[S_O_Laban]

In reading here and other places on the web over the past several years I see the the occasional 3" K frame Smith as a carry peice. My question: has anyone carried concealed a 4" K frame Smith or any other 4" revolver??

I have a 4" model 65 that I like but hadn't really given the thought of CCW it untill recently. Would like to hear any experiences and or thoughts and comments on this idea.

FYI I'm not real little at 6' ft and 240. I live near the KC Missouri area, so we are talking a fairly extreme enviroment. It can be over 100 in the summer and less than zero in the winter.

[Rob96]

I have carried a 4" Ruger GP-100 concealed. Carried it in a Don Hume IWB holster. Nobody knew, not even my wife. That is, until she put her arm around me, and hit the butt of the gun.:D

[jc2]

I've carried a four-inch King Cobra (688/GP100 size) under a loosely tucked shirt in a CABO IWB holster without any problems.

[Ala Dan]

Hello All-

Carrying a 4" Smith & Wesson model 19 concealed is not really
uncommon. All it takes is a good quality leather holster
as made by Safariland, Bianchi, or Don Hume; that holds the
weapon in a strong side, "high ride" position. Another slight
advantage too this is the fact that it aids in weapon retention,
cuz you are able to keep your elbow on the butt on the gun
when in a hostile environment; such as when performing the
duties of a plainclothes deputy U.S. Marshal.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[WT]

I know 2 retired NYC cops who carry 4 inch K-frames concealed. They carried the gun for 20 years on the job. They are very good with them. Why should they change now?

They use either a IWB or OWB holster, strong side carry.

[DragonFire]

As the others have said, it is more than possible to carry a 4" revolver for CCW, however as with other handguns, the larger the size, the more clothing it takes to conceal it.

You don't say what you're usual mode of dress is, but since it can get over 100 degrees where you live, I assume that at least sometimes you want to wear as little as possible. Revolvers as usually a little wider than a similar sized auto, so they are a little more difficult to conceal.

A loose T-shirt one size larger than you normally wear usually can cover even a 4" pretty well. But some kind of cover garment is better.

There are holster out there where the barrel of the revolver is inside your pants and the cylinder outside. So the revolver is carried a little closer to your body, and rides a little higher. Do a search here, and you'll find a link to them.

[C.R.Sam]

What Ala Dan said bout good holster.

Plus....GOOD belt.

Worn four inchers concealed for over half a century. Tropics and cold.

Sam....little ol fart.

[S_O_Laban]

Thanks for the replies:) I noticed some recomended some holster makers, anybody that wants to chime in with there favorite model holster with an explanation why is more than welcome. And unfortunatley money is an object so economy is something I do look at.

Furious Styles: This one has a houge monogrip on it and I really like it. I take your post to mean that the rubber catches on the clothes causing a printing situation. Hmm....something I hadn't thought about. Any recomendations for wood grips? The factory wood square butt grips felt like a 2x4 in my hand. :D

[roo_ster]

I was working a job that included deliveries to unsavory parts of town. All I had was a 4" S&W686, so that is what I packed.

Requirements:
* Good gun belt, pref double-thick
* Good holster
- IWB:
- OWB: high-ride almost mandatory, because that 4" bbl will peek out of most cover garments with a regular belt holster.

[Gunmeister]

DRAGONFIRE was talking about the best darn revo holster made, it's at www.hoffners.com click on "holsters", scroll down to ITP (in the pants) holsters and it is the last one on the bottom right side. This is a holster that works best with longer barrels. At $45 it is a bargan IMHO. :D

[obiwan1]

I carried a .44 Charter Target Bulldog 4" for a while. The only prob was no practical way to carry spare ammo.

[Standing Wolf]

I sometimes carry a four-inch Python, and that's sometimes concealed, sometimes openly.

[Cosmoline]

I've been carrying my 4" Police Positive Special (about K frame size or just slightly smaller) in an upside-down shoulder rig that conceals it extremely well.

http://www.klnullholsters.com/

The only problem has been too much weight drag on my left side, pulling on my shoulder. After 8 hours it gets annoying. Initial experiments reveal that a second holster of the same design can be looped with the existing holster into a two-gun rig that balances perfectly. Sadly, this will require me to purchase another Colt :D

[Eskimo Jim]

SO Laben,
I have used a Bianchi Shadow II OWB holster with a thumb break to carry a 4" S&W model 66. My belt is from Looper Leather in Oklahoma City, OK.

No problems under a jacket. Summer was tougher with a hawaian shirt.

Good luck.

-Jim

[Model520Fan]

Yes, Hogue or Safariland/Rogers grips are BIG plus when I carry a 4" pencil-barrel K frame. RB Magnas are also OK. I have also comfortably carried 4" N frames in a Sparks Summer Special, usually with RB Magnas. The weight is less problem with an IWB (and, of course, so is the barrel length), but with the right upper garment, even an OWB can be concealed.

4"-barrel revolvers can definitely be concealed and carried by this 5'10" 190lb person.

[Dienekes]

4" Security Six in Sparks #200AW holster, double-lined belt. 1981 through today. Carried a few other pieces full time since 1972, including M19, M28, and Commander. The M28 was a bit much...otherwise there are lots of good reasons to have a 4" on tap and not much downside.

If S&W was into making real guns for real people they would make up an Airlite M15...

[ceestand]

My first carry gun was a 4" S&W model 10. Tried a bunch of budget (read: cheap) holsters.

Fobus paddle was good for carrying around, horrible for concealing. Ended up using a canvas IWB with a velcro retention strap. :rolleyes: It was sort of like a really secure pants pocket. The gun was pretty well fixed in the belt area, but the muzzle would flop around in my pants.

