A wallet size pocket pistol?

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cluttonfred

cluttonfred

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I see a lot of references to folks pocket carrying all kinds of guns and, honestly, they must just have bigger pockets than I do. I usually wear a business suit or dress pants, shirt and tie, and a blazer for work. I wear loose, comfortable pants (but not cargo pants) or jeans on the weekend. None have enormous pockets that would swallow a J-frame or the like discreetly.

What I really need is a little pistol that's not just "pocket size" but "wallet size." For a baseline, I went to the web site of a famous leather goods company and came up with these dimensions for their men's wallets: billfold 3.75" x 3", double billfold 3.75" x 3.75 in, trifold 4.25" x 3.25". That would give a maximum "wallet size" dimension of about 4.25" x 3.75".

I have looked at the well-circulated Bobo's Pocket Auto Comparison Chart and find only the quite pricey Seecamp models that actually fit this definition of "wallet size." The old Baby Browning would work, but I was hoping to find something a little more recent and safer to carry with a round in the chamber. Other than those two and the tiny NAA single-action revolvers or some sort of derringer, are there any pocket pistols that actually fit these dimensions?
 
Like all things, there are trade offs. I wouldn't get so obsessed with exact wallet dimensions for a pistol, as I am a fan of the Beretta Tomcat and Keltec P32 in .32 ACP... even though they are just a fractions of an inch bigger than your personal criteria.

BUTTTTT.... If you like the Baby Browning, the Turkish firm Sarsilmaz makes a .25 ACP clone called the P6. Sadly, it is not available in the U.S. even though Sarsilmaz is attempting to create a SAR USA branch, so that EAA doesn't have to import the pistols.
 
If you've looked at Bobos comparison still came up short, then you either need to accept the fact that you gonna have to go bigger, either with pants pockets or with the gun.

I'm inclined to say if the LCP, TCP, KAHR 380, and all of the Kel-Tec's are to big for your pockets, then pocket carry isn't for you. It seems to me like several models are slightly bigger than your specs and honestly I don't see it making enough difference to matter.

I personally pocket carry a PM45 which is a pocket full to most but I do it almost everyday, I have on occasion pocket carried a Sig P220 just because I could. It's all about the right holsters, pants, and belts.
 
Remember that wallets are square and pistols are not. Square wallets go well in square back pockets, but triangular-ish pistols do well in triangular-ish front pockets... square wallet dimensions don't translate well to triangle pistols. I pocket carry my SCCY cpx-2 in the front pocket and it is doable. Compare the pistols to smart phone sizes to also help your comparison.
 
Why limit yourself to pocket carry? With a Iwb holster you could hide a larger more effective gun easily in a suit.
Click to expand...

For me it's because I work, I can easily get out my truck and discretely pull my pistol out of my pocket and leave it in my truck then return it to my pocket before I get in after work. Its simple convenience......no more, no less.

On rare off days I generally either keep the pocket pistol out of routine, or I will OC a old S&W of some fashion.
 
Thanks, all, for the comments. I am not thinking of limiting myself to pocket carry exclusively, it's just that there are any number of small auto pistols and revolvers that work fine in an IWB holster. I am looking for a gun suited for pocket carry in dress pants without the jacket.

JeeperCreeper, you're right, of course, on the size and shape question. I wasn't planning to carry in a rear pocket, I just picked wallets as something that could go in a front pocket too. The smart phone baseline is probably a better idea and let's me push those dimension up to a more workable 5.5" x 4" or so maximum.
 
Like others have said, the smartphone may be a better comparison than a wallet. My SIG P290RS is roughly the same overall dimensions as my iPhone 4S although heavier and thicker. Many people would consider the SIG at the upper end of the scale for pocket carry or too big. It disappears in a front pocket of regular pleated Dockers (38x30) and I have rather large thighs, which can make for tight pockets in some pants. Going small and thin (LCP, P32, etc.) with a pocket holster that has a flap to appear like a wallet or phone from outside the pocket sound viable, but YMMV. Are you going for deep concealment or comfort/convenience? May be helpful for others to make suggestions, if we know.
 
I'd recommend the Kahr P380 with Carbon Powerball.

But I hate pocket carry and tight pants. Loose pants and the pistol swings around making it pretty obvious you have something heavy in your pocket. I recommend a Crossbreed Minituck instead.
 
I have a couple of back pocket wallet holsters.
The pocket depth is critical to keep the back or the gun-wallet from being exposed.

I think some one makes a back pocket holster that covers that area with a fabric shield.
 
Here you go:

Nice square little package, the Bondhus CL380

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http://www.bondhusarms.com/


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My Kel-Tec P3AT 380 is about that size. It has functioned 100% reliably for me since I bought it four or five years ago. If I lay it down on a table I can EASILY cover the whole thing with my hand. It weighs... eight ounces or less, IIRC.

I prefer a snub 38, but I can conceal the Kel-Tec easily, even in a shirt pocket.
 
Skip the "pocket" all together, and get yourself a Smart Carry. Depending on the type of pants you wear, you can easily carry near full size pistols, and quite comfortably.

