I live in NYC, so obviously I have no idea, but I’ve fantasize about someday living in a free state where I can open carry my Ruger Vaquero. If I did, I imagine a cross draw holster would be most comfortable and practical since there shouldn’t be any issues sitting or standing. I even identified the one I want and am attaching am photo. In my minds eye it would be ideal but I have no real world experience.

 

I imagine a cross draw holster would be most comfortable and practical since there shouldn’t be any issues sitting or standing. I even identified the one I want and am attaching am photo. In my minds eye it would be ideal but I have no real world experience.

I don't care what is "right" but I know what will work for me, cowboy-style, as I'm not fighting desperados but maybe Copperheads (and perhaps, a trespasser). I wear a gun on my hip all summer. Shot four Copperheads near our house or in the garden last year, 3 of them with wheelguns, one with my old Mossberg.

Thus I'll wear my Blackhawk on my strong side, on a modern steel-core belt, in an old Bianchi cavalry holster with the Ruger logo. On my other side will be a DeSantis 2x6 pouch. I'm often out there, 8 hours a day, probably more. When done right, I forget that I'm wearing the gun. Last summer was HOT and I was in the middle of a low-carb diet. I shed 40 pounds fast and have kept them off. That also helped me decide how to wear my rig, since most of the "fellers" around here also open carry when doing farm work. It was a GP100 or snub last year. This year is the first with the Blackhawk.

Cowboys were practical and guns were tools, unless they were dudes. They let the gear fit what we'd today call the "use case." I don't want a gun down on my thigh getting in the way as I get on or off a tractor, and I may be wearing chainsaw chaps for part of the season. And yes, in VA's summer heat I wear a wide-brim cowboy hat.

Ain't 1870s but neither is a transfer bar. So, partner, you wearin' that smokewagon to a cowboy-action event, or for doin' work?

 

Wear it just like another belt/holster combo ... belt at the waist. The halfway down the leg, belt across the butt nonsense is pure Hollywood!

 

Back in my hunting days, which were mostly handgun hunting days, I carried my Contenders or large bore revolvers in a bandelero holster or shoulder rig, but never on the hip. Moving through thick brush with a fancy hip holster was too hard on both the holster and the gun where I hunted. Just an invitation to get the gun and holster scratched and filled with gunk.

These days when I carry a snub nose revolver or small autoloader as a woods gun, I'll usually use an IWB under a sweatshirt or coat. Still offers more protection than an open hip holster.

These holsters may not be as fashionable as a fancy leather cowboy action shooting rig, but the deer and bear and four-legged stuff have never criticized my sense of fashion.

 

We actually do have a forum for holsters. It's called "Handgun Accessories" so once I finish this post, I'll move the thread to the right place.

I've changed my life style …. gained a lot of weight and don't hunt any more. Because of that, I recently sold my George Lawrence buscadero rig. It is a heavy leather holster and belt with cartridge loops …. much like the gun fighters in movies wear. I also have leather "fast draw" holsters for my Blackhawks and Single Sixes that mount on the strong side with a wide belt. The concept for comfort is to use something that will spread the weight of the holster and gun over a larger area. I have worn these holsters on deer hunts for several days. I must admit, even when you get a rig that fits nice, it's always a pleasure to get back to camp and get the darn thing off. I've tried shoulder holsters, cross draws, and chest holster too but none are as comfortable as my belt mounted hip holsters. No doubt, other people have different opinions.

Here's my "used to have" Super Blackhawk in the Geo Lawrence rig:

 

Nice looking Super Blackhawk and Holster.

 

I wore this rig walking over hill and dale in groundhog hunts with no problem:

This a somewhat more urban way to carry:

Bob Wright

 

I would wear it at your waist as I carry when hunting in pa.

 

turkey,

Nice looking Super Blackhawk and Holster.

With exception of the grips, I'll bet it looks exactly like the one in your safe …. even the serial numbers are the same. Enjoy it, I certainly did.

 

turkey,

With exception of the grips, I'll bet it looks exactly like the one in your safe …. even the serial numbers are the same. Enjoy it, I certainly did.

It does, as soon as it warms up I'll be enjoying it even more.
I'll be talking to ya real soon.

 

Hey look! I have a George Lawrence buscadero rig too! And a Super Blackhawk to go with it.

 

Waveform, That leather rig looks very familiar too …. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Funny, your Bisley stainless grip frame now resides on turnkey's SBH. Seems good things keep in circulation.

 

Galco SA outdoorsman and a good leather belt.

I prefer steel core belt for all my handguns 2lbs or more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

For all the hunting, hiking, fishing and camping I did, I just open carried on my 'hold the pants up' belt. And yes, the holster shows quite a bit of wear... But that's what it is for ... not to 'look at'. The carry gun does have a few scratches in the grip panels and a little bluing wear (where you'd expect it), but that is just part of the character of the 'using' revolver(s) in the field. I suspect from what I read, the 'cowboy' was mounted on a horse for his work ... and play. So an extra belt probably wasn't a big deal, if he wear one at all.

 

I agree with rclark. Honest wear on a revolver shows character. Same with a holster.

