vang]

That Bullitt rig looks like a Safariland Model 19 holster, similar in function but not design to the Bianchi 9R.