I carry a Ruger 4 5/8" .41 mag. NM Blackhawk when I hike in the mountains and the black bears are awake. It goes in a Camelbak buttpack that I use, butt-up, topstrap down, butt facing my strong side. I can get it out in a couple of seconds. I doubt I'll ever need it, but I'd feel pretty stupid if I did and it was at home.
Open carry is legal (and I've got a nice old-timey rig from RD Makers of El Paso), but it freaks people out too much. When I used to hunt, I'd carry open . . . the rifle actually seemed to make people not freak out: "Oh, he's hunting."
I don't carry the Blackhawk other than when I'm in the mountains. It's just too bulky (much worse than Colts), and I have other things that are sufficiently good medicine for vermin less hardy than black bears.
Ronin, I grew up outside West Lafayette. I doubt you'll want to carry open around there, and (unless you're a big fella) you might find concealing a single-action revolver a little inconvenient. Have a pork tenderloin sandwich for a displaced Hoosier, would you?