As
more and more people have gotten their concealed weapons
licenses, the firearms industry has adapted to cater to that
market. Especially
for those who live in urban areas and/or hot climates, pocket
carry offers an excellent option.
As a result, compact pistols such as the S&W Shield,
Springfield XD-S 3.3, Walther PPS M2, and Glock 23, among
others, chambered for the 9x19mm cartridge or other powerful
center fire loads, have become relatively common.
Pocket holsters for these pistols have also become more
widely available. Clothing
designed for concealed carry has also been marketed by specialty
retailers, though only a limited number really target the pocket
carry market. In
the day, I used to have pockets lined with canvas or soft
leather specifically for pocket carry and have had other adaptations
made by tailors. Still, I
have always been searching for good trousers designed for pocket
carry—I’ve finally found them.
CCW
Breakaways Concealed Carry Pants are the best of possible
worlds, as they combine disguised holster pockets with breakaway
pocket openings, thus offering an excellent combination of
concealment and speed of presentation.
Deep concealment is accomplished as the holster pockets
carry the firearm below the hip-line-of-flexure in a natural
cavity on the thigh’s inside radius.
The pants incorporate holster pockets on both the right
and left sides. Since I sometimes carry two pocket guns or one on the left
(support) side when I carry a belt gun, I like this feature. By
turning the pants inside out, the pocket may be quickly adjusted
in size and length to take different types of firearms.
The pockets themselves use rip-stop nylon liners for
quicker draw and do not produce lint.
Anyone who has carried a lot in a pocket knows that lint
will accumulate on the weapon. The problem of loose threads that can get tangled in the trigger
guard or around a hammer is also virtually eliminated.
Two snaps that hold the pocket shut and “breakaway”
with a quick twist of the hand during the draw crate a large
opening for a surer and faster draw.
The
“breakaway” solves another problem that has always bothered
me with pocket carry: should the shooting hand become disabled
it is difficult if not impossible to draw from the pocket with
the support hand.
This is not the case with CCW Breakaways pants.
I tried using my support hand to pull the breakaway snaps
loose and grab the pistol out of the pocket by twisting it as I
drew. It works.
The
positioning of the pistol also makes for a more ergonomic, and
thus faster, draw and presentation of the firearm.
The design of the pocket also lets the shooting hand
grasp the pistol grip and pre-position for the draw.
I have done this for years when using pocket carry. BUT,
REMEMBER THE FINGER MUST STAY OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD!
In St. Louis, where I live, many of the better
restaurants are in relatively rough neighborhoods.
By casually thrusting my hands in my pockets as we walk
from the car to the restaurant, I am ready to deal with a
problem, yet do not appear to be looking for trouble—watching
and ready for trouble, yes—but not looking!
As a good portion of American males stick their hands in
their pockets, there is nothing odd about this.
There
are other noteworthy features of the CCW Breakaways pants.
For example, they do not have a logo sewn on to alert
anyone observing that you have a gun in your pocket.
Also appealing to me is that the pants are designed to be
TRUE-TO-SIZE and not shrink. Note, though, that because they are true to size, it is important
to follow the directions on the website to order your correct
size. On the CCW
Breakaways Denim Jeans, extra belt loops are added to prevent
sagging. This helps with the weight of a gun or two guns, as well as other
gear that may be carried in the pocket.
I
also recommend purchasing one of the CCW Breakaways belt with
the pants. It does a
great job of holding up your pants, but it also offers other
uses, especially in medical emergencies.
The
khakis and the Jeans are both nice looking pants. They are cut a little full to allow for the carrying of the pistol,
but they still look good. I’ve
worn the khakis with a shirt, tie, and blazer, yet my wife, who
never hesitates to comment on my sartorial state, has remained
quiet!
I
am quite impressed with the pants from CCW Breakaways.
They are designed for those who carry a gun all of the
time. Speaking of all of
the time, on the CCW Breakaways website it is pointed out that
when carrying the pistol in the breakaway pocket, not only can
you use a public toilet without having to remove your
gun and find a place for it, but you can also draw it from the
seated position. In fact,
it may be drawn when seated in a vehicle, at a table, or
elsewhere. CCW Breakaways
clothing is designed for those of us who believe that we should
have our handgun with us at all times and should be able to
access it quickly.
For
more information and videos that demonstrate how the CCW
Breakaways pants function go to: www.ccwbreakaways.com.
Leroy
Thompson
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