Ankle Holster Recommendation

[John Ralston]

I carry an all steel Model 42 and have never put anything on the other ankle. Once broken in I never even notice an ankle holster. An Airweight would be really easy to carry.

[L-2]

For Post_41 (and anyone interested), a Model 42 S&W will have an aluminum alloy frame (there were a very few [37] made with an alloy cylinder). A Model 40 would have a steel frame.

ANKLE HOLSTER EXPERIENCE.
The worst ankle holster I used was a Fobus-brand ankle holster. The weak point was its Velcro strap, which was too thin to support the holster. Fobus has made changes to its ankle holster from years past, but I don't know if Fobus upgraded the Velcro-strap element.
https://fobusholster.com/Products-an...ssories/Ankle/

DeSantis "Apache". This holster was ok and many will find comfortable with its mostly all-elastic construction.
https://www.desantisholster.com/apache-ankle-rig/

Galco. The "Ankle Glove" model is a well-made holster with a combination of leather and elastic for its construction. This construction can make for a thicker/wider holster, especially if worn around a duty boot. Galco has models with a thumbsnap and models with just an open top (which is what I preferred).
https://www.galcogunleather.com/ankl..._8_6_1019.html

Uncle Mike's. Although least expensive, I've used these holster the most for its relative narrowness; comfort; and Velcro-strap adjustment. Note, Uncle Mike's says its for external hammer revolvers, but the retention strap can be adjusted to hold a hammerless/Centennial-type S&W revolver just fine. Uncle Mike's also recommends size "0", although the size "12", usually made for a Glock 26, also works well for an S&W J-frame.
https://unclemikes.com/ankle-holsters/

[Wingate's Hairbrush]

Tom never worked with or for Lou. He made a lot of claims that were totally false. Lou's partnet was Skip Ritchie, but Lou bought him out of the business like 30 years ago.

Yeah, I've caught the threads around the forums over the years with many claims and counter claims about Tom and Skip and who's zoomin' who...

I'm a complete outsider and I've got no idea what the truth is; only consistent thing in all the mess is Lou sounds like he was the real deal as a craftsman and and all-around good guy.

As to quality, I have stuff from Ritchie and it's excellent; stuff from Lou's era and it's excellent too, albeit understandably dated in some ways; and I have couple from the "no loss...never put out a decent product" era and although I can't claim professional expertise (as I realize you can), but I do have a lot of leather holsters, and I continue to marvel at the Deep Cover I've worn for the last eight years and how well it has held up.

[John Ralston]

For Post_41 (and anyone interested), a Model 42 S&W will have an aluminum alloy frame (there were a very few [37] made with an alloy cylinder). A Model 40 would have a steel frame.

Thanks for catching that...mine is a 40.