SmartCarry or Stealth Holster (Ruger LC9)

[ShaneHD]

Yes, yet again, I am opening another thread. Going to be buying different holsters for awhile so each time I am interested, I want to open a new topic.

For my Ruger LC9 and a single extra clip, which of these two holsters will work (frontal grain deep conceal):

SmartCarry (looks like a "as seen on TV" from the 1980'S) - http://www.smartcarry.com/products.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OR

Stealth Holster - http://stealthholster.com/node/11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ShaneHD]

Anyone have an opinion on these?

[Salty1]

If there is ever a reason not to carry with a round in the chamber Smart Carry is it, personally I subscribe to the thought to never point a gun at anything I am not willing to destroy. I do understand that some people must have deep concealment and in a place where an employer would not be prone to search. I am a fan of tuckable IWB holsters, the LC9 would disappear in one carried in the 1:00 to 3:00 position

[The Annoyed Man]

For my Ruger LC9 and a single extra clip, which of these two holsters will work (frontal grain deep conceal).......

A lot of people carry an extra magazine, but I'm not sure what good a clip is going to do you in a gunfight..........maybe to hold your hair out of your eyes?

[drjoker]

The Smart Carry is great. I have one and even though I make custom leather OWB holsters for fun for friends and family, I personally use a Smart Carry more than my own holsters in the summer. In the winter, I'll use an OWB leather holster under a sweater or jacket. I carry a Glock 19. The Smart Carry will cause a lump in your pants, but nobody but my own wife ever looks there, so no need to worry about breaking the "intentional failure to conceal" law.

BTW, the other manufacturer is probably an illegal copy of the Smart Carry. The Smart Carry is patented and made in the USA. Be a patriot and don't buy cheap Asian knockoffs.

Charley, the owner of Smart Carry personally answers all phone calls and is really helpful.

P.S. If you wear pleated pants the "lump" disappears. You only have the "lump" when you're wearing unpleated pants.

[codeguy]

The Smart Carry is great.

The Smart Carry will cause a lump in your pants, but nobody but my own wife ever looks there, so no need to worry about breaking the "intentional failure to conceal" law.

BTW, the other manufacturer is probably an illegal copy of the Smart Carry. The Smart Carry is patented and made in the USA. Be a patriot and don't buy cheap Asian knockoffs.

Charley, the owner of Smart Carry personally answers all phone calls and is really helpful.

P.S. If you wear pleated pants the "lump" disappears. You only have the "lump" when you're wearing unpleated pants.

I agree with all of the above. The SmartCarry is excellent. It really does conceal even a large-frame gun like a Sig P229 very well, unless your pants are both unpleated and a little too fitted.

Also, while I understand Salty1's point, the fact is that the trigger is extremely well protected. I was quite cautious at first about the location of the SmartCarry -- if I ever do get shot, the groin area is certainly low on my location preference list -- but I have found time and again that it is extremely difficult to get a finger or anything else near the trigger in a SmartCarry without drawing the gun. And that will not happen by mistake. Gravity, your pants, and your body will all force the gun down into the holster unless and until you intentionally pull it upwards.

SmartCarry (looks like a "as seen on TV" from the 1980'S)

Yep. The advertising is truly awful. Getting a new website and new brochures would be some of the best money Charley could ever spend. But don't let it throw you; the product is very high quality.

[Beiruty]

I have the smartcarry and it served me very well for last 4yrs. Oops!, is it 4yrs I have been carrying? However, I am and for the Today's cost of smartcarry. If I remember correctly I paid $30 or $40 and now it's $60 to $70 plus.

Now, mine is bit worn out and still holding do I have to replace it

[WizZmo]

I've been carrying with the SmartCarry now for about 3 weeks. I can't believe how comfortable, and concealed my weapon is.

[Mike1951]

BTW, the other manufacturer is probably an illegal copy of the Smart Carry. The Smart Carry is patented and made in the USA. Be a patriot and don't buy cheap Asian knockoffs.

Charley, the owner of Smart Carry personally answers all phone calls and is really helpful.

If I reach way back in time, I recall Charlie working for Thunderwear. He left and formed his own company, Thunder Belt. This was changed later to Smartcarry.

Without judging either product, I just wanted to point out that Smartcarry is not the original.

Thunderwear is also patented and I haven't compared the patents.

I do agree about not buying the imported knockoffs.

[Mike1951]

Thunderwear is also patented and I haven't compared the patents.

The Thunderwear patent for "The ornamental design for a handgun holster", was filed 9/27/1993 and granted 8/29/1995. It was valid for 14 years, so it expired in 2009.

http://www.google.com/patents/USD361656.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Smartcarry patent document, June 1999, appears as a supporting document for 6,345,751, filed 8/4/2000 and effective 2/12/2002. The patent is for "Method and apparatus for carrying a portable electronic device".

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Pars ... RS=5909834" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could the different description have been used because the Thunderwear patent was still valid?

[RockingRook]

I use a stealth holster and carry a Sig P-239 in it. Great fro summer wear when all I have is shorts and a polo shirt.

Chuck