Techna Clip, of Salt Lake City, Utah has just announced the development of their Techna Clip, concealable carry pistol clip, for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. Techna Clips are designed to be attached to the rear of the shooters pistol frame or slide. Once attached, the pistol can be clipped to the shooter’s belt for a very compact inside-the-waistband carrying method.
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield joins an already impressive list of popular compact pistols with Techna Clip designs. For anyone who carries concealed on a regular basis, the ability to do so comfortably and with true concealment is an art as much as a science. Bulges, stiff and inflexible holsters, and the constant concern of clothing choices and wear are just a few of the many considerations that concealed carry holders are constantly battling.
Techna Clip
The Techna Clip is a very lightweight clip that offers the user an incredibly compact carry option. The clip actually attaches to the slide of the firearm for a secure fitting. For the S&W M&P Shield, the shooter uses a dowel punch to push down the plastic spacer sleeve to remove the slide cover plate. The shooter then installs the provided replacement Techna slide cover plate, that has two screw holes for attaching the Techna Clip. Once the Techna slide cover plate is installed, the shooter can attach the Clip by the use of the included screws and Allen wrench.
The Techna Clip for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield has an MSRP of $34.95, just like the other Techna Clip options.
Advantages of the Techna Clip
- Inexpensive
- Simple installation
- Secure attachment
- Very compact and non-bulky
- Lightweight
- Available for very popular CCW handguns.
Disadvantages and Concerns of the Techna Clip
Though simple to install, and obviously very compact, there still some very serious concerns and considerations before using the Techna Clip for every day carry, particularly for law enforcement officers.
- No trigger protection during carry
- No trigger protection during clipping or un-clipping
- Will not work with some external slide safeties
- Requires replacement of factory parts
- Can affect proper grip on frame mounts (Beretta Nano, Ruger LCP/LC9, and Kel-Tec).
First and foremost is the obvious firearms safety concern. One of the Cardinal Rules of Firearm Safety is to keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. The Techna Clip is designed to replace a holster. Though it does provide an amazingly compact carry option, it completely removes protections around the trigger and trigger guard that a traditional holster provides.
There are plenty of examples in the news and YouTube that show “accidental” shootings of the gun handler when something gets into the trigger guard and the trigger is depressed. This becomes even more of a threat with the simple Techna Clip that leaves the entire trigger exposed when carrying, clipping, or un-clipping. This type of exposure cannot be underestimated. It is one thing for a citizen with a CCW permit to have a negligent discharge, but it is an entirely different animal if that same negligent discharge happens by a law enforcement officer.
An external safety may help alleviate the exposure of the trigger by the Techna Clip design, but safeties fail, and should never be relied upon as the sole source for safety. In addition, the Techna Clip may not even be an option if the safety is ambidextrous.
Replacing factory parts is always a tricky proposition. On the one hand the replacement part may be an enhancement that makes the firearm perform better. On the other hand; however, changing the factory parts may eliminate factory warranties. The loss of a warranty is a very serious consideration for any user, particularly for law enforcement.
With the obvious dangers and warranty considerations the BlueSheepDog crew would caution any law enforcement officer from using the Techna Clip for on or off-duty use.
Techna Clip Press Release
From the Techna Clip Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Salt Lake City, UT – August 11, 2015 – Techna Clip just released a new conceal carry gun belt clip for the Smith and Wesson M&P SHIELD.
Gun belt clips allow those who own handguns to carry them safely without the use of a bulky holster. Techna Clip offers a number of fine gun belt clips for a wide range of handguns, including the following: Beretta Nano, Ruger LCP 380, Ruger LC9, Ruger LC 380, Sig Sauer P238 & P938, Smith & Wesson Bodyguard, Smith & Wesson M&P, Glock 42, Springfield XD, Springfield XDS, and a Universal Clip for Glock Models.
Even the best regular holsters add unnecessary bulk and weight and this can be uncomfortable for those who carry a handgun everyday. Techna Clip custom designs their belt clips specifically for the particular model so that they work perfect every time. Their unique design requires no modification to the handgun and only takes moments to install. Techna Clip’s website has instructional videos that show consumers exactly how to install the clip on their handgun.