I wear Carhartt type carpenter pants, which suck for pocket carry. They are also pretty much "fitted" across the front, but I easily carry a Glock 26 in mine. (the largest Ive carried has been a SIG P239, the smallest, a Seecamp)

If you look at the website, the owner of the company carries a fullsize 1911 in his jeans.

Dress pants would likely be the easiest type to carry pretty much anything with one.

www.smartcarry.com
 
The new pick from beretta is pretty darn thin. Might be worth a look. And while I am not sure they are available yet, the new curve from Taurus looks like it might be wallet shaped enough to fit the bill.
 
Seecamp.gif

Fits in either the front or rear pocket of a pair of Levis.

You could do worse.

That said, it's a back up, not a primary concealed gun.. My Primary is an N frame S&W .45revolver.
 
I am in the same dilema of trying to find a decent pocket pistol. I had a Kel Tec P3AT that was a nightmare. First it took Kel Tec 5 months and I shot hundred of rounds trying to get it to shoot more than once. Then finally Kel tec got the gun to work it constantly broke. It's not like I was shooting the gun a lot. Every 3 or 4 months I would clean the gun and shoot the 12 rounds of ammo in the magazines. I had the Kel Tec for 3 years including the 5 months it was in FL. The Kel tec broke the tale down pin, sheared the top off the guide rod, the extractor and ejector both broke. I finally sold the gun for $200.

I have a Kel Tec P11, it breaks but it is tolerable. The ejector breaks but the gun will keep shooting with a broken ejector. I can carry the P11 in my front pocket. But I would like to have a smaller gun.

I am considering a Bond Derringer. I would rather have two certain shots of 357mag than anywhere from 1 to 7 shots of 380.

I have a Glock G19 that I can carry OWB. The G19 is very easy to carry in the winter but in the summer it is a PITA. Yes, I can carry the G19 wearing shorts and a Tshirt. But if I reach for something on the top shelf I go from concealed carry to open carry in the blink of an eye. I am getting older and heavier. I hear people who are larger than me say they carry a gun IWB. But I ask to see their gun, they reply I left it at home. I can stick my Dan Wesson with a 10" barrel in my pants for a few hours but I cannot carry it. I don't think a lot of people will admit that a couple hours is all they can carry their gun.
 
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I hear people who are larger than me say they carry a gun IWB. But I ask to see their gun, they reply I left it at home. I can stick my Dan Wesson with a 10" barrel in my pants for a few hours but I cannot carry it. I don't think a lot of people will admit that a couple hours is all they can carry their gun.
Click to expand...
Sounds like whoever youre talking to, doesnt want to carry their gun.

Ive carried full sized handguns, IWB, basically 18/7/365, for the past 40 years or so. Once you get used to it, I doubt you will carry any other way (BUG's excepted). Its really the most concealable (and comfortable) way to carry the full size guns.
 
CCW garments....

If you look & have the $, there are new styles and clothes you can buy that conceal small/sub compact weapons but don't mean you need to only carry a LC9, NAA .32acp, Baby Browning .25acp etc.
Special operations units(tier one/ACE, ISA, DevGru, etc) often use tailors and custom made suits. They learn about fashion & how to quickly adapt clothes to hide gear, firearms, etc. When you are in a denied area & people will kill you on sight, concealment or tradecraft become critical :uhoh:.
You can wear a 5.11 Tactical under shirt or one of the new garments from www.glockstore.com . You can discreetly tote a Glock 36 .45acp, a J frame .38spl, a Kahr or Pico .380acp, a P239 DAK SAS.
As noted too, you can securely carry a compact pistol in a IWB. The LAPD's elite SIS detectives, a plainclothes unit that tracks violent felons uses the Glock 30S .45acp for undercover ops and back-up to their larger 21 .45acp pistols.

If you don't feel you can carry or deploy a decent firearm or sidearm with your office wardrobe, then do not carry a firearm. It's not going to save you or work the way you hope. It might seem cool or entertaining in movies or TV shows but don't risk your safety on a small caliber pocket pistol just for concealment.
 
I have discovered pocket carry and am experimenting with carrying a front pocket gun as a New York Reload - A second gun. The added value of a pocket gun is that you can stand with your strong hand, in yer pocket, with a firing grip and achieve a lightning fast draw and deployment while appearing to be "casual" and stacking the deck in your favor.

This is awesome when you are trying to be as ready as possible and watching a situation closely. You can be ready but not brandishing. I tend to stand with my right hand casually in my pocket and it is completely natural yet knocks .7 seconds off my draw and 3X to target.

Have a look at Kel Tec's .380 and .32 offerings, Seecamp pistols, Ruger LCP's (if you can handle the recoil - I can't) and the Beretta Pico (if you can handle the ergos and DAO trigger) which is my favorite. My Pico with flush mag disappears in my front pocket in jeans or a pair of business casual pants like Dockers. There are others that will serve if you look like maybe the S&W Bodyguard and Diamondback DB380.

I'd add that I carry a subcompact sized pistol (Beretta Px4 SC or Glock 26) Appendix in a tuckable High Noon "Hidden Ally" wearing Business Casual with no coat and tucked button down or Polo style shirt and even my Wife cannot tell if I'm carrying when she's looking for the gun. So that might be an option for you in addition to pocket carry or as an alternative.

VooDoo
 
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