If you could (and would) open carry, would you...

[Winchester 73]

If I could I would.
Living in Florida its not possible.But if OC becomes legal, I will spend no more money for a fancy rig and just uncover my plain Glock 36 and Milt Sparks Versa Max II holster in certain places and situations.
They suit me just fine.
Also kudos to JesseL who makes some excellent points.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Just Sweeping Up

I'm struck by the pig-headedness of some of the posters tonight.

OP asks if you'd wear a fancier rig or a plain rig for open carry.

The question assumes -- explicitly -- that you're doing open carry.

It doesn't ask whether you do, or should, or is it stupid, or is it tactical.

And yet, we get a dozen posts from people being all wise about how open carry is a bad idea, how they would or wouldn't do it, whether it's a compromise of rights, whether it would tip of the bad guys, and why Ghandi refused to open carry.

Tell you what. I've just gone through and clipped out about a dozen posts that really have nothing to do with the topic. Some were downright argumentative.

Here's the deal. Stay with the original topic, contribute something useful, or stay the hell out of the thread.

You want to argue the merits of open vs concealed carry (again, for the eleventieth time), please PLEASE open a different thread.

If you insist on trying to turn this into a MERITS of open carry thread, your posts will vanish.

And, yes, I'm getting grumpy.

 

[VARifleman]

Thank you Arfin.

My problem with some of the anti-OC statements is that they flat out attack those that OC. They are not benign "well, I wouldn't, but here's how I'd do it if I would", they flat out say "no respect [for OC]" and other blatant attacks. For it to come from senior members, I think, is just patently unacceptable behavior.

Frandy, doesn't Jim do such great work? I have two of his IWBs (he doesn't really make that model anymore, but he caved after I told him that I preferred it to the other designs) and your pictures may make me want to spend some for an OWB. I doubt I could go for elephant, I know how much his belts in that are, I really don't want to think about a holster. But wow...those look awesome.

As for what I'd change, I realize I didn't add what I'd like my grips to be. I'd like to change my grips to horned lizard grips partly for that reason.

 

[CannonFodder]

Actually, I have thought about this. For CCW, should it ever become the norm on the college campuses where I'll probably be spending the rest of my life working, I'll stick with my Colt 1911.

If, however, they would ever allow me to OC (and I've gotten a nice parka for the post-inferno glacialization) I'd probably go for a nice leather gun belt and a Ruger New Vaquero. Yes, I'd carry a cowboy gun as my OC piece. Yes, I'd probably get some flak. No, I wouldn't mind. I'd personally prefer to OC something that says "Pardner passing through" rather than Off-Duty cop - because, dagnabbit, I'm an armed civilian exercising my rights. Follow my example.

 

[magsnubby]

Are we talking/ hunting/ fishing/ camping/ trail/ woods bumming gun? If that's the case, then no. I've beat the heck out my carry gun way to much in the above situations. Rocks, water and mud ain't nice to purty guns.

Now if you're talking social events or formal gatherings...well a nickeled, fully engraved, ivory stocked 1911 in a finely handcrafted holster...

 

[Gray Peterson]

Coromo,

What state are you in and who's the instructor who told you that?

 

[scrat]

Yes i would and i would be sporting this.
1860 army 44 cal

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

I may be wrong but maybe the OP was hinting at the fancy "Texas Barbecue Rigs" that I understand that were popular around the turn of the 19th century and are still in certain areas of the US. From what I understand this type of rig evolved into the Western "B" movie rig. Of course this is just from what I have read on the subject so it may not be correct either.

 

[scout26]

Being as I'm in Illinois, ifin' could, I'd be wearing my 1911 in my tanker rig with a lanyard. That way I could go from concealed to open carry just by taking off my jacket.

But I'd probably have to offer my jacket for Satan to wear seeing as H*ll would have frozen over.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Fancy?

Maybe not.

I might favor a full-sized revolver, either a S&W K-frame/L-frame kind of thing, or a full-sized SA revolver, like the Blackhawk.

Of course, even though it might not be fancy, it would be clean and well-kept. Like shoes.

'Course, I might have to coordinate my footwear with the holster and belt rig. Not sure brown footwear goes with a black rig. Sneakers . . . I dunno, does that sound tacky to anyone else?

If it wasn't a revolver as above, it would be something like a full-sized 1911 or BHP, even a Beretta 92 or CZ. Well, heck, it should have a little class at least.

All of that said, why would I ONLY have an open carry? Heck, you just never know.

I carry two ballpoint pens, too. One in my shirt pocket, one collapsible in my trousers pocket.

You have to kind of get the picture . . .

Everyone you know carries. Pistols are wholly unremarkable. Your breakfast waitress notices if you've changed your rig. "Why, Mr. Jones, I do believe that's a Colt. What happened to your Smith?" Wives look in their closet at the 14 holsters therein and despair that they "have nothing to wear." The boss lets you know a couple of days in advance that some of "our biggest clients" will be in the office on Friday, and how about a little upgrade? How about something in a nice cordovan?

Come on, work with me here.

Over a beer down at the local pub, the crowd gets a laugh at the evening's stand-up when he reminds the patrons that "used to be, the only people totin' in places like this were the low-lifes!"​

With a little imagination, I can make it work.

 

[Geronimo45]

would you spend more money on a fancy carry gun?