I gave up on the '10 as concealed carry for many reasons, my faith lacked when I thought of my ability to end a shootout with 6 shots or reload under stress. Speedloaders carry well enough in a coat pocket, but that's the only place. Also, it seemed I had to pull the grip up pretty high to clear the holster; I don't know how the guys manage with a high-ride. I envision pulling the wrist up to the armpit which is awkward especially if said armpit is filled with the shirt or sweater lifted to clear the gun.

But maybe you shouldn't listen to me - I ended up carrying a bottom-feeder ;)

[Yooper]

I carry a 629 S&W 4" under a photographer's vest and this works well for me, although it rarely reaches 100 degrees where I live.

[45+]

I have carried a 4" Python (long ago) and several of the Taurus Tracker series in 4" (more recently) concealed. I use a good leather belt slide (and belt!) with a long vest or sport coat, or a Bianchi Professional IWB with a short vest or windbreaker. Either of these systems with the same holster in the correct model also allow for my more usual G21 carry.

When I think how much more accurately I shoot with the longer sight radius and the extra velocity the extra barrel length provides, I think a 4" or longer barrel makes sense for a carry gun.

[deputy tom]

S_O,I have carried 4" K and L Frame'd S&W's in the past and even found them easier to conceal than a 2 1/2" K or L frame providing I used an IWB holster of good quality.The longer bbl kept them from squeezing out of my waistband whilst sitting and when used with a pancake type holster,the longer bbl. kept it from tilting out at the grip like the shorter bbl.tom.

[bendable]

I would carry my GP-100 a lot more if I could find grips that were not rubber, that are as comfortable as the stock grips.

the rubber grips snag on clothing, (printing menace)

I really like the stock grips,

so for now its a house or auto piece,

[dogngun]

I have carried a several different 4" revolvers, my favorite being a S&W Model 10 carried in my jeans pocket. A long t-shirt covers it. The 4" is easier to shoot well than a snubby, easier to get out of the pocket, holds 6 rounds, and gives you a higher velocity (more reliable expansion) than a 2" tube. Most .38 special defence rounds were designed for a 4" barrel.

It's also OK in an IWB or a belt holster, or in a coat pocket.

Mark

Also, I like to carry a speed loader or two in a plastic sandwich bag in another pocket.

[Golddog]

The Cabo leather very high rise IWB is the only holster that comfortably carries anything longer than 3" for me. In this rig, the cylinder sits higher than the belt, so the barrel doesn't jab when you sit and the cylinder isn't pressing your anatomy. Yet the holster remains close to the body, without sagging.

[Cosmoline]

Update: I emailed Null and he got back to me promptly. Apparently it is possible to put two of their shoulder rigs together to make a balanced two-gun rig that would easily conceal two small or medium frame 4" revolvers. It sounds like the way to go for that would be a direct order.

[Jim4003]

Never had a problem carrying my 4 inch 19 or 5 inch 27 concealed. Just takes the proper concealment rig.

[BluesBear]

In my experience carrying and concealing a 4" N-frame in a pancake holster on a good belt is easy. A good shoulder holster works just fine also.
I have been doing it on a regular basis for over 25 years now.
Good quality gear is a MUST. Cheap nylon just won't cut it.
I have found carryimg a 4" revolver to be no harder than carrying a 1911 in the same manner.

[S_O_Laban]

Wow thanks for all the replies. I am certainly going to give my 4" K-frame a chance.:D

[41 magnum fan]

I carry a 4 inch S&W 41 Magnum every day.I carry it either in Belt Scabbard or IWB holster from Kramer leather on a Kramer belt.I have no problem carrying it at all.Occasionally I will carry two full size 41 mags,with the other carried in a crossdraw holster.

[Wedge]

I can carry my 5.5" .45 Colt Blackhawk in a standard hip holster concealed. I just wear a loose button-up shirt, I have shoulders broader than my waist and the gun pretty much disappears. The trick for me is finding a shirt LONG enough and LOUD enough. Old Navy has lots of great obnoxious clothes for cheap.

Oh yeah. It isn't any fun carrying the Blackhawk concealed but it can be done. I wouldn't want to carry it all day but I have.

[Hal]

Occasionally I will carry two full size 41 mags,with the other carried in a crossdraw holster.
You're the second person I've known of that's carried not 1 but 2 N frame Smiths.

Q:?

round or square frame?

FWIW - I have a shoulder rig for my Smith N frame Model 29,,,,,,, not that I've ever used it or anything,,,, let's just say no one knew for sure and let it go at that.

[BluesBear]

Hal, you can just call me #3. :cool:

[John Ross]

I carried a 5" M29 (factory mod, not an original HH Harris gun) '75-'79 when I lived in Massachusetts.

Now that we have ccw in MO, I often carry a 329 (and sometimes two) in Ken Null IWB holsters. I prefer a sewn belt loop (no snaps) and half the standard rake, and Ken made them this way.

In hot weather, a loose square bottomed shirt like a Hawaiian shirt covers it fine, if your situation lets you dress like that. Mine usually doesn't, so in cooler weather I wear a jacket, and in really hot weather, just carry a 340 in a pocket holster. I will be experimenting with SmartCarry and will let you know.

With the right IWB holster, you can carry any N-frame up to 5" and not mind sitting, driving, etc. There is no reason to go with a barrel shorter than 4" for IWB carry. Weight is more noticeable than bulk, but I plan to have Ken make me an IWB rig for my 4" X-frame, just because.

JR