Armed - and caught at it.

D

Dennis

Staff Emeritus
Yesterday I bought two new tires and had them put on my wife’s car. At the
tire shop, I met a Deputy Sheriff I’ve know for years. As we waited for our
cars, we passed the time in pleasant conversation. We were standing apart
from the other customers in the waiting room when suddenly he quietly
asked, “You’re armed today, aren’t you, Dennis.”

Startled, I replied, “Yes, sir, why do you ask?”

He smiled, quietly laughed, and said, “Because I can’t see where it is and I
want to know how you hide that .45 of yours.”

I told him where the gun was and how I was carrying it. He complimented
me on a truly concealed carry. I asked if he could tell where it was now that
I told him. He said it made him uncomfortable because he still couldn’t
see that I was carrying - even when he knew where it was!

I noted that he had to ask where the gun was, so I hadn’t tipped my hand by
trying to adjust it or touching it, etc. I asked how he could tell I was
carrying. He explained.

“I’ve known you for years and I know who trained you. When you’re
carrying, you’re quieter and much more attentive to what’s going on around
you. You act ‘different’ somehow. You ‘blend in’ more but you’re very
attentive.”

(I vowed to be more attentive when I am not carrying.)

He also mentioned that a person would have to know me pretty well to be
able to tell the difference in my demeanor. (Whew!)
-----

My question is this:

Let’s assume we’re carrying (on our person) a concealed handgun in such a
manner to be unnoticeable to the general public. Obviously we’re not going
to jump and shout and wave it about! But how do we keep from telegraphing
to others our carry status at the moment - carrying or not carrying?

1) Don’t adjust the gun in public.
2) Don’t “check” on it by moving your arm or hand against the gun.
3) Don’t give your best “Marshal Dillon” imitation by facial expression, the
way you look around (or at others), etc.
4) Don’t wear rigs that squeak and creak!

What else?

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Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited June 27, 2000).]
 
Well, how DO you conceal that .45 of yours? What kind of .45 is it?


Horny Toad




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NRA Life Member
SAF Member
GOA Member
 
Before you carry in public, you should have someone watch you stand, sit and move with your carry rig on. They'll tell you if the rig is "printing" through clothes or if your body language gives you away.
 
What Horny Toad said, what kind of .45 is it and how do you completely conceal one in Texas in the summer? I'm having a hard time concealing a 3913TSW with a tucked in shirt -- untucked shirt is no problem. Dennis, give us details. Regards,
FUD
fudeagle.gif

Share what you know, learn what you don't.
 
As you may already know I work part-time at Wal-Mart in Sporting Goods. Some of the customers that come back to my area buy ammo for the range. I can tell they are carrying because they are the only people wearing jeans, T-shirt, and a safari vest when it's about 90 degrees outside. They also are wearing a carry belt. One guy turned around with this attire on and it looked like he was carrying a brick under there. He was printing so badly it was pathetic.
Another guy had the same stuff on and he kept doing circles around the store over and over. Every time he would walk by he would give me that "You lookin at me?" look.

If you are going to carry concealed I would think you would want to avoid wearing the typical carry type clothes.
 
>>If you are going to carry concealed I would think you would want to avoid wearing the typical carry type clothes<<

I tend to disagree. If you are carrying legally anyway, who cares if "gunny" people suspect it? They aren't the ones you have to worry about. And the vast majority of crooks aren't "gunny."
 
I modified a bellyband by attaching (sewing on) some (cut-to-fit) suspenders. Therefore the bellyband does not have to be very tight. It only holds the gun against me. The suspenders bear most of the weight.

I wear the bellyband (over a T-shirt) high enough that the .45 nestles just below my left armpit. Two 8-round magazines are under my right armpit so the rig appears balanced.

By wearing a somewhat larger short-sleeved shirt (XXL) and putting two pens and a checkbook in my shirt pocket, nothing "prints" and you can't see the rig - even when you know its there.

Bear in mind, I'm only 5'9" and weigh nearly 250lbs. The bellyband wouldn't work for a woman (don't go there, folks!) and might not work for a thinner fella.

I routinely carry a .45 about the size of a Colt Officer's Model. I have carried a government model with equal ease.

BTW, with the gov't model, I have nine rounds in the gun (8+1) and two ten-round magazines under my right arm.

I recommend avoiding a blued or parkerized handgun - moisture quickly causes rust. That's why I usually carry a Kimber Compact (stainless steel slide, aluminum frame, rubber grips).

The V-neck T-shirt (under a short sleeve shirt) does not show but does get a bit warm. However, most of the places I go are air-conditioned so it's not a big deal.

Oh, on one occasion I wore this rig and did CPR on a fellow much bigger than I am. Nobody appeared to notice I was armed.

This is NOT a quick-draw rig - but I wouldn't have needed a fast draw at Luby's (in Killeen) and at least I'm armed (rather well, I think ;) ).

LEOs: Just another reason to trust a pat-down more than your eyes alone, right? :)

------------------
Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!
 
I'm still waiting on my permit to come in the mail. But for the last month I've been walking around the house with a full size .45 in one of Gunslinger's bellybands, carried about where an IWB would be.

