A thumb-break leather holster offers a steady mix of retention, comfort, and pleasing good looks. The Bianchi Shadow II checks all the boxes exceptionally well and comes in a number of different fits. Whether you have a 1911, Glock, Sig, Ruger, or Walther, there is a Shadow II for you.
The Shadow II might shine best in a gun traditionally underserved by large holster makers—the Smith & Wesson K-Frame. Here is how the traditional Bianchi Shadow II stacks up when paired with a traditional shooting delight.
Bianchi Shadow II: An Overview
The Bianchi Shadow II is a pancake-style leather holster meant for outside-the-waistband carry. Like many of Bianchi’s current leather products, the Shadow II holster is made in Mexico from premium cowhide. Dye choices include traditional brown, tan, or black leather.
Each Shadow II is press molded to a particular style of firearm and double stitched through the outline. Unlike other leather holsters, the Shadow II has a closed bottom. This limits the user to certain barrel lengths, but eliminates an ingress point for dirt and debris to enter the muzzle.
The holster has three slots for up to a 1.75-inch belt. Moving from the lower to the upper slot at the front of the holster allows for a more pronounced cant. The cant allows for less printing under clothes and guards against snatching the pistol from the holster from behind.
In addition to this, the holster has a steel locked thumb break for additional retention. Sweep the break toward the body, and the pistol can be drawn.
The Bianchi Shadow II is among the most versatile holsters in the Safariland lineup, with an unrivaled number of fits. This includes traditional pistols like 1911s, the Browning Hi Power, and Walther PPK.
Revolver fits include the Colt Detective Special, Ruger SP101, Charter Arms Undercover, and Smith & Wesson revolvers, ranging from the small-frame J-frame to large .44 caliber N-frames. Modern pistol fits include the Ruger P-series, Glock, Beretta, Springfield Armory, H&K, and Kahr Arms.
The Bianchi Shadow II is available with either a left or right-hand draw, and pricing starts at $84.00.
Range and Carry with the Bianchi Shadow II
The Bianchi Shadow II is a solid concealed or open carry retention holster, albeit old-fashioned. John Bianchi did some of his best work when this was the state of technology and the service revolver was king. To that end, I paired the Bianchi Shadow II with a number of K-frame size revolvers for range carry and concealed carry.
The Shadow II is sized for the Model 10, Model 12, Model 13, Model 15, and Model 19. These revolvers are the same size, aside from adjustable sights or fixed sights. But each fit comes with an option of different barrel lengths. You can get a Model 10 holster with a 3-inch or 4-inch fit or the Model 19 holster with a 2.5 or 4-inch fit. The other models are for 4-inch barreled revolvers.
The Shadow II is a high ride holster that brings the butt of the pistol and muzzle further up than a traditional hip holster. With an oversized t-shirt or a moderately sized light jacket, the Shadow II hides well and shows less when you do the proverbial reach for the shelf at the grocery store.
The holster has two belt slots at the front and one at the rear. This allows you to adjust the cant of the pistol. This reduces printing as the presentation of the grip is reduced. The cant also guards against rear snatching, as does the steel thumb snap retention system. The pistol is gripped, and the shooting thumb sweeps the snap off before the draw stroke.
I took the opportunity to test the Shadow II through a combination of concealed carry and range work. Over the winter of 2025, a S&W Model 15 and Henry Golden Boy revolver rode in the Shadow II under a light jacket.
These are not the easiest handguns to conceal outside the waistband, but the Shadow II holds these pistols snug against the body, cutting down on printing. The main concern of employing an OWB holster for carry is more about the length of the garment rather than the girth.
I also employed the Shadow II in an open carry setup while on my range. Both in hot weather and cold weather, the Shadow II carries a handgun comfortably during my eight-hour shooting sessions. While my carry gun is rarely used on the job, I had a few test guns that fit the size parameters for this holster. As such, I employed the Shadow II while doing timed Bill Drill exercises where I timed the draw to first shot and then timed what it takes to get five hits on target.
The Shadow II lacks a large sweat guard, but the thumb break is prominent enough to hit without looking at it. I never failed to get a full firing grip on the handgun at the start and a hard sweep with my short thumbs unlocks the holster and enables a clean sub-2 second draw.
Bianchi Shadow II: A Do It All OWB Holster
The Bianchi Shadow II is a quality piece of hide that provides the comfort and styling of leather while providing a balance of retention and cant adjustment. It also comes in an unbeatable number of fits for handguns, ranging from old double-action revolvers to some of the latest auto pistols.
When paired with a Smith & Wesson K-frame, the Shadow II represents an excellent entry in a vanishing number of options for one of the most populous handguns out there.
