The Gutman Presentation (the sneaky draw)

[Cosmoline]

I was watching "The Maltese Falcon" again last night, and was struck by a fast little move the "fat man" of the story--played by Sydney Greenstreet--pulls on Bogart at the end. He's reaching for his hat with his right hand and surreptitiously grabs a small pocket auto with his left. Then the hat comes up and the pistol is right there, pointing at Spade. Nicely done, as Gutman would say.

Theater, obviously, but it got me thinking. Most of the various methods of presentation pay no attention to the use of distraction or slight of hand. None that I have been exposed to teach us methods of keeping the foe looking at something else while we draw. Magicians know how to do this sort of thing, but for self defense we're taught to do the opposite--call out and draw attention to our firearm. I have my own problems with the use of warning words outside of a felony stop by an LEO, but aside from that wouldn't it be interesting get training on how to draw without being noticed until it was too late for the foe to respond?

Does anyone offer such methods?

 

[1KPerDay]

I dunno but that's a great movie.

 

[Cdigman]

I've often wondered, if confronted with an armed robber, if "misdirection" might be a valuable tool to gain back the element of surprise...if, feigning compliance, I were to throw my wallet onto the floor, off to the side, before attempting a draw, how that might work out.
Lee

 

[lions]

I have heard something similar to that somewhere. It was proposed that if you take your eyes off the target and look past them and shake your head or say "no thanks" or something to that effect, the other individual would instinctually turn around to see who is behind them giving you what may be precious moments to draw and fire.

I always thought it was a novel idea but I'm not sure I have enough confidence in the maneuver to ever actually attempt it.

Along the lines of the wallet, what if you threw it at their face and simultaneously get off the x while you are drawing? If you can't tell, I'm just throwing ideas out there to see what might stick. Call it brainstorming and, as always, attempt at your own risk.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // If I carried a small semiauto I'd consider a wallet holster.

My friend can get his .25 into action very fast that way, all the BG sees is you giving them your wallet til it is too late.

I also know a fellow who carries a silver dollar. His plan is to drop it, a silver coin hitting the ground makes a distinctive sound and could distract the greedy...just long enough.

I carry my 442 IWB 11:00 butt foward behind my red phone pouch (the pouch hides the belt clip) so it looks like I'm going for my phone. I hope.

Good idea, to think more on misdirection.

 

[strambo]

With strong side hip carry, reaching for the gun starts out like reaching for your wallet. Also, ask them a question and draw (or strike) while they're yapping. It's hard to switch from formulating words to physical action.

Those are easy ones to give you a split-second edge without theatrics.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

If you were to toss your wallet at their feet... wouldn't they just shoot you?

 

[ilikepancakes]

I have heard something similar to that somewhere. It was proposed that if you take your eyes off the target and look past them and shake your head or say "no thanks" or something to that effect, the other individual would instinctually turn around to see who is behind them giving you what may be precious moments to draw and fire.

Along the lines of the wallet, what if you threw it at their face and simultaneously get off the x while you are drawing?

These are the two things I was going to suggest. lions, get outta my head!

 

[JoeSlomo]

My friend can get his .25 into action very fast that way, all the BG sees is you giving them your wallet til it is too late.

A technique...

Feign panic.

Weak hand raised to obscure strong hand from baddie, body crouched and distanced gained by stepping back in "fear".

Blade body to mask weapon.

Say: "Take my wallet, take my wallet..." in a panicked tone.

Secure weapon, sidestep and engage threat.

Baddie believes he has control due to panicked tone. Baddie believes you are in compliance, and expects to see a wallet produced because you are "begging" him to take your wallet. Baddie has minimal time to react due to visually masking your firearm.

A technique, and it's worth what you paid for it...

 

[Eyesac]

I think there's all kinds of little tricks one could employ in a bad situation, problem is there's no second chance if it doesn't work. Next time you're done with your coffee, instead of throwing your cup in the garbage try pretending you have been stricken with some horrible knee pain and saying to your friend "ow! oh crap! can you hold this for a second" (all while bent over and wincing in pain) and hand him just about any garbage you want. Almost everyone will fall for it. Once.

 

[Big Boy]

What Slomo said is what I think I would do. Turn my strong side away from him, hand out saying "ok man, you can have it" and while reaching for my wallet, my gun comes out instead. Obviously that would be the time to start side stepping as well.

 

[Sgt_R]

Keep a snubbie in a pocket holster. If you think there might be trouble, put your hand in your pocket.

That's my plan, anyway.

R

 

[hk_mtbr]

A technique...

