Our Moms' Concealed Weapons

[nuparadigm]

On the eve of Mothers' Day, I'm remembering details of my Mom's life; in particular, her concealed weapon.

It was a Harrington & Richardson .32 S&W with a 2" barrel. Mostly, she carried it in a small pocket sewn into her blouses near the bustline. (Mom's physical endowments hid the presence of a small firearm). She died when I was twelve (in 1957) so I never had the opportunity to ask her, in adult conversation, why she carried a concealed handgun. She was a choirmaster and organist in the Episcopal Church so shady/hinky forms of employment were not among her reasons. Subsequent to her death, my Dad allowed me to shoot her H&R a few times before he sold it. I wish that I had it now.

How about you? Did your Mom carry anything concealed long before the advent of CHL?

[seamusTX]

It sounds like your mother was a prudent woman. As the saying goes, criminals choose the time and place of their attack. The 1950s were more than half a lifetime ago. People did not depend upon 911 then, especially if they grew up in the country.

- Jim

[longtooth]

Mom did not carry prior to CHL. Her Mom did though. Two generations before her did though.
Mammaw Shaw, Great Grandmother, ran a store in Ginger, Texas. Papa Shaw was postmaster there in the General store. No one remembers what went w/ his pistol after he died. Mammaw Shaw probably sold it. Mammaw Shaw took over the PO along w/ the store carried the .25. It was passed to my Grandmother & she carried it.

I too wish I had it but at least I know where it is. Another Grandson has it & I can go look at it as often as I want. We have both agreed that it is a show piece now & not to be shot.

[The Annoyed Man]

My mom is 4'10" - I kid you not. She is French, and she has VAST intellect (she was a Caltech professor for the last 20 years of her teaching career)... ...and... she has a temper and is armed with a barely subsonic slap - much to fast to duck. Actually, her slap might be supersonic, as I could have sworn I heard a "CRACK!" as it swept past my face the rare occasion she missed me. Or maybe the "CRACK!" was her connecting with me, but like a deep razor cut, I didn't feel it until afterward.

I don't know.

All I know is that she was and is a formidable woman with an acerbic wit which can cut you deep and wide, and you don't even know you're bleeding. She don't need no stinkin' guns. Which for her is good, because she is also a rabid anti - and which also just goes to show that intellect doesn't always mean smart.

[boomerang]

Mom is a good role model. She carries a .38 in her purse.

[carlson1]

My mom was the wife of a career LEO and she carried a .38 J frame. My dad passed away and she married another LEO and she continued to carry. I remember as a child we were NEVER allowed to touch mom's purse. Now I know why.

[jimlongley]

I think my mother occasionally carried my grandfather's Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380ACP, but the one I cherish the memory of was my grandmother's S&W .32S&W break action hammerless revolver.

My grandmother was the daughter of a career Cavalry officer, John Sylvanus Loud, who had joined the northern army during the War of Northern Agression. Great-grandfather went on to a long career and established some renown as an "indian fighter" during tours with the 7th, 9th, and 10th Cavalry and some time with the 25th Infantry and a couple of other assignments.

My grandfather married late and had children late, so I, even at my young age, am only two generations removed from a civil war soldier, and I delighted in hearing her tales of the old west the way it really was and her travels from post to post, and her little gun accompanied her on those fascinating travels, to defend against the depredations of outlaws, indians, wolves, and whateve else.

According to "Grammy" she never fired the little gun in anger, and considering her diminuitive stature and the horrendous trigger pull on that hammerless little beast, I wonder if she ever fired it at all, but she carried it faithfully and even had it out and ready a few times that she told of.

My brothers broke the firing pin on it playing with it when we were kids, but it stayed in the family and I sure would like to have it just for the nostalgia value, but all I have is a grainy Polaroid of it.