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Discreet Open Carry?

WalkingWolf

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Jul 31, 2011
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North Carolina
I keep reading and hearing this, but I will be darn if I understand what is discrete OC. Is it carry with the shirt covering most of the gun except for the bottom of holster or slide? Is is walking, standing with the gun side away from everybody who might see it? Or is it concealing but wearing gun clothing, or clothing that announces that you are concealed carry? Or maybe it is CC with one of those CC sash, or badges?

There is nothing, IMO, discrete about our OC, nor do I want it to be. The whole purpose of OCing is so the bad guys can clearly see you are not a victim. Our Handguns are clearly visible in OWB holsters, nothing covering the guns in any way. IMO there is no such thing as discrete OC, but hey that does not sound tactikewl.
 
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b0neZ

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Feb 15, 2012
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505
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Davis County, Utah
Hmmmm...haven't heard that phrase before. Where have you heard/seen it?

Maybe it's having your pants, belt, holster, sidearm, and shirt all the same color?
 

WalkingWolf

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Hmmmm...haven't heard that phrase before. Where have you heard/seen it?

Maybe it's having your pants, belt, holster, sidearm, and shirt all the same color?

It has come up on several gun forums, not OC forums. The latest was a OC/CC thread on Glock forums.
 

utbagpiper

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Utah
Never heard of "discrete open carry". Seems like an oxymoron to me. Unless of course we realize that about 90% of the population don't seem to actually notice a full sized 1911 unless it is carried against a white shirt. In that case, most OC of a holstered handgun (minus tacticool options) tends to be fairly "discrete". :)

I have heard of "Casually Concealed Carry" (CCC) and maybe others mean something similar to this when they say "discrete open carry".

This is my usual carry mode in cooler months. I carry in an OWB retention holster with my jacket/coat covering enough of the gun and holster that I might not qualify as OC (either by legal or personal standards), but with no attempt to actually conceal. Depending on how cold it is, exactly which jacket or coat I'm wearing, and whether it is zipped up or hanging open, this can vary from almost completely concealed, to something like concealed with "printing", to almost not concealed at all.

I carry this way because it is comfortable and convenient. Whether anyone sees or notices, whether anyone is "educated", whether anyone cares, are not my concerns nor goals on such days. My goal is to be armed, comfortably and conveniently.

Charles
 

Rusty Young Man

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Árida Zona
Maybe they meant to say "Technically Open Carry"?:confused: You know, wearing a shirt that is covering everything except the bottom tip of the holster, or wearing a deep CC gun with just the corner of the backstrap/butt of the gun sticking out.:rolleyes:

I agree with utbagpiper in that OC of a holstered handgun tends to be discrete. Unless you're adorning yourself with tacticool gear (thigh rigs for super-operator kewlness, tactical vests for super-operator load-bearing-ness, etc.:lol:), most people don't really notice an OCed sidearm.
Really, only children regularly spot me carrying. Adults tend to be oblivious, even when you DO wear colors that contrast with it, such as wearing a full-size stainless 1911 with a black holster against light-blue jeans and a white shirt. Ask me how I know.;)
 

The Truth

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Henrico
I usually carry with my elbow over my pistol...maybe that's more discreet than not?
 
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jackrockblc

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Jul 13, 2014
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256
Location
Jefferson County, CO
Never heard this phrase before this thread. But I would imagine it to mean OC without drawing specific attention to it, like we might at rallies and OC meetups.
 

Silvertongue

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Jan 14, 2013
Messages
213
Location
Marion County, Tennessee
Perhaps "discreet open carry" is that person's way of describing what we just call "open carry," and "open carry" is that person's way of describing what we call "being a dick about open carry."

Example: I went into Best Buy today to return a camera. During the 3-minute conversation with the customer service specialist, our topic was solely focused on my Gryffindor shirt.

I wear a Shadow Tech karambit in a neck sheath that I made out of carbon fiber Kydex, I had my XDm on my right side and my flashlight/mag holder on my left. Carbon fiber/orange combo, if you care about the Kydex.

