Full size 1911- how concealable?

E

Erik

New member
For those of you who carry 1911s- how concealable do you find them? For those who prefer gov't or commander sized guns, what concessions do you feel must be made, if any? For those with officers, compacts, etc how benificial are they, in practical terms?

Thanks,

Erik
 
I carry a 1911 full size in the heat of Central Florida year round. The concession I have to make to carrying this gun is having my covering garment (usually a polo shirt or an unbuttoned button-up short sleeved shirt) untucked, which looks a bit sloppy. It conceals fine and I really don't notice the weight. KEY is to have a very good, wide belt. A thin belt will make carrying a heavy gun impossible.
 
The only real concession required to carry the full size 1911, for me, was the use of an IWB holster. With a good IWB, the weight is no longer a factor and neither is barrel length.

Mikey
 
Erik,

I have recently started carrying 1911--Kimber Ultra Elite, Pro Carry, and Lt. Wt. Commander. I use a Pager Pal for the UE. It carries very well with a light jacket over pager. The weight pulls on the belt and twist it if the belt is thin. I can wear the Pager Pal without a jacket with a heavier belt. However, the draw is slow.

Mikey was kind enough to sell me my first IWB holster and now I can carry all three with out a problem. With the cool weather I put on a jacket or windbreaker to cover the butt. Rik explained how to do it in the summer.

Good Luck!

Vee

------------------


[This message has been edited by Vee (edited February 06, 2000).]
 
As someone who comes close to shopping at the big and tall store I find a full size 1911 relatively easy to conceal.

Depending on the circumstances I either use a IWB (Galco Royal Guard or Kramer) or a shoulder holster (Galco Jackass). Since I suffer from a slight attack of the gut monster :) I find the Jackass to be the more comfortable of the two.

In mid-season a long sleeve heavy shirt worn as an outter garment (unbuttoned) is sufficient for me. This is followed by a denim or heavy leather jacket, depending on the weather.

My 1911 (currently a Kimber Custom) is my standard off-duty weapon. When the weather is hot enough for nothing more than a t-shirt I carry my Kahr K9 in a strong side belt holster or an ankle rig if it's really hot.
 
I am not a huge guy (5'10" and 140 lbs), but I can conceal a full size 1911 easily. It is very thin, so it doesn't bulge out. And the length is not problem to conceal with a good IWB holster.
 
Clint Smith from Thunder Ranch was on the American Shooter this weekend. He made an intersting comment about packing a full size 1911 size pistol. Something to the effect that they are supposed to be "comforting not comfortable". I like that.
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. I have carried Glock 17s and 22s in IWB and belt scabbards before, and hieght wise they are 5.35 inches- compare to about 5.75 inches for gov't models. I carried my UK USP .45 some in the winter, but its a little too big for my preference. But alas, I have that damned 1911 bug everyone seems to be passing around... So now I have to "re-gear up." ;-)

Thanks again- anyone else?

Erik
 
I carry a Lt. Wt. Commander most of the time. Usually in a Dillon LTD holster with a cover garment and occasionally IWB under a loose t-shirt. No problem, the 1911 design is so flat it is easy to conceal comfortably.
The concession that I make is for the Commander length. I'm somewhat short waisted (ain't got enough butt) and using the slightly shorter Commander length gun It eliminates the problem of the muzzel digging into the seat when I'm sitting or driving. Its amazing how much difference 3/4 of an inch can make.
When its really hot and sticky, I'll opt for a smaller gun, either a Detective special or Mustang carried IWB. But this is purely a matter of comfort not concealability.

------------------
Strength is the outcome of need; security sets a premium on feebleness. H.G. Wells The Time Machine
 
The KEY is a wide thick belt. Most police stores or cowboy type stores carry them. spend the $30 or more on the belt. It is worth it. I have carried a 1911 in most weather, but some days it becomes a problem.
But few guns carry or conceal better thanks to a nice design. A nice thing of Minnesota is 6+ months of coat wearing weather.
 
Except for deep summer, I carry a GM. The holster's a Galco IWB, the belt's thick and wide. No problems.

