Adding holster to messenger bag

[mr.72]

This is a how-to!

First, start with a messenger bag, in particular one with an "inside" or "body-side" pocket. Many messenger bags are made this way, and this is ideal for CCW. I am using a bag I got from Target, in the men's accessories dept (find undershirts, socks and belts and you're in the right spot). But any bag will do, as long as it has such a pocket large enough to accommodate your holster and with an access format that you are comfortable with.

The front of the bag

The back of the bag

Here is a view inside the "body-side" pocket where the holster will go.

Continued in next post...

[mr.72]

Now let's talk about how you are going to carry this bag. In my case I am right handed, and I am carrying the bag with the strap across my chest and the bag on my right side. So this gives me the opportunity for strong-side draw.

Also, the bag I am using is canvas and kind of floppy so I am sure the holster will print through the bag. To remedy this, I put my panel stiffener between the holster and the outside of the bag. You'll see what I am talking about in a minute.

Now you need a donor holster. You pick whatever you want. I had a DeSantis "Insider", and I cut off the clip.

The holster is going into this body-side pocket, so that it can be accessed without opening the front flap. You could just sew in a holster, but if it has remotely decent retention then the pistol won't come out without just lifting the whole bag. This particular canvas bag is way too floppy to work that way anyway, as are all of my messenger bags, so they would just fold up on top of themselves. So my solution is to use a panel as a stiffener inside this pocket, and affix the holster to the panel. I had a couple of "dividers" that came out of a laptop bag that I cut to fit in this case. These are just cardboard with nylon on top. Anything will do here. In fact I originally planned to use a plastic container that we were discarding, just cut the side out of it, but it was discarded by the time I got around to doing this.

Measure the size of your pocket, being sure to leave clearance for the velcro or whatever holds the pocket shut, and then cut your panel to fit. Put some velcro on the panel so you can stick your holster on there. Note only one piece of velcro is stuck on in this picture but I actually put three strips like this on there to make it easy to stick the holster anywhere I want it.

Next up you need to put some Velcro on the holster, so it will stick to this panel. You could attach the holster by other means if you prefer... rivets, sew it, whatever works for you. I like Velcro because I can re-position it or change to a different holster, remove altogether if I want.

Note in my picture, there is just a small patch of Velcro. This didn't prove substantial enough so I actually put Velcro on the entire back side of the holster.

Note also, the stiffener is going between the holster and your body, so for a right-handed holster and right-hand draw, you will want to put the velcro on the left or INSIDE of the holster (as if it were a clip on an OWB holster).

[mr.72]

Next up, we put it all together.

You will need to find a way to get the stiffener panel to attach to the inside of the pocket. If it is not securely attached, then you will draw the whole holster + panel when you try and draw. I used a carpenter-style stapler and a hammer...

1. put the panel in the pocket, get it exactly where you want it, nice and snug
2. place a piece of scrap wood inside the pocket beneath the panel
3. hit it with the stapler, this will staple into the scrap wood through the bag pocket and the stiffener
4. use a flat blade screwdriver to pull the staple loose from the scrap wood
5. bend the staple prongs inward
6. put something solid and hard (I used a dumbbell plate) inside under the staple, and use a hammer to pound the staple flat so it secures the pocket

Here's how it looks from the back with the panel securely stapled in:

Then stick your holster in the position where you want it, and you're done.

Here we are with the holster in the pocket:

That's it. Now you have a CCW messenger bag.

In my case I paid about $20 for the bag, and about $20 for the donor holster.

A cheap nylon holster might work just as well but I think retention would maybe be a major problem so I would suggest one that's more secure.