When it comes to Safariland, you can find absolute treasures—treasures I’m half-convinced Safariland doesn’t even know they produce. We all know they have holsters for every modern duty pistol and attachment imaginable, but did you know they make shotgun pouches? Or that they produced a J-frame holster built exactly like their full-sized duty rigs? The Safariland 6378 brings a duty-style platform to a deep-concealment gun.
Safariland’s primary claim to fame is its thermo-molded polymer holsters featuring specialized retention mechanisms. While the ALS (Automatic Locking System) lever and the SLS (Self Locking System) hood are the most common, the GLS (Grip Locking System) also deserves a mention.
With the 6378, you get that signature thermo-molded polymer paired with the ALS lever to lock the firearm securely in place.
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Polymer revolver holsters aren’t necessarily unheard of, but they are far less common than polymer rigs for automatics. Finding a duty-style rig for a snub-nose that uses modern active retention is truly rare. Leather holsters with thumb snaps are a dime a dozen, but a polymer rig with active, duty-rated retention for a J-frame is almost a unicorn in the industry.
When I discovered, purely by luck, that Safariland actually manufactured one, I jumped on it. In hindsight, it shouldn’t be a surprise; Bill Rogers, who designed the world’s first polymer holster and pioneered active retention, originally sold his design to the FBI for the S&W Model 10 revolver.
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The Safariland 6378: Duty Ready
In the modern era of policing, very few officers are still carrying a revolver as a primary duty weapon. While one might still float around as a backup gun, the age of the duty revolver has largely closed. Even plainclothes detectives have moved away from the slim J-frame in favor of high-capacity subcompacts like the Glock 43X or the SIG P365.
Still, if someone were to carry a J-frame on duty today, this is the holster they would use. Safariland markets the 6378 as a “concealment” holster. While it can be concealed, it requires a heavy jacket or a sweater rather than a light T-shirt. These are duty-designed holsters; they are somewhat bulky and sit far enough away from the body to create a noticeable lump under thin clothing.
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For many, a duty-sized rig for a snub-nose doesn’t make sense for daily carry, as the whole point of a J-frame is usually deep concealment.
Purpose and the “Adventure Holster”
I typically pocket carry my J-frame. I’m not usually looking for an OWB (Outside the Waistband) rig, and if I were, I’d typically choose a pancake-style holster that sits high and tight. So, what’s the point of the 6378? Part of it was simply the “cool factor”—I wanted a modern duty-style holster for a classic, non-duty-style gun.
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However, I do think rigs like this have a practical application as “adventure holsters.” These are the holsters I use when riding ATVs, fishing, or hiking. When things get rough and tumble, it is incredibly nice to have active retention that ensures the gun stays on my waist.
If I’m bouncing around on a quad, I’m unlikely to feel a gun slip out of a passive-retention holster until it’s miles back down the trail. The Safariland 6378 provides that peace of mind.
Breaking Down the 6378 Design
The polymer molded body is as tough and rugged as you would expect from Safariland. The holster utilizes their standard three-hole mounting system, which allows you to swap between any Safariland attachment. You can mount this to a belt loop, a paddle, or even more “tactical” options like a drop-leg rig or a chest mount.
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The ALS lever is easy to locate and defeat, though it feels slightly stiffer than the ALS levers found on their automatic holsters. Despite the stiffness, it still unlocks intuitively: hit the lever with your thumb, pull up, and you’re off to the races. If you’ve used a Safariland ALS for a Glock or a SIG, you already know exactly how to use this one.
The holster sits nicely on the waist, pushed out just enough to allow for a clean, positive grip on my S&W 432 UC. Since it’s been colder lately, I’ve been wearing it under a jacket as a daily carry, and it’s surprisingly comfortable. While active retention isn’t strictly necessary for my daily routine, the ALS is so unobtrusive that I have no complaints.
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A Safariland J-frame holster is a bit of an oddity, but it’s also undeniably rad. Now I just need to find some weird attachments and see how far I can take this “Tactical J-Frame” concept.
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