[Betty]

Mrshonts and I went to the local gun show today, and since mrshonts will be getting his carry permit soon, he's been hunting for different concealment options.

He found this nice dress shirt with a velcro pocket that's easy to open. There were different color shirts; white, green, denim, etc., and they are of well-made, durable material, and they are made in the U.S.A. The pocket gives you access to a shoulder rig or belly band. Mrshonts opted for the belly band, and his K40 slid into it easily.

I don't have the manufacturer's name, but the seller's website is here. The shirts are not listed on the site, but she has an email address listed.

 

[rocky]

Intresting , I was thinking the front would velcro with fake buttons. (also good for those hot dates) . I looked at the 5.11 shirts, but didin't find em to be all that good at concealing my gun.

 

[SSKC]

Question

Can you get the velcro open with the gun hand, or do you need both hands to draw?

Thanks.

SSKC

 

[The Tourist]

Gee, I hope it comes in sizes "Harley Extra Husky." I ain't no Halloback girl.

That K40 is about Glock size, I reckon.

 

[Euclidean]

That is freaking awesome. Now I want one :tongue:

 

[Betty]

I believe you can open it with the gun hand, but that's something mrshonts needs to figure out. The velcro is good, but not the super-duper extra strong variety.

My suggestion to mrshonts is if he cannot open it with the gun hand and the aggressor is actively beating on him, feed the left elbow into the attacker while he is unvelcroing with his left hand and drawing with his right. He would, in effect, be positioned sideways to the attacker. It would keep his gun hand away from the attacker and be less prone to being restrained, while the left arm is still defending him while opening the pocket. His gun hand, after drawing, would come up under the left arm and he'd be emptying lead into his attacker's torso.

I did something like that to my baton instructor during a retention drill. When he was grabbing for my baton on my right waistband, I turned clockwise and stuck my bony elbow in his neck while I drew my baton.

 

[CombatEffective]

Thanks for posting that. I have a shooting buddy looking for just such an item.

 

[Euclidean]

My suggestion to mrshonts is if he cannot open it with the gun hand and the aggressor is actively beating on him, feed the left elbow into the attacker while he is unvelcroing with his left hand and drawing with his right. He would, in effect, be positioned sideways to the attacker. It would keep his gun hand away from the attacker and be less prone to being restrained, while the left arm is still defending him while opening the pocket. His gun hand, after drawing, would come up under the left arm and he'd be emptying lead into his attacker's torso.

I did something like that to my baton instructor during a retention drill. When he was grabbing for my baton, I turned clockwise and stuck my bony elbow in his neck while I drew my baton.

Sound advice Betty. I personally favor cross draw, and it's the same exact problem: you have to lift a cover garment and literally cross your strong arm over your center line, which is not something that works to your advantage.

 

[The Tourist]

I think just about every CQC gun defense course I've ever read about has some type of "fend and rock" drill. While 'yellow' is best, fend or weapon retention is worth the knowledge and training.

I'm thinking of marketing my own video. "The **** Delivery Drill."

When I carry a firearm, it usually has some type of safety strap. If it's just jammed in a pocket, I have that pocket zippered. When I carry "off body," that carry pouch is zippered. My EDC, however, is clipped to my front right pocket, and my EDC's are sharper than most.

The basic idea of a 'fend' is to get the aggressor off of you long enough to draw your pistol, often in a secured method of carry. His two hands have the advantage over your one 'fend' hand.

My thought is that why should the cretin, briggand, highwayman or paracord salesman have the advantage? I'm a biker--think modern day freebooter. I'm expected to cheat, and the concept comes naturally.

If you're close enough to fend, then he's close enough to slash. Since I'm right handed, a good long deep and continuous cut from the corner of his left eye, across his mouth, jaw line and into his neck ought to be about right.

If this doesn't stop the aggression outright, I'll bet he drops or backs up far enough for the speed rock--which puts you on top and the rest is now your decision. Not a bad "delivery," capische'?

The only problem with this drill is that in practice I can find no other option but to drop the knife to secure my dominant hand for the draw. The thought of dinging a good knife for some low-life seems to fill me with dread.

 

[sm]

I like the shirt! :smile:
Looking forward to Reviews as to it works out.

Now I have some Biker buddies. They use a Galco (or similar)belly band under the shirt, set up to access the gun left hand. Leaves throttle hand free, so all but one is going to have to shoot weak handed. Granted the one Lefty does not ride a Harley either. [ Just thought about that...hummm]

So in trying to work this out...shirts with snap buttons "gave" better than the really heavy hook & loop fasteners. I can see why this shirt has the "regular" hook & loop. The heavy takes a real "tug" and if does not go, shirt gets skewed and causes problems. IMO / IME - regular hook & loop is the better choice.

Most of these Bikers used Revolvers, J , K frames, snubbies and similar. Some have gone to DAO like Keltec P-11 and similar.

