I reviewed the Smith & Wesson Performance Center 7-shot model 686 .357 Magnum revolver in a previous column and was highly impressed by it. While it is a concealable gun, not every method of concealment is designed to work with a revolver this large. Even with the 2.5-inch barrel, this stainless-steel, double-action L-frame revolver weighs in at a solid 34.1 ounces. That is the tradeoff you get with a 7-shot revolver chambered in the powerful .357 Magnum that is still comfortable to shoot. A number of years ago, Smith & Wesson produced the Scandium-framed 7-shot Model 386 PD .357 Magnum revolver. Its light weight made this L-frame easy to carry in a wide variety of modes. However, it only took one revolution of its 7-round cylinder loaded with full-power .357 Magnums for me to be done at the range for the day. The .38 Special loads were much easier to handle.
The best carry mode for the Performance Center 686 is OWB belt carry using a heavy-duty double-thickness belt. I already had the belt — an older black basket-weave Crossbreed Instructor Belt — but no holster. For that component, I turned to El Paso Saddlery.
El Paso Saddlery is the oldest continuously operating holster and gunbelt manufacturer in the U.S. Operating in El Paso, Texas since 1889, it began operations during the heyday of the gunfighter era of the old West. Over the years, El Paso rigs have been used by famous shooters as well as by average folks who have needed the best protection for their handguns under harsh conditions. When you purchase a product from El Paso, you are purchasing a piece of history.
In selecting the best holster for my purposes, I had four basic requirements that had to be met: First, in order to keep the 686 properly concealed, the holster had to be capable of keeping the gun pulled in to my body. (A holster that allows the handgun to gap away from the body will easily print against clothing.) Second, the holster had to ride as high as possible above my beltline. (I was planning on wearing it underneath a sweater or a sweatshirt, so I didn’t want the holster to ride so low that the bottom of it could be seen below the bottom of the sweatshirt if I turned a certain way or stretched.) Third, as a police officer and defensive tactics instructor who survived three gun grab attempts while working the streets, I have been critically aware of the need for retention devices on a holster for a handgun that may occasionally be carried in the open (such as when wearing a “soft” or casual training uniform). And finally, the fourth requirement was that the holster had to be leather — the only suitable material for a classic revolver like the 686.
The El Paso holster that seemed like it would meet all four of my requirements turned out to be the Model 77 “Tortilla.” A Southwestern take on the original “pancake” holster concept, the Tortilla not only met my basic requirements, it exceeded all my expectations.
The Tortilla is an open-muzzle design that comes lined. A lined holster has an extra protective layer in the interior to protect the finish of the gun — specifically classic, old-school blued-steel handguns that are susceptible not only to rust but to the wearing down of the finish over time. Although that kind of wear won’t happen to stainless-steel handguns, I still prefer the increased thickness of lined holsters. The open-muzzle design prevents accumulation of debris, lint and even water inside the holster. The cut of the holster maintained nearly an inch of distance between the muzzle of the 686 and the opening, thus protecting the muzzle crown and front sight. Over half of the trigger guard is also covered by the holster.
The Tortilla features classic thumb break retention, which is still the most common retention method used in leather holsters. The thumb break holds the 686 securely in place but is easily cleared by the wearer.
A traditional forward-cant design, the Tortilla tilts the butt of the gun slightly forward for the draw. Forward-cant draw motion helps the shooter assume a “gunfighter crouch” when drawing — a good concept that has been lost in the “modern,” post-Colonel-Jeff-Cooper era of firearms training. In my book, anything that makes you a smaller target is a good thing. You don’t — or shouldn’t — stand upright in a fistfight, so why would you do it in a gunfight?
Since I had a black basket-weave belt, I decided to mate it with a black basket-stamped Tortilla holster. Other El Paso holster and belt finish patterns are border stamping, fishscale stamping, floral carving, extra fancy floral carving, frontier floral carving and plain. Available colors are Russet and Black.
The Tortilla allowed me to wear the Performance Center 686 in excellent comfort and, more importantly, with excellent concealment. When combined with a stiff belt like the one from CrossBreed or the other excellent belts from El Paso, the Tortilla rides in tight and unnoticed by the public. I found that wearing the Tortilla just forward of my right hip, rather than directly over it, was the best position in terms of comfort and access. The appearance of the Tortilla clearly complimented that of the 686. Its $81.00 MSRP is very reasonable
It was good to work with a handmade leather holster from a historic company. The Tortilla is available for most semi-automatic pistols and double-action and single-action revolvers. If you are looking for quality, USA-made holsters for concealed carry, cowboy action shooting, military reenactment or classic carry, or if you want a holster custom made from exotic materials, look no further than El Paso Saddlery. It will be well worth your time.
Source
www.epsaddlery.com
