mexican carry

[walkin' trails]

Massad Ayoob did an ariticle on Mexican Carry a few years back. While the practice obviously did not originate in Mexico, the term apparently got coined after the Mexican revolution of the early 20th Century, when Mexicans lost their right to be an armed society. Packing a gun in a rig was replaced by stuffing the muzzle inside the waistband for those who were defiant and had no intentions of running around disarmed. In this day and age of permitted concealed carry and better concealment leather than ever, it is not a good practice.

 

[litenlarry]

Back in the '60's, 70's and early 80"s, there was not the vast selection of holsters that are available now..I have mex carried a few times back then, but no way now..
I have Glocks and KelTec's along with my S&W wheelies that have no safety, pull the trigger and " Bang !!"..I use holsters that cover the trigger, pockect carry or paddle OWB's..
There are IWB paddle's that really do away with the need for mex carry..

 

[blueknight7]

Ask the Narc cops. A lot of times, holster screams C O P. I have carried a handgun, in a lot of different ways. The Mexican carry was one of them.

As I have said in previous posts, cops are the biggest buyers of holsters, and the largest cross section of lab rats, when it comes to testing. I probably bought 100 of them. Some worked out. Most didn't.

 

[snowman.45]

I used to carry a Walther PPK/S and my 1911 while working narcs in the 1970's. In fact, I remember a few years ago when I believe Guns & Ammo did a story on "The Guns of Fresno BNE" from that period. Most of us who worked narc task forces in Central California in the late 70's and early 80's carried our guns in that fashion while U/C to escape detection. Of course, back then, we all had the signature long hair and facial hair, as well as dressing like a typical doper.

 

[hotrod150]

Mexican carry seems to work OK with longer guns and/or semi-auto's, but when I tried with my 2" j-frames I discovered they didn't want to fall down into my britches but had a tendency to want to pop out of my waistband-- not a good thing. BTW this was in the so-called "appendix" position, not the 4 oclock "kidney" position. I bought a flimsy Ace Case IWB holster & have happily appendix-carried ever since.
BTW "mexican carry" refers to not only holster-less carry but usually also to a 4-o'clock carry position. I guess if it was butt-forward at 4 oclock (heard of a few people doing this) it would be "mexican cavalry" carry?

 

[PRM1]

In my youth, I have carried a gun that way - also, I've dropped a gun carrying it that way. The cost of a good holster is much cheaper than a refinish job

 

[AZRancher]

Mexican carry...have not heard this term in decades, made me smile. A lot of detectives I knew in the wheel gun days used clip on holsters or "mexican carry". Some would wrap a thick rubber band or leather shoelace around the grip for traction. Many would also have the hammer cut so it would not snag in clothing. Some same side, some cross draw. If your carrying and not legal you could drop or stash the pistol in an emergency and not get caught wearing a holster..which tells you were wearing a gun. Undercover "narco" cops would do this also because almost no bad guy ever wears a holster.
I dont recommend it, but hey some times you gotta do what you gotta do at the time huh?

 

[rog8732]

A friend of mine, now passed, worked the Mexican seasonal tobacco market for many years in the fiftys and sixtys. He always said the "Mexican carry" was actually in the arm rest of the drivers side door. He said in most all the car wrecks, of which there were quite a few, the driver able to get out of his car, ( usually a large Mercury Monterey four door) with his 1911 in hand first,...... was instantly declared the one not at fault.

 

[williamlayton]

A good belt, cinched up, is a good platform for Mexican carry.
I have always found it most comfortable at 3/4 on the strong side.
If you carry it cocked and locked--condition one--it is just as safe as a scabbard-----both require some due diligance in keeping the booger finger mindful of the trigger. That said, there are a couple of safeties that must be manipulated to engage the fireing.
You boys do it the way you want.
Blessings

 

[rhmc24]

Not necessarily 'cinched up' with SAA loading gate open -- my GFather (# 19 above) was a tall thin man always wore suspenders, loose waist, probably better suspenders than most. As a kid I never saw him wear a belt, altho he must have have back in his 'LEO' days.

My GFather 1866-1952, Me 1924 - now ------>

 

[shawn mccarver]

I feel sort of dumb asking this but what is mexican carry? Any pics showing it would be cool.

Thanks and hope all had a very Merry Christmas
Joe.

Skeeter Skelton used to talk in his articles about this method. In the photos with his articles, he would wear the pistol, often a 1911, just behind the hip on the strong side. And, no, the safety on your 1911 will not mysteriously deactivate - if you don't believe me, try it! If you want, you can have it cocked and locked on an empty chamber until your are sure the safety will not deactivate.

The Mexican carry is usually used with semi autos, as the grip will hook over the belt preventing the pistol from falling down the inside of your pants. A revolver is not conducive to this mode of carry, although I have seen Mr. Skelton model this mode of carry with a Colt or Ruger Single action revolver. The problem generally with Mexican carry of a revolver is that the wider cylinder will result in the revolver dropping through and the curved grip will then not hold the revolver in position.

The "Mexican carry" cannot really be recommended these days. Its usefulness originally, if the period articles and stories are to be believed, is in its ability to throw away a gun leaving no holster for the approaching Federales (Mexican Federal Police) to find during a search.

Whether used by contrabandistas or by American law enforcement illegally in Mexico to hunt down the killer of a Border Patrolman or other "rat of the lowest order," it has pretty well outlived its usefulness as it is possible, with easy on/easy off holsters, to simply discard the holster as well. Not to mention that crossing into Mexico to hunt down a person is not really a great idea these days.

A current Google search for "Mexican carry" has a bunch of images showing the pistol in the front or appendix position. This is not the way that either Skelton or articles from an earlier period (30s to 70s) demonstrated this mode of carry.

This holsterless appendix or front mode of carry has gained some traction in recent years, probably as a "gangsta" mode of carry, although such notables as Gabe Suarez seem to promote this position as well, of course, with a holster. It is fast, but as comfortable as I am with Condition 1 for a 1911, or with the M&P or Glock, I still have reservations about the barrel pointing at "anything you are not willing to destroy," even if a current literary description of the "anything" is "junk."

 

[cochise]

I posted some time ago about my AD with a cocked and locked 1911. I sat on the sofa, shifted my weight and WHAM, killed the TV because of the positin of my leg. Yes I was shocked and wounded. :-(

NO mexican carry, buy a good holster!