I worked in the gun world before I ever had to wear a suit professionally. As such, I regularly advocated that everyone should carry the most capable, user-friendly carry pistol they could, such as some flavor of Glock G19 sized semi-automatic.
When my career path veered into the corporate sector, I was confronted with the harsh reality that concealing a duty-size, double-stack pistol wasn’t nearly as easy as when I just untucked my too-big gun shop polo and pulled it over my IWB holster.
I soon found myself in another literal white-collar, suit-and-tie job that had me in very close proximity with customers on a daily basis. It was in a relatively low-risk industry (no high value inventory or large amounts of cash), so I didn’t have to worry about experiencing my own personal Nakatomi Christmas Party.
That said, I still wanted to remain armed. After all, using Tom Givens’ alumni stats as the example, the only negative outcomes his students have suffered have been “forfeits”: showing up to your defensive gun usage without a gun.
This was circa 2019, prior to the introduction of the PHLster Enigma and the space wizardry of Rhett Neumayer’s deep carry methodology, so the available options were a little less than ideal.
I sat down and did the math. I asked myself “If I had to choose, would I rather have a less optimal pistol that I can bring into play more readily, or a more effective pistol that takes longer to access and deploy?” The consensus from everyone from Wyatt Earp to Jim Cirillo seems to be that first hits win gunfights, so I set out to find the most practical pocket gun I could find.
Why Pocket Carry?
Why did I opt for pocket carry? A few simple reasons:
Men generally carry things in their pockets, so it’s more normal and expected for there to be lumps and bumps at the pockets that won’t draw unwanted scrutiny.
Additionally, it’s socially acceptable to walk around with your hands on your pockets. This means you can already start with a firing grip on the gun, shortcutting the draw stroke. There are videos of folks pulling off legitimate sub-second draws to first hit with a pocket gun that are virtually impossible to pull off with carrying on the waistband without obviously telegraphing intent.
Also, weight was a big factor. Dress pants are typically a much lighter fabric, so supporting the weight of a duty gun on the waistline can be a challenge, even with the addition of a good belt. Meanwhile, my KelTec P32 weighs about as much as my cell phone. In the right holster it’s undetectable, unobtrusive, light recoiling, and incredibly easy to live with. Yes, the sights need a LOT of work, and you’ve got to hunt a little harder for quality .32 ACP ammo than you do for a duty caliber, but I’m still able to make Down Zero headshots with it at 7 yards.
Professional And Well-Prepared
Especially for professional environments, where the social and financial consequences for being discovered with a firearm can be unacceptably severe, and the overall risk profile is generally lower than a gas station parking lot at 1 am, a small pocket gun might just be the perfect gentleman’s accessory.
Lest we forget, “vest pocket” pistols were a category unto themselves for almost a century. The Philadelphia Derringer came out in 1852, and the Colt Vest Pocket was made through 1948. Continuing with that trend, Darryl Bolke of Hardwired Tactical Shooting often mentions how, with the advent of the automobile and urban living, wearing exposed firearms became far less common. For example, the whole premise of the Fitz Special was to be easily carried and drawn from the pocket of an overcoat.
Within the realm of concealed carry, “dressing up” is often dismissed as being form over function, but, when the circumstances are such that suiting up is functional and situationally appropriate, suddenly the pocket pistol becomes a much more functional and a practical choice as well.
While the average man no longer wears a suit and tie on a daily basis anymore, pocket carry is still relevant and valuable for when it’s time to suit up.
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