Many modern pistols have ten or more 9mm rounds packed into a polymer frame small enough to put in a pocket. Those guns usually have good sights and triggers, and they're increasingly designed to be used in conjunction with a reflex-style electronic sight. So why would you go with anything less capable for concealed carry?
All of these guns are still in production (albeit in restricted quantities), and I have firsthand knowledge of each. I'm sure a lot of other people do, too, because they're classics.
1) Beretta 80 Series
There's another.380 on this list that gets all the attention, and I'll explain why in a minute. These Berettas, on the other hand, I prefer. The 80 Series has been compared to a scaled-down 92FS, although despite some superficial similarities, they are not the same pistol. Cheetahs are blowback-operated, and while they are SA/DA, they lack the model 92's decocking safety.
Although the firearms are still in manufacture, Beretta appears to only import a limited number of them to the United States. Some prominent cinematic characters have been equipped by the Cheetah, notably Frank Costello in The Departed and Trinity in The Matrix.
2) Bond Arms Roughneck
What's in the pocket of a Texan? Perhaps a.357 Magnum shotgun or a little double-barreled shotgun made in Texas...by Texans. On a Bond Arms derringer box, the current counterpart of one of history's most iconic pocket weapons, it reads exactly that.
Henry Deringer invented the first Deringer pistol, which was a single-shot percussion gun. That gun is legendary for being the one used to kill President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth.
3) Smith & Wesson Model 36
Many people who are more knowledgeable about handguns than I are still using J-frame revolvers for everyday concealed carry, with the Model 36 "Chief's Special" being the most popular. According to Smith & Wesson, the five-shot.38 Special made its premiere at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in 1950, when the gun acquired its moniker. The J-frame revolver went on to become one of the most popular personal defense and concealed carry firearms ever produced, and it still is today.
4) Walther PPK
The Walther PPK features a shaky trigger and a large amount of recoil for the caliber. The PPK's reputation for dependability may be exaggerated. If the gun is kept clean, it functions effectively with ball ammo. With all of this in mind, you have to question why someone would carry this weapon.
Because it was done by James Bond. In The Departed, Bill Costigan did the same thing (a far better movie than any of the 007 films). The bar-room brawl in Inglorious Basterds was its single best cinematic appearance (albeit it could've been a PP and not a PPK). "To your Nazi balls, say 'auf weidersehen.'"
Few guns have been more immortalized by Hollywood, which is why so many are still being sold today. Moreover, despite its flaws, the PPK is a really attractive handgun.
To view the best pricing that GunCritic found online for any of these handguns, scroll down and click the links. You'll also get authentic user reviews to ensure that it's the best fit for you!
