Concealed Carry

[woodchip]

I carry the 97 all the time. My motor cycle jacket has a huge cargoe pocket that I stuff the 97 in when riding my bike. I have a F.I.S.T. belt holster that I use for normal carry and league shooting. I have a heavy duty belt I had made up by a saddle maker. Eventually I will get a nice shoulder rig as concealment is easier with such a holster.
In summer I may leave the shirt tails out or wear a safari type vest. I only carry the 97 as that is what I shoot all the time. I'd be concerned about changing my carry piece all the time due to muscle memory and stress in a life threatening situation

[KingPolymer-III]

I wish I had enough cold weather down here in Florida to get to wear my leather jackert for more than 3 weeks out of the year. LOL

[Jeff Bergquist]

I have carried my 97B once or twice, as well as many other of my larger pistols, but on a daily basis I carry my 40P or PCR. For deepest conceal I'll carry my Taurus Ultralite .38 special snubby in a pants pocket.

Jeff

[Radom]

I use the Null Speed Scabbard.  I wouldn't even attempt carrying this pistol with anything else.  It is horsehide, so it is completely form-fitting; it couldn't be any thinner or smaller.

[Jack44]

Of course you can carry concealed every day with a big gun like the 97B.  Here's what my solution was:  With my agency we could carry off duty with any weapon we wanted, as long as it was the issue Glock 17.  Dimensionally, about the same size as the 97B, with possibly a bigger handle.  I couldn't find an IWB type that didn't have that huge hogleg handle sticking out, maybe it was my being new to the concealed idea.  I live in El Paso, so a big jacket wouldn't work 10 months out the year.  What I did was get a Bianchi fanny pack aka the bleep bag.  You wear the fanny pack (obviously across the front/don't know why its still called fanny)with a large button shirt un-tucked.  I never got a second glance, much less made.  You can wear a t-shirt, with a short sleeve or long sleeve over it, just make sure it's a light material.  Hawaiian shirts are cool again.  After a while I would sometimes even wear the t-shirt untucked and the over shirt unbuttoned.  The fanny pack just isn't noticable because it's in the shadows (if you're a panzone) and in the background if you're trim.  When you go for your wallet, it doesn't stand out as oversize for 'innocent' purposes.  I later tried it out with a Kimber 5" and my 97B and found that weight was not a problem.  Try that with a belt holster.  Practice and draw speed isn't a real problem.

[BRASMAN]

Hey if  you can hide it go for it. I live in Utah and were long pants and a safari vest year round even in the summer. That is how I normaly dress though so it is not realy out of place. So I could conceal it but I would rather carry my my Glock 19 because of the size. I would go with an IWB holster made of quality leather but only if I did not mind the barrel running down my leg. I have foung that most hand guns have a brother or sister when it comes to holster fit. I personaly hate micro-guns my self because the seem harder to control but to each his own. Just my two cents.

[Major Buck Wally]

I carry a Para P14 Limited in a F.I.S.T. Model 14 (that's an IWB/Pancake - your choice).  It is bigger and heavier than a 97B and is quite comfortable for all-day carry.  These holsters are the best deal for the money of any I've run across.  I'm 6'3" and 185.

You do have to cover the gun with something.  I wear a photo vest until it gets too hot, and a Hawaiian shirt then.  I can't say the gun never prints, but I'm more concerned about carrying concealed than carrying in stealth mode.  I really don't care if someone is pretty sure I have a gun.  I do, though, care about complying with the law, which requires the gun to be concealed, not to be invisible.  As long as it is covered, I'm legal in Alabama, which is all I care about.

My belt is from Ted Blocker, 1 1/2" lined horsehide.  It is ten years old and still looks and works great.

[kngflp]

Malor Buck
I was looking at the Fist #14 for my 97. Are you happy with its function as both IWB and OWB? Does it support a large gun well all day. I have never seen any of their products up close, how is their craftsmanship? DO you have the side protector on yours?

[exexpat93]

97 Looks a little big for concealed carry.  I use my Makarov and PCR 9mm for that.  

I have never really understood concealed carry.

If you have the permit are you hiding it from LE or Perps?

Seems to be dangerous either way.

I would like something like AZ where you can carry out in the open.  

LE and Perps would see what you have and not be bothered -
one would be less nervous and the other would stay civil.

Also if you have the permit just a small attempt of keeping it under wraps would keep you under tolerences of the law?  Correct?

A little printing would not be too bad.

Bugged because some college kids have been bothering the local gun shop - harassment.  Probably put up to it by some lefty professor.  Seems like the worst place you would want to bother.  Police don't even come to move them on like they should.

[Alex45ACP]

I'd rather no one else knows I have a gun unless I deem it necessary.

[Fordzilla]

Couldn't agree with you more, alex.  
     Carrying concealed is simply a matter of how committed you are to carrying at all times.  A little resourcefulness, a change of wardrobe, and adaptation make it work.  The CZ 97 is not too big to carry/conceal.
     As an LEO, state law REQUIRES that I carry concealed off duty, though this is sometimes ignored by the less-than-tactical minded.
     While off duty, I am on my own, my dispatcher has no idea where I am or what I'm doing, I have no radio, no back up, and my only tactical advantage is that the bad guys don't know who I am or that I am armed.
     These caveats apply to the armed citizen as well.

[BRASMAN]

Thank you for that last statement Fordzilla. I am always thankful when a person in law enforcment makes those kinds of statements.

[Fordzilla]

No thanks needed.  I'm a die-hard RKBA guy.

[BRASMAN]

OK I am stupid. What is RKBA?

[KingPolymer-III]

(R)ight to (K)eep and (B)ear (A)rms.