I like getting the most bang for my buck — and as such really like my 1911 handguns from Rock Island Armory. I own both the 5″ barreled Government model (my review), and the 3.5″ barreled Officer’s model (my review). I like the Officer’s model so much that it replaced my trusty Glock 27 as my routine concealed carry piece.

It’s been a little over ten months since I bought the Government model, and I bought the Officer’s model seven months ago. While not a long term test by any means, I thought you’d like to know how the Rock Islands have been holding up.
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I’ve written about the SmartCarry deep concealment holster a few times before on Gibberish. I affectionately refer to it as my “assault diaper,” and I have found it to solve a problem other holsters cannot.

I was cleaning my Kel-Tec PF-9 and noticed that the color was fading from the front of the SmartCarry holster where the barrel and front sight rest against the fabric. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was some wear on the edge of the holster. I don’t think there is any structural danger, but it does make me wonder how long the SmartCarry is going to last.
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I wrote about the SmartCarry deep concealment handgun holster in June of 2008. I had worn it around a few times, and while it was comfortable enough, I still couldn’t get the hang of living with it on. It really is an “assault diaper,” and fits very snugly around my waist, with the pistol right over my groin. This requires some changes in my usual behavior, especially using the restroom. One of my big complaints about my SmartCarry review was how to use a urinal without either spraying myself or appearing like a pervert.

This write-up is not intended to show you how to sneak a gun into some place you’re not allowed to carry. It’s not intended to help you break any laws or company policies. If you choose to carry some place you shouldn’t, that’s on you. Here are some of the pros, cons, and lessons learned after wearing the SmartCarry for a longer period of time.
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I’ve held a concealed carry permit for a dozen years come this August. I have owned a ton of holsters over that time period (see DeSantis Nemesis, Fobus IWB, Fobus E2 Evolution reviews). I have decided there is no one perfect holster for all situations. There is a triangle of comfort, accessibility, and concealment that can never be perfectly balanced. The E2 Evolution holster is king for accessibility and okay for comfort, but not so great on concealment. The Uncle Mike’s nylon belt holster I have for my Glock 27 is super comfortable and has decent accessibility, but if I reach too high with my right hand my piece may show.

I soon realized that concealed carry is a lifestyle as much as it is a means of self-defense. There are certain times that you absolutely, positively do not want anyone to know you are carrying a handgun. It might be for political/social reasons. It might be for work-related reasons. It might be for legal reasons. I bump into the first two on a regular basis. It’s legal for me to carry at work, but against corporate policy. If my piece falls out in the middle of a meeting I’d be fired. I certainly don’t want to lose my job, so what’s a guy to do?

The SmartCarry holster makes a big claim: that their unique holster keeps a weapon concealed and undetectable by anyone. I plunked down about $50 and waited for the postal carrier to arrive.
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Around every good pocket pistol is a good pocket holster. Seriously. I used to carry an exes’ .38 snub nose revolver in my pocket when I worked at a sporting goods store, and within a month the muzzle had worn a hole in every right front pocket of all of my khaki pants. When I bought my Guardian I bought a leather Galco pocket holster. A good pocket holster (which includes the Galco, highly recommended) will not only protect your clothes but will also break up the lines of the pistol.

My Kel-tec PF-9 has been a fantastic pocket carry gun. I’ve carried it in my pocket for almost a month now, and it’s lightweight and comfortable. Granted, one of the reasons is because the Kel-tec is well designed to be a deep concealment pistol. The other reason is the DeSantis Nemesis Pocket Holster.
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My very first holster for my Glock 27 was an Uncle Mike’s inside the waistband holster made out of nylon. It did one job very well: concealment, but failed miserably at another job: comfort. It was tough sitting in a car or up against a chair with a gun jammed inside my pants. It also made my jeans fit funny, and I didn’t like the idea of sweating directly onto the grip of my Glock.

I bought another Uncle Mike’s holster, a typical design that attached via two belt loops. It was also nylon and was very lightweight. When I used to shoot a lot it was difficult for me to clear my gun from the holster before engaging my targets. I bought a leather Yaqui slide holster from Galco, and while it was beautiful and made for fast presentation, it stuck out pretty far and wasn’t concealable. Comfort, concealment, concealment, comfort. Motherfucker.

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