BTW, I'm bigger than average.
 
Welllllll, I have carried a full sized 1911 just stuffed in my belt under a untucked golf shirt many a time without it being seen. For some reason, I can carry a pistol that way but have a lot of problems with IWB holsters. The trick with under a shirt carry is to wear a shirt that has texture, some color and is a little larger than your normal shirt.

------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
I think the key is really a "systems" approach to your carry gear, regardless of what gun you carry. Several people have mentioned wide belts, and it's true that wider will carry wieght better than narrow-up to a point.
I use a Rosen ARG, SOS, and tapered belt for m 1911A1. The belt is tapered to 1" at the buckle and tongue ends, but is only 1.25" for the rest. I can carry my gun, a 6Z light, and a spare mag all day long comfortably. The secret is in the thickness of the leather used (and the fact that "Snug" Rosen handpicks the highest grade leather-the stuff he rejects is probably too good for the mass market manufacturers.)
Try to get a holster with belt slots that are cut to the exact width of the belt you plan to use. This will eliminate play, keeping the gun not only positioned where you want it, but also reducing fatigue from not having weight bouncing up and down on your hip all day.
I will have to say that in the last year or so, I have begun to develop a touch of some sort of bursitis or other arthritic type condition in my left hip (off side; I'm right handed.) The thinner belt will cut into my off-side waist more than a thicker one, and aggravte that condition. However, it's a minor thing. I'm going to be getting another Rosen setup soon, and this time, I'm just going to stick to a 1.5" belt.
BTW, I'm about 6' & 185#.

------------------
Shoot straight regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=45acp45lc
 
My daily carry gun is a Colt Gov't 1911 in the Rosen ARG holster. While the ARG rig is expensive it makes the 1911 dissapear underneath a T shirt and jean shorts.

While it's not always extremly comfortable and I've had to modify my dress and appreance to carry the 1911 it's somthing I'm willing to do to carry the full size 1911.
 
I have a kimber ultra elite, a colt officer ltwt., and a full size 1911. Being short and squat, the 1911 does not hide well on me. The colt and kimber work just fine in a sparks vm2 with shorts or jeans with a shirt tucked or untucked in a strong side behind the hip carry. All work well in a sob carry as well. That is about the only place I can hide the full size pistol effectively.

[This message has been edited by ak9 (edited February 09, 2000).]
 
I find a full size 1911 difficult to conceal due to the length of the handle. An officers size frame conceals OK. I am 5-10, 175 and in most of the places I carry in the summer I wear a short sleeve shirt with shirttail out. No matter the belt or the holster, a full size 1911 prints. I notice it on others also. I even notice it when a light weight coat is worn. Jerry
 
It's a combination of how you're built/how you dress/if you're using a good belt,holster/location of the holster on person and how it's positioned.

If you're worried about concealment the best combination is an Officer's sized frame w/a Commander length slide. You get the reliability of the longer slide with the concealability of the short frame.

What I don't understand is when people buy 1911's with VERY short barrels but with FULL sized frames???
 
Hey Erik it's pretty easy actual like most people have said you'll probaly have to goo untucked in hot weather like here in southern Georgia. But one other thing in hot weather is to wear two shirts on smaller sized under shirt and then your regular size t-shirt/polo shirt. This way the under shirt prevents the outer shirt from getting snagged on the gun. I also wear a a-shirt or "wife beater" under my two t-shirts. Works for me, I'm 6'2" and 170 and use a Blade Tech IWB(sweatproof)

Cyric13

[This message has been edited by Cyric13 (edited February 09, 2000).]
 
Funny story just happened to me. Friend of mine just came up to me and said, "notice anything different about me?" I said, "no, unless you are talking about that pistol you are trying to hide under your shirt." He was crushed. Guess what it was? Full sized 1911 in a very expensive and nice iwb. Now I will admit that I tend to notice these things these days, but when the butt is sticking out and the pants are bulging, well- you get the idea. Don't trick yourself into believing one thing, when the reality is another. I hope he can get his money back or trade for another method of carry if he wants carry that thing concealed. One size does not fit all. My 2 cents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top