“The only time anyone should realize you have a gun is when you’re shooting them with it.” I got this advice twenty-five years ago from an old, retired New York City police detective regarding concealed carry. It made sense then, and it makes sense now. Winter makes this easier because big coats and bulky sweaters/sweatshirts help conceal your firearm. But the wrong coat can make retrieving your pistol difficult. So, American Rebel offers coats that are ideal for CCW, focusing on easy retrieval.

American Rebel CCW Coats, Jackets, and Vests

Concealed carry works best as a crime deterrent when nobody can tell who is armed and who isn’t. Printing and poor clothing choices to conceal your firearm will reveal you are armed. Likewise, shooting-related T-shirts and hats or tactical clothing will also telegraph that you’re likely to have a gun.

Unlike the ubiquitous baseball cap and T-shirt, tactical clothing in a non-tactical environment stands out. Usually, not in a good way.

If the villainous eyes of a criminal spot a person in tactical attire, they may assume them to be law enforcement and armed or a law enforcement wannabee and armed. In either case, the tactical fashion marks you as a potential threat that needs to be targeted and neutralized early.

The defender is already at a disadvantage to the attacker in a confrontation. Why make it worse? For the record, I own some tactical clothing.

On the range or participating in a shooting competition, it’s perfectly acceptable. Likewise, for hunting, hiking in the backcountry, prospecting for uranium in the desert, exploring the ruins of Pompeii on vacation, or actually on duty as a first responder. However, I get a little ill at ease with people at a bank or political rally in tactical clothing.

Gaining the Tactical Advantage

As the old cop implied, the citizen legally carrying a concealed weapon gains a real tactical advantage by blending in with the crowd. American Rebel CCW coats, jackets, and vests are an excellent option for those who want to be discreetly armed.

The concept behind these garments is simple and practical. They offer the benefits of deep concealment but with near-instant access. Some holsters can accidentally be exposed, or bury your gun so deep under your clothing that you can’t get to it quickly. So, why not incorporate a concealed holster in a conventional-looking piece of stylish and practical outerwear?

Andy Ross, CEO of American Rebel, patented the idea of an outer garment with secure but quickly accessible holster pockets built into the interior lining. The thickness of the material eliminates printing and protects the firearm while completely concealing it.

In effect, while wearing an American Rebel coat, jacket, or vest, you have both a right and left-hand cross-draw holster. Pulling a tab at the top instantly opens the concealed carry pocket, exposing the firearm’s grip for the draw.

Initially, the concealed carry pockets were secured with Velcro along the edges and a snap at the corner. However, Velcro had the downside of being comparatively noisy when opening. Upgraded designs now use silent, magnetic closure strips. This is a great idea unless you have a pacemaker in your chest.

CCW Coats for Work and Play

American Rebel offers two lines of CCW outerwear, one for work and the other for play. Both are designed for comfortable movement and warmth with flexible shoulders and three-layer construction. They come with and without hoods and as vests. The Cartwright line is cold-weather, heavy-duty canvas shell workwear for men, quite similar to the familiar Carhartt brand.

They are insulated and have a flannel lining in the body and rayon lining in the sleeves to make them easier to put on and off. The inside breast pockets have three double elastic magazine retention loops sewn in. Likewise, there is an additional Velcro-closure inner pocket for your cell phone on the right.

Outside, there are two vertical zippered chest pockets and two deep waist exterior pockets. Heavy metal zippers close the front and chest pockets. The Cartwright line’s MSRP is $140 for coats and $120 for vests. They are made of black and green canvas. The hooded model also comes in brown.

I’ve been wearing a hooded Cartwright coat every fall and winter for the last six years. It has proved itself to be a quality garment. Daily use has shown that the built-in concealed carry pockets are both convenient and unnoticeable.

Usually, I leave my full-size handgun in the pocket from October through March, hanging the coat and gun up when I come home. Putting on my concealed carry gun is as easy as putting on my coat because that’s exactly what it is.

Sporty Cool Weather Carry

For sporty/casual everyday wear in cool weather, American Rebel has a lighter-weight Freedom line of stylish men’s and women’s jackets. They have an outer shell of finely woven, rain, and wind-resistant polyester laminate. Likewise, there is a water-resistant thermal layer beneath and a comfortable fleece lining.

On the exterior, both have sturdy metal zipper closure waist pockets, a vertical left breast pocket, and a left sleeve pocket. MSRP is $160 to $200 for jackets and $140 for vests. They come in black, green, grey, tan, and navy blue.

Who is American Rebel?

If the name Andy Ross sounds familiar, it may be because he is a world-famous bow hunter and hosted the Outdoor Channel show Maximum Archery for ten years. Or maybe you’ve heard his music. He’s a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, in addition to being the entrepreneur and founder of American Rebel—America’s Patriotic Brand.

In 2023, he branched out into brewing and launched American Rebel Beer, applying his musical skills to the composition of the advertising jingle. I have not yet tried the beer. In fact, I don’t drink beer.

However, I’ve heard a lot of beer commercials, and I feel that Andy Ross has created the best beer jingle of all time. Based on that alone, I’ll get some and keep it on hand for company.

For more information, please visit AmericanRebel.com. As of this writing, they are having a sale.