And the guy brought up my shirt.

I didn't change the conversation to guns or knives or self-defense or politics. I said "Yeah, my girlfriend has my Slytherin shirt."
 

mdak06

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Jul 18, 2013
Messages
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Location
Manchester, New Hampshire
Perhaps "discreet open carry" is that person's way of describing what we just call "open carry," and "open carry" is that person's way of describing what we call "being a dick about open carry."

If I had to guess I'd think that this is the distinction.

Often when open carry is mentioned by the media, it is done in the context of someone intentionally drawing attention to him/herself, either in the context of a political statement or because someone wants attention. I guess that some folks think that since that is what the media calls open carry, then that's what open carry actually is, as opposed to what we do - plain boring carry without covering the weapon.

Only story I can think of off the top of my head that was about plain old simple open carry (of a handgun) was the one about the guy in Michigan (I think) who OC'd into his kid's school auditorium. Normally there's no reason to report on "regular" open carry because there's no story.

I generally refer to firearms carry with the intent of making a political statement as "political carry." (And in some cases it's really more a matter of being an attention *****.) But plain old basic open carry is simply open carry, IMO.
 

solus

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Aug 22, 2013
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Location
here nc
uh, perhaps discreet is you are OC'g with clothes on? (shuddering at the imagined visual of seeing some discrete folk who might OC indiscreetly)

ipse
 

HPmatt

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Aug 18, 2013
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1,467
Location
Dallas
Maybe this term just describes a typical OCer, dressed w/o a shirt, and has his bellyfat lapped over his belt where his (or her - w bikini top) OC black gun is positioned? [emoji15]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Wstar425

Regular Member
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Jul 1, 2014
Messages
570
Location
Tomahawk and Abbotsford, Wi.
I've used that term in conversation, and I believe I came up with it on my own, not reading it anywhere. NOT saying I created the term or trying to take credit for it in any way. I think most of you have hit some aspects of what I mean by it, except this last post. #10 ������

Anyway, the way you dress can make a difference in noticability. Black jeans and print shirt make it less noticeable than blue jeans and white shirt, as mentioned. I try to stand and sit most times in ways that might tend to make my firearm less visible, I suppose. I open carry more for ease of access than as a defined deterrent, but if it becomes a deterrent that is fine. I say if you can see it, that is open carry. If you DON'T see it, that is not my problem that you are not paying attention. I go about my business of the day fully open carry in warm months, concealed if the weather requires a jacket. I'm a tucked in shirt, pocket and collar guy. NEVER wear t shirts or sweatshirts or go untucked.

Short of walking around with a big neon sign screaming I HAVE A GUN pointing at us we are all probably doing some manner of being discreet. Why don't we buy flame orange holsters?

This idea was discussed in some detail on SigTalk where the most popular opinion was that OC was stupid and anyone dumb enough to do it was obviously a mall ninja with full head to toe black clothing, samurai sword, AK-47 and full face mask. They were bound and determined that there was NO WAY to OC without intentionally screaming HEY LOOK AT ME! So, if that was your position, wouldn't anything less be "discreet"? Silly? Yes. A small kernel of truth in there somewhere? Maybe.

I don't and can't speak for anyone else, but I do give some small consideration to how I dress, which holster/gun combination I'm wearing depending on where I am going and what I am doing. Some places I'd like to be a little less noticeable, some places I don't care. I don't know that I ever carry to be intentionally noticed, I'd have to give that some thought.

My idea on discreet carry. They all include some type of clothing however. I did get a laugh out of that comment! Why do I open carry? It's the simplest, easiest, fastest way to access my weapon; should I need it.
 
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stealthyeliminator

Regular Member
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Dec 29, 2008
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Location
Texas
Sounds like a term made up by (previous) CC (only)ers coming out of the closet. ??? Ie 'shy open carry.' Ie they are discrete in their own minds to make themselves more comfortable. Nothing wrong with that, per se.
 
