EAA ABDO: A Gun Safe For My Hip

posted on May 13, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
safe.jpg

I have always been a fan of discrete ways to carry guns, especially micro or subcompact pistols. When the EAA ABDO landed on our desks, immediately I thought it looked exactly like a slightly larger version of my iPhone wrapped in its rather hefty and secure case. Just as my cell phone is an investment worth protecting, so is my sidearm.

Made of reinforced nylon, the inside measures 3.7" wide by 5.2" tall. The firearm is retained—switchable for left- and right-hand carry—by a vertical barrel pin. The retention pin is customizable to provide all three conditions of carry. Due to its size, without delving into the tablet-size case realm, the user is limited to the company’s “fit list,” which does include most popular so-called ”mouse guns.” The ABDO is secured to the user via a replaceable spring-steel clip. 

Employing the safe is as simple as sliding the top latch fore or aft depending on weak- or strong-side carry. The safe door then drops free with assistance from two torsion springs contained on the hinge pin. For testing I used a Kel-Tec P-3AT, and once the door escaped my finger tips, the gun was easily accessible and presented in a vertical position ready for withdrawal. The safe is lockable via the supplied key. Price $50. Contact: European American Armory (Dept. AR), P.O. Box 560746, Rockledge, FL 32956-0746; (321) 639-4842; eaacorp.com.

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Resisting the Temptation of "Good Enough" for Firearm Performance

No matter what firearm you're using for whatever purpose, even if it's simply a trip to the range, always resist the temptation to accept “good enough” if there is the possibility of better performance.

Armed Citizens Stop a Lot More Criminals Than Most in the Media Will Admit

Since January 2025, the Crime Prevention Research Center has documented 16 defensive gun uses in which police say armed citizens stopped mass public killings.

Federal & Mossberg Collaborate on Autonomous Airborne Drone Defense

Federal and Mossberg are working with Palladyne AI in the creation of SwarmShot, a kinetic defense system that employs swarms of armed drones to shield troops from unmanned aircraft system threats.

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.