12/08/09

The other day, I was thinking about carrying a concealed handgun. I was wearing my leather jacket and thought about the shoulder holster I'd bought for Pixie. I made a feint for the gun, as if it were in the holster under my arm, and noticed a vertical pocket in the jacket. Now, it’s not like I had never noticed the pocket before, but I'd never given it much thought. “Hey,” I wondered to myself, “I wonder if this could be used as a concealed holster.” I resolved to try it out sometime. Sunday evening for the Japanese Old School Car Show I did just that. I tried to drop Pixie, belt holster and all, into the pocket but it wouldn't fit. I dropped the holster and tried just the gun. It dropped in and rode in the pocket perfectly. To offset the weight of the gun, I loaded two more magazines with hollow points, slid them into a double magazine belt pouch, and dropped them in the horizontal pocket on the opposite side of the jacket. It balanced perfectly then. I'll need to remember to not close the flaps on top of the magazines because I realized later that quick retrieval would be impossible the way I was carrying them. Anyhoo, I walked around the house for a bit then went out to get in Lil' Wiggly to drive to the event. The only time I really noticed the weight, which I found really odd, was when I was driving. Standing, sitting, walking, or doing anything else and I hardly noticed the things in there. Of course as soon as I tried to zip up the jacket it got too tight and imprinted on the outside surface. I noticed that at home and knew to not zip unless it was absolutely necessary. After we ate and were hanging out in the parking lot, it became necessary. At that point I really didn't care though. John knows I carry and I couldn't give a flip if the other two guys know. I meant to ask John if he noticed it but never got the chance. So, I now have yet another option for self defense, and it is one I can utilize in a much quicker fashion I might add. I'm not what you would call a “Fast Draw” with Big Millie from the waistband. Then there’s the fact that I refuse to carry with one in the pipe because there is no way to de-cock the gun. Yeah, I know they have all sorts of internal safeties and stuff, I still don't trust having a cocked and loaded gun stuffed into my pants like that. In fact that, along with a measly seven round magazine capacity, are the two things I do not like about 1911 style guns. I like a de-cocker. Tee hee, how many times am I going to say “cock” today? Ooh, here comes two more, at least! Now, I know you can de-cock the 1911, but it has a single action trigger so you still have to cock the hammer before you can fire. As much as I love 1911s, they are strictly range guns for me. Damn, I want another 1911. I really wish John had done the deal at The Shooster’s Club for that Taurus because when he got ready to sell it in six months, I wanted to be there to buy it. Oh well, what are you going to do? So, I've been away from the desk for a few hours now and don't really feel like trying to think of more to say to y'all. Yeah, that’s it for today. I'll talk to y'all again tomorrow, maybe.