[JamisJockey]

Just thought I'd share:
I've been looking for options to carry my PT145 while hiking or camping that doesn't put the pistol IWB, yet keeps it concealed. Looked at the Safepacker and was about to order one, until I went to the local sporting goods shop.
Columbia makes these little gear pouches in a couple sizes, I found the "ditty pouch". It's got a velcro strap that will allow it to loop onto a waistpack, and it closes with velcro to allow easy access. Snugly fits my PT145 and one mag. There was a size a bit bigger that had a few more pouches and would allow a bigger handgun (may need a holster sewn into it for secure carry.

[BryanP]

Can you post a link to pictures?

[waynzwld]

Here's a link:

http://www.ebags.com/Columbia_Sportswear_Company/Ditty_Pouch/product_detail/index.cfm?ModelID=17226

[La Pistoletta]

I want a banana holster.

[JamisJockey]

http://a1480.g.akamaitech.net/f/1480/124/60m/images.ebags.com/images/products/17226_xlrg.jpg

They actually didn't have a pic on the Columbia website that I could find.

[buy guns]

its a purse :neener:

[La Pistoletta]

This is my new camera. Let me turn on the flash, it'll be brilliant...

[JamisJockey]

its a purse

:neener: Yourself.

Mine is blue, for starters. I tucked the stupid spagetti-strap into an inside pocket, and am intending to use the strap on the back to attach it to a waistbelt on my camelback, or to my belt. I think it will also secure nicely to the shoulder strap on my fishing-waders.
Wife took my digital camera on a trip, otherwise I'd take pictures of it in action.

This is my new camera. Let me turn on the flash, it'll be brilliant...
No kidding. Certainly resembles anything but a holster (since its not really a holster.).
Going camping, hiking, and fishing for a few days next week, I'm looking forward to putting it to good use.

[roscoe]

I've used that exact same pouch (in stealth-mode black) for my P11 and S&W model 38, with the thin strap cut off, and with the velcro loop holding it to my pack belt. But it sure won't fit my CZ75, so for that I use the Safepacker.

[c_yeager]

its a purse

Its EUROPEAN!!

[La Pistoletta]

French...?
:D
"Seurrendeur, or I'll fieur!"

[MaterDei]

its a purse
Around these parts we call them 'man bags'. :)

For hiking and camping it seems like a great idea to me. Some sort of sewn in holster would definitely make sense. Afterall, should you ever need to draw from it in a hurry it would be nice to know what position the gun is in. It'll also keep your spare mag from scratching up your PT145.

Michael

[BluesBear]

:eek: You can say "man bags" on THR? :eek:

[Henry Bowman]

Call it what you like. It's a purse.

[JamisJockey]

It'll also keep your spare mag from scratching up your PT145.

I've got another pouch that I'm going to use for the spare mag. The PT fits snugly in the "man bag", so position isn't a problem. They have one that is just a little bigger than the Ditty Pouch, and that one would certainly need a holster insert. An industrious soul who's handy with a sewing machine could save $20 or so over the cost of a safepacker.


man bags
:what:

[Terminus]

Strap it to your belt = Holster.
Carry it over your shoulder = Purse...er... European carryall

[scbair]

if I'd trust a velcro attached strap to secure a weapon. Could break free of the weight or :uhoh: could be snatched by a fast runnin' street punk. Such packs are typically used to carry wallets, cameras, binoculars, etc. Any of those equate to fast cash for ol' Carl the Crackhead.

I sometimes use a fanny pack designed as a concealment rig for a handgun. It makes me nervous, too. I only use it to enable me to conceal a real sidearm (full-sized service pistol & 2 spare mags) and a flashlight while I'm wearing Dixie Summer togs (t-shirt & cut-off jeans; it's hot & humid down here!). Whenever I do resort to the fanny pack, I always carry a mouse gun in my pocket (in case I need to defend my main sidearm):D :D

Slightly off-topic, but this illustrates why there are valid uses even for less-than-ideal tools. I'd never recommend a .22 magnum NAA Black Widow as a primary CCW, but it's slim profile, absolute reliability, and fast, one-hand use make it perfect for ultra-discreet pocket carry, only to be used at contact range till I can clear and access my .45 ACP. The .45, of course (in the spirit of Clint Smith) is only to help me reach my Ithaca pump :evil:

[JamisJockey]

Any of those equate to fast cash for ol' Carl the Crackhead.
This is primarily for carry while camping, etc. Crackheads might stand out in the high Uinta mountains or Fish Lake National Forest. :neener:
Could break free of the weight
I'm seriously considering having it sewn shut so that its a true loop on the backside, rather than a velcroed loop.

[toolmaker]

I'm not carrying a gun in MY manbag. Ouch that hurts...

[dairycreek]

I have used them for belt carry and over the shoulder carry with a strap. They come in various sizes and are padded for gun carry and have extra compartments for extra mag carry as well as other stuff. Have added a pic for your information. They are really terrific.



Good shooting;)https://www.bagmaster.com/website/cart/images/products/BPP_XL_PRP_1_gun_Web.jpg

[orangeninja]

"Around these parts we call them 'man bags'."


In Texas that would be refering to a scrotum....the origional "man bag".

And no, I don't pack a gun there, of course, I do pack heat.:evil:

[einstein]

The ones from jagwear.com are better than those from Bagmaster.