No. Stainless S&W wheelgun's bling enough for me.

Would you step up your belt/holster combination?

If money permitted. Probably something from El Paso Saddlery. Not an old-west rig, but a nice early 1900s style rig with carving and such.

Objective isn't so much a "Look at me! I's rich!" but simply an attempt at dressing well. If it's to be part of my clothing (as opposed to something my clothing hides) it would need to be somewhat pleasing to the eye. If it's not seen, it doesn't matter what holster or gun. If it is seen, it ought to look reasonably good, as far as choice (retention or no) and circumstances (official policies, physical limitations) allow.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I can and do open carry.
My normal carry gun and holster is very similar to what a large number of the local departments and federal agencies carry - SIG229.

 

[Kim]

Yes.

 

[Eightball]

If I could and would, I would remove "concealability" from the requirements of the firearm I intended to carry, and wouldn't have size considerations. I would carry the firearm I would think would be most useful and that I am familiar with, get a nice set of leather, and go about my day's work.

It wouldn't change my firearm to a "fancier" type, just something bigger (better grip), with a longer barrel (greater accuracy), and a larger capacity (more ammo=good), but I would still maintain my previous standards for firearms; I would just make my selection "better" for the job it would serve.

 

[loop]

Spent the last 40 years primarily in Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico. All three permit open carry.
Until CCW permits became legal you saw a lot of open carry in the Intermountain West. In rural areas it was rare to go out to the store and not see someone open carrying.
Since CCW became the rule in the West, more people opt to carry concealed so you see fewer rigs out in the open.
Still, I see someone open carrying at least every week (but we are in a rural area).
I only carry concealed when I'm working or winter clothes cover my belt.
Only times I don't carry is when in government buildings or airports.
I do carry different rigs when open, but that is because I can carry bigger guns when I'm not trying to conceal them. When open I usually carry a Kimber, a Sig or a Tanfoglio, all .45 acps.
All my leather is custom leather to begin with and some is fully hand-tooled.
If someone wanted me to carry a fancier gun they need to prove it is a better gun than what I already carry.
BTW, it does not bother me to see others open carry except when its a young punk with something like a cz52 in cheap nylon holster. It may be prejudicial on my part, but I assume they really wouldn't know what to do if someone started shooting and they would just be dangerous.

 

[RLsnow]

i know i said glock 17 but i regret that now

full size 1911...black with some nice red-ish grips...

(and the glock 17 in a pocket or something)

 

[Vector]

If you lived in a place and could (and would) open carry, would you spend more money on a fancy carry gun?

No

 

[m1009]

No, I wouldn't buy anything different..

than what I do now. Of course, I try to stick with quality in my opinion, and reliability. I would definitely make sure the holster was tight enough that the gun wouldn't fall out, of course, but I don't like fancy engraving, or stuff like that. I do like a nice 2-tone, but other than that, I'd stick with what I own now. Function versus bling. Carry a nice GSR 1911 now.

 

[CSA 357]

I could find some thing in the safe to wear im sure, my colt saa 45, or one of my n frame smiths, or colt combat elite, would i open carry? hell yea! sure would make it easy in the summer, i could sell my glock 27, i like it but thats why i got it ,its small and easy to hide, csa

 

[Malamute]

I open carried pretty regularly in Az years ago. Some of that time I had a nickel Colt SAA 44 spl 4 3/4". I got a lot of comments about it, the vast majority positive.

Got stopped on my motorcycle for speeding a couple times. The cops really liked my Colt. Ended up talking to one Highway Patrol guy for 20 or 30 minutes on the side of the road one night.

I didn't have very fancy rigs back then, but if I still had a nickel Colt I'd have a hand tooled 1880's rig for it (not a hollywood fast draw rig).

Not to be ostentatious, but as someone said, to be well dressed. Or, in a similar thought, having a very good saddle for your horse. Your clothes may not be the newest, but you have pride in your gear. Much like having a clean car with decent rims and paint.

To sum up, yes, I'd buy a good nickel Colt SAA and a high quality holster if I open carried much around people. Engraved and blued would be good too. Some panic at the thought of carying an engraved gun. They look very good when they start to get some blue wear. They age much better than unengraved guns, and still have a lot of class. I'm talking true hand engraved with classic style, not the laser etched that some call engraved today.


And Thank You Arfin, for keeping this topic on track.

 

[Feanaro]

I would not spend extra money on my guns. I already buy good looking, function firearms. Don't see the point in not having both, if possible.

I would get a good looking rig. I see no reason not to look good as long as it's practical and affordable to do so.

 

[stevereno1]

for open carry, a g-17 or a g-22. for my concealed carry, a g-27.

 

[stevereno1]

for open carry while hunting, I carry my colt anaconda .44 mag.

 

[Ready2Defend]

I would definitly spend more on hosters. Good leather, ect. I currently don't own many leather holsters as I don't have much use for them.

I already have a very good Springfield stainless steel 1911 I would carry.

 

[stevereno1]

I don't understand the carrying of a 38 ounce gun that only holds 7 rounds. Might as well carry a desert eagle! a glock 21 holds 13 rounds, is half as heavy, and can put all 13 into a 2" ragged hole! They don't jam! no polishing the ramp, no flaring the ejection port, they just work!