Now in "trying this out" , I let one buddy use my Kershaw Leek in his right jeans pocket. Okay he could "fend" with his right hand, and access with his non throttle / weak hand the gun. I carry this Leek clipped to right jeans pocket, clipped the blade point is down, safety was removed as soon as I arrived home.

So I never have tried my knife in my left pocket before. I did, and it is "backward" for me to use left handed. If I were to carry this same knife weak-handed to fend, I would have to turn the clip around.

I'm gonna get yelled at...

I wear long sleeve oxford shirts year round. State Stats says I cannot have a firearm on Campus . So being an older returning student I don't park on campus...

Part of my Improvise, Adapt , Overcome is ...<inserts ear plugs> I don't use a holster, no belly band, just inside my tucked in shirt. Between my T -shirt, oxford shirt and Jeans and heavy belt.

With one button undone...shirt bloused out a bit , I can CCW b/t on and off going to school, lunch...and is real easy to access while seated with seat belts.

I like belly bands...just not a good idea to always be wearing one in some areas I have to access besides school.

Yes I have a secure way to keep gun in vehicle...

Just had to come up for me and my needs which differs from what I used forever and prefer. This need came up a long time ago...and it worked then, and works for me now.

 

[The Tourist]

Most of these Bikers used Revolvers

And most still do. I would guess that the most common revolver I've seen is a 3" of 4" SW K-frame in .357 Mag. And you know, a 4" Colt Trooper was my first gun, as well.

I can guess on the reasons. When you're dumping every nickel into bike parts, a $2K race gun is not in the budget.

Most bikers are not gun guys by trade. They shoot with the same frequency that most sportsmen do, and many are deer hunters in this area.

Further, firearms are a real pain in the behind on a bike. There are limited legal ways to carry them, and you can bet that a simple traffic stop is going to raise eyebrows. A few of my older friends don't even carry a 'road knife' if they are out cruising locally.

(I bought my first Buck 110 more as an after thought. I needed something.)

It's the old conundrum of money and time. I've noticed my gun related purchases have dropped significantly over the past year as my current bike has been customized.

 

[Bumper]

That's a pretty good idea, actually. I might have to try one of those, I wonder if they travel around to different gun shows?

 

[Prospector]

Sound advice Betty. I personally favor cross draw, and it's the same exact problem: you have to lift a cover garment and literally cross your strong arm over your center line, which is not something that works to your advantage.

I've sat here and pondered the cross-draw argument for some time now. One thing that keeps poppin up though....place your arms down by your side and then notice where your elbows are pointed....unless there's something wrong with ya, your elbows are canted a bit outward...not directly behind you (you'd be walking with your palms pointed straight out)....anyway, the natural bend of the arm does in fact support a cross-draw most easily. Where am I going with this....heck I don't know...just something I pondered about! :tongue:

 

[sm]

I got to thinking about Hook & Loop some more. The point was made earlier as to how LOUD that stuff is. I concur, and is the reason I avoid it for most applications where Noise is important.

Tonight I had to re-sew two more buttons on a shirt. [When did they make the eye of the needles smaller btw? ] I do not sew these two very tight, on purpose, I want them to give when I access a inside shirt carry.

I got to thinking more,[scary I know]. I need to touch base with a buddy of mine. He is BIG ,about 6' 3" and a very fit , 225 # . He owns among other things, a ladies dress store, the really nice stuff, business suits and the whole sha-bang.

Anyway he rides a Bike too, he carries a 3" RB HB Model 64. He also uses a Model 65 LadySmith. So we were discussing CCW and Bikes and such...

He ordered himself some Ladies 100% cotton Oxford shirts. Yes I said ladies, just like the ones he buys / has for men. The buttons are backwards from a guy' s shirt.

Idea came about from his darling daughter, who CCWs, and bought a belly band. He noticed she could access weak-handed ,sitting on her Bike [was daddy's bike daddy kinda lost that one , had to get him another...] .

"Click" , lightbulb goes off, daughter was able to access with one button undone, the second one gave way as drawn. Works for her - so I need to see how this is working out for him when he rides a bike to work...in general.

I do a similar thing with my inside shirt carry, accessing with strong hand with a guy's shirt.

Now the belly band works for daughter and Glock 26. With a Tshirt only and light vest, she showed daddy how fast she can rip upward the T shirt, access the Glock weak handed, and shoot weak-handed. They have a place in the country and do practice shooting off the bikes.

Now I shared what pax shared with me on another forum. Get a ladies Tube top dealie [ Betty - help with name please] and wear b/t belly band and body. Prevents chafing and such. Hey, if it works what do I care if this thing is made for ladies? I'm secure enough in my male self to not give a flip what folks might think or say.


Buttons and thread are cheap, having a button give way is quiet. More quiet than even snaps.

Just the eye of the needles are getting smaller ...ingenuis me- I use a Optivisor.

It aint' cheatin' if it works - called ingenuity