This is not my every day carry arrangement, but rather a simple experiment that I decided to undertake involving carrying multiple revolvers. Photo A shows normal attire, though the print on the simple and cheap shirt (deliberately chosen off the rack at Walmart to illustrate that fancy isn't always needed) has a pattern that doesn't photograph well.

Photo B shows the guns carried and their positions. All gear is deliberately cheap and generic. Under the left arm is a nickel 4" 10-7 with standard factory stocks. It is in an old SW brand suede IWB holster for a 4" K frame with the spring steel clip holding it in place on the armor carrier. Under the right arm is a 442 fitted with a clip draw (a device which seemingly works better with a heavier gun) and simply held under the armor strap on that side. Not an easy draw, but not impossible. (I didn't have a left hand IWB holster which would have been quite preferable.)

In the right front pocket is a 2" 12-3 blued round butt. Not show is the simple Desantis Nemesis that concealed it. In the left pocket is an old model 36 flat latch and another Desantis Nemesis. Note also that my usual Dunhill pipe tobacco PSK was in the left cargo pocket and a flashlight, magnesium fire starter, Leatherman Micra, Maglite solitare and small folding knife were in the right cargo pocket. (My EDC was modified around carrying extra revolvers.) There is a lack of appreciable bulging from even this extra gear.

The armor is a Second Chance IIIA vest. There is no appreciable bulging from wearing it even under the simple and thin Walmart shirt.

Unless you're John Holmes' stunt double (and dress right) each weapon was readily observed. Even if you are JH's "double," the under arm weapons are so apparent...and the right pocket gun would draw the LE attention of even a novice observer...or their romantic attention.

Be safe.

There's no tell tale bulges from the weapons, what looks like a tell tale sign under the arm is a shirt wrinkle. I wore this rig around all day without notice and at least one deputy walked by without a second glance when I was in the super market. The only visible bulge in person is from the PSK in one of the lower pants pockets. I triple checked in the mirror and had my wife try to guess how many guns and where. I do see what you're referencing to the right, and that is simply a wrinkle. The gun in that pocket was a 2" and the survival equipment in the cargo pocket only bulged to the side, not the front. For a gun to cause what looks like a bulge on the right is at close to knee level, I'd have had to have placed an AOW shotgun IW ala Dillinger rather than 2" alloy K frame. Similarly the left armpit wrinkle is just that and unrelated to the butt of the 10-7, even with the low tech carry holster. I had to pull the butt of the 10/7 forward for the second shot just to show that it was there.

Yes, folks can conceal a bit more than they're likely to try with some thought on their part. Thanks for helping to illustrate it.

However...

There's a bit of difference between a single posed photo and the angles and movement typical throughout the day.

And the vest, in particular, is a very noticable item if anything more than casual scrutiny is applied in the wearer's direction.

quote:

Originally posted by Wallace:
Yes, folks can conceal a bit more than they're likely to try with some thought on their part. Thanks for helping to illustrate it.

However...

There's a bit of difference between a single posed photo and the angles and movement typical throughout the day.

And the vest, in particular, is a very noticable item if anything more than casual scrutiny is applied in the wearer's direction.

I wore the picture guns all day, journeying out to a fast food eatery, Wally world, and a grocery store. I've worn IIIA vests 85 percent of the time daily for the last decade, only having it spotted once (by an ex Borderpatrolman) and then only in the days before I knew to add an inch to my shirt neck size and still wore a vest with a white fabric carrier. Only the lower end thick/bulky vests are easy to spot, and then only if someone doesn't know how to pick the right shirt sizes for armor or doesn't have the build for it. Paying more gets a thinner one that won't be spotted, even under a polo shirt.

Here's a ready and humorous example from "baby picture day". The vest is under the light sweater. (Facial features redacted owing to my wife's paranoia and our son cleverly disguised.) The 442 was concealed under my right arm where it blends in, at that point by a Desantis Nemesis modified with velcro and placed under the straps butt forward (my first early attempts at carrying a BUG there). A dedicated body armor holster would of course work better, but I've been experimenting trying to sell myself on the idea of the TRUSS system.

TRUSS system users apparently are able to conceal full size autos, mags, cuffs, lights, and the veritable kitchen sink under slightly oversized shirts.



Not that my arrangement is perfect, but it was deliberately illustrative of the "no special gear" adaption as I'm not using any special holsters meant for body armor attachment or even anything better than 20 dollar bargain bin holsters.

Hi, I have been a cop for 13 years...I have carried concealed weapons ranging from J,K,N frames and autos....The best thing I have found is a GOOD BELT!!!!!! A belt designed for carrying a weapon on like a double thickness belt that holds a holster in position...I have found that your average belt allowes the top heavy holster with weapon to lean out a bit allowing you to see a bulge...If you have a belt designed to carry a weapon and holster I find you do not have that problem.......

I wouldn't wear one of those waist bands, whatever there called...I take pride in my girth. But, to each their own on carrying multiple weapons even though I realize you were only demonstrating....

What guns do mini-gator have on under his v-neck?

Wow, some of you guys are extreme...

If I wore a vest down here (south FL) I'd sweat away to nothing!

quote:

Originally posted by sipowicz:
What guns do mini-gator have on under his v-neck?

I actually have a mini-me 5.11 style vest sold for infacts and cargo pants for him that I found. I just haven't had a chance to dress him up in for an outing as the vest is still a bit big on him. We also found him a skull bandana and shades so that he can complete his "operator" costume. I'm saving them for next "picture day". He got chubby so his feet are too fat for his little boots though, darn the luck.
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I'd fully agree that a good belt and conventional carry of a holster on it are probably one of the best options for a carry package of a primary gun, but I merely hoped to illustrate how easy it can be to stash a BUG in various places so I skipped showing anything belt mounted, or even wearing a belt. Not that I'd suggest necessarily carrying four BUGs daily, but merely to illustrate how to do so without much in the way of exotic equipment.

The trick to wearing a vest in a hot climate (we had a spike where it was 100 degrees or so here a bit ago) is to drink plenty of water and acclimate yourself to it. There's a lot of misconceptions about wearing armor and how uncomfortable/blatantly visible it is. The higher end vests - at about double to three times the purchase cost- will be even thinner and lighter (and thus more comfortable) than mine. Even a top of the line vest doesn't cost any more than a halfway decent AR or higher end 1911 though. The weight of attaching a weapon to one doesn't add anything significant to discomfort as the vest seems to distribute the weight. The downside is that it can make for a slow draw, but it is still doable.

I saw that kid on an Amber Alert!!!

Passing by I don't think I would have noticed any bulging ofcourse I'm not in the habbit of looking at guys buldges so....

QUOTE: from the movie "Running Scared"

"All that shits not gonna do ya much good if you're shot in the head"

MOONDAWG

quote:

Originally posted by MOONDAWG:
QUOTE: from the movie "Running Scared"

"All that shits not gonna do ya much good if you're shot in the head"

MOONDAWG

No, it won't. But it will do a great deal of good if I'm shot in the torso.

What line of work are you in that compels you to wear body armor? Just curious.