Store bought leather - Bianchi Cowboy

brenn · March 24, 2014, 06:00:12 AM

I asked about this in Shooter's Meeting the other day, but there doesn't seem to be much traffic over there, so I figured I'd ask the leather experts.

I mean to make my own holsters and belts as soon as I get time to get started. I have the materials, just not the time. In the mean time, I was thinking about buying a Bianchi California Outlaw rig for me and a Texas Outlaw rig for my wife, both double.

The reason is, until the end of the month you get a half price discount card for holsters.com, for an order up to $1,000, when you join or renew you IDPA membership. We have 2 cards, so my $330 rig would cost $165, including the belt and 2 holsters.

Anybody seen the Bianchi gear and have an opinion on it?

olered54 · March 24, 2014, 01:17:39 PM

I saw your other post about these holsters and am wondering about them also. I also look forward to hearing what others think of them. I guess that they must not be very popular.

St. George · March 24, 2014, 02:25:34 PM

El Paso Saddlery makes superb leather, and has done so for quite some time - otherwise, they'd've never stayed in business as long as they have.

Try typing in 'El Paso Saddlery' in the search engine, for more information - or look online to see their offerings.

Scouts Out!

brenn · March 24, 2014, 02:34:59 PM

Quote from: St. George on March 24, 2014, 02:25:34 PM
El Paso Saddlery makes superb leather, and has done so for quite some time - otherwise, they'd've never stayed in business as long as they have.

Try typing in 'El Paso Saddlery' in the search engine, for more information - or look online to see their offerings.

Scouts Out!

But, like I said, I get Bianchi half price. So where an El Paso rig would cost me $300-600 or so, a Bianchi would cost me $165.

I'd order Kirkpatrick or El Paso for sure if I was just trying to decide between $500 rigs. In fact, if the Bianchi was full price, my first choice would be an El Paso #44 two-gun rig for $295.

Curley Cole · March 25, 2014, 10:39:38 PM

I have known John B since I was in high school and he was on the Monrovia police force. (he actually showed my mom who was working at winchells donut shop at the time a holster and asked if she would buy it. she said she didn't have a use for it but it was beautiful. that was the start of is garage workshop.)

as far as I am concerned he is the master of leatherwork. (he designed the rigs for the army when they went to the 9mm and had the gov. contract.)

I have some Bianchi but just can't afford it for everyday use. If you can get his stuff go for it.

we always need pictures here
curley

Idahoan · March 26, 2014, 12:24:02 AM

I searched the Bianchi site for info about the discount and could not find it - can you help me?

brenn · March 26, 2014, 07:11:02 AM

Quote from: Idahoan on March 26, 2014, 12:24:02 AM
I searched the Bianchi site for info about the discount and could not find it - can you help me?

Yes. If you join or renew membership in IDPA before the end of March, you get a discount card from holsters.com. You can place one order, up to $1,000, at half price and it's good until December 31, 2014. My wife and I renewed a while back and had our membership cards and our discount cards within a week or so. If you want to order anything over $80 from Safariland/Bianchi at holsters.com (their direct outlet) you'd come out ahead by joining IDPA just for the discount. So, in my case, I can pay $40 to join IDPA, then order my wife and me Bianchi Cowboy rigs and save around $350-400.

I got one of these cards in a military pistol match a while back, but didn't have anything I wanted to buy - just before it expired I bought a Bianchi shoulder holster at half price and they even gave me half price on the total with shipping.

brenn · March 27, 2014, 02:26:17 PM

Here's a link to the IDPA membership page, if you are interested: https://www.idpa.com/join-now

rickk · April 02, 2014, 12:12:26 PM

Keep in mind that the only "real" John Bianchi made holsters are sold at http://www.frontiergunleather.com/

From what I gather, John Bianchi's ex wife took him to the cleaners quite a few years ago. She got Bianchi International, and he got a rock.

From the vague info on the Bianchcowboy web site, it looks like it is part of his wife's company.

Curley Cole · April 02, 2014, 05:29:32 PM

that is pretty much the true deal. while the stuff at BI is good stuff, it is pretty much mass produced, and frontier he went back to the old ways and all is hand done

there is a great book out on him check it out.

http://www.holsters.com/promotions/BIA-BOOk-1.asp

here is a link to the book

curley