Originally Posted by
Rex G
JM Custom Kydex is going to be a leading contender, for the holster recommendation. S&W K-Frame is in the quick-order menu. I have one, for the 4” barrel length. I am trying to convince myself that it is comfortable enough, but I think I am going to have to shorten it, or get a shrter version. My .38 K-Frames have 2” barrels, but a holster made for a longer barrel can aid in conceal-ability, and is more comfortable for SOME folks. Rather than altering this one, I may order one for either 2” or 3” barrels, to compare comfort and conceal-ability, apples-to-apples. (I obtained my 4” sample pre-owned, and because I occasionally will use it with a 4” Speed Six, would rather not shorten the holster.)
Most of my experience concealing K-Frames dates from the Nineties. I mostly concealed OWB or IWB, just behind the hip, to closely match the 0300 location, where I carried on the duty belt. When I did carry AIWB, it was usually with a now-long-discontinued Eagle Industries holster, made of ballistic nylon, with which I sometimes carried a 4” GP100, successfully, at AIWB.
On the weapon, itself, boot grips, or the old-school factory Magna grips, will be leading contenders in reducing bulge. Some like to use a grip adapter with Magna grips.
I know exactly what you mean, regarding truly hiding/concealing Glocks. The blocky rear part of the slide totally defeats my efforts to truly conceal any of the double-column-magazine Glocks, no matter how short the grip frame. Some people that I see, who think they are concealing their Glocks, are not hiding them from my eyes, at all, though a blocky pistol can appear to be one of the chunky mobile devices that are currently trendy. The illusion loses credibility, however, then one is using one’s mobile phone, and the bulge is still there, at belt level.
I can hide a revolver cylinder more successfully that a blocky pistol slide at AIWB, but I have to get that cylinder into the inguinal crease, which is where one’s appendix is truly located. I cannot hide anything anywhere hear the center-line of my abdomen, especially on days my gut is having an irritable-bowel day. My chest and shoulder muscles are not what they once were, to help my clothing drape farther-out from the pelvis. Having that youthful V-shaped physique is definitely helpful, in concealment.
Try to wear patterns and stripes that distract the eyes of observers. Or, all-black or dark gray.