Inside-the-waistband carry is perhaps the most efficient method of concealed carry. Without a visible holster along the belt or a distinctive grip bulge that can happen with outside-the-waistband options, IWB carry breaks up the outline of the firearm and holster without compromising draw speed.
But finding the right IWB holster can be tricky. You have to pick materials ranging from Kydex, leather, and nylon, and understand the pitfalls and benefits of them. The belt clips have to be rigid. Some IWB rigs are too universally made, and a bulky shell will give you grief while holding a diminutive handgun.
Some IWB rigs have hard edges and backplates that make it difficult to move organically while carrying. Others are downright dangerous with some firearms. Some manufacturers cannot even master tried-and-true leather holsters. But for everyday carry, I find myself coming back to the Bianchi Model 100 Professional. I have a few of them, and they offer a good balance of comfort, size, and rigidity for carrying revolvers and pistols.
Bianchi Model 100: Barebones and Well Appointed
Traditional leather holsters eliminate the sharp edges associated with polymer holsters. But the most available holsters tend to be too thin or too thick. Thin leather provides little retention and collapses when the handgun is drawn, making rebolstering a two-handed affair. Other holsters use a hide that is thick enough to hold its shape, but so thick that it creates bulk where it does not need to be. Good midweight fitted holsters can be made custom, but can be pricy. The Bianchi Model 100 strikes a good balance.
The Model 100 is made of midweight cowhide halves that are single-stitched together to form the holster. It features a closed bottom to keep lint and debris out of the muzzle of the pistol and a sturdy tool-hardened steel belt clip on the outer vegetable tanned shell. The clip itself is sized right for belt sizes as wide as 1.75 inches.
The other half of the holster is suede leather that provides a grippy surface that prevents the holster from shifting on the draw against an undershirt or bare skin. This half also features a high sweat guard that keeps your firearm away from rust culprits and debris.
The Bianchi Model 100 Professional is available in brown or black leather and comes in a number of sizes that correspond to specific firearms. It is also versatile, with fits ranging from the obscure Makarov pistol to the venerable 5-inch 1911.
The models I use are set up for the Smith & Wesson J-frame and the Ruger SP101. It comes with either a right-handed or left-handed draw orientation.
Wearing and tearing
Kydex and leather are the only trustworthy materials for IWB holsters. The holster has to take the strain and pressure of being between the belt and the body, and your body has to absorb some of that pressure as you go about your day. With the Bianchi 100, I don’t get the hotspots that I do from Kydex.
The Bianchi’s leather mitigates that while being stiff enough for easy holstering and reholstering. The sweat guard further guards against hotspots and contaminants without being so large as to compromise your grip when you go for the handgun.
The steel clip will not snap off from day-to-day pressure and holstering drills. Once it is looped around the belt, the holster is not going anywhere until you unclamp it.
In terms of retention and presentation, the handgun is held in a straight vertical position without a significant cant. That is particularly useful for AIWB carry, but particularly large grip handguns can sit proud under clothes at the 3 or 9 o’clock position.
The good fit is compounded thanks to the closed bottom of the holster. It’s sealed and helps keep the two halves rigid. It also keeps lint out of the barrel. On the other hand, it limits the barrel length of the handgun and should be accounted for first. Open bottom holsters allow longer barrels to slip through, but that is not the case with the Professional. The entire pistol is covered, which is great for protection and preventing hot spots, but you have to make sure your snubbie is 2.25 inches or less and your 5-inch 1911 is indeed 5 inches.
The Professional’s midweight full-grain leather holster is fitted to a particular handgun, so it is important that you don’t go for one model hoping it will fit another. My J-frame holster nominally fits my Ruger SP101 tightly, but the trigger sits ever so slightly proud.
The Bottom Line: The Bianchi Professional
For everyday carry with a belt in mind, the Bianchi Model 100 Professional provides excellent protection, good retention, and comfort only a good piece of leather can give.
