Post by goomba on Feb 23, 2011 19:57:15 GMT -5
Concealed Carry: Shoulder Systems
Shoulder holsters keep everything together and are good for grab and go.
By Paul Rackley, Associate Online Shooting Editor
Don Johnson had a powerful influence on both fashion and popular culture as Sonny Crockett in “Miami Vice.” Millions of men across America wore T-shirts under Italian sport coats, white linen pants, sockless loafers, pastel colors and five o’clock shadow during the 80s.
He also influenced another more discreet trend—shoulder holsters. On the show, Crockett carried one of three pistols—a Bren Ten, a Smith & Wesson 645 and a Smith & Wesson 4506—in a shoulder rig that eventually became known as the Galco Miami Classic after Rick Gallagher, president of Galco Gunleather, flew to the set to personally fit Johnson in what was then known as the Jackass Rig because the actor was dissatisfied with his previous holster.
There are many references to shoulder holsters in both fiction and history. Old West gamblers often carried small revolvers under their coats, while it’s believed Elliot Ness carried a 2-inch Colt under his arm while pursuing Al Capone. Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer frequently carried a .45 automatic in a shoulder rig, and, of course, who can forget James Bond who always carried his Walther PPK in a shoulder holster under his expertly tailored tuxedo.
Shoulder holsters are not strongly advocated by self-defense experts, though shoulder carry does have its supporters.
“You don’t often see them in competition or training, but shoulder holsters are practical real-world carry systems,” said Mike Barham of Galco Gunleather. “They’re comfortable and everything is together in one system. You just grab and go.”
Women do particularly well with a shoulder holster as it fits their bodies efficiently. Women tend to be higher in the hip than men, which makes waist carry uncomfortable for them. Shoulder rigs also do well for people who spend long periods of time sitting in vehicles for their jobs, such as truck drivers and pilots, as the handgun is accessible but hidden.
www.americanrifleman.org/articles/concealed-carry-shoulder-systems/
Shoulder holsters keep everything together and are good for grab and go.
By Paul Rackley, Associate Online Shooting Editor
Don Johnson had a powerful influence on both fashion and popular culture as Sonny Crockett in “Miami Vice.” Millions of men across America wore T-shirts under Italian sport coats, white linen pants, sockless loafers, pastel colors and five o’clock shadow during the 80s.
He also influenced another more discreet trend—shoulder holsters. On the show, Crockett carried one of three pistols—a Bren Ten, a Smith & Wesson 645 and a Smith & Wesson 4506—in a shoulder rig that eventually became known as the Galco Miami Classic after Rick Gallagher, president of Galco Gunleather, flew to the set to personally fit Johnson in what was then known as the Jackass Rig because the actor was dissatisfied with his previous holster.
There are many references to shoulder holsters in both fiction and history. Old West gamblers often carried small revolvers under their coats, while it’s believed Elliot Ness carried a 2-inch Colt under his arm while pursuing Al Capone. Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer frequently carried a .45 automatic in a shoulder rig, and, of course, who can forget James Bond who always carried his Walther PPK in a shoulder holster under his expertly tailored tuxedo.
Shoulder holsters are not strongly advocated by self-defense experts, though shoulder carry does have its supporters.
“You don’t often see them in competition or training, but shoulder holsters are practical real-world carry systems,” said Mike Barham of Galco Gunleather. “They’re comfortable and everything is together in one system. You just grab and go.”
Women do particularly well with a shoulder holster as it fits their bodies efficiently. Women tend to be higher in the hip than men, which makes waist carry uncomfortable for them. Shoulder rigs also do well for people who spend long periods of time sitting in vehicles for their jobs, such as truck drivers and pilots, as the handgun is accessible but hidden.
www.americanrifleman.org/articles/concealed-carry-shoulder-systems/