As a teenager, I hunted down gun magazines and consumed as much of them as I could: Guns and Ammo, Soldier of Fortune, Handguns, and more. I’ve forgotten most of them, and most are out of business now. As a kid who consumed this media, I was familiar with names like Sykes, Fairbairn, and Rex Applegate. I read Kill or Get Killed and thought I knew a fair bit about the man—that is, until recently, when I saw Applegate’s Mexico Rig.
The Rex Applegate Mexico Rig
This odd holster design threw me for a loop. I had never seen such a thing. The best and shortest way I could describe it is that it’s a shoulder holster without a shoulder strap. It connects to the belt but pushes your gun high enough to conceal it under your shoulder. Applegate’s Mexico Rig sent me on a Google odyssey to find anything and everything I could about the holster.
Applegate’s Mexico Rig – The Truth
As the name suggests, Applegate used the Mexico Rig while in Mexico. He lived and worked there for 15 years after World War II. He owned a small sporting goods business and consulted with the Mexican Government. Applegate was even made an Honorary General. He wore this rig with an untucked, open shirt, which was the style of the time and area.
The Mexico Rig was a S.D. Myres Detective Wonder. As the name implies, the rig was produced for plainclothes police as a concealment option. The idea was to simulate a shoulder holster but to eliminate the uncomfortable nature of shoulder holsters. Shoulder holsters have improved drastically, but I imagine in the ’40s and ’50s, they were a real pain.
According to the S.D. Myres catalog, it cost five dollars and was made only for two-inch revolvers. A pair of loops secured it to the belt, and the heavy-duty paddle held it up and under the arm. The barrel pointed up, which was not uncommon for shoulder rigs of that era. These days, we are a little more safety-minded and don’t want to draw and handle a gun pointed at our body.
This setup does allow for either hand to easily draw the gun, and you can reach under a closed shirt and draw. It still wouldn’t be my preference. From what we know, the Applegate Mexico Rig was worn daily by Applegate. He was a concealed carry enthusiast before that was a popular thing to be.
His rig carried a S&W Lemon Squeezer, also known as the Safety Hammerless, in .38 S&W. A double-action revolver with a grip safety would make me feel a little better about pointing the gun at my arm.
Applegate and The Mexico Rig in Action
Applegate was carrying his Safety Hammerless in the S.D. Myres Detective Wonder one fateful night in Mexico. He was at dinner with a Mexican soldier, likely a friend and someone he advised. As they ate, a man burst into the restaurant carrying a machete. He charged Rex Applegate and the Mexican soldier.
Of all the people to seemingly randomly attack, Rex Applegate has to be the worst. Rex quickly drew his Safety Hammerless and fired all five rounds, landing five hits. The Mexican soldier also drew his .45 ACP and lent some 230-grain FMJs to the fray. The machete-wielding attacker was killed on the spot.
The reason behind the attack is unknown. The Mexico Rig certainly served Applegate well in this scenario. Most accounts said he was the first to fire, meaning he drew from concealment faster than the soldier drew from the waist. A trained man with a good holster can be quite fast.
The Mexico Rig Today
Leather expert Karla Van Horne produced The Detective Wonder rig at Purdy Gear for a number of years, but it’s no longer listed on her website. Original S.D. Myres variants are exceedingly rare and difficult to find. I would love to have one purely for the vibes. I’m also considering either having one made or maybe creating a more modern variant. I guess I’ll finally learn how Kydex works!
