John Bianchi: From Kitchen-Table Holsters to Industry Legend
The short version: Athlon Outdoors profiles John Bianchi, who started making holsters as a boy and built a company that has produced more than 40 million holsters, belts and accessories, alongside a long military career and the Bianchi Cup.
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Bianchi taught himself leatherwork as a kid using scraps from a local shop and made his first cowboy holster at 12 with no formal training. His kitchen-table business began in 1958 and grew into Bianchi International. Along the way he collected more than 200 patents, trademarks and copyrights, supplied belts and holsters for TV and movie westerns in the 1960s, and befriended actors including James Arness, Hugh O'Brian and John Wayne.
His service record is just as long. He joined the National Guard at 15 after fudging his age, eventually retired as a Major General after commanding the California State Military Reserve, was recalled after 9/11 and retired again in 2004. As a Monrovia, California police officer, he designed concealed-carry gear for fellow officers, including the Number 2 Speed Scabbard for the 1911, which has been made for more than 50 years. In 1979 he designed carry gear for Delta's modified 1911s, and his UM84 holster for the M9 Beretta was adopted by the U.S. military in 1984.
Bianchi also founded the NRA/Bianchi Cup pistol tournament, wrote the gun-leather history Blue Steel and Gun Leather, and earned degrees up through a PhD. The author, who spent two days with him at his California home, describes a gracious and humble host. Today Bianchi makes custom Western holsters and belts at Frontier Gun Leather in Rancho Mirage.
Key takeaways
- Started making holsters at 12; founded his business in 1958
- More than 40 million Bianchi products and 200-plus patents, trademarks and copyrights
- Designed the UM84 military holster, adopted in 1984
- Founded the NRA/Bianchi Cup and now runs Frontier Gun Leather
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Want the full story and photos? Athlon Outdoors has the complete article by Fred Mastison.
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Summary by GunWinner based on reporting by Athlon Outdoors. Deal links are affiliate links; GunWinner may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.