AmyH

Friesepferd, I used to be a machinist and spent a lot of time climbing in/out, under and around machines. I don't carry a purse either. I have had good luck with wearing men's jeans or cargo pants. I didn't have a CCW then but I carried everything else.

Men's pants are, generally, made sturdier and they have deep pockets. Because men's pants are shaped different than women's pants, they give you more room, at the waist, for an IWB holster and mag pouches while still fitting fairly well in the seat.

friesepferd

true.
i used to always wear guy pants. i might just go back to them

maclean3

If you can wear men's jeans comfortably I highly recommend the 5.11 jeans. I ordered a pair from Forum member Rolex Dr. a few months back and have been really pleased with them.

I posted a review with pics of the concealment pockets here, hope it gives you another option to consider: 5*11 jeans are here (lots of pics).

BTW, I spent a few years in a machine shop myself. Did every job from CIP and Alpha Press Operator to Head of Engineering - got the spinal damage and surgical scars to prove it. Trust me, in your search for future employment avoid Penn United at all costs ... ask me how I know.
Jack

__________________
"The sheep are everywhere. We are raising up a nation of cannon fodder types and we are screwed."
HotGuns

S3ymour

My advice--friesepferd,
You sound like you might be around my age range(never ask a woman her age) so you get the opportunity to hear my opinion. I have both a smartcarry and a desantis ankle holster that I carry my xd sc in 9 in. I have a friend who carries a full size 1911 in a smartcarry wearing his super tight cowboy jeans, and there is zero bulge. Its really impressive how comfortable these are. I would give it a try. My ankle holster is great if you wear a flaired or wide leg bottom pant. I can run with mine on and it is super comfortable as well. They make the shirt holsters which I've never tried but may work, although I'd be curious to see how you get the gun out of one of those easily? Anyways, there are some great IWB holsters that are tuckable and would just require you going one size large in your shirts. The nice part about a tuckable is you know when your shirt rides up. Although maybe not, as I've seen many females with thongs sticking out who seemed completely unaware....dunno. Anyways, I'd say try the smart carry, and you'll probably be surprised especially with the narrow profile of your compact 1911.

CT-Mike

Do a search on Youtube for videos by Passive101. He has a video of his g/f Nicole sporting a Glock I think in a Smartcarry. Can't even tell she is wearing it.

ckd

My lovely wife is confronted with your limited carry options due to professional attire. What she prefers when wearing a jacket is IWB right hip in a DeSantis pocket holster (less than ideal), though we'll see if she can use a Bahami (?sp) grip. During the winter, she prefers a belly band and carries a S&W 442; tried a Kahr PM9 which is slightly flatter, but poked her in wrong places no matter how she adjusted it. She wears looser fitting tops than bottoms, so its eaiser to hide. Off person is out. She does wear a neck knife at all times, either a CRKT or Cold Steel.

I've bought her thigh holster for summer, routine IWB, and ankle holsters, none of which she liked. Ankle because of the weight, delayed access, and occassional pant cuff lifting, made that the least acceptable.

Like us guys, so much depends on what clothing you're wearing and what guns you have available; I have three different guns (P3aT, PM9, 340 M&P) that I pocket carry depending on clothing and environment.

Though I think a 380 is just below normal threshold of a proper defensive caliber, any gun is better than none, so perhaps a little KelTec P3aT (very small, light and reliable) in either clip or pocket carry would be possible. Sometimes size of the gun, not the caliber of it, are the primary reasons for selection.

We wish you luck solving this problem.

Wish you the best.

rathos

I want to say first that I love 5.11 products. The khakis are great, the original cotton pants are the best out there, but I would say stay away from the blue jeans. The way they are cut they fit very tight, I couldn't carry in a pocket withhout it printing horribly. I also had a hard time carrying inside the waistband, and I ordered the pants two sizes to big. Not sure what 5.11 was thinking with this product.

__________________
‘‘To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.’’

— George Mason

maclean3

The jeans do fit like the old 505 style Levi's but where Levi's has chosen to use progressively thinner denim over the years, 5.11 is using the thick, longer lasting material that Levi's USE to use when they were still an American company. I use to get three or four years wear out of Levi's, now I'm lucky if they last six months.

Yes, the front pockets are probably too snug for easy pocket carry but the internal appendix pocket works well for me. I bought them specifically for deep concealment use: If we go out to dinner I can tuck my shirt in and still carry a small gun without taking up pocket space or resorting to ankle carry. Tuckable holsters don't work for me and I really want my strong side pocket for keys and other stuff.

The regular fit concealment jeans won't work for everyone but they give me another carry option that fits my lifestyle and carry needs.
Jack

__________________
"The sheep are everywhere. We are raising up a nation of cannon fodder types and we are screwed."
HotGuns

friesepferd

i think i am convinced.
im going to give smartcarry with some guys (and girls) pants a try.
that is.. once i have any money to get one

friesepferd

oh, and s3ymour, i am 21.
not old enough to lie about my age yet. :)