I have a holster rig question?

[mg357]

Dear Smith and Wesson forum i have a unusual Holster rig question.In the old west cowboys and lawmen wore a regular belt to keep there pants up and they carried there six guns on a separate belt and holster rig would that particular carry method work today in modern times if a person wanted to carry a gun to defend themselves? sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum

 

[The Big D]

Dear Smith and Wesson forum i have a unusual Holster rig question.In the old west cowboys and lawmen wore a regular belt to keep there pants up and they carried there six guns on a separate belt and holster rig would that particular carry method work today in modern times if a person wanted to carry a gun to defend themselves? sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum

Likely would work, but certainly not necessary. In fact, many LEO's (mostly uniformed, in my experience) wear a duty belt "over" a pants belt. They are customarily secured together with retainers which are short pieces of leather/Kydex with velcro or snaps. Uniformed LEO's ordinarily carry lots of additional equipment and wearing a separate belt makes it easier, frankly, to get dressed.

Most folks in mufti don't need a separate belt. In my experience, a well-made dress belt (e.g. Trafalgar or Coach)is sufficient to carry/secure most any handgun. That's what I used both professionally and now as a civilian and carried a 14 shot 9mm pistol and a 60 and 642 revolver. Only one at a time, in my case.

Hope this helps...

Be safe.

 

[Jellybean]

That type of carry wasn't all that popular with old west lawmen, history has been polluted once again by Hollywood.

However, if you chose to do it for CCW I don't see why you couldn't, as long as the firearm was concealed, and there are no specific laws against it in your jurisdiction. Although it would look a little strange to see someone with two belts on. Is there any reason you can't wear a holster on your regular pants belt?

 

[flop-shank]

My friend from Ohio makes a very good point!

Look at the old westerners who were townspeople. Their get ups were generally different than cowboys. Many carried pistols in specially lined pockets. No double gun belts for them.

Times have changed and so has the equipment. I carry multiple guns and I carry big, heavy, hard hitting ones. Takie a look at the gun belts at www.thebeltman.net . I use a dual layer bullhide 1 3/4" belt to support my 5" S&W 629 IWB. It wears and looks much like a regular belt, but is designed to hold up the weight of a gun. While expensive, such a belt will support the weight of a heavy gun and also last many times longer (probably a lifetime) than the typical department store (China-made crap) belt.

Looper Leather and Simply Rugged, as well as our own forumite www.lobogunleather.com also make belts that should work quite well.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

 

[photoman]

That type of carry wasn't all that popular with old west lawmen, history has been polluted once again by Hollywood.

You're not from Texas, are you? Many Texas lawmen still carry that way.

The only problem with that method of carry is, it's pretty darn obvious you've got a gun on with a second belt showing in front. Not a real good option for concealed carry.

 

[Jellybean]

I carried that way too while on duty. The Sam Browne belt came along around WWI I believe, which is what most police duty belts are based on today, and was used by the military. During the days of the old American frontier, the mid to late 1800s into the early 1900s, pants belts weren't that fashionable for gentlemen. They wore suspenders instead. I'm not saying an old time lawman never carried this way, but if you look at old photos of law officers from that time period, you don't usually see a belt at all.

 

[keith44spl]

Pants Belt & Gun Belt

I wasn't there in the old days, but I'm wearin' this'n today...

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[RufusG]

wore a regular belt to keep there pants up and they carried there six guns on a separate belt and holster rig would that particular carry method work today in modern times if a person wanted to carry a gun to defend themselves?

I carry that way every day. I came up with this system after much experimentation and trial and error.

Actually I don't carry a sixgun much anymore, just autos, but I just strap on another heavy belt above my pants belt and under an untucked shirt when I want to carry concealed.

IMO, the advantages of a separate belt are:
1. Quicker on and off, and no messing with attaching holster to the belt.
2. Raises the gun on my body, aiding both concealability and access to my wallet pocket (extremely hindered when using my pants belt).
3. Easier to adjust for comfort seated in the car.
4. When I'm out and about and nature calls (drop trou variety) the gun remains at my waist where it belongs rather than on the floor or out of the holster in my lap.

Of course, YMMV.