I recently came across this famous photo of Chic Gaylord in which he depicts several modes of concealed carry. What drew my attention was the ankle and calf holsters. Do any of the "holstorians", or "holsterologists" here have any insight regarding the origin of the ankle holster. I do not recall seeing any that pre-date this ?late 1950s? pic of Gaylord.



Thanks

Check this one out

Danny's first day: An argument against ankle holsters - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog

Not the article but rather the photo at the beginning

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BCCI Life Member #2068

Thanks for sharing. There are many arguments "for" and "against" ankle carry, appendix carry, crossdraw-carry, small-of-back carry... even strong-side carry... I've used ankle holsters by Alessi, Galco, K.L. Null, JayPee, and assorted others. Yes, there are pros and cons.

The relative merits of ankle carry is not the focus of the original post, however. Rather, I was hoping that some of the members here... who share an interest in the evolution of the modern concealment holster... may be able to provide some enlightenment regarding the genesis of the ankle holster.

Regards

I linked to it to show the photo at the top of the article. That ankle rig and the revolver look pretty early.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

My apologies. I guess I focused on the headline. That indeed looks vintage. I wish the author had shared some info about it. Thanks.

I don't know when an actual firearm was carried in an ankle holster, but an ankle holster patent is based upon an item patented in 1915 called a "Garter-pocket," which is a misleading name as the drawing with the patent depicts a pocket with a flap worn just above the ankle, secured by a strap that goes around the leg in a sort of "over the calf" position. The Bill Rogers patent is based upon this 1915 patent, among others. The idea of carrying and concealing things around the leg or ankle is certainly not new, and really, there is not too much "new" in the world of guns. Better materials and finishes, but not too much change in the basics for over 100 years.

US1209401A * 1915-06-07 1916-12-19 Edward V Crouse Garter-pocket.

There is an even earlier patent for a "holster" of sorts made as an integral part of footwear, such as a boot.

1886-08-31 US348233A Grant
DANIEL G. PHALAN, OF WOONSOOKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THOMAS A. TALLON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

The Bill Rogers patent is:

1999-10-22 US09422165 US6176402B1
Inventor William H. Rogers Current Assignee Safariland LLC Original Assignee Safariland Ltd Inc Priority date 1999-10-22

Thank you Shawn. Google patents is truly a wonderful tool for researching holster innovations. The "citations" and "cited by" links provide abundant rabbit holes for inquiring minds. Yet, the "patent record" is much like the geologic "fossil record". It is discontinuous and incomplete.

Perhaps, an example is the patent recently granted to Spencer Keeper relating to his kydex appendix holster.

US9222750B1 - Holstering a gun
- Google Patents

Certainly, pistols have been carried forward of the hip inside the belt since the development of the flintlock. Interestingly, Keeper does not cite any previously patented "appendix holsters". Nichols' Bianchi 3S adjustable snap-loop IWB is cited and the design accommodates appendix carry, though not its intended purpose. In fairness to Keeper, the primary basis of his patent claim appears to be the construction of the mouth of the holster, which is intended to reduce the potential for negligent discharges.

So, who developed the first "modern" holster for the purpose of carrying a pistol forward of the hip? Many would point to Bruce Nelson's original Summer Special. Nelson didn't patent his designs, however.

Likewise, it seems the "origin" of the ankle holster for carrying firearms may be hidden in the obscurity that the patent office refers to as "prior art."

I believe that it was Chic Gaylord that introduced cops to the ankle holster. I first heard of it in his "Handgunner's Guide". It was accessible while seated in a car or bar. Some Undercover Detectives passed quick pat downs and it was accessible when you were down on the ground.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

Thanks, jimgoldth. I am also thinking that Gaylord, at least, popularized the ankle holster. Perhaps, he actually produced the first viable ankle holster for concealed carriage of a handgun. I wish I had a set of vintage American Rifleman, and Gun Digest to peruse.

Hard to say when the first ankle holster was used. There is documentation from the 1700s of people carrying a smallish handgun in the top of their boots. It would have been a logical evolution for someone to make some type of holster to carry on the lower leg when not wearing high boots.

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183rd FBINA

Before I retired I carried my BUG, a Model 37, in a Bianchi #12 ankle holster for about twenty years. It finally became unserviceable and I bought a Galco Ankle Glove and switched to a Bodyguard Model 38. I have used that rig for many years.

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police651

I also wore a Bianchi Ankle Holster off duty with my model 60 starting in 1974. The popular Bell Bottom pants made the ankle holster quite accusable but not so much when the straight legs came back in the 1980s. But it was sometimes worn for years.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

I carried my 49 and then 649 in this Top Line nylon rig every day for over 20 yrs as second and often off duty. Never went to work without it. It took a lot of hard use but held up pretty well. I added the brown strap over the trigger guard since the factory strap went over the hammer. The factory strap probably would have held the humpbacks OK over the nub of the exposed hammer but I just felt more secure with the 2nd strap.
I really liked the Top Line design. It used a wide ankle strap which was comfortable and secure. They had a pouch for extra ammo which I worked well for 6 rds in a speed strip. I also had one for a Walther PPK that had a pouch for an extra mag. Unfortunately I let that one go when the PPK was traded away. Top Line which was made in OH is no longer in business.
I later got a Bianchi when the Top Line was cut along the cylinder when I was climbing a fence. The Bianchi was not near as comfortable. I wore it about 10 yrs on duty and do occasionally now that I'm retired. If I could find another Top Line I'd pitch the Bianchi.

Attached Images

TL649.JPG (21.2 KB, 18 views)

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183rd FBINA