About every 15 minutes I would ask my wife if she could see it. "No Larry", then I would walk around a little, come back and stretch in front of her. "No Larry I still can't see it." After a few days of this she finally told me to just leave her alone about it! :D

So I guess I've got a lot of practicing to do still.
 
RikWriter,
I agree with that as far as fellow gunnys goes. My thought goes to a LEO who is not exactly happy about civilians being allowed to carry. If you wear the typical clothes then he/she might want to take an extra look at you. If you happen to print it would give them all the reason in the world to give you some trouble about it. Here in OK, the rules say NO PRINTING. If we print we can lose our CCL. I don't like it but the guy with the "brick" could have lost his license if I had been a LEO with an attitude towards CCW.

[This message has been edited by HukeOKC (edited June 27, 2000).]
 
Huke, wearing gun type clothes is not the same as printing. In fact, the very purpose for wearing gun type clothes is to AVOID printing. So I am not quite sure I follow your point.
 
Dennis, it appears that Action-Direct sells something very similar to what you described ...
<A HREF="http://www.action-direct.com/234.htm" TARGET=_blank>
234.jpg

234-2.jpg
234-3.jpg
</A>
... As a side question, here in Florida the law reads that "the firearm must be concealed from ordinary sight". Exactly, what does that mean? If I have a bulge but it is not recognizable as a gun, would that still be considered 'concealed from ordinary sight' or would that be considered 'printing'?
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
fud-nra.gif
 
The method mentioned and shown in the picture seems convenient, except that it must take a little while to get to it.

How do you reach for the gun? Do you leave a button undone? Maybe.

Hmmm, reminds me of a teacher that I had who would almost always have one button undone on his shirt. I doubt that he carried since he was a NewAge psychic guy, but I can't think of another logical reason.
 
Mikul, et al, if you use this method of carry, you do NOT have to leve a button unbuttoned. You sew Velcro patches over the button hole and on the underside of the button location. Do this to a couple or three buttons and if you need the pistol, just rip open the Velcro and grab your pistol. I know some coppers who use this method. FWIW. J.B.
 
FUD,
Looking at those photos I'm reminded of Clark Kent going into a phone booth and ripping off the shirt and tie to reveal the Superman costume, only this time he's wearing some kinda velcro garter-belt thingee for his pea-shooter. In the interval, BG's create mayhem in Metropolis and escape.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FUD:
... As a side question, here in Florida the law reads that "the firearm must be concealed from ordinary sight". Exactly, what does that mean? If I have a bulge but it is not recognizable as a gun, would that still be considered 'concealed from ordinary sight' or would that be considered 'printing'?[/quote]

Floride Statute 790.001. Definitions.--As used in this chapter, except where the context otherwise requires:
.......
(2) "Concealed firearm" means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person

"Ordinary sight" doesn't include X-ray vision, so a vague bulge should not get you into trouble. My alphanumeric pager, which is about the size of the grip on a mini-Glock, "prints" under an untucked shirt and I've never been rousted for it (no, it's not a Pager Pal Holster). If they were that strict they'd have to run in every Yuppie with a cell phone.

What will get you trouble is if Joe and Jane Average can tell it's a gun. I saw a guy at the mall once wearing an untucked lightweight white cotton shirt, and the material was so thin I could identify the weapon as a SIG. Any thinner and I'd have been able to read the caliber. Duh.

I know a few cops here and they don't spend a lot of time checking out hip bulges (unless Salma Hayek is in town :) ). The alert ones are watching hands and eyes, the others are looking for donuts.
 
The holster we (Terridarri and I) market that Larry mentioned is very similar to the one pictured by FUD, but without the suspenders or "safety" strap. (The design does not require suspenders or safety straps.) One of the features I like best about the rig is the fact that unlike a bellyband it may be worn in any location on the torso. I wear mine under my left arm as Dennis does, however many others use theirs in strong side carry like Larry. While still others prefer to wear it in small of the back. I carry a 6" model 29 daily in it and have even concealed a Deseret Eagle in it for demonstrations at show without it printing.

On topic I agree that some of the typical cover ups will scream gun to the informed. Vest, fanny packs, shirt tail out, suit jacket in hot weather that never comes off no matter the activity, etc. I can usually "spot" someone carry the moment I see them even if the gun isn't printing in any way when employing these methods. The most important thing is to find a comfortable method that suits you, practice at home (even if it means driving your wife crazy ;) ) and then put it on and forget it. It sounds like Dennis has it nailed. :D

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Gunslinger
 
How much is the one you sell? Do you have a web site to see it? Correia seems to like his a lot, so I was wondering.
 
Seeing that I've never carried, doesn't it bother you? I would think you would get a rash or 'gun' burn from it. Just curious.

LOL about Clark Kent, I was thinking the same thing. Just RIP your shirt off :D :eek: (men that is :))

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Sandys' Homepage
RKBA forums
We are as one as we all are the same fighting for one cause -Metallica
 
RikWriter,
my point is that I would not have looked twice at the "brick" guy if he hadn't worn the safari vest. When I did he had a huge bulge in the back of his vest. I knew it was a gun and so would a LEO. Not all LEOs want civilians to be able to have CCLs. Therefore had I been a LEO with that attitude I would have stopped him and questioned him and maybe looked into taking his gun and license. Not me personally but fromt he view of an anti-self-defense LEO.
 
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