CCW Purse/Shoulder Bag for my Wife

[Janos Dracwlya]

I'm looking for a recommendation on a good purse or shoulder bag for my wife to use to carry her gun. She has a permit to carry, but doesn't wear a belt most of the time and doesn't like fanny packs (though owns two). She does, however, often carry either a small backpack-style purse or one of those tear-drop shaped over the shoulder bags.

Any ideas for me?

Thanks.

 

[MD_Willington]

How about a paddle ?

I have an IWB and a bag like a camera bag I use, I try to use the IWB more often as I figure it can be easier for someone on the run to run up and grab the bag and bugger off before you get the weapon out of the bag... You end up with the weapon and the contents of the bag gone...

 

[bamasurp]

ditto

Always fun chasing after a purse snatcher and having the dispatcher tell you there was a pistol in the purse. My wife has a Keltec 3AT with the belt clip.

Bamasurp

 

[psyopspec]

www.usgalco.com has a section devoted to off-body carry for females.

 

[Leanwolf]

www.coronadoleather.com

Very good product. My wife loves her purse.

L.W.

 

[flashman70]

+1 on Coronado.

 

[rnchick]

I have a galco purse that I use most of the time. It has held up very well and I am pretty happy with it

 

[MD_Willington]

or




That is what I usually carry...

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm leaning toward one of the following:

Addison Holster Handbag from Galco

Coronado Redwood Backpack

Coronado Cross Carry Bag

While I appreciate the suggestions regarding on-body carry, I can't change my wife's habits, only suggest changes to her. Also, I should have mentioned that on top of not wearing belts, she prefers hip-hugger style jeans which don't seem like they would work very well for an inside the waistband holsters, though I could be mistaken. Therefore, I want to work with her habits.

 

[pax]

Janos ~

Send her past my site, www.corneredcat.com It's all about women & guns, including some articles that address various ways to carry and some of the specific difficulties women have adapting to the concealed-carry lifestyle.

There are some purse recommendations there too, not a lot as I don't carry that way myself, but some.

Good luck to you both.

pax

 

[birddog]

My wife has a couple of Coronados and a Galco. Yes yes, we both know that it's not as safe as on-body carry. We also both know that she wouldn't be carrying if she couldn't carry in a purse. It's a viable option for many women.

 

[B. Adams]

I need to mention that I have no experience with this company, but I will before too long. We're going to try out a couple to see how they are. I can't complain for the price.

http://www.ccwsupply.biz/ConcealCarryPursesPage.htm

They have Galco as well, but they also have a cheap line that starts at about $30 up to about $50. Most of them are $35-$40. My girlfriend is going to order a couple, and I'm interested to see how they hold up. They're certainly inexpensive, but we'll see how cheap they are. Just thought I'd mention these guys, in case a $250 purse is too expensive for some people (like me).

Galco stuff is top-notch though, I'm sure nobody would regret getting one of their purses. I have a Galco holster for my SP101, and it's a great piece of leather.

 

[nemoaz]

Purses galore:
http://www.2thehilt.com/product_p/mxpd-fatboy-0403.htm
http://www.betterforbabies.com/hemp_courier_bags_ecolution.html

 

[CajunBass]

My wife picked up a Roma model 7082 last week at the gun show. Cost about $35.00. Comes with an internal holster, zipper gun compartment, with a lock and key. She said it's alot more comfortable than just tossing the gun in her old purse.

http://romagunbags.com/index.html

It's a little smaller than she really likes, but so are pickup truck beds.

 

[marklbucla]

What's so special about those purses by gun manufacturers? They look like ordinary zipped pockets to me.

 

[pax]

marklbucla ~

Some of the lower-end purses are just that, nothing but a zippered compartment in the middle of the purse.

The higher-end purses are a different matter. Many of them have built-in, adjustable holsters -- velcro + elastic straps -- to hold the firearm in a specific orientation within the purse. The zippers are super-heavy duty, and some of them have built-in locks so you can lock just that compartment. All of them have a somewhat sturdier internal build than is obvious from the outside; this is very important because the clutter in other parts of the purse could compromise the trigger security of the gun inside a compartment with flimsy walls.

pax