 

I have a couple of DeSantis Desperado belts and holsters for my 44 Vaqueros, A Doc Holiday for a cross draw with my 4", and a regular right hand holster for my 5 1/2". They make some of the best. Not cheap.

 

I have two San Pedro Saddlery holster belt combos. They are the "Mexican Loop" style, which was popular back in the old days.
I will wear the strong side ( a lefty here) most times, but if I am carrying a rifle, or will be keeping the rig on while driving, I use the crossdraw rig.

I don't believe San Pedro is still in business, although they made top notch stuff, the owner wasn't the best business man, he got way behind on orders and had trouble getting the product out to customers.
Galco and El Paso Saddlery make good stuff for mass -produced, non custom leather goods.

 

Great pics---the only thing missing is the rattlesnake---dead or alive.

 

There's some really good "holster history" on the Cochise Leather Company site at this link: https://www.cochiseleather.com/western-gun-leather-history.aspx

 

Watch the instructional video called " Shane " , with Alan Ladd , and wear your belt & holster just like Shane shows Joey how to wear his .
Works for me.
Gary

 

I wear an older Smith and Wesson SAA holster, always thought it was an irony they made a good SAA belt holster, but not an SAA. Good, sturdy, cheap, and comfortable.

Might be heresy to carry a Blackhawk in a SW holster? Works for me tho. Cheers to Ruger and Rugers.

 

Roundabout, Funny you should mention S&W holsters, I have two of them …. one for a 5 1/2" Single-Six and the other for a 6 1/2" Blackhawk. Just a few weeks ago, I dug them out of my holster box and gave them a black shoe polish treatment. I bought these back in the 70s and they are still in good serviceable condition. I don't remember what I paid for them but it had to be less than 10 bucks each. Both have been used on a good many deer and elk hunting trips.

 

Well I am way too old for a hip holster. Carry my 4" S&W.357 in an Alaskan guide chest rig when in the woods.

 

When you say hunting it depends on what you mean. I have carried guns like a model 29 all over Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Oklahoma while deer, goat and elk hunting. But as anyone who hunts hills and mountains knows, you ditch the cowboy boots and cool gear the first time you climb 400-500 feet on a steep grade. People look for ultra light mountain guns, big cleats on the boots, and practical back packs.

Then as we age the belly expands and the hips shrink and belt rigs are hard to keep up and even harder to keep one side of your jeans up. The solution for me has first been to get suspenders. I have a couple pair of custom leather ones that have clips that look like saddlery, they attach to the belt loops. The hold the pants level and let you wear a loose belt for climbing and crawling or whatever you need. The also hold the heavy gun up. If you are carrying a rifle you do not want the handgun on the strong side. I go with a cross draw usually one of the Mexican loop style shown above. I also have 3 of those old jackass rigs, now called the Miami Classic that fit my N frame SW, a K frame, a J frame and a 1911. I have also carried a 1911 lots in Colorado, They are narrow and hold close to the body. I also have a Desantis should rig that fits anything with a 6 inch or shorter barrel.

I have tried them all that that is what works for me. Last year I wanted to kill a deer with my stainless Bisley, 45 with 5.5 inch barrel, so I carried it cross draw. A pretty heavy gun but the suspenders held it just fine. Hope that helps. I never hunt without some pistola somewhere. There have been a number of cases where hunters were killed by trusting strangers. FWIW

 

I wear this at most of the SASS shoots that I attend: El Paso Saddlery Duke holsters, Bianchi Cartridge belt, and 2 (4 5/8") 357 Vaqueros.

 

Since I don't consider my Blackhawk a carry gun but more of a 'fun' gun I wear mine low in a Triple K Cheyenne holster.

 

Ok, you all will probably get a good laugh out of this, but because I live in the Chicago illinois area, and we will NEVER GET OPEN CARRY, and because I work in the Chicago "loop" which is now a major crime area and have to be at work early in the mornings, I carry my Vaquero Bisley in a belly band holster worn inside the waistband, it is getting more comfortable the more often i do it but not to be rude, it kinda interferes with some "intimate" areas and my boyfriend isn't too happy that I carry a .357 there at all, but my feelings are any gun is better than no gun when s**t hits the fan, and you cannot beat a .357 JHP round for defensive purposes.

 

since you are in ILL-Annoy (aka the DPRI), if you are looking for something a little easier to carry there is a big manufacturer shoot coming up at GAT Guns in E. Dundee in mid-March (Mar 14-15). There will be a lot of items to try, from a wide range of manufacturers (I'll be there representing CZ).

 

Well, I've said this before, Ruger single actions are indeed very fine weapons, but there are other more appropriate firearms out there for concealed carry.

After seeing a clip of about a dozen teens attacking a sleeping passenger on a Chicago mass transit car, I think anything less than 14 rounds is going to be inadequate.

And, yes I realize the all mighty Chicago authorities have forbidden CCW on their transportation systems. But no one is going to come to your rescue if the unimaginable happens.

WR

 

that is true, and i am looking at better carry options, and it is true that weapons are not allowed on the trains, every working street cop in chicago advises people to get ccw and arm themselves if they use the cta trains.

 

I wonder how that would hold up in court if a person actually had to defend himself.......

I know, It is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6. But it is going to cost a pretty penny to avoid jail time.

WR