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Yes, some guns do have clips. Techna Clips.
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Buy one: https://technaclip.com/
Let’s jump in
What is the Techna Clip? That’s easy enough. This is a steel clip that attaches to a firearm that allows you to clip it securely to something in the same way you might secure a pocket knife, or a pen. The clip adds an alternative mode of carry. They install in different ways on different guns, but all of them function in about the same way.
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Is that a Kel-Tec in your pocket?
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Why, yes it is.
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Why would you want this?
Let’s say, hypothetically, you work in an environment that isn’t conducive for traditional concealed carry. This isn’t uncommon. Let’s say that you want to carry, but are highly visible, which means traditional forms of concealment (like small-of-back, or appendix) could be easily seen. The Techna Clip might allow you to go deeper.
I will often wear an ankle holster. When I do, anyone who knows how to spot concealed carry can see that I’m wearing one, simply by glancing at both legs. Even the thinnest holster, with this Kel-Tec P3AT, is easily spotted.
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Quick quiz. Which leg is my gun concealed on?
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It was a trick question. There’s a GLOCK 42 on one, and a P3AT on the other. Sexy legs, huh.
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But there are other ways to carry besides in a boot, or in a pocket. The Techna Clip allows you to hide a gun in your waistband, or on a shirt collar, or just about anyplace where you can clip something. While these alternatives are not the best option for carrying all day, they prove useful for staging and improvisation.
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I’m a big proponent of staging for self defense. If you are walking back to your car in a dark garage, why keep your gun holstered? Get it where you can use it.
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Are there any drawbacks?
This is the opinion portion of the review. And yes, I’ve found a couple of cons to add to the pro-con list. Let’s start with the size of the gun. I have two clips in (one for the small Kel-Tec and one for the smallest GLOCK). The Kel-Tec is a dream. It works incredibly well. The GLOCK? While it works, I’m not as enamored with it.
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The Kel-Tec attaches to the back of the frame. Pull a pin, plug it in, done.
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Installation took about a minute, and that was on a cold day.
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The P3AT. This is my go-to gun for deep concealment, especially in warm weather. I carry it in my front right pocket in a Recluse holster. I love it. The Techna Clip attaches to the frame of the P3AT (as opposed to the slide), and the serrations on the slide are still accessible. The clip works great, and it provides numerous options for carrying that the Recluse doesn’t allow.
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Enough room for effective trigger control.
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And the slide works as it always has.
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The only down-side to the P3AT is that the clip adds material to the frame, which means that the holster won’t fit as well. In this case, the holster pooches just a bit. That is the only negative I see, and it is hardly the fault of the Techna Clip.
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The P3AT in a Recluse holster.
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The clip pushes out the leather, just a bit.
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The Recluse has a solid trigger block. Even with the clip, the trigger is still held secure.
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You can see here where the clip rubs inside. No problems holstering the gun with the Techna Clip, if the holster can flex slightly.
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The GLOCK design attaches differently. It rides on the slide, and not on the frame. While it means there’s more room on the frame for proper trigger finger placement when not shooting, it does take the slide serrations out of play. Techna Clip knows this, and they’ve added some dimples to the clip to act as texture. They work, but you have to practice with them. I found my thumb slipping more on the GLOCK than I would have liked.
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The GLOCK clip.
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This one requires more work. All of the parts are included. All told, it was less than 5 minutes.
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I think this has everything to do with the actual structural strength of the clip. The tempered steel is acting as a spring, pushing in against the slide. And it is tight! If you cut serrations into the steel, it would weaken the spring and act as a flex point. Simply put, it would bend at the serrations.
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Ample room on the frame.
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But your left thumb hits the clip instead of the serrations.
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Is there a fix? I’d rough it up, just slightly, with a file. Sandpaper maybe. Take the slick texture back a bit. That should do it.
In the end
I’m fascinated by the design. The folks at Techna Clip are assessing each gun, finding ways they can attach a clip, and offering those of us who are serious students of deep concealment an entire new set of possibilities. Even though there may be the occasional design dilemma, like with the GLOCK, what you gain is well worth the additional training or potential drawbacks.
These things are not expensive, either. $34.95? Techna Clip also makes other options, like trigger guards. I’d never carry a gun like this without a trigger guard, so that would be a worthwhile accessory.
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The GLOCK in the boot doesn’t hide as easily as the Kel-TEC.
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Clipping in a gun may wear differently than you expect. The P3AT tended to rub on my ankle. Easy enough to fix, though.
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Here you can see the extra width added to the G42.
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Final verdict? I’m 100% in favor of the Techna Clip for small pistols.
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Bout the thumb issue,they make right side and left side clips
I have TECHNA CLIPS on 4 different guns a Ruger LCP, SIG 938, GLOCK 30s ,RUGER SR1911 COMMANDER. I absolutely love them because I can carry any one of them without the added bulk of a holster. And if I want any of them can be removed easily at any time.
(For the author…yes, there is ample room on the Glock frame, but no way to positively secure the clip in that area ).
I have a TC on my Glock 26, and it is FANTASTIC. However, it is the older, discontinued model Techna Clip. There is a huge difference, so much so that I would not even consider the new, pictured model. As you can see in the pics at the top of the story, the current TC allows the weapon to slide all the way into the pants pocket, including the entire grip. Take a look at the pic of the 738 in the front pocket…that carry is a disaster. Please tell me how you are going to quickly access that little gun. It is held against the OUSTIDE of the pocket, by the clip. Therefore, your right hand cannot grip and draw the weapon. It will have to be drawn by hooking your right thumb around around the grip, drawing, re-gripping (which may require both hands), then firing. MY Techna Clip, the discontinued version, positions the gun with the grip fully exposed, but just about everything ahead of the rear sight down inside the pocket (including all of the the trigger area). I simply grasp the full grip completely with my right hand, draw, and fire. Yes, that means it is somewhat an “open carry”. However, that is becoming legal in many states, and most states where you are allowed to conceal carry. I carry my G26 in the front pocket everywhere I go. It is seldom noticed, and always accessible.
I wish I could post a pic here. I wish even more that the author had commented on the difficulty of drawing the 738 with the TC in place. I also wish TC would re-introduce the discontinued clip, which allows for the gun to be carried higher, with the grip fully exposed. You can still get the discontinued model from TC if you speak to a person at the company.
I would hope they’re working on a trigger guard. That thing is a negligent discharge waiting to happen.
It was great to read your review of our product! We wanted to mention that we do provide custom kydex trigger guards for each model available!
Rather than roughing it up, I would put on a strip of GunTape, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATH0KEA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage.