The Ruger LCP is about as small a gun as I’m willing to carry, but it is precisely its size that makes it so useful. The .380 is a good defensive round, and there is really no excuse not to carry the LCP. Even in summer, it is a gun that can always go with you.
But even a gun the size of the LCP can be a challenge to conceal. If you drop it in your front pocket, the angle of the grip and barrel will still print if the fabric of your pants gets stretched across the gun. Nylon holsters are really versatile. Their square shape and slim profile help obscure the gun’s outline. But drawing from the pocket isn’t easy. If your trigger finger drags on the holster, you might pull the gun and the holster, or get hung up in the pocket.
The reinforced tab on the Bianchi 152.
The Bianchi Model 152 Pocket Holster
But there is another option. Bianchi makes a leather holster that fits in pockets and is easy to draw from. The Bianchi Model 152 holds a carry gun securely while hiding the outline.
The 152 incorporates a stiff flap of leather that obscures the holsters’ outline when seen through clothing. It is built from stiff leather that is glued and stitched with the rough side out to allow for more friction in the pocket.
The thumb begins the draw.
Nylon holsters are really versatile. Their square shape and slim profile help obscure the gun’s outline. They build very little rigidity into the holster itself, and allow a rubberized coating to hold the holster in place against the cloth. Clearly the design works, or there wouldn’t be so many of them on the market. But if your trigger finger drags on the holster, you might pull the gun and the holster, or get hung up in the pocket.
The Bianchi 152 is different. It is wider, for one. This may be seen as a liability. But it shouldn’t. The flared and open top of the holster (for pistols, at least) is reinforced.
The real beauty of the design is the thumb ledge. A leather tab rises upon the thumb side. This tab, which sits just proud of the LCP’s frame, is what defines the function of this holster.
When your hand goes into the pocket, your thumb hits this tab and pushes the holster down (or holds it securely in place inside a tighter pocket). Your fingers hit the grip of the gun and the motion of the thumb (down) combined with the closure of fingers makes the draw fluid and seamless.
As for the larger size of the Bianchi 152, I’d say ignore it. I put the holster into several pairs of pants (some light slacks and some darker, tighter jeans,) and the print through the fabric looks nothing like a gun. It is obvious that there’s something in your pocket, but it doesn’t draw too much attention.
The print is larger than a cell phone, but not by much. And the 152 is just as easy to conceal in the pocket of a coat.
Don’t be fooled by the size. I’m always baffled by the desire to go smaller, thinned, lighter, etc. Some seem too focused on the concealability of a holster or a gun, and less concerned about the function.
Your gear has to work. Gun and holster. There is such a thing as too small. But not the 152. It is small enough, but usable. And when coupled with a polymer .380, concealed carry becomes functional and reliable.
The Bianchi 152 is priced way below what I’d expected. Retail prices range from the $15.00 up to $25.00, depending on the gun. But even at the high end, that is well worth it.
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