David Bradshaw photos...

[bradshaw]

Doc Barranti.... the last photo----of the holster with nickel 8-3/8” M-29----shows a belt slot behind the elk lacing for high ride carry in either strong side or cross draw mode. Wonder whether you consider this close in some way to your Barranti Northwest Companion, with its separate loop going over the holster to loop onto the belt. Realizing the Northwest Companion should be more comfortable on long hauls, as the pants belt does not surround the holster. My method was to make the rig concealable for the long barrel cannon (which of course slows the draw), as the belt directly secures the revolver against one’s body.

Turns out, that for all the mileage put on that rig, the vast majority was spent with the revolver slung by the belt loop from a 3” belt, somewhat less so from a 2-3/4” belt, with considerable mileage slung from a 2” belt.

My method would not work nearly as well as yours with short barrels. The challenge in carrying a short, barrel big bore in high ride comes from raising the hand cannon’s center-of-gravity. The inside-the-belt/outside-the-pants loop is a short barrel design. This holds the butt close to one’s torso. Fermin likes the ability of the Northwest Companion to adapt to his torso, a feature important to those who must perform tasks, as opposed to the desk jockey who doesn’t respect physical work.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

gmtfarmer.....
An Inside Waist Band holster with with belt loop for standard----outside waist band----carry. Belt shown through loop. Loop raked for crossdraw or strong side draw. Carried inside waistband, belt enters WELT SLOT from rear, over holster into trouser belt loop. As the belt passes beneath cylinder, no thickness is added to cylinder area. Water molded cylinder area helps support revolver and keeps it from rocking. This method should work with a single action with 4-5/8” barrel. A snubnose, such as the Ruger Alaskan, is too butt-heavy for this type of high-ride carry. This holster flattens sixgun against torso with minimal discomfort.

Due to its lateral bulk, I am not a devotee of the pancake. Nevertheless, it is a matter for individual anatomy----in conjunction with pancake design----to decide. Comfort is beaucoup important when you live with a rig.

Another photo essay shows IWB holsters I made for 4-inch S&W M-19 and M-29, worn constantly for a few years in mostly mountainous terrain.
David Bradshaw

S&W 29-2 nickel 8-3/8" .44 mag. Water molded Frenchback holster with elk lacing by David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

For those dreaming resurgence of the Blackhawk .357 Maximum. Top photo: first production gun assembled, serial 600-00018. Four boxes of ammo....

Experimental .357 Maximum (top to bottom)
* Federal nickel 1.545” case; Sierra 170 FMJ.
* Remington 1.490” case; Remington 158 JHP. This is the original case length.
* Remington 1.605” case; Remington 158 JHP.
* Remington 1.605” case; Remington 180 JHP.

The .360 Dan Wesson 1.4” case is a later development. The myth of topstrap cutting was laid to rest by Bill Ruger, Jr., in 1981, when he observed a cessation of erosion as firing progressed. Recall development ammo was loaded hot. Whereas the originals were machined from 4140 chrome-moly, a Maximum built today should start with 416 or 17-4 stainless. A good grade of stainless, properly heat treated shows better resistance to barrel face erosion.
Cylinder strength is not an issue with 4140, as we tested these babies at brass-destroying pressures. Mind you, slow powders only. (The freakout with fast and medium powders begins very abruptly. The all-important TIME-to-PRESSURE----aka rise----cannot be controlled.)

The original 6-shot Blackhawk Maximum proves there is no need of a 5-shot cylinder. You are killing the brass long before a 5-shot cylinder can take advantage. Readings posts expressing doubt these four decades later, I can see why Bill Ruger lost patience with those who claimed----without articulation----that drop forgings are stronger than investment castings. Any modern frame will almost certainly begin with lost wax casting. Although it won’t improve aesthetics, the frame can be made a bit longer to accommodate a longer cylinder. The hub may be shortened slightly, yet must remain to shield the base pin. Other details require attention to compliment the cartridge.
David Bradshaw

[jfs]

Always like w/o Millett sights on my revolvers...They help me align when in the field. Black on black on a black boar ain`t no fun for me....

[bradshaw]

Stubshaft.... take a look at the spaghetti pot, drilled @ 200 yards by Ruger Blackhak Maximum #18. Some while after these photos were taken, the granite boulder and fields covered in snow, decided to have a poke at the pot with factory .38 Special and .357 Mag rounds from the .357 Maximum. A very light----barely perceptible----breeze drifted full value from 9 o’clock. I spread old, insulated flannel shirt over snow mounded by snowplow. From two football fields, the spaghetti pot appeared as a tiny speck of dust. Rlevating the front sight a little, I checked the breeze on my neck. There was no visible evidence of breeze, so I had my collar down and toque rolled up to gauge the air on my neck. Deep breathing settled elevation hold, followed by a nudge of left Kentucky, and sensitized my trigger finger.

A 125 grain Jacketed Hollow Point of Winchester .38 Special monied down yonder... TICK,,, hit the aluminum pot. Most satisfying!

Next, load a Federal .357 Mag. (Memory says 125 JHP. The Federal load could have been the 180 JHP----bullet developed for the .357 Maximum, afterwards loaded as 357G in .357 Mag. In keeping with 125 grain theme, I think it was the Federal 357B 125 JHP.) This time holding a hair less elevation, with hair less Kentucky, and still reading the barely perceptible breeze on my neck, a couple of deep breaths settle the picture... and squeeze... TICK... the beautiful sound of contact.

Fired in a .357 Maximum chamber, a bullet fired in a .357 Mag case travels 1/3-inch farther to reach the CHAMBER EXIT HOLE (aka THROAT). A .38 Special must travel farther yet to reach the stabilizing comfort of the throat. Yet these short wheelbase bullets found their way to a target not much wider than a human head, at two football fields.

Three details make this accuracy from short wheelbase bullets possible:
1) Bullet has excellent dynamic balance.
2) Smooth LEADE from chamber wall to throat.
3) Short, smooth, concentric FORCING CONE.

For sure, other details count big time, but for this discussion the above three are life & death finalists.

Barrel maker Doug Shilen showed me years ago how a rough LEADE from chamber throat to lands could destroy the accuracy of a fine rifle barrel. I applied Shilen’s observations to the revolver equation, which lends articulation to my observations. My education in revolver accuracy comes monumentally from the Firing Line. Long range changes everything by eliminating what you can’t get away with.
David Bradshaw