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skidmark

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Jan 15, 2007
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Valhalla
The phrase originated with a certain gun blogger who still loves to write about people "open carrying at" people. Said blogger, for instance, considers a group of OCers getting together and walking about the twee neighborhood where said blogger lives as OCing at people.

Said blogger, a paid employee of a certain magazine dedicated to the opposite of open carry, has several times admitted to open carrying at locations outside the range. Mostly with aquaintances who meet up for breakfast before heading off to some range or are heading home from some range.

This phrase has been picked up by other bloggers - some of whom follow the originator's thoughts and some of whom are a little more lenient about a group of folks going about their daily lives/business while OCing. But $diety help you if you are OCing to make a point - no matter what that point may be.

stay safe.
 

Grapeshot

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May 21, 2006
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The phrase originated with a certain gun blogger who still loves to write about people "open carrying at" people. Said blogger, for instance, considers a group of OCers getting together and walking about the twee neighborhood where said blogger lives as OCing at people.

Said blogger, a paid employee of a certain magazine dedicated to the opposite of open carry, has several times admitted to open carrying at locations outside the range. Mostly with aquaintances who meet up for breakfast before heading off to some range or are heading home from some range.

This phrase has been picked up by other bloggers - some of whom follow the originator's thoughts and some of whom are a little more lenient about a group of folks going about their daily lives/business while OCing. But $diety help you if you are OCing to make a point - no matter what that point may be.

stay safe.

HE is better than thee.

How doth HE know that?

Because HE saith so.


Beware the words of any man paid to utter them in only a certain way.....truth and honesty are not for sale.
 

skidmark

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Jan 15, 2007
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HE is better than thee.

How doth HE know that?

Because HE saith so.


Beware the words of any man paid to utter them in only a certain way.....truth and honesty are not for sale.

You have no idea who I was referring to, do you?

Of course when discussing CC-biased bloggers you had a 33.3% chance of being right by picking "he".

stay safe.
 

utbagpiper

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Jul 5, 2006
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Utah
The phrase originated with a certain gun blogger who still loves to write about people "open carrying at" people. Said blogger, for instance, considers a group of OCers getting together and walking about the twee neighborhood where said blogger lives as OCing at people.

Reminds me of a few folks here who have taken to using the phrase "perpetuating government against someone without their consent".

Both phrases are clearly just propaganda. But like all propaganda, both convey a meaning with some decent effect.

Charles
 

stealthyeliminator

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Reminds me of a few folks here who have taken to using the phrase "perpetuating government against someone without their consent".

Both phrases are clearly just propaganda. But like all propaganda, both convey a meaning with some decent effect.

Charles

Yeah, because just carrying a handgun on your side or a rifle on your back is the same as saying you'll use the handgun or rifle against someone if they don't pay up, and then following through with it. That's definitely the same thing, and each should remind us of the other. There's not really much difference between the two.
 

OC for ME

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White Oak Plantation
discrete - adjective dis·crete \dis-ˈkrēt, ˈdis-ˌ\: separate and different from each other

Full Definition of DISCRETE
1: constituting a separate entity : individually distinct <several discrete sections>
2a: consisting of distinct or unconnected elements : noncontinuous
b: taking on or having a finite or countably infinite number of values <discrete probabilities> <a discrete random variable>
discreet - adjective dis·creet \di-ˈskrēt\: not likely to be seen or noticed by many people

Full Definition of DISCREET
1: having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech : prudent; especially : capable of preserving prudent silence
2: unpretentious, modest <the warmth and discreet elegance of a civilized home — Joseph Wechsberg>
3: unobtrusive, unnoticeable <followed at a discreet distance>
Sorry WW. ;)
 

sudden valley gunner

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Dec 13, 2008
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Whatcom County
Yeah, because just carrying a handgun on your side or a rifle on your back is the same as saying you'll use the handgun or rifle against someone if they don't pay up, and then following through with it. That's definitely the same thing, and each should remind us of the other. There's not really much difference between the two.

Well duh! :p
 
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