CCW in a Tuxedo.

[Japle]

I wear a tux a few times a month while playing gigs.
There are two big problems:
1. Tuxedo pants don’t have belt loops. You wear suspenders. You just don’t wear a belt if you wear a tux.
It simply isn’t done, my good man!

2. Even if you had your tux pants altered and wore a belt, your gun would be buried under your cummerbund. Getting it out in a hurry would be a nightmare.

You could go the James Bond route and wear a shoulder holster, but what happens when the stage lights get hot, everyone starts to sweat and the bandleader tells the musicians to shed their jackets? This happens a lot!

So, I carry a P3AT in a pocket holster and a stungun in a cellphone case clipped to my cummerbund on the opposite side.
I’d love to hear any workable ideas from others in the same situation.

 

[Derry 1946]

I do Colt DS front pocket carry in DeSantis. In my suits, I've also had a pocket added at about 2:00 for a form of safe pseudo-Mexican carry. You could do this, and have the cummerbund altered for Velcro attachment. It would break away fast if you needed it to, and would conceal your P3AT until needed.

 

[rswartsell]

There are products that look like a cumberbund that have a gun pocket in the front. Wear one under your real cumberbund, and pack that PPK. Shaken, not stirred.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Concealment garments ....

With the sharp increase in CCW licenses and new concealed guns, many new undershirts, belly bands, sports/fitness type under-shorts, etc have come out.
I read a lot of + reviews for 5.11 Tacticals sportswear shirts. They come in black or white. You can securely tote a sub compact pistol or snub revolver.
The 5.11 tactical style, unlike cheaper mesh brands, does not sag or wear out.
The fabric is designed for exercise or fitness so hot lights or music/stage use won't be a major problem, .

Lenny Magill, www.glockstore.com of San Diego CA has a line of shorts, shirts, holsters, etc for deep concealment.
You could also look into a ankle rig if you sit a lot or maybe a pocket holster.
I like the DeSantis Nemisis pocket holster or Sticky Holsters, www.stickyholsters.com . DeSantis also sells a sub compact pocket magazine holder. It's great for extra magazines but won't slide around or get grit/lint/crud in the pistol magazine.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

What's a violin case without a Tommy gun?

 

[rswartsell]

I own a 5.11 tactical undershirt. I wouldn't choose it for a tux, but works great for my southern casual and a Colt DS. I still say a belly-band.

 

[Dr_2_B]

I've worn many suits while carrying and the results are pretty counter-intuitive. One simply cannot conceal a handgun on his waist while wearing a suit. I learned some time ago that the only real option is pocket carry. I suppose ankle-carry would work but I haven't tried it. Fortunately it's possible to get pants with reasonably roomy front pockets.

 

[RustyShackelford]

The Protector....

Author David Morrell(the who wrote First Blood & created the character John J Rambo) wrote another good book called The Protector, in it, his main character describes how to tailor or modify suits, coats, jackets, etc for weapon concealment.
COL Charles Beckwith, the US Army officer who started the elite Delta Force brought a fashion consultant in to teach the D boys how to dress and wear business suits. This was explained by Eric Haney, US Army/E9 retired, in his non fiction book: Inside The Delta Force.

You can learn to carry guns in different attire or environments you just need to be aware of what works & how to wear it.

 

[Swing]

So, I carry a P3AT

I did, and occasionally still do, the same thing, albeit with a P32, when wearing similar clothing. I'm a tall, lanky man, who (used to) have to wear a lot of business attire which did not afford a lot of space. The little Kel-tec positively disappears into a suit or tux. Pre-Kel-Tec, I carried various micro .22LRs and .25 ACP, all of which were marginal to put it very charitably. A very small snub could work with some outfits (e.g., a sports jacket and shoulder holster), but not others. All are hardly optimal, but I'll take it over nothing.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I wear a tux a few times a month while playing gigs.
There are two big problems:
1. Tuxedo pants don’t have belt loops. You wear suspenders. You just don’t wear a belt if you wear a tux.
It simply isn’t done, my good man!

2. Even if you had your tux pants altered and wore a belt, your gun would be buried under your cummerbund. Getting it out in a hurry would be a nightmare.

You could go the James Bond route and wear a shoulder holster, but what happens when the stage lights get hot, everyone starts to sweat and the bandleader tells the musicians to shed their jackets? This happens a lot!

So, I carry a P3AT in a pocket holster and a stungun in a cellphone case clipped to my cummerbund on the opposite side.
I’d love to hear any workable ideas from others in the same situation.

In the movies Bond carried a PPK in a shoulder rig, but in the original Flemming books, he carried a Beretta Jetfire .25 auto, because it wouldn't bulge in his cummberbund.

That said, I carry a J frame, Shield or P938 in a pocket holster in my front pants pocket.

 

[USAav8r]

I have carried a j frame in an ankle holster for a couple weddings.

