Background:
Covert Carrier takes an
innovative approach to the subject of
handgun concealment. Their proprietary
designs provide a holster-less inside the
waistband (IWB) concealed carry option for
those carrying most any of the smaller frame
back-up pistols on the market today. At the
heart of their design is a stainless steel
clip which in design and function is much
like the clip found on many of the modern
tactical folding pocket knives. The Covert
Carrier clip is affixed either directly to
an auto pistol’s right grip panel, or it’s
attached to a rubber grip sleeve which is
slid over the gun’s grip frame. Using
either of these attachment methods will
allow the user to then tuck the auto pistol
inside the waistband of their pants, with
the clip securing the weapon riding over the
waistband material. For added concealment
it is recommended that a belt be worn which
would cover that portion of the clip visible
on the outside of the waistband. As
designed, the clip must be affixed on either
the right grip panel, or on the right side
of the frame via the rubber sleeve so as to
not interfere with the actuation of the
magazine release on the left side of most
pistols.
The company markets three
different variations of their “grip clip”
designs. The first version is simply the
stainless steel clip, which can be installed
on a pistol’s right grip panel by either the
user or for a small fee by Covert Carrier
techs. Covert Carrier provides excellent
instructional photographs showing how to
achieve a proper installation for the
do-it-yourselfers. Anyone with basic
mechanical aptitude, the ability to follow
detailed directions, and who possesses a
Dremel-type rotary tool can pull this off
handsomely. However, I echo the
manufacturer’s advice that a user adhere to
the carpenter’s basic rule of thumb of
measuring twice and cutting once before
making the necessary installation cuts on a
grip panel.
The second version is
comprised of either the large or small
Universal Sleeve models, both of which
accommodate various sizes of pistols. The
rubber grip sleeve is made of EPDM, which is
the technical acronym for
ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. To
the non-technical types it’s the same
material that car windshield gaskets are
made of. It offers excellent wear and tear
properties, while remaining pliable.
The Large Universal Sleeve
model will work with a variety of small
frame .45 ACP/.40 S&W/9mm pistols such as,
but not limited to, those from: AMT, Glock,
Kahr, SIG, S&W, Taurus, and the Walther PPK
series small frame pistols. The Small
Universal Sleeve will work with a variety of
slim profile, narrow frame pistols including
those from: NAA, Beretta and Taurus
(tip-barrel designs), Colt .380/Mustang,
Davis, Intratec, Jennings, Kel-Tec, Raven,
Rohrbaugh, Seecamp and the Walther PP series
pistols.
Lastly, Covert Carrier offers
replacement right grip panels with the clip
factory-installed for the North American
Arms .25 ACP, .32, and .380 Auto models as
well as the Beretta Tomcat/Bobcat/21A
models. Forthcoming from Covert Carrier
will be replacement grip panel models which
will fit Seecamp pistols. All models of
this last type simply replace the OEM panel
on the particular gun.
Testing:
I received for testing Covert
Carrier’s Small Universal Sleeve model,
which would work with the Kel-Tec P32.
Given the one piece polymer construction of
the Kel-Tec’s grip frame, the rubber Small
Universal Sleeve is the model specifically
designed to work with this pistol.
Following the detailed pictorial
instructions it was a piece of cake to
properly trim the sleeve so as to allow it
to fit the Kel-Tec’s frame. After reading
the supplied literature and installation
instructions, as well as double checking to
ensure the pistol was clear, it took all of
about 5 minutes to properly trim the sleeve
and install it on the Kel-Tec. |