Frank Einstein

[toolmaker]

Talking about holsters that don't look like holsters...years ago when I was a teenager, a fella who used to hunt with us had taken a worn out leather child's shoe and hand sewn a contour in it to roughly match the shape of the barrel of his H+R revolver. He attached a belt loop to the heel and cut then reattached the tongue of the shoe as a cover flap. It sure didn't look like any Bianchi or Alessi I ever saw, but for an old country boy it worked fine. Just goes to show what can be done by a determined person....

[tc300mag1]

i need to find a holster that dont look like one for use at work .. and my dunlop make a owb holster stand too much

[Blue Jays]

Good Evening All-

Ain't no way that thin nylon and velcro Walkman pouch is going to secure a steel handgun with the same level of security as a Safepacker.

The easiest way to make a Safepacker a bit less tactical is to hang a bright yellow pair of jogging headphones through them. It then appears to be a CD player for use while jogging. An uninformed person wouldn't even look twice.

Purchasing a Safepacker at The Wilderness (http://www.thewilderness.com) is a wise move for any gunowner. They are available in a variety of sizes. If you're ordering one, do yourself a favor and also order a five-stitch Instructor's Belt so that you have something to which the Safepacker can be securely attached.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

One of these days I'm going to get a Safepacker or something, just for 'another option'. I currently have as that 'other option', a hideously butt-ugly fannypack made by Galati which I got from CTD. It is the large model they sell both in the store and online, and it has a Velcor and single snap fake back on it that is Velcroed around the top and one side for a 'tear back' compartment for something the size of a medium-large pistol or fairly short-barreled revolver. I just looked for it online at Galati:
here it is in all its' grotesqueness.

http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GIO&Product_Code=GLMDHAG


Yeah, it's a man purse. I even have to put up with the wife and kids asking "You got your Man Purse?" I don't care what it looks like, really. It hides what I want it to hide and the 2 big pouches in the front hold my stuff...like a checkbook, sunglasses or specs, miscellaneous stuff like an inhaler and maybe my pill bottle and a ballpoint pen, maybe the keys to my other truck. Oh yeah, the other zippered pouch holds my second mag...

Now normally I carry in an IWB tuckable C-TAC, but when I just have to run in Krogers or something, or I'm driving down Interstate or something, it sure is nice to not have that P229 jabbing me in the side.

I'm secure enough in my masculinity that I will wear or carry it when I need or want to. Makes me look like another old ex-hippie soccer dad and I consider it Urban Camoflage for the time being. I wear it over to my strong side and slung down a little for comfort. Besides, a MMM fannypack is too much like hunting over a baited field for me to get, and I bet my SiG would print through it anyway.


Regards,
Rabbit.

[YammyMonkey]

And no, I don't pack a gun there, of course, I do pack heat.

Last I checked heat wansn't so great for that particular man-bag.

As for an improvised non-holster I've used a bladderless CamelBak to carry my gun while running with the wife. Looks like a CamelBak and only takes a second or two to get the gun out with a little practice. Not much sweat protection though.

[straightShot]

dairycreek mentioned the Bagmaster Belt Pistol Packs. We carry a wide selection of Bagmaster Belt Pistol Packs in stock. Feel free to take a peek.


STRAIGHTSHOT SHOOTING (http://home.comcast.net/~ccwinstructor/belt_pistol_packs.htm)

Take a kid shooting.

[Erich]

I have a couple of Bagmaster Pistol Paks - they're a good product.

[Dr.Rob]

Next time you scold some frisbee throwing pot smoking birkenstocked stachel wearing friend of the trees be careful... he could be packing an UZI in that man-purse.


I like the safe packer, as it was desgned as a holster first and foremost. As far as "what works in a pinch" a camera bag looks like something a theif would try to steal, same with a lap top or even a filofax.

So here's a thought: sew a red cross on what ever pouch you select. A first aid kit looks pretty unthreatening.

[JamisJockey]

Update:
I just spent 4 days camping in central Utah, and used the man-bag quite a bit. It hung onto my belt quite well while was hiking or fishing, including busting through some pretty nasty brush and willows. I'd feel more secure if it was a belt-loop instead of velcro, but it still worked well.

[Avery Goodschott]

My favorite alternative carry is from Hoffner's Custom Leather.

I carry my Kahr MK9 in their Concealed Carry Camera Case. It's a quality leather case with an integral holster inside. There is room for my spare mag and even my Minolta Digital camera.

[VaughnT]

The biggest concern is how they attach to the belt. I've had several of the velcro-strapped camping accessories and I'm here to tell ya that they are mighty hard to rip off if a thief was so inclined. I just don't see how it could happen unless the stitching gave out.

Another concern of mine isn't so much utility, but looks. Why do the gun bags have to be plain-jane, flat faced bags? Can't we have some stitch lines or varying colors? Just make the bag visually interesting so it doesn't look like a blob on your hip!

Gotta get a SafePacker!

[JamisJockey]

hard to rip off if a thief was so inclined

I bought my manbag for carry while camping where I'm not expecting any thieves...if I'm in the city, I'm packing IWB.

[Bravo11]

I prefer a holster to anything but alot of the time my carry piece is in a gun rug. Gun rug holds pistol in holster and spare mag. I made a discreet carry container once from an old Motorola bag phone. It carried good and was just about the right size but everyone else had small cell phones and I looked like I was a technology holdout. I just can't go for the "man bag" look. I have never taken my gun rug into an establishment and I wonder if it would be OK, after all it is concealed.