Gents: My wife wants a purse designed for concealed carry. She's carried in her 'regular' purses for years, but wants something that would more securely keep her weapon oriented in an ideal/expected way. This is something I know absolutely nothing about. Do any of your wives/girlfriends carry in a purse? Any recommendations?

My wife mostly EDCs a PX4 Carry and prefers smaller "crossbody" type purses (as opposed to a larger handbag).

This is similar to discussing a "truck" gun.
Not trying to rain on your parade or be a jerk, but the concept (and risks) are so similar.

Starting with unintentional discharge caused by foreign objects in a purse. In addition, the training required to safely access the gun if ever needed without serious risk to herself and other innocent party's around her.

Here's a good article by someone that knows a lot more about the subject than me.
https://www.corneredcat.com/ar...i-carry-in-my-purse/

My wife has a gazillion purses, I bought her several carry purses from Browning and Bulldog ( I think). They are ok but she does like name brands. I bought her a couple of inserts to use in her fancy purses from Packing Neat for Christmas a couple years ago. I believe from a recommendation on this site and she loves them She wanted a smaller one too for smaller purses. Highly recommend

https://www.packinneat.com/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BigSwede,

I can't recall which brand my wife uses but here are a few options. (leather is pricey but lasts a long time)

armedaf.com
agirlandagun.org
gungoddess.com
packinneat.com
incognitowearix.com

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
Starting with unintentional discharge caused by foreign objects in a purse. In addition, the training required to safely access the gun if ever needed without serious risk to herself and other innocent party's around her.

Thanks for the feedback. Rest assured, my wife has had training specific to this type of carry/draw, uses a secure holster with her weapon inside her purse, and doesn't put foreign objects in the same compartment as her weapon.

Try Coronado leather. I've had one of their CCW briefcases for over ten years and really like the quality.
https://coronadoleather.com/co...n-handbag-collection

You could also try the NRA store. Many times they will have quality items from Coronado Leather, Gun Tote'n Mamas, Buffalo Gal, etc. that are the same quality as the ones that are sold on these companies' websites but they use cowhide instead of Buffalo leather so you save some money.

Saddleback leather is another quality option.

Off body carry is fraught with problems. Having your purse stolen, set down and momentarily forgotten because of situation at gatherings or social events or outright ripped from the body by a determined male thief are all too common situations with purse carry. There is also the problem with quick access. The best option is on body carry either IWB or OWB in a proper holster. No one has ever claimed that concealed carry was going to be comfortable or convenient. If I'm going to be in a vehicle for any amount of time I use a shoulder holster. Nothing fancy but a ballistic nylon Barsony holster. I have a variety of kydex IWB and OWB holsters for different situations. I tossed all the purses that I tried. Sold the expensive Galco purse. Just my 2 cents.

quote:

Originally posted by JenniferG:
Off body carry is fraught with problems. Having your purse stolen, set down and momentarily forgotten because of situation at gatherings or social events or outright ripped from the body by a determined male thief are all too common situations with purse carry.

Frequently these days, I use a Wilderness Safepacker. Setting it down and forgetting it is not an issue for me, as I wear it on a strap "Sam Browne" style. I'd be amused to see the thief bold enough to try to take it from me. I'm no fading flower.

There is a built-in hand strap on the top of the Safepacker, and on occasion where I am moving through shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, I will remove the strap and slip my hand through the built-in strap up to my forearm and cradle the Safepacker like it's a football. Again, it would be amusing to see someone try to rip it from me. In this mode of carry, the holster is still ready for a rapid draw, which leaves the holster dangling from my left forearm or wrist, with the weight of a spare loaded magazine orienting the Safepacker upright.

Having said all that, I never carry the Safepacker without an on-the-body backup, in the form of a Glock in an ankle holster, for reasons which should be obvious.

Though there's no room for the common female accoutrements carried in a purse, the Safepacker is worthy of consideration for females. The Safepacker can be used as a car holster, as illustrated in the video in Wilderness's website, which is very badly in need of updating.

Wilderness Safepacker

quote:

Originally posted by neex:
Gents: My wife wants a purse designed for concealed carry. She's carried in her 'regular' purses for years, but wants something that would more securely keep her weapon oriented in an ideal/expected way. This is something I know absolutely nothing about. Do any of your wives/girlfriends carry in a purse? Any recommendations?

My wife mostly EDCs a PX4 Carry and prefers smaller "crossbody" type purses (as opposed to a larger handbag).

Well, how about a woman's perspective? I have been carrying concealed for 20+ years. And if you ask my husband, he will tell you I have a purse problem.

There are so many choices now available to your wife, all she has to do it google conceal carry purse. Many good options have been mentioned here already, and she should look at all the sites.
I was a big collector of coronadoleather.com purses. They are excellent quality, the holsters are customizable to your carry weapon and they lock. I have probably 5 or 6 currently and have sold at least that many on Poshmark/ebay over the years when I was ready for a new style. I have not purchased one in probably 7 years, unfortunately they have become a little too pricey for me to buy them regularly, but with that said the ones I own are work horses, and back when I purchased them they were lifetime warranty on workmanship. They are a worthy investment if she likes the style. Also I can carry a full size gun in any of mine if I wanted. A little leather lotion once and a while it all the care they need.

Roma gun bags are an economical option, some more stylish than others. They sell vegan leather options.

Bull dog makes some nice bags and the last one I purchased was warrantied, and they replaced it for free after it broke. That was a few years back so I am not sure what their policy is now.

Montana west makes some really nice bags. I have a smaller cross body one from them that works with my smaller carry gun.

I know Gungoddes.com sells them and they are a very reputable company. They used to sponsor a ladies shooting event I ran for several years.

And don't forget to check out Amazon, yes you can get them there too.

She also has the option of carrying in her current purses with a purse holster. I know crossbreed makes them, and I am sure other companies as well. I actually had a soft holster sewn into a purse once, it was a purse where I could change the outside shell so the holster was between the liner and shell and easily accessible.

Have her search the resale market like Poshmark and eBay, she can find some great deals.

Best of luck to her.

JenniferG lists some great observations. It is too damn easy to leave a bag in a powder room, on a bus or train, on a counter, hanging on a door knob, etc. Having worked as a janitor in college, as a cop, and in security, some very troubling things show up in the "lost and found box." When I had kids, it was tricky to keep track of the various bags, coats, etc., in a public place. I don't have grandchildren yet, but that might be even more of a chore! Plus, it's a good idea to develop advanced bola or boomerang skills to stop a running bag snatcher.

If your wife is not 60-plus like me and doesn't need help finding her reading glasses, favorite coffee cup, car keys, and stuff like that--maybe a great carry purse is the way to go! As of yet, I don't seem to forget anything that is firmly strapped to my side when I go places.

Whatever she winds up with, frequent training with what she carries at the range is a must. NRAwomen.com has some good information. Help her find training geared more specifically to women by certified women instructors. There are some well-versed female instructors at the Sig Sauer Academy. (Looking at the required equipment list for the women's courses, I don't think they're going to teach how to draw from a purse, unfortunately.)