CCW

I've had my concealed carry permit for 3 years now (Thank you Darling Husband!).  Prior to getting my permit, I was mainly interested in rifles and rarely picked up a handgun.  After being around Heath (force of nature that he is) and reading several gun blogs (mainly Jay, Breda, Tam, Marko, LawDog and the Cornered Cat) outlining the reasons and realities of self defense, I decided it was time to protect myself.  So, Heath took me to the local gun show and let me loose to walk around and try out all the various handguns until I found one that felt right.  He was flummoxed when I walked the entire gun show (several buildings & a mass of humanity) and end up with this:

A beat-up .38 Colt Army Special.  That day, I found that I had an initial aversion to anything with a magazine or that was remotely small, go figure.  Obviously, this did not turn out to be a carry gun.  It is, however, the first gun I've ever purchased and I still love it.  It took several gun shows, a lot of borrowing and shooting to get me to warm up to anything concealable.

The first gun I started carrying with any consistency was a S&W Model 638 Heath brought home for himself.  He was showing off his new purchase and I promptly confiscated it - he didn't see it again for months.  Finally, he strongly requested the return of his airweight and it was back to the gun show to find its twin or something similar for me to carry.  We stumbled into my main carry gun, a S&W Model 37 airweight.

Our gunsmith friend had it for sale and it called to me.  I bought it before you could say, 'Oooh, Shiny!'  Now it spends most if its time in my purse (please form a line to chastise me about purse carry, no pushing or shoving and one admonishment per commenter).  My goal is to stop using purse carry, but until I can settle on a comfortable alternative, it's better than not carrying at all.

My other carry gun is the Walther PPK (Heath also brought this home for himself and it was promptly requisitioned into my armory - he's given up on getting it back).  It's the first auto that I felt comfortable with and liked shooting.

 It's carried in none other than the Pistol Pouch by Dragon Leather Works.  I absolutely love this carry option for trail rides and for Renaissance Faires.  On the trail, it looks like a binocular case or an upscale alternative to a fanny pack and it allows me to carry without melting under a cover shirt.  At the Renaissance Faire it fits well with period costumes by looking at home next to a leather mug on a ring belt or carry strap and it keeps me from digging through yards of fabric trying to get to my gun. 

Maybe I'll try OC one of these days; right now I'm happy keeping concealed.  Though, if Dennis starts making wheel gun holsters, I'll be forced to throw money at him for a holster for the Model 37 & OC wherever I dare!