 

[bannockburn]

When I want to go the minimalist route I carry my KelTec P3AT in a DeSantis Nemesis holster in my right front pocket.

 

[ku4hx]

The day after I retired I gave up belts and watches. I have a rather large girth hence dropping the belts in favor of suspenders. https://www.suspenders.com/fashion-suspenders/casual-double-ups/

Since my carry piece of choice is now rather small, I went with small and unobtrusive holster: http://www.readyholster.com/concealed-iwb-holster-size-caml9-p-7853 For what it is, it works very well on trousers without a belt. It even washes very well when forgotten about.

I also have one of these: http://www.alphabrace.com/Belly-Band-Hand-Gun-Holster-Abdomen-Holster-Cross-Draw/productinfo/507000/ but it rides a mite high for my tastes.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

SmartCarry

It's not going to be as slow as you think if you practice a little and it will allow you to carry a larger weapon.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

When I have to wear a dress shirt I use a belly band holster to conceal my Kel Tec PF-9. I altered the belly band by adding a strip of elastic and Velcro to act as a "thumb snap." I found that the firearms I carry in it tend to work their way up and out of the holster eventually so I added an extra level of retention. The belly band holster works well because you can choose how high or low it rides. It isn't the fastest holster to draw from but at least it is on your person.

 

[kBob]

Lucky Derby,

The Jet Fire wasn't around yet when Fleming wrote the first novels, it was an older model and it gets discussed about which it must have been from time to time. around here.

I always thought it interesting that Mr. Bond had a car gun in his Blower Bently and it was not a small .25.

-kBob

 

[Derry 1946]

I've worn many suits while carrying and the results are pretty counter-intuitive. One simply cannot conceal a handgun on his waist while wearing a suit. I learned some time ago that the only real option is pocket carry. I suppose ankle-carry would work but I haven't tried it. Fortunately it's possible to get pants with reasonably roomy front pockets.

With a regular suit, I agree. I do it all the time with a built-in pocket. Just a few dollars at the tailor.

 

[Billy Shears]

I've worn many suits while carrying and the results are pretty counter-intuitive. One simply cannot conceal a handgun on his waist while wearing a suit.

Really? I do it all the time.

All you need to do is pick a good belt holster and belt, that keep the gun in close, and then have your tailor let out the waist of your suit jacket just a little. I have no problem concealing this way. I used to carry a Browning Hi Power like this, now I carry a Glock 19 the same way. With some of my suits, the gun will print a little if I button the jacket. So with those, I don't button the jacket (I seldom ever do anyway, as it would impede my draw), or I switch to my very flat Walther PPS. Problem solved.

I learned some time ago that the only real option is pocket carry. I suppose ankle-carry would work but I haven't tried it. Fortunately it's possible to get pants with reasonably roomy front pockets.

If I went with pocket carry, I'd have to carry a much smaller gun. No thanks. Besides, with today's closer-fitting suit styles, it's not actually all that easy to get pants with reasonably roomy front pockets. And as for ankle carry, again, same problem with having to use a too-small gun, and it's visible every time you sit down and your cuff rides up.

 

[Japle]

OP again:

The problem with any bellyband-type holster is that a cummerbund fits pretty tightly. It has to. The only thing holding it up is friction. Whatever is under it shows plainly. I could crank a bellyband rig in tight, but I play bass trombone. I need to be able to take big breaths and a tight bellyband would mess with that.

If I had a 50+” waist, none of this would matter so much, but my waist is 32”. I can stick a P3AT in a Remora holster under my cummerbund, but it’s a much quicker draw if I use the same rig in a front pants pocket. I have carried a P9F with the plain, non-finger-hook mag in my pocket, but that’s pushing things.

When I wear a suit or blazer, I carry a compact or full-size gun OWB on my right side. I don’t worry about taking the jacket off, because nobody’s going to tell me a have to.

 

[.375]

ankle

 

[RustyShackelford]

Sir Roger Moore....

Actor Roger Moore once said the wardrobe/crew went through 25 tuxedo coats for Bond in A View To A Kill(1985) .

RS

 

[Jim K]

I have a German Reform pistol, a flat bar type gun that one source says was made specifically to be worn under a cummerbund. Just the thing for the well-dressed gentleman out for the evening.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=reform pistol

Jim

 

[george burns]

A remora holster in your front pocket will work with any pocket pistol. I carry a PM9 there for 5 or 6 years now. Before that a Seacamp inside my jacket pocket, worked well also, if not for you, go for the Thunderware. You can carry a cannon in those.

 

[Eb1]

Kel-Tec P32 in a Desantis is my only option. It work great.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I often pocket-carry (w/ nylon pocket holster) a S&W Airweight .38,even in gym shorts. If 5 rounds of +P Gold Dots aren't sufficient, then you must be playing some really rough gigs!!