CCW Holsters for S&W N-frame

B

bossman

New member
I finally found a S&W 22-4 45acp. last spring. With jacket weather coming on, I'm ready to buy a good leather holster for the gun. What do ya'll use when you carry a N-frame? Anyone IWB a gun like this?

It seems like an OWB pancake would be the way to go, but I thought suggestions form people who actually CCW with one would be helpful.
 
I have a Kramer OWB for my N frame. It's far from cheap, but it is as good a holster as you can buy. Not sure how IWB would work with a hog leg like an N frame, but I guess it could be done if you were committed to it.
 
I carry my 3" 625 in a Lobo Model 1 Pancake. It has an Optional Inner Hammer Shield, as well as Optional Detail Boning.

Lobo also makes an Enhanced Pancake that looks even better than the Model 1. I have one of them for my 4" 64. Detail Boning is standard, I added the Inner Hamer Shield to it also. The main difference is the Model 1 has conventional pancake belt slots, while the Enhanced Pancake has belt tunnels. The Enhanced Pancake just looks a little better. The Model 1 is easier to thread the belt through.

I have ordered 3 Lobo holsters from Ray so far. He has been filling orders in under 6 weeks. His prices are not bad at all either.

Bob
 
For most...

...all my concealed weapons, I use a Done Hume J.I.T. Slide holster. They hold close to my body, and the holster stays put.

I have variously carried S&W Models 696, 325NG, 65, 66, 686 Plus, 49, and a Kimber Ultra Carry.
 
I use an Alessi Slide, but I don't CC that big a gun. Pancake should be the best bet. A wide belt would help and I like the idea of the belt tunnel. Anything to help stabilize that monster.
 
Having carried N frames for a few years I can tell you that if you want to use an IWB (and I do) you must buy your pants a little bigger. Try to stuff it into your normal size pants and you won't like it. Trust me. You also need a good gunbelt and a holster that secures the gun and stays where you position it.
 
WESHOOT2, I looked up HSR on the Milt Sparks Website. I bought an almost identical holster for a 1911A1 in the late 70s at a Pocatello gun show from a guy...what was his name.umm, oh yeah, Milt Sparks. Great holster, wish I could find it.

I carry, if I must, my N-frames in a coupla old Bianchi X-2100s.
 
When carrying a revolver as large as an N-Frame, I prefer an Askins style OWB holster as I find that type to help conceal the butt of the revolver best. I personally use a Kramer that I was lucky enough to find in a used holster bin for $6. I use this holster in cold weather to carry my S&W M28-2, 629-6, or when I still owned it 22-4 (4" barrels on all of them). My dad uses an El Paso Saddlery holster of the same style to carry his S&W M29-2 and is equally pleased.
 
I carry a 4" N-frame during the winter time. I use either a Galco OWB (rarely).

Most of the time, I use a Side Guard IWB Holster. He didn't make one for the N-frame, so I bought a K-frame model and "stretched" it by putting an N-frame into it for a while. It is my favorite holster for revolver carry, and Eric is a pleasure to work with.

Another inovative approach is the Hoffners Miurage--I have one each in K-frame and N-frame size. Although in my limited experience, the Miurage design is better suited for a K-frame...at least for my size and body shape.

One of these days I am going to try the CABO or the Simply Rugged.
 
RafterS and El Paso

I carry a 4-inch N-frame in RafterS sharkskin OWB and have an El Paso Saddlery pancake for 2-inch N-frames. OWB works well for me with these.
 
carrying N frame DA revolvers....

To conceal a large frame DA revolver, you may want to see the holsters from Lawman Leathergoods(STU or Dirty Harry), the Galco, Kramer Leather, Bianchi-intl, Blade-tech, COM Holsters, DeSantis, Kramer, Milt Sparks, or the Mitch Rosen styles.
A shoulder rig may help for long term(8-12hr) carry uses. You may want to get the S&W refit for DA only use & remove the spur too for belt carry. ;)
Most top revolversmiths can convert the DA revolver to DA only and remove the single action notch if you want it.
CF
www.americanpistol.com
 
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