ltwguns.com

Any first hand experience between these two guns as far as ease of concealment? Does the CQB officer's-size butt conceal a lot better than the Brown Bobtail with full size frame? Does the front of the full size frame make it more difficult to conceal?

Was in search of the same answer, sold the EB Bobtail and bought a Wilson Protector Compact (aluminum) and have found the Wilson to conceal much easier. The reduced weight was an added bonus. Combined with a quality holster I have found this to be the perfect carry gun. The Protector has performed very well for it's intended use.


Brian

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Brian

I agree with Brian. I have both (a Kobra Carry and two compact Wilsons - Tactical Super Grade and LW Stealth), and I prefer the latter for concealed carry.

Yeah, it seems logical that an Officer's frame would be better than a Bobtail full size butt, however, I didn't want to just assume. Thanks for the feedback.

That is what I was going to say.

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"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

I carry a SA TRP(full size) in a Milt Sparks VM2 with just a t-shirt. Conceals great. I am not a big guy either, about 6ft1 at 180 lbs. I am in the Coast Guard and I have worn it over to get togethers at peoples houses without anybody knowing. So just because the EB maybe full size,, dont let that scare you from carrying it. But then again I don't mind carrying the fullsize around all day. Some prefer the lighter models for ease.

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A 9mm may expand...but a 45 will never shrink..don't know who to quote

Not terribly surpised that the Wilson conceals better, but I imagine the Kobra conceals better then a full size or Commander.

No experience myself. I'm just little people here in the PRK.

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Jeff

I would go for the Les Baer Stinger over either of those pistols. Officer size frame and a full 4.25" commander top end. As a matter of fact, I Did.

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"Semper Fi"

Ok, many of you are operating under the assumption that I live in the USA. I do not. I live in Kalifornia. So Stinger is not on approved list!

Is it possible, for the best of both worlds and ultra concealment, to do an Ed Brown bob-tail on an officer's frame???
Just curious as I haven't seen this done.

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"He who works with his hands is a labourer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist."
(St Francis of Assisi)

I believe the Bob-tail use an officers length mainspring due to the shorter useable space in the mainspring housing. Not sure what set up you could use in a mainspring housing "shorter" than an officers.

Here's a pic of two Officer's frames that I built, one left with just a normal bottom rear bevel and one cut into a Mini-Bobtail. The Mini is a really comfortable grip and softens the corner enough to reduce printing.

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Hi John,
That little mini Bobtail looks great! Did you just keep the existing mainspring and work it down? Maybe something I do someday since Officer's frames usually did into my palm. Your solution may help a lot.

I did the same thing to my Officers. I'll post a picture tonight after work.

Brian

I like that John. Nice idea. Some full size pics would be nice...got any?

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Certainly, how would you like them sent? I have a half-dozen or so of the samer two guns from different angles.

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The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

John,
You can post them here or feel free to email them to me. I would like to see the whole profile of that gun with the mildly bobbed rear. They look like great guns. Thanks again.

_________________
Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Heck, don't let Steve hog those photos -- post 'em here!!


I'd love to see them too. I'm sure I'm not alone on the forum with that desire.

Sorry Steve, I'm a little slow this morning. Here are a couple of side views.

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The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Here's a couple of a Kimber done the same way.

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The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

A lot.

Those are sweet....
Are they Officers frames with a Commander top end?

Nala

I've gotten varied responses: Some say the full size grip Bobtail is actually easier to conceal than the Officer's butt. Other say the opposite.

Any other opinions on this? Thanks.

Well, I'll try it from another perspective. Both sides may be right, as everyone has a different ways of carrying (holster type, body type, position on the belt, cover garment, etc.), and one "model" may conceal better in one case and other may conceal better in the other. Just to give you a "technical" side of the issue, I put one of my compacts right on top of my Kobra Carry (bobtailed), on its side. Looking down on this "sandwich", I can tell that the Officer's frame has just a little more of the rear bottom corner of the MSH sticking out past the surface of the bobtail; we're talking 3-4 mm here. The bobtail, on the other hand, still has a full length grip at the front strap and all the way back to the rear of the magazine well, so obviously it has more bulk to it than the Officer's framed gun. Clear as mud, ah…?

Does the front strap come into play at all regarding concealment or just the rear butt?

That very much depends on how you carry, and your body type. For example, if you carry in OWB (or even IWB) straight drop holster, and you have the "right" body type (or you may want to call it "wrong" in this case ), it may matter just as much as the MSH length.

It sounds like you may have to try both out first hand to find out which one works best for you. Otherwise, you will always be in doubt.

Mr. Harrison,
Very nice work! and thank you for clearing up my question.
Gentlemen, now we are on to something here!
I know what my next custom project will be. (Now if we can do it in a compact 10mm - Hhmmm...)

Hoser,
From my holster-makers perspective, yes- the front-strap does play a part in concealement. If your carrying at an FBI rake it's the bottom corner of the grip, the toe of the magazine, that sticks out the farthest. The rear corner of the mainspring housing is pretty much pointing up at 12 o'clock in this carry angle. The bottom corner of the grip is pointing at 9 o'clock and will print when standing and walking. The back corner that gets the bobtail is what prints more when you're seated or bending over.
Of course this has just as much to do with your concealing garment as your choice of firearm, holster, and placement.

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"He who works with his hands is a labourer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist."
(St Francis of Assisi)

Yeah, that's what I noticed when I went into the safe and pulled out an Alessi DTWS and my full size 1911.

Just seems like the Officer's butt would be more concealable with this postition in a holster. Thanks Mark!

Yeah,
I think the officer's butt with a bob-tail is THE way to go to maximize concealment. I'm already counting money made off of dead cows.

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http://www.garritysgunleather.com
"He who works with his hands is a labourer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist."
(St Francis of Assisi)