American Handgunner May/June 1978

-^an ankle holster'for a four-inch S&WModel 19, another friend had a customerwho wanted one for a Combat Commander.Even if the potential wearer isbuilt like the proverbial brick house, anycylinder gun larger than a Colt DetectiveSpecial, and on rare occasions a 2'/2"Roundbutt 19, should not be carried in anankle rig. Even the short tubed CombatMagnum and the Dick are a trifle large.My own common sense tells me nothinglarger than a Chiefs Special.The reasons for this are legion. To beginwith, once the gun is bolstered, it presumablywill be worn. A lopsided ankleweight running close to or over twopounds gets damned uncomfortable. Tryrunning or even walking a long distanceand the problem is more dramatic.Another factor relating to size of thegun is the size of the butt. Even a roundbuttJ-frame Smith makes quite a bulgeunder a trouser leg. The bigger the handle,the worse it looks.In the automatics, nothing larger than aPPWS or PP sized gun should be worn..25 autos like the Bauer or Sterling or theOMC Backup .380 make even betterchoices. One thing rarely considered byankle rig purchasers is that ankle holsters,like shoulder holsters, demand a certaintype of clothing to work properly. With ashoulder rig, a sportcoat, windbreaker,loose-fitting shirt or sweater must alwaysbe worn and this even in the hottest seasons.With an ankle rig, straightleg trousersof current design invite detection. Itis obvious why ankle holsters weren'tmuch in vogue during the 1950s in an eraof highwater, straight-pegged, tight-fittingtrousers.To be used properly, ankle rigs must beworn with flared, slightly longer cut trousers.The bigger the flare, the better. Ifyou tend towards very conservativeclothes, an ankle rig is a poor bet mostlikely.Ankle rigs also demand a certain careof movement. If you are in the habit ofcrossing your legs a lot, make sure to crossthe unarmed leg unless you want to advertisea gun.To wear an ankle holster properly, severalthings must be kept in mind. If youare right handed, the rig should be affixedto the left leg, the gun always to the insideof the leg. The ankle holster should alwaysbe attached at the slenderest part of the. ankle, this to keep it from riding downand to minimize bulge. It should be attachedsnugly, but not tightly, rather likeone ties a pair of boots for the field. Noankle holster should be considered unlessiCUSTOM HANDGUN STOCKSPresentation grade stocks of fancy American& exotic woods for discriminating shooters.SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIPIllustrated brochure $1.00ROBERT H. NEWELL55 Coyote St. Los Alamos, N.M. 87544AMERICAN HANDGUNNER MAY/JUNE 1978*.. ' -' . ,.,FULL HOUSE By Ron PowerP.O. Box 1604Lucy ChamblissWinner of 6 National Woman's PistolChampionships; 3 Bullseye, 3 CombatMember of U.S. International ShootingTeam. 1970Awarded NRA Police Distinguished BadgeNo. 44; Member P.M.A. Advisory BoardOld World Craftsmanshipcoupled with moderntechnology and designproduces the finest targetrevolvers availableDealer in Hogue Grips437.50 plus $1.50 postageK & N Frame-small, medium, largeWrite for Power Custom brochure