Under-desk holsters are a very specialized category of concealment. They aren’t recommended for households or businesses where unauthorized personnel might have occasion to access the desk itself. You wouldn’t mount one of these in a public office, for example, nor would you holster a gun under your desk in a home where young children live. Hidden, unsecured firearms — guns that aren’t locked up — are a very real liability in many cases, and as such The Martialist rarely recommends this method of defensive concealment.
Despite this, there are those for whom a hidden but unsecured firearm, at least during waking hours, is a viable self-defense option. Hiding a weapon under a desk places that weapon at your immediate disposal if you’re sitting at that desk. This is also a location many people don’t think to examine on cursory inspection. Very rarely does anyone crouch low enough even to put their eyes at the level beneath your desk, after all.
Under-desk holsters may be purchased, but they needn’t be. You can make your own Do-It-Yourself under-desk holster with relatively little effort. All you need are some wood screws of suitable length, an old belt, and a holster. A powered drill and driver can speed up the project even further.
First, cut the belt into two suitable lengths, so that you have the buckle and the tongue facing each other.
Next, mount the belt underneath the desk using the wood screws. Use at least two screws per side; four per side is better. (You may need to add washers depending on the thickness and strength of the belt you use. The washers will prevent the screws from stripping free of the leather, past the screw heads.)
Be careful as you choose the position, too: You need to allow enough room for the gun itself in the holster, and for the holster to be threaded onto the belt. Don’t leave too much slack, as you don’t want the holster to flop around once it’s mounted.
Thread the holster onto the belt and then buckle the belt as tightly as you can.
Test the fit and draw of the gun in the holster. The weight of the gun is mostly centered at the belt line. The interior surface of the desk will brace the barrel end. The result is a gun, in its holster, that you can easily access while seated at your desk, provided you have positioned the weapon properly.
If you don’t have a holster or a belt on hand for this project, don’t go out and buy them. You would be better off purchasing a dedicated under-desk holster in that case. If, however, you have the necessary materials and you wish to avail yourself of this concealment option, you may as well do it yourself at no additional cost.