ltwguns.com

Why do I do things like this?

I am a fairly intelligent and sober(at the moment) person, who rarely enters the Darwin Corridor without a decent reason.

I have owned and worn a vast veriety of leather goods during my years of active and inactive duty as a member of the armed forces and law forcement community.
Burns-Martin, Roy's Pancake, Seventrees, Null,
Alessi, Nelson, Gaylord, Jackass<pre-Galco>, early Bianchi and Safariland as well as Milt Sparks, Del Fatti and local Don Hume, Kramer and the modern others; to say nothing of the "forced" departmental purchases of Bucheimer and G&G(and similar others)
and some local craftsmen.

All have been more or less acceptable and have had their individual merits and definitely their faults. My early instructors in the business of carrying arms for a living ALWAYS impressed on me that it was a foolish decision to stint on the expenditures for good leather.

I listened. I "expended". I searched for the best leather I could get, and based on opinions not nesessarily my own, bought "the best".
In uniform and out, I expended. I am still doing it.

But when I go to the store for a container of milk, luncheon meat and some cat litter bags, I usually default to my favorite carry. Secure and always available, what my first, politically IN-CORRECT PO-lice Sergeant
called a Mex'kin carry.
I slip my weapon behind my right hip in my personally worn out (NOT pre-aged) Levi's or Kakhis; secured by my belt.

I did it during my last 10 plainclothes years as a USCS Special Agent in Miami, and I do it today. My most comfortable and easiest carry.
I have run and wrestled with bad guys, have kicked a bit of ass and have had my own ass kicked a bit and have not lost the piece.
I will continue to purchase new exemplars of fine craftsmanship of Uncle Lou and others, but,........I will always default to the old way.

I have put on my nomex jockeys and am standing by for a toasting, but at seventy years plus, my old bones enjoy the warmth.


Joel Ariel

If someone tells you he is going to kill you,....believe him".

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The mature gentleman sitting quietly in the far corner, sipping Lagavulin and very much enjoying the "Stan Getz's CD.

Sir,
No offense intended, but you made it to 70+ correct or incorrect by somebody elses standards is absolutely irrelevant. It worked for you.

Sort of the rule I live by, you set your rig the way that works for you, you got to wear it and you got to fight it...

God Bless

Jim

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"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin , 1759

I want to know why a tuff guy like you is buying Kitty Litter and I thought the OLD School cops ate DOG FOOD not luncheon meat at least that was what I was told? All joking aside like Jim said If it works for you then why change it!!


Kendall

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"There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed man long enough never care for anything else thereafter."

Ernest Hemingway

Joel, I understand completely. In my law enforcement career, I NEVER saw a bad guy wearing a holster. I took that into account when I did my limited amount of undercover work. I had people see my CZ-75 but they all blew it off saying, "that ain't no cop gun".

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

I thank Jim Tighe, Kendall & Gunfighter 45 for their kind words and thoughts.

Jim, no offense has been taken.
I do what I do because that's what I do.
I buy guns I dont need, but want.
I buy holsters and stuff, because that's what I have always have done.
I will do so in the future. Part of the fun of the shooting atmosphere.

I was not complaining about the leather goods individually, but suffice it to say I will most likely always default to the holsterless, strong side, behind the right hip, position.
It does work for me.
(Except with Glocks, which make me nervous when carried that way)
Conversely, I do carry a spare mag & Surefire in a carrier on my belt.

With any decent sort of luck or by design, I will never have to fight again. With weapons or by any other means. But,....if I do, I certainly am prepared.

As for Kendall's kind comments, I quit lunching on ALPO years ago.
The Doctor told me to cut down on that high fat diet, and that I was definitely too old to curl up and try to wash in that particular canine manner.

Kitty litter bags are for the members of my FAT Unit (Feline Action Team), which is made up of two Male Tonkinese, and a Female Balinese and Female Siamese.
All very cool cats.

I used to have German Shepherds, but after their passing, I could not bring myself to replace them. The felines sort of occured and I would not be without them or their distinct and diverse personalities.

I thank all for their gentlemanly responses and great courtsey,

Joel Ariel

"If someone tells you he is going to kill you,....believe him."

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The mature gentleman sitting quietly in the far corner, sipping Lagavulin and very much enjoying the "Stan Getz's CD.

FAT Team, I love it!! I can also sympathize with you over the loss of your beloved Shepherds! Throughout my life I have been blessed to have seven of those wondeful, devoted creatures with the last having to be put down two years ago due to cancer. Now, My (our) faithful companion is a Jack Russell terrier who I would give anything to have 1/10 the energy he has!! Anyway, best of luck to you and keep it in your pants (the gun that is)!

Joel, you might be interested in knowing many of the British SAS working in Ireland in the old days, carried Browning high powers stuck down the front of their jeans covered by a sweatshirt and found that carry very workable and particularly fast into play should the situation warrant. That does not obviate the need for a good holster for all day carry, but for a "milk run" its always worked for me as well.

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Land of the free BECAUSE of the brave!

I have been a cop for 16 years and I have done that a time or two. I agree about a glock though.
A detective friend of mine was at a grocery store getting info on a guy that he had filed on for fake prescriptions. While filing the warrant paperwork the turd came back with another fake. Anyway....he cuffed the guy, walked around a corner to ask the pharmacist a question and the guy ran. As my friend rounded the corner out the front door od the store he heard this awful clanking sound as his custom colt officers was skidding across the concrete. He was VERY embaressed to say the least. We caught the guy. He locked himself in a mattress store in the same strip center and made us pry the back door open. we had him in tears because he believed us when we told him that in Texas it is straight to prison for running from the Deputies! He cried real tears over that!!!

Joel...I agree with Capt. Tighe and the others, and am very happy that you have made it into retirement and the 70+ year mark! I have always enjoyed your posts and observations on here, sir...and feel that there is a lot that us young "pups" can learn...if we just keep our ears open, and our mouths shut....and listen to what our "salty" veterans have to say! My first Sgt. with the Sheriff's Office told me my first night..."Forget all that academy crap son, and I'll teach you what it is to be a real cop"..and he did a very good job of it I think, may he rest in peace. Another old cop that was widely read a few years back, by the name of Joseph Wambaugh (The Onion Fields) wrote in one of his characters as saying "All a good cop needs in some compassion, common sense, and a sense of humor; and God help him if loses any of the above". You sir, seem to exhibit all of the above. Keep charging hard, Joel!--John

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

Man, does this sound familiar. I prefer to carry in one of my well seasoned holsters but am quilty of just stuffing one in my belt for a quick run to the store.

The vision of one of my customs skidding across the concrete may convince me to change that habit.