Hide And Seek: Concealment Holsters
Sometimes it can be quite difficult to find the right holster, especially when you’re playing hide-and-seek with your protagonist’s weapon. So here’s a few suggestions. And yes, this post does mean that it’s been a good week. Everyone made it home safely!
Small of the Back holster (S.O.B.)
Mini Side Holster
The Intruder (does not work with ambidextrous thumb safeties)
The Cozy Partner is designed to precisely fit the weapon and has a memory band that remembers and conforms to the shape of the wearer.
Tactical Concealment Pants
The Walkabout. Wear it anywhere on the belt for a fast draw.
Concealed Carry Jeans
Tuck-N-Go inside the pant holster
Ankle Holster
And, the end…
Concealment Shorts
*Magills images.
Though some agencies still allow (or even require) officers to buy their own duty or backup weapons, most of us are required to carry agency issued firearms. This is for uniformity of weaponry plus so the agency and officer can account for firearms they were carrying and to refute the “drop gun” claim.
In fact, more and more progressive agencies, just like Jim Born’s FDLE, are issuing backup or auxillary weapons to their officers as standard issue. Depending on the size of the backup weapon will dictate how (and even if) it’s carried. Small .380s like Jim’s Ruger LCP can fit in a pocket or jacket holster whereas some larger guns such as Glock 26/27, though small, restrict how you carry them. Inside the pants holsters and pocket holsters are popular ways to carry backup guns, but a lot of us still opt for an ankle holster.
Kiah, allow me to jump in, if I may, and answer your question.
Whether a back up weapon is allowed would vary from agency to agency. Even among agencies that allow back up guns, it may be left to an officer’s preference. Many agencies that permit such a weapon would require that it be registered with the department and perhaps have a ballistic sample kept with the department.
This would be one way to battle the accusation that officers might carry “throw down” guns.
I knew of at least two officers who carried back ups, even though it was forbidden, the sentiment being, “better tried by twelve than carried by six.” Fortunately, neither of them ever had to find out.
So I have a question about concealed carry’s. In the movies you always see the detective with a back up gun in addition to his regular piece, usually on the ankle or a SOB holster. How often does that actually happen? Or how about a regular beat cop? Would they have a back up or are they even allowed to carry an extra gun?
My new off duty has a holster that allows it to fit in my front pocket and the holster stays in the pocket if I have to draw the Ruger .380.
A long way from just tucking a Berretta in your belt.
Good morning, Lee.
When I worked plainclothes, I carried a .38 revolver in a holster which was a cross between the cozy partner and the mini side. When we switched to 9mm Sigs, I purchased the same style for the semi-auto pistol, but found I had a problem with it. Because most of the gun’s weight was in the grip of the gun, above the belt line, I found that gun and holster had a tendency to flip over, so that the gun was hanging outside the belt, upside down.
Needless to say, about three such episodes and I switched to a more conventional holster.
The Concealment Shorts at the very end is just a modernized version of a style first implemented by a deputy in Mayberry, NC in the 60’s. Of course, that method was abandoned after too many trips to the Artistic Weavers, but I’m glad to see someone has picked it up again. 🙂
Man those Calvin Klein models always make em look so comfy !