Concealed Carry Dilemma

[Otherguy Overby]

Garand!

You should carry a Garand on a silk sling.

If you want to conceal something, how about a Desert Eagle in a SmartCarry for those intersted in feeling you up...

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

I wear a tux frequently, and carry while wearing it.

Moreso . . . I'm on the stage, for I'm a trumpeter with a CCW license. In my state ankle carry is not legal.

I carry a Kel-Tec 32ACP in my pocket, and my cocked and locked Kimber CDP Ultra (Officer's sized lightweight .45ACP) in the side pocket of my trumpet gig bag (which is always in my possesion or at my feet on the stage).

My main concern is when leaving the venue late in the evening, for parking lots and loading alleys can be riskier spots then. I generally go into a bathroom just before leaving and slide the Kimber into the top of the tux pants, under the jacket.

Doing an outside gig one night in Savannah, with my seven-piece combo in a fairly rough area, the sax player mentioned about some of the street types lurking around.

I turned to the drummer, who is an LFI graduate, and asked him what he was packing. "My S&W J-frame," he said. "What are you carrying?" the drummer asked me, and I opened my trumpet's side pocket enough so both he and the sax player could see it, "Just this .45 and a .32 in my pocket."

We all laughed . . . and all felt just a little better too!

 

[Exmasonite]

i'd put the bersa .380 in an ankle holster. i wear scrubs to work everyday and that's usually how i carry. i've put my XD 9 SC in there from time to time, too. hard to get the cant right if i'm not wearing boots, though

 

[rmmoore]

Go with the .40 Inside Cummerbund. It may get a bit warm as the night progresses with the dancing and inevitable regurgitation of hot air propelled B.S. at these events . You might want to take off the jacket! Why not carry the .25 Ankle as a back-up? Hey, if Law Enforcement can have a back-up, why not?

 

[2cam2go]

I voted for the shoulder set up....only because pocket holsters not listed.
A Kel Tec P3AT in a pocket holster would disappear. Besides at a black tie affair most of the guests will probably be packin PDA's or cell phones. Enjoy the party!!!

 

[Prince Yamato]

shoulder holsters sound great, unless you decide to take your jacket off. I'd opt for a vest instead of a cumberbun, then you could take the jacket off and have the gun under the vest. Ankle carry isn't horrible, unless you're going to be dancing too. Personally, I'd pocket carry the bersa on the inside pocket of my jacket or switch to the pants pocket if you took the jacket off.

 

[Leanwolf]

I have read here the various suggestions for different "rigs" to carry a handgun while wearing formal attire. The one thing that has not been mentioned but in my opinion is MORE important than the rig, is the fit of your tuxedo coat.

If it is your tuxedo, I would first determine where you want to wear your handgun, then have a GOOD tailor fit your coat to the rig. (I prefer a shoulder holster under a coat that is tailored to "hide" the handgun & rig.)

If you have a non-tailored tuxedo, then it is very, very difficult to "hide" your heat.

If you're renting a tuxedo, then I'd rent one that was as accomodating as possible, with whatever rig I was wearing. A tight fitting coat will print your piece as quickly as if you were wearing it non-concealed.

Just my humble opinion.

L.W.

 

[perpster]

Cumberbuns seem to flimsy to hold a gun without it falling out when least expected.

When I have to go black tie it's my S&W 340Sc and Bianchi speedstrip in the pocket.

 

[TMM]

Not listed, but i'd go with the BHP in a shoulder rig. Nothing more elegant than a shoulder rig and a suit.

just don't take your jacket off, of wear a vest under the jacket instead.

~tmm

 

[Busta Prima]

You didn't have a place on your poll for "other" or "none of the above."

Not the fastest draw but better than no gun at all . . . I can conceal a Kahr p9 or P40 in an elastic belly band worn a little high with the gun just below and in front of my armpit. This is my summer carry mode and unless you feel me up, you will NEVER know it's there.

 

[browningguy]

Well thanks for the help, went in to have the tailoring finished today, wearing my BHP IWB under a shirt. The tailor kind of snuck up behind me and wrapped his tape around my waist, then said, "I'll just leave a little extra on the right side". I guess he wasn't surprised. So it will be BHP on the right side. I'm taking the Practical in .40 with the hard chrome frame and blued slide, and the Browning .25 in the ankle holster. Otherwise I'll wind up top heavy, and I don't need any help int hat department.

 

[Manedwolf]

The tailor kind of snuck up behind me and wrapped his tape around my waist, then said, "I'll just leave a little extra on the right side". I guess he wasn't surprised.

I'm sure they do it a lot for detectives and law enforcement.

As for what one might need with formalwear, the best story I know is still that involving a Miami detective who showed up at a standoff of a serial killer holed up in a houseboat...in a full tuxedo. (he'd been going to a party or such) And when queried, with the cameras nearby, quipped, "My god, gentlemen, it IS after six..."

Was labeled "James Bond" by the press thereafter.

 

[KurtC]

Tuxedo trousers normally have elastic waistbands that won't support a handgun. A cummberbund certainly won't.

When I purchased a tuxedo, I had them sew on belt loops so I can carry normally. If you wish to wear a cummberbund, just wrap it over the belt and holster.

 

[Essex County]

Pocket holster for Me! Especialy if you're wearing suspenders. All my friends expect me to slouch and have my right hand in my pocket. Essex

 

[up_onus]

i dont like small cal...

but, fast, un-obtrusive....
your out for a formal eve, even if you have a large caliber is it gunna matter if you cant get to it in time?

If you cant enjoy yourself all eve, and have to keep your jacket on to stay concealed....is it worth going?

so, speed matters, comfort matters (or whats the point of goin), and caliber matters....

Mix that up, that comes to pocket .380....
too bad you dont have the smith&wesson Jframe 340PD....fits in my pockets with barely any bulge...and has the caliber to match (357).