Small-framed snubnose revolvers continue to sell in the age of the Microcompact Nine, particularly the Smith & Wesson’s J Frame models. There is a good reason for that. They are proven to work, whether you are working in close quarters, running lower powered ammunition, or with a compromised grip. Snubbies can also be as light or heavy as you need and their uneven dimensions make them easy to conceal without printing. It also helps that, after seventy years of continuous production, parts, accessories, loaders, and holsters are abundant. But even a lightweight model in the wrong position and the wrong rig can be dubious and uncomfortable to carry. Here are our top J Frame snubnose revolver holsters you might consider for concealed carry.

Flashbang Ava

Flashbang Holsters is all about approachable and durable holsters with an eye toward the female concealed carrier. Whether you are a man or woman, the Flashbang Ava is an excellent hybrid holster for your carry handgun. But it is particularly useful with snubnosed revolvers like the Smith & Wesson J-Frame.

The Ava features a generous soft leather sweat shield and a Kydex exterior bolted snugly in place. While hybrid holsters have the potential disadvantage of the backing warping and affecting retention of the handgun, the Ava makes up for it with a thicker than usual backing. The Ava does not pull any punches with the clip arrangement. Instead of setting for fragile polymer belt or waist clips, pick from spring steel DCC or UltiClips that work well with or without a belt.

The backer is perforated to allow the user to move the clips up and down. This allows the user to wear the pistol high above the waistline. Alternatively, you can orientate the clips at the highest part of the backer and your snubbie revolver disappears below the waistline while allowing for the user to get a full firing grip on the draw.

Unlike other options which flare toward the generic, the Flashbang Ava is infinitely customizable with the coloring of the leather backing, kydex shell, and thread all up for customization.

Galco Ankle Glove

Ankle carry is not the ideal way to carry a handgun, but it works best if you spend much of your day sitting or otherwise can’t get to a gun in your waistband as quickly. It can be tempting to waste cash on a bunch of noisy black fabric that is uncomfortable and too ill-fitting to securely hold the handgun. The Galco Ankle Glove is a big cut above.

The Galco Ankle Glove is essentially a full-grain fitted leather holster mated to a nylon strap that goes around the lower leg. The strap has a generous portion of velcro so it can be fastened securely to most legs. The inside of the strap is backed by soft sheepskin that provides excellent comfort and wicks away moisture on those warm days.

Most ankle holsters out there use a soft nylon holster with a Velcro strap that sacrifices speed and provides for too much excessive movement of the handgun on the walk. The ankle glove’s holster is available with a thumb-break snap or an open top. In any case, this fitted holster is specific to your handgun and holds it tight to the leg so there are no unsightly bulges while wearing a generous pair of pants.

Bianchi Model 100 Professional IWB Holster

In my time concealed carrying J-Frame revolvers, I found too many off-the-shelf IWB holsters to be too bulky, whether it is a kydex or leather option. The Bianchi Model 100 Professional is an unpretentious semi-fitted leather holster that is built a bit on the thinner side for comfy carry.

The Bianchi Professional is made of full grain leather and is available with either a left-handed or right-handed draw. It comes with a hearty steel belt clip that works well with belts up to 1 3/4 inches thick but is stiff enough to work without a belt. If you want to keep it simple, the Professional is a good option.

Phlster Enigma

The Phlster Enigma is one of the great breakthroughs in concealed carry holsters in recent years. It features a buckled strap that hugs the waist and another that goes around a leg. It is adjustable for any size and operates independently of a belt or the waistline more generally as it allows for a pistol to be carried anywhere along or below the trunk. The Enigma uses an interchangeable kydex holster that can be bought alone or with the Enigma setup, so you can use multiple handguns in the same carry system. The Enigma system is independently or with included holsters for many semi-automatic handguns, but it is also available for the venerable 2-inch J-Frame.

Galco Combat Master Belt Holster

Outside the waistband carry is underrated with the Smith & Wesson J-Frame. The girth of the handgun is off your body and the small dimensions of the handgun makes it easier to cover up without printing or showing the bottom of the holsters.

The Galco Combat Master is a full-grain leather belt holster made for OWB carry and it complements the traditional J-frame both in looks and in function. The Combat Master has a traditional thumb snap for maximum retention that is easy to commit to muscle memory. The belt loops readily handle belts up to 1 1/2 inches and can be worn horizontally. It can also be worn with the front-most loop used so the pistol is canted for reduced printing through clothes and added security from a potential snatch.

Long Live the J-Frame

The Smith & Wesson J-Frame is about as classic and bulletproof of a concealed carry handgun as one could get. But the platform is only as good as the trigger time and gear you invest. Get some dryfire repetitions in, get some lead downrange, and get a good J-frame holster to carry and shoot with confidence.

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