A more civilized age of CCW.

My stainless PPK/s sees some CCW duty when I’m not using my P365 SAS or Smith .380 Bodyguard. It’s a nice, flat, pistol that points better than any other gun I own. Loaded with Hornady Critical Defense, I don’t feel helpless when I carry it.

My first EDC many years ago, pre legal CCW carry here in Denver, Colorado was the Beretta 21A Bobcat .22LR. This at that time, was THE pistol of choice of Mossad and the Mafia. With suppressor, or as they used to call it, a silencer. Mine was without. Great little pistol, fine workmanship. One problem... you had to keep it very clean, as there was a tendency, if dirty, to not properly cycle the rimmed .22LR. When clean and lubed, the 21A ran very well. Now carrying a Sig P365... what a beautiful, light, reliable, accurate 9mm with 10+1. Carry what you enjoy.

Climb14er said:

My first EDC many years ago, pre legal CCW carry here in Denver, Colorado was the Beretta 21A Bobcat .22LR. This at that time, was THE pistol of choice of Mossad and the Mafia. With suppressor, or as they used to call it, a silencer. Mine was without. Great little pistol, fine workmanship. One problem... you had to keep it very clean, as there was a tendency, if dirty, to not properly cycle the rimmed .22LR. When clean and lubed, the 21A ran very well. Now carrying a Sig P365... what a beautiful, light, reliable, accurate 9mm with 10+1. Carry what you enjoy.

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Seems like Beretta's little "cats" have jumped on the threaded barrel bandwagon now.

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/21a-bobcat-covert/

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/3032-tomcat-covert/

The Makarov's are truly good, solid, reliable guns, I wouldn't hesitate to carry one, but the CZ 82's really caught me. It's still my Wife's carry gun and until the Hellcat was given to me was my back up gun also.. And man were these things CHEAP! I bought the East German, Bulgarian, and the Russian all three for under $500.00. The CZ's had some rack marks on them, but other than that were new. Imagine a like new CZ 82 with two magazines, holster, and cleaning rod for $160.00. Cheaper than a Ruger Wrangler.

Neat thread.

..but was the world ever "more civilized" ???

commygun said:

View attachment 1003624
Hard to beat the PP for classy carry.

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That there is a beaut of a PP, to be sure.

jstert said:

a more civilized ccw must be a 38 snubbie revolver, “not as clumsy or random as a blaster. an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”

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Stolen from another website, sorry...but it seemed so appropriate.

I’m not sure how classy or elegant it might be but this is definitely a good blaster.

Polish Radom P-64 9mm Makarov.

Triggernosis said:

I carry a P232 in .380 almost 90% of the time.
I just picked up this Browning 1911-380, which weighs the same as the P232, so once I get used to it I may carry it and the 232 equally. View attachment 1003593

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Wow. You made that? Nice work

A Bersa Thunder 380 is my back up.

One that has not been mentioned so far but that I find meets most of the general character for "A more civilized age of CCW" is the Mauser HSc. It has few possible snag points, points well, is utterly reliable and hold 8 + 1 rounds of 32acp. The HSc was made from before WWII up until the early 1970s so there are quite a few around. It's about the same size as the Walther PPK but has a slightly longer barrel while being a slight shorter overall length.

My daily carry is a Firestar M40 at present. I sometimes carry a Kimber UCC II .45 ACP or Firestar M43 9mmX19. I've even been known to carry a S&W Mod 19 2 1/2" .357 mag. I do like the balance and feel of the Firestar M40 though.

My first carry gun was a CZ24 in .380ACP. Heavy and big for the caliber compared to today's LCPII-sized .380's, but very accurate, and very reliable.

I clicked on this expecting to see light sabers. What a disappointment.

Miami_JBT said:

I have a 950 in .25 ACP along with two 21As. One in .22LR and the other in .25 ACP. Great little guns

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Speaking of .25s, I have a Colt Jr. that is remarkably accurate for its size and caliber. When I inherited it, it was NIB and still in its plastic bag.

I also have an old Colt Hammerless of 1903 .32 ACP. According to the serial number, it's a century old already and the barrel is worn to the point that its not accurate beyond 7-10 yds. The .25 above is actually more accurate than this .32. While I could get another barrel, it wouldn't be the original.

I have no qualms about carrying a .380 in warmer weather. Not only are the guns generally smaller and easier to conceal in light clothing, but if I ever have to use it, my assailant would also likely be wearing light clothing.

I grew up watching Bond movies, so I have wanted a PPK since I was about seven years old. When I finally get one, I'll definitely carry it from time to time.

bikerdoc said:

A Bersa Thunder 380 is my back up.View attachment 1004275

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For no particular reason I always kind of wanted one of those!

Like the M1 carbine, all these guns you mentioned are sneered at by the tactical crowd as historic relics useful only for punching paper.

Mention using them today for defensive work and they'll be doubling over with laughter as they snort out Black Rifle Company coffee all over their beards and 511 pants.

Me? I'm not so certain. I think guns like the PPK, Makarov, and P230 still to this day will work for the task at hand. They are proven reliable and if you look at it critically they aren't ad archaic as some make them out to be.

You don't need Oakleys, a tacbeard, and a bunch of tatoos to be an effective shooter. You also don't need the latest and greatest souped up firearm to win the day. Sometimes just carrying something you like and have confidence in can work very well.

Miami_JBT said:

Yes, my heart is after guns like the SIG P230/232,

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Out of everything in this thread that I'd love to own, I sure like that Sig 230 the most (and the 232 as well). A DA/SA with no safety lever, but with a decocker, sure does fit more into what I'd actually carry these days.

Having said that, I keep thinking a single action autoloader with a 1911 style safety is in my future.

Miami_JBT said:

I remember those days. I never snagged a CZ82 when they were cheap. Instead, I snagged a Beretta 84F on the cheap along with a Beretta 81.

View attachment 1003787

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If you include the double stack classics, I do have a pair of those.

View attachment 1004472

View attachment 1004473

If you're a cop or otherwise have the objective of closing on and eliminating a threat, then a high(er) capacity autoloader is required. If you're just a regular joe and realize that at some point you might have to break contact with a threat, then a single stack autoloader or .38 snubbie is where it's at. And since accessories make the man, carry something with panache....

Kleanbore said:

I do not know what makes people believe that.

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The data — what little is available— showing that the average gun fight is resolved in three rounds or less.

When I was on active duty, we carried all manner of weapons, light heavy and crew-served because the mission was to either close on or defend against a well-armed threat. My objective as a civilian could not be more different as it is (1) to avoid the fight if possible or (2) if it’s not, break contract ASAP and get to a secure area. It’s amusing to me to see all these ersatz “operators” with their fancy gear and false beliefs about gunfights.