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I know there are many opponents of off-body carry so consider your objections are already duly noted. To allay everyone's concerns, please note that I have three standard on-body holsters and intend to carry IWB or in the smart carry 99% of the time but I almost always have a messenger bag with me so it would be great to have this extra option. There certainly may be situations where clothing requirements or some other thing would prevent me from carrying normally so the gun in the bag is better than the gun left at home.

I frequently carry a messenger bag and I have about five of them. However none of which are really well-suited to concealed carry.

The ones I have looked at that are made for CCW use are either wickedly overpriced (the Crossbreed CCSB is very nice but $175?!?! do they include a pistol with that? :), or are strictly tacticool or geek-gauche looking (Maxpedition anyone?).

Anyone have a suggestion for a subtle, sharp-looking messenger bag that can be used for CCW?

I have a knock-off of the "Jack Pack"

http://www.amazon.com/Heavyweight-Class ... X50URVZ2DT

Mine is not like this... it looks like this on the outside but it lacks the zippers on the pockets and is not nearly as sturdy...It is not the Rapid Dominance name brand, but clearly is just a knock off. I may buy one of the "real" ones (that's what I thought I was getting before) and see if it can be made to work. However it seems to lack the main feature I would want.

The problem with a bag like this is that you have to open the flap and then unzip at least one pocket before you can access your CCW.

Ideally a messenger bag for CCW will have a body-side pocket large enough to fit a pistol (which the Rapid Dominance lacks). I would consider velcro-ing in a holster into a pocket like this if it had one. I have a bag that may work for this already but it is too small for my laptop, so it's not exactly ideal.

I need something casual/professional looking, preferably under $50 and including a dedicated holster pocket. Black is best. Leather is good, canvas is ok, and nylon is a poor substitute.

Any suggestions?

I don't know what kind of work you do... I actually have to carry a tool box (in very bad areas of Houston). I carry one of the green canvas tool bags you can get at Home Depot. I take my IWB holster and clip it to an interior pocket. My normal carry is an XD40SC. When you pick up on the bag, it closes to about 2". This keeps it out of site and close. When I get into the job site, My first trip is usually to the rest room to put my IWB back on. When I leave, I do the same thing in reverse.

Just an idea. It works for me.

I have such a tool bag that I use for a range bag.

You could try and get one of the uncle mikes holster for about $20 and see if it can be sticked to the inside of one of oyur bags you already have. That way it wouldn't move around and you would know right where it is everytime you open the bag. Only problem I see with that is if the stiching is not very good it might come apart and move around or possible rip the bag in that area.

you mean like this:

http://texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_Forum ... 95#p212393

Did this real quick today.

It's not ideal since my laptop will not fit in that bag. But I may add a CCW panel into my other bag that normally carries my laptop, or maybe I will just get another bag and add a holster in this same fashion. I can reuse the same holster with velcro in any of them.

mr.72 wrote:you mean like this:

http://texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_Forum ... 95#p212393

Did this real quick today.

It's not ideal since my laptop will not fit in that bag. But I may add a CCW panel into my other bag that normally carries my laptop, or maybe I will just get another bag and add a holster in this same fashion. I can reuse the same holster with velcro in any of them.

Yeah something like that.

I think I would advise against placing the Pistol into the same bag with a laptop. Even if it’s in a different compartment. I would hate for you to one day open you laptop and have a nice gooy outline of a pistol from where is pressed into the monitor screen one too many times. While most laptop bags have great protection around the edges of the bag that somewhat lack on the top and bottom portions of where the laptop would sit. Just my 2 cents.

here's a bag these guys are pretty proud of... looks like a small gun could fit easily into one of the outside pockets

http://www.chromebags.com/products/bags/show/42/