I'm new to CCW and new to this forum. Out of politeness Hi my name is Rob. With that out of the way I have a question. I own to guns one is a Smith and Wesson model 36 with a bobbed hammer and it conceals easily and is easy to carry. My other gun is a Colt Cobra with a 4 inch barrel. The Colt is lighter than the 36 and I've been thinking about making this my every day carry gun but I don't know if a four inch revolver is pausible as a carry gun. What do you think? Does anyone carry a 4 inch revolver and if so, how? Any and all comments and suggestions will be appreciated.

The real trouble with concealing revolvers is the cylinder and frame, not the barrel. A longer barrel does make it slightly slower to draw and a little more difficult to carry, but not wildly so. Also a great many people carry semi-autos with 4" or 5" barrels. The trick is finding a holster that works for your body type and particular situation. Barrel length is possibly the least problem (within reason of course) with concealed carry.

Hey Rob, welcome. Good on ya for opting to carry a revolver for CC. A fullsize 4" revolver is definitely carryable. Check out the Bianchi leather pancake strongside concealed carry holster; can't remember the model name, but the number on mine is "7/7L."

I use it for concealing my 4" Smith 686. The same holster should fit the Colt medium frames, including your Cobra. Everytime I wear mine, I'm always impressed with how closely it keeps the revolver pressed against me. The only time it really prints is when I bend over and the butt of the gun pokes out.
As far as availability, I picked mine up at the local Sportsman's Warehouse, or you can get it off Midway.

I would suggest you carry your 4" gun inside the waistband on your strongside and the snubby in your front pocket, in a pocket holster, on your weakside. I routinely carry a 5" full underlug 629, which is a large frame .44 magnum. Your 4" gun would be very easy to hide with a proper belt and holster. Welcome to the forum. Stick around, I learn something new here every day.

Here's me hiding a 4" Model 65 with nothing but a t shirt and shorts on.

Holster is a Cochise Defender from K&D Holsters.

I carried a 4" Redhawk for years, often under just a T shirt in 90 degree heat. My current carry guns are N Frame 625s in 3" and 4" barrel lengths, with and without underlugs. The trick is to have the right holster, and all of the above fit into a single El Paso Saddlery Street Combat.

Dave Sinko

I've carried a 4" Model 58 comfortably in a simple clip on IWB holster. K frames are even easier to carry.

However, you might not want to make that particular gun into a carry gun. It isn't likely to tolerate a steady diet of +P defensive ammunition as well as some other choices. If in good condition, it will also have a value such that carrying it might rapidly diminish that value. Just something to consider.

If the 4" is what you have and like, carry it. I have carried a 4" Police Positive inside the waisteband with a Bianch 3S pistol pocket made for small frame revolvers, and it was very comfortable for long periods. Drawing with the 4" was no problem.

I have carried 4" K frame guns over the years using a Barami Hip-Grip for inside the waistband carry. For me they worked best just behind my strongside (right) hip bone. The Colt should carry even easier due to the slight decrease in size. I have also used the cheap Uncle Mike's soft IWB holsters with good luck, which might give you an idea if this mode is tolerable for you.

If you are interested, I still have a set of hip grips for a Colt Cobra 2" I sold years ago. Contact me if you are interested.

Sorry to all if I have turned this into a classified ad.

I know a couple of retired cops who still carry their duty 4 inch K-frames. The K-frames served them well for 30 years or so and they see no reason to change now.

That said, they use IWB leather holsters concealed under a 'Hawaii' shirt.

YOU have to find the right holster-belt combination that fits your needs and living style. Once you get it right, you will feel very comfortable with the practice.

Good advice. A good holster and a good belt (not a dress belt) will let you conceal a handgun much larger than a Cobra. I've had my best luck with designs by Milt Sparks and Greg Kramer, but there are lots of options.


Okie John

Carrying depends a great deal on just how you are "built" and how you plan on dressing. Barrel length isn't much of an issue. A Good GUN BELT is very important. I have found it possible to carry in a belt holster on my Strong Side hip on a proper belt to be very easy and have carried that way for 30+ years. Including a Glock 22 which is their Full Sized .40S&W.

That being said; it should be noted that I'm not 5' 6" and don't tip the scales at 130 pounds, but if I were I'd find this type of carry a bit "awkward" to say the least.

quote:

it should be noted that I'm not 5' 6" and don't tip the scales at 130 pounds, but if I were I'd find this type of carry a bit "awkward" to say the least.

This is the problem: It's not the walking around concealment that's the issue; it's trying to sit with that long barrel jabbing you in the thigh.

Thanks Wyatt Earp for the link. I've been looking at new holster styles for my 4-inch Model 10.

Try a CABO IWB holster. It carries the cylinder above the belt, essentially turning a 4" into a 2 1/2" for concealed carry.