Feign panic.

Weak hand raised to obscure strong hand from baddie, body crouched and distanced gained by stepping back in "fear".

Blade body to mask weapon.

Say: "Take my wallet, take my wallet..." in a panicked tone.

Secure weapon, sidestep and engage threat.

Baddie believes he has control due to panicked tone. Baddie believes you are in compliance, and expects to see a wallet produced because you are "begging" him to take your wallet. Baddie has minimal time to react due to visually masking your firearm.

A technique, and it's worth what you paid for it...



+1 br'er rabbit

 

[leadcounsel]

I suspect that no two situations or armed robbers are the same. While one may fall for the 'tossing the wallet in the air' trick, another may just keep his eye on you and shoot. I suspect that at least some armed robbers have anticipated or trained for this exact maneuver.

And that 'tossing the wallet' assumes you have a throwdown wallet or set of keys.

I don't pretend to know the answers. I think in some situations I would gamble with a distraction and a draw; in some I would just run and put lateral movement and distance between us (knowing that handguns, particularly to the untrained, are inaccurate and unreliable), and in some I might just comply and wait for an opportunity to draw (maybe as he opens the wallet).

 

[navyretired 1]

I've alway's planned to use the take my wallet,panic draw.I beleave that a lot of BG's get a kick out of the power trip of you groveling which gives you slighty more time for him to recognize your not the wimp you were indicating.
On the run angle, I've had 3 total knee replacements so running is not an option, but as I'm also not a victim, My choice is stand and fight or stand and take what the BG wants to do. A+ 99% stand and fight using distraction for edge.

 

[kayak-man]

Have you ever seen Sudden Impact? It has a great example of what I refer to as the coffee draw. Looking at the room from above, your standing with a counter or table at 3oclock, and holding a cup of coffee in your left hand. The BG's are in front of you, and possibly off the left. Starting with arms crossed, pivot and reach your left hand across your body as if to set your coffee down or the table, blocking there view of your right hand, which can now draw from your shoulder holster.

Heres the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdLjp27yQB4 right about 2:25 is just before he draws.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

I wish I still had a working link to the video of Shatner dealing with a robber in the garage of his law office on an episode of Boston Legal. He used the distraction of grabbing his wallet from inside suit coat pocket to cover his draw. His gleeful "takedown" isn't truly high road but...
Joe

 

[BRad704]

I have actually never seen Dirty Harry before... sad, I know... But that is a good move. It would look even less-obvious is he was reaching across with his left hand to put the coffee down and going for an OWB or IWB at 4oclock...

And I like the feign panic idea too... plus I'll be trying that pass off the trash trick very very soon...

 

[Fred Fuller]

I'd be careful about looking to Hollywood for tips'n'tricks to use on the street.

Could be your assailant saw the movie too...

lpl

 

[Double Naught Spy]

If you were to toss your wallet at their feet... wouldn't they just shoot you?

Why would they just shoot you? If you think they were likely to just shoot you for tossing a wallet, then you might as well consider that they would have just shot you before asking for your wallet.

Generally speaking, most criminals want to accomplish their goals with as little attention and as little risk as they can for a given type of situation. Shooting you is likely to draw attention, both immediate and future. So no, the criminal probably isn't going to just shoot you for throwing your wallet to their feet.

Of course, the above claim assumes that the criminal has full control of him mental and physical skills ... having a plan in mind and not being apt to shoot you on accident because his twitching finger was on the trigger. With that said, there are some that are going to shoot you whether you comply or not.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I believe it was Old Fuff who originally tuned me in to this one...

If you pocket carry, keep your firearm in your left pocket, then, when you draw, just pull the gun out of your left pocket and then place it into your right hand - simple as that!

Old Fuff posited, and I agree, that most people would be wary or nervous if your hand was in your right pocket (ready to draw, of course), but that they are rather nonchalant if your hand is in your left pocket.

 

[IdahoSkies]

There was a great thread last week about a contributor who was confronted at a gas station. One of the things that he did was to make everyone around aware that something was going on. It is a sad but true fact that when if you have to draw your firearm you will also have to defend the reason for drawing it, and everything you do or say up to and after that event may be scrutinized. So faking subservience to get of an early shot may be read against you later. Not in all circumstances, but in some in certainly would.

I think speaking loadly, making a scene before having to take action both notifies the perpetrator and potential witnesses to watch out and may unsettle the perpetrator as well.

That is my plug nickle.

I haven't been under fire myself, so that is about what my opinion is worth. But its mine.