My wife insists on purse carry. Agh. Advice?

[harmon rabb]

My wife's permit finally arrived yesterday, so now she'll finally start carrying. She has a LCR that she'll be carrying. The problem is that she often wears dresses, and wants to purse carry, which isn't the greatest idea out there.

I gave her some uncle mike's generic j-frame sized holsters (yes, they fit the LCR) to sew into her purses to make a pouch for the gun, but I'd rather see her with a dedicated carry purse. Sadly, all the ones I can find she thinks are ugly.

Know any sites with purses designed for carry that are pleasing to the female eye?

 

[Guillermo]

carrying for a lovely woman such as your wife is a challenge.

Use the Google Force and you will find many sites with gun purses.

Personally I think that the thigh holster is pretty darned sexy and provides fast access.

FYI, my current wife will not carry because she has no place to do so that she finds acceptable...so I am happy that your wife will at least carry.

 

[k-frame]

Check Pax's The Cornered Cat web site. Lots of info on purse carry (pros and cons) and links to manufacturers. Www.corneredcat.com

 

[hso]

Provide her the Galco and Coranado site information and others

http://www.ccwsupply.biz/PurseHolstersPAGE.htm

http://mygunpurses.com/default.aspx?gclid=CKno0PHqg6oCFQsS2god3R6D1g

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterP2.asp?CatalogID=149

 

[Rail Driver]

I'd ask her how she plans to handle things if her purse gets snatched (especially if the snatcher doesn't simply run off, and continues to attack her). Other than that, I can't add much beyond sending her to corneredcat.com and providing as much info as possible.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Purse carry is simply a bad idea. The purse is the first thing a criminal will grab, and generally without warning.

 

[gibson_es]

I second the motion of a thigh holster.

Yoy would have to find the webite. But theres these:

The .jpeg name says undertech shorts... So maybe thats your search.?

 

[dogmush]

My wife runs a Coranado Leather purse. She loves it.

While purse carry isn't best, it's better then nothing, and is often the only way a female can cary discreetly and comfortably.

ETA:

My wife rocks one of these. Quality leather and work, too.

 

[mgmorden]

Not much to offer except to say that you might tread carefully. A lot of people - and seemingly females more than men - only carry so long as it can be added on as an afterthought. Purse carry for women - pocket carry for men.

Basically something that they can add on without disrupting their daily routine. For some people, when you're talking about thigh holsters, specialized undergarments, or organizing your entire dress scheme around having a weapon on you, you're already making the whole idea too much of an inconvenience. Usually that's up to an individual to chose (ie, I can honestly say that the day I have to buy specialized clothes to work around carrying, is the day I start leaving my gun at home), but it can get frustrating if someone else is pushing it on you.

Basically, don't push too hard or she may just decide to not carry at all. Personal dynamics come into play there and I don't know her personality type, but I think we always should be mindful regarding wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters, and really any family member and suggest, but not become overbearing on what should be a personal choice.

 

[gibson_es]

Also..

Found this:

http://chickholsters.com/

 

[harmon rabb]

Basically, don't push too hard or she may just decide to not carry at all. Personal dynamics come into play there and I don't know her personality type, but I think we always should be mindful regarding wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters, and really any family member and suggest, but not become overbearing on what should be a personal choice.

My wife is the most stubborn women I've ever met. Nothing I can do or say would convince her one way or another, so I don't bother trying. All I can do is present her with info and hope she makes a good choice. She sewed one of those uncle mike's cloth holsters into the side of one of her purses this morning apparently and is using that today.

I've been sending her links as I find them. The one on the underwear seems like a great idea to me, as it would work perfectly under her dresses.

 

[Smaug]

I've been sending her links as I find them. The one on the underwear seems like a great idea to me, as it would work perfectly under her dresses.

I can't imagine that not printing. Thigh is a better option, and so is the under-arm one.

I'd probably encourage my wife to carry pepper spray in a purse rather than a gun.

 

[harmon rabb]

I can't imagine that not printing. Thigh is a better option, and so is the under-arm one.

She's got a bubble butt and most of her dresses are kind of loose, sundress-style. i think her butt would push out the fabric enough that the gun wouldn't print at all.

I'd probably encourage my wife to carry pepper spray in a purse rather than a gun.

she has pepper spray on her keychain.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Min carries her P-32 KelTec in cleavage and always wears a nice blouse We had a jewelry /gift store and that was where she settled on after many tries . We has a couple pistols hid in store also
she has 2 P-32 and a CW-9 32 get the carry . She likes the 9mm but not for carry

 

[*NOVA*]

I can't imagine that not printing. ...I'd probably encourage my wife to carry pepper spray in a purse rather than a gun.

The back pocket pic certainly made an impression on me! As for pepper spray instead of pistol, why not both? I've seen my wife put a ton of stuff in her bag! Also, count me in as one of those who say be glad she's wiling to carry at all. My wife being from New York and worked in the city many years, is convinced NO ONE is going to get her bag the way she carries it. I wiill not try to convince her otherwise.

 

[Canazes9]

My wife has a couple of the Galco purses in different styles. She has gotten a lot of compliments on the purses from her friends and coworkers most of whom do not know that she carries, they just think its a nice purse.

One of the best ways to mitigate some (not all) of the concerns with purse carry is to assure that your wife understands the important of situational awareness and the difficulties in accessing the firearm quickly if not carried in a prepared position. My wife somewhat dismissed these discussions initially. Instead of pushing the issue, the next time we went to the range I suggested that she try drawing from her new purse a few times and putting bullets down range - it was an eye opener for her.

Purse draws can be accomplished relatively quickly if practiced and the purse is carried in a controlled manner, positioned to access the firearm. Figuring it out for herself with me keeping my mouth shut did a lot more for this situation than anything I could have suggested.

David

 

[Fishslayer]

I'll be keeping an eye out for this one...

 

[Frozen North]

Women have a very hard time concealing in dresses and such. I was acquainted with a young woman who ran a tow truck. Because of the nature of much of the repo work she did, she carried all the time. People would often confront her days or even weeks after the repo on the street. At work she open carried an H&K .40, a full size of some type, but off the clock, she concealed a Smith air weight .38. She was a tiny thing and had a ton of trouble covering the thing. She finally had a friend sew her a wide elastic band that she wore around her middle, just below her bra. She could draw from it faster than you can believe! She had..... parts of herself exposed all over the place when she did it, but the gun came out fast! She just shoved her hand down the front of her dress, and there it was. There was a significant void below her bra that gave plenty of room to